My parents are coming to the US to visit me and I was thinking of taking them to NY for a few days. I was also thinking of taking the train to D.C. and return on the same day, but wanted to make sure that it would be enough to visit the major monuments. THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

it would be better if you could take the train down the night before, so you wake up in the city, and have the full day before taking a train back in the evening again.

if i were doing it i'd get on one of those trolleys where you can get on and off, adn just stay by the mall/monuments.

one day in DC isn't ideal but it's better than nothing.

In a word, no.
You can be there for a day.
But to visit the major sights in 8 hours or even 9 hours is a bit much.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The train from NY to DC is so pleasant and pretty. I agree you should go the night before, if you decide to go. But I agree that you'll just skim the surface in a day. If you've never been, you could spend a week there easily.

DC as a day trip from NYC? Only on April 1.

Anonymous,
Very clever! And I wholeheartedly agree.
D.C. is loaded with things to do & places to see.....hell, you need a week!
I don't suppose you want to have them stay longer? <TEEHEE>

I wouldn't do it, the day-before thing sounds good. However, if all you want to do is visit the "major monuments", you certainly can do that in one day even from NY as they are right near each other.

Not usually a big bus tour fan, but I would check out a day tour of Washington when you are there - no time wasted parking, taking Metro.

You can do a Tourmobile tour, which will take you to the major sites.

We just returned from DC. You can do all the major monuments in one day - we did although it was alot of walking. We started at the Lincoln Memorial, walked down the Mall one way, up the other, picked one Smithsonian museum (the new American Indian Museum) and over to the White House. Visited Arlington Cemetary and Iwo Jima Memorial the afternoon before.

If you wish to do a day trip away from busy NYC, then why not visit Philadelphia, our first US capital, instead? I don't think you do yourself justice racing thru DC for a day trip ... at least come down the preceeding night. Good luck, whatever your choice.