Christina, Ilisa, or anyone from DC.
 

I have several last minute questions that I need help with soon as we are leaving for DC this weekend. (I'm so excited!!!) Staying at Metro Marriott. Just plan to do tourist-type things. We planned ahead months ago and got passes from congresswomen and senator for FBI, White House, Capitol. <BR>1. What type of metro passes should we buy. We won't have car. Will be there 6 days and then a week later for 1 day. Anticipate using metro just to get around in the downtown and Capitl Hill area. <BR>2.Does anyone know anything about Port Discovery in Baltimore. Would a 12 year old like it or the Science Center better. <BR>3.Is there a laudromat or someplace I can wash clothes near Metro Marriott-they only have valet laundry. <BR>4.Is there a grocery or convenience store nearby to buy cereal, milk, etc. <BR>Sorry to have so many questions. I'm starting to get stressed out worrying about details. Thanks for any help

Can't help you with the laundromat or convenience store info (Christina usually has stellar descriptions of these things), but I ride the metro more than I care to, so I'll give it a shot. I suggest getting onto metro's website at www.wmata.com and try to estimate how much metro travel you may do in order to evaluate what type of pass to get. There are several different options. You can buy your standard farecards containing just the amount you will need, or there are some passes you can try. There is a $5.00 one day pass which gives you unlimited rides after 9:30am on weekdays and all day weekends, or a 7 day pass for $25.00 which gives you unlimited travel on metro. If you are using metro just to get around downtown, it may not be cost effective to buy the $25 pass (you may find yourself walking more than you think, and not using the metro that much), since one-way fares within the city are usually only around $1.10 (I think) during non-rush. I hope this helps. Have a wonderful time!

I only can comment on Port Discovery vs. the MD Science center. My kids liked the Science Center a little better. We went to both last year, and I didn't "get" Port Discovery. We just kind of wandered around, wondering what the attractions were supposed to be. There is a massive climbing structure right in the middle, and my kids liked that. But I think a 12 year old might be too old for it. Perhaps they've improved things over the last year? <BR> <BR>If you're not already doing the Baltimore Aquarium, I would recommend it more highly than Port Discovery or the MD Science Center. Reply if you want more info on that. <BR> <BR>Anyway, have a great time!

Dear L of AOL.COM, may I suggest you access MAPQUEST, then type in the Marriott address, and you will then be able to research any type of commercial outlet in that vicinity. Even distances are given. Failing that, use the 800 number for Marriott, have them connect you with you hotel, and talk with the concierge about stores, etc. near the hotel. Failing that, research through Yahoo, for example, for that location and go from there. Internet offers a lot of possibilities ... hope these ideas help you. <BR> <BR>In DC, simply purchase the fare cards you require. I suppose a pass might save you a few bucks. Talk with the Metro person at the station kiosk ... you'll be given whatver information you require. In advance, visit the website and learn about the fare structure, etc. for Metro. <BR> <BR>Ciao, Leone in DC

Ilisa, I think some days we may not ride the metro at all, or maybe just one way. I've looke at the Metro website, but was confused. It sounds like its better to just buy a card and keep adding money to it as we need to. <BR>Cindy, thanks for the advice on Port Discovery. I couldn't get a feel for what type of place it was from their website and from the Baltimore literature. We plan to do the aquarium and one other attraction in one day. Is there any type of discount by buying passes for 2 attractions. I've tried repeatedly call the Visitors Center at the Inner Harbor and can't get a live person.

Glad someone answered on Baltimore as I knew nothing of that. I think for the metro passes, you could also consider the 7-day limited fare pass which is only $17.50 vs the $25 unlimited pass, during the time you are there for 6 days. The limitations are short trips during rush hour time, but if you only use it in central city, you should easily fit in those requirements. I think that would be cost-effective for the 6 days and convenient. As for stores and laundries, I'm sorry to say but there is not much like that in the downtown area which is hotels, businesses etc. Especially laundromats; I used to live on Capitol Hill in a residential area in an apt without washing machine (never again) and drove to Virginia or Md to do my laundry sometimes as the only laundromats near me were in very bad areas I would not go (and there are only about two laundromats on all of Capitol Hill, one right in middle of open-air drug market, how nice). Laundromats in DC will be in the lower-income residential areas like upper NE and Shaw/upper Ga ave, no place convenient or where you want to go. I looked in the phone book and the best closest one to you is at 1511 17th St NW near Dupont Circle called the Washtub. It's a few blocks from the metro, if you only have a few items and a tote bag, you could walk from metro stop, but if I were you, I'd just take a cab if you really want to do that. Grocery stores is another problem as they are also only around residential areas, although you may find one on the street nearby, I don't think so. Again, the best spot for those is around Dupont Circle, also near that laundromat. There is a Safeway grocery store at 1701 Corcoran and a 7-Eleven right near there also at 1700 17th St; there is a Fresh Fields grocery store (expensive organic, but a big store) at 1440 P St NW, also. If you only want a few items, you could carry them on the metro, the ones around 17th and Corcoran are only a few blocks from the metro stop. At least that metro stop (Dupont Circle) is on the red line so you can go directly to the Marriott without changing.

L, judging by what you said, I definitely think that you should just purchase fare as you need it.

Everyone, thanks such much for your help.

For our upcoming 3 1/2 day visit, I received a note from the Metro suggesting I just purchase regular fare cards and put approximately $12 on each one. They thought that should cover us during the time period and if we ran out we could always add more. Don't know how that would relate to your six day stay however.

Have you thought about trying the Tourmobile? That would be a great way to see all the sights on your first day in D.C., then you can decide where to spend more time. (The metro doesn't have a lot of stops in the mall/monument/museum area.) You can get on and off at any of the stops, it goes to all the monuments, museums, Arlington cemetary, etc. Go to www.tourmobile.com and check it out! By the way, the weather has been really hot and humid this week but is supposed to cool down a bit by Saturday. But always bring an umbrella this time of year. Have fun, it's a great city!

Topping this for you, L!

I live in Maryland just outside of DC. I always encourage my guests to take the tourmobile....It's a great way to see the sights.

Just got back home from our trip to DC. I appreciate all the tips obtained through this board. We each bought a $5 farecard and added a few dollars during our stay. Left town with just 5 cents remaining on each card! Most of the time we walked, but at the end of the day we were ready to ride the Metro. <BR>Rode the Old Town Trolley on one of our first days in town. It took us through a few places like Georgetown and Dupont Circle plus the monuments and Smithsonian musuems. We enjoyed the tour. <BR> Getting congressional tour tickets through our congresswoman ahead of time helped to avoid waiting in long lines. The Capitol tour was fantastic. We also enjoyed seeing the White House, although it's not something I would wait in line to do. A woman at our hotel paid a scalper $45 for a White House tour ticket which is just sad for what you get to see. If you don't have tickets ahead of time I would chose to tour some other place like the Library of Congress which is beautiful and from what we were told, overlooked.