We're taking a beach vacation this summer - a two day drive from our midwest home. While looking at the atlas I realized Washington DC is only slightly out of our way. My husband and kids have never been there. Three questions:
1. Would it be reasonable (after a nine hour drive) to do the Monuments At Night trolley tour? Kids are teens and we're all pretty road hardy.
2. How hard is it to find (safe) parking near Union Station at 7-ish on a Saturday evening in July for three hours?
3. We'd be heading south the next day. Can you recommend an area to look for a hotel in that would be south of DC but close and easy to find late at night?
Thanks in advance.

Washington DC is never slightly out of the way. Traffic is notorious here, I doubt that after a nine hour drive you would want to sit through a trolley tour that is quite boring. Parking is available at Union Station, its a parking garage that is safe. If you are looking for a hotel outside and south of DC, check out Northern Virginia, on the I-95 corridor.

Hey DC Dude,
I agree that this is not the ideal plan for doing DC. It's just that we've wasted a few summers along the way at amusement parks and we're now trying to play catch up before the fledglings leave the nest. I'd like them to get a quick sense of the majesty of our capitol -- enough to make them want to come back some day. I thought the trolley tour might accomplish that w/o too much exertion after the long car trip. Do you agree or can you suggest an alternative? And thanks for your help so far.

Hi Deevee,

It sounds tiring to me, but if you guys are that hardy, perhaps the trolley ride would be nice.

You should not find traffic a problem on a Saturday evening (barring any accidents), and parking will not be a problem, especially since there is a lot in Union Station. That time of the evening the parking meters aren't in affect, you may be able to find something on the street. Just stick to the south of Union Station, the neighborhood gets shady the further north you go.

Look for hotels in Alexandria, Franconia or Springfield, anything convenient to 395/95. I think there are a few hotels right off the highway in Springfield (where 395 out of DC merges with 95 south). It would take about 20 minutes from Union station. Or if you're willing to drive further, there is Dumfries, Potomac Mills area.

Thanks Carolyn,
It does sound tiring but last summer we drove from eastern Colorado, stopped for 5 hours in Breckenridge, stopped for another hour or so in Glenwood Canyon then drove on to Grand Junction -- all in one day. I'm hoping that means we're hardy enough to ride the trolley and make it to a hotel room.
After a quick check there appear to be a number of hotels just south of DC. Do you think we'll need reservations on a weekend night in late July? Thanks again.

Deevee,

It might be a good idea to get a hotel ahead of time, you never know when there might be a conference, wedding, etc, filling up a hotel, and after driving all that time, who wants to spend all night looking for accomodations? Just make sure the hotel has a decent cancellation policy just in case the remnants of hurricane or some other disaster occurs in DC before you leave (or if you decide at the last minute to change plans).

Another option is to stay in an area in Northern Virginia by a metro stop, check in, park your car and take the metro to the trolley. No hassle finding your hotel in the dark! The DC metro runs until 1 or 2 a.m. in the weekends, it's inexpensive, clean, safe and has a stop at Union Station. It all depends on how comfortable the driver is navigating city streets and new areas.

Hi again, Carolyn. I've used the Metro before and I agree; it's clean, safe and pretty easy to get around on. I hadn't considered it for this trip because I didn't realize it went outside of the city. I think I read that there's a route map somewhere on the internet. Think I'll go try to find it. Thanks for the great idea!

There are hotels near/on top of the Crystal City, Rosslyn, and King Street Metro stops. The first two are in Arlington, the second is in Alexandria. Once you figure out which looks best to you, you can search for discussions of hotels--it's a popular topic here.

Try http://www.metroopensdoors.com for official Metro info.

In looking at the metro map and timetables (thanks for pointing the way) I find it is an hour and two transfers from most points south of the city. It looks easier and faster to get there on the red line from just north of the city. Is there any reason I shouldn't look for a hotel near Bethesda?

Bethesda would be a great choice. The Holiday Inn is very nice. I thought you would be approaching DC from the west and heading south, so advised areas closer to the routes I thought you'd be taking. Enjoy your vacation.

Looks like we come in on 270 and head out on 95. We can't check in at the beach until 3 the next day so we won't be too pressed for time the next morning.

I'm heading to check the Holiday Inn now. Thanks!

Here I am again. Next you'll be expecting me to ask you to carry my bags, drive the car, hold my hand on the tour -- sorry.

I checked the Holiday Inn in Bethesda. They have rooms for $79/night. I saw a listing for a Hyatt too that looks like it's right on top of the Metro station, besides being pretty swanky looking (from the pix). It's only $99.

What do you think? Will I get twenty extra bangs for my bucks?

Hi deevee,

You aren't spending much time at the hotel, so I'd base it more on the location. I'm not sure where the Holiday Inn is, but the Hyatt is in the heart of Bethesda. It will be very easy for you to get there from 270 also and being on the red line, you can head straight into Union Station

Another thing to consider is parking, which can be tough in Bethesda, especially on a Saturday night.

Not sure I helped you at all, it might boils down to how swanky you like a place to be, I would rather spend the $20 on something else, since you'll spend 90% of your time there sleeping.

The Holiday Inn is quite a few blocks from the Metro stop; if it were me --or me making arrangements for family--I'd pick the Hyatt.
What do the two hotels charge for parking?

Nothing listed for either hotel for parking where I checked. If the Hyatt really is that close to the Metro station and the Holiday Inn is not, I think we'll pop for the extra 20. We'll be touring until around 10 pm, then a 20 minute ride on the red line -- all after a 9 hour drive. Good thing we have five days at the beach to rest up after. Thanks for all your help.

One last thought--If you have to hang around DC for a while in the morning, you could zip down to the zoo, which opens at six (the houses, such as the elephants, don't open until 10). There's a place across from the entrance to the zoo called Animal Crackers that supposedly has a good breakfast.
Ignore the Metro map: get off at Cleveland Park, not Woodley Park/Zoo.

Just spent the weekend at the Holiday Inn ($89) in Alexandria off of Glebe Road (about 4 miles outside of D.C.) Orange Line metro stop - Ballston MU located very nearby. Very convenient to D.C. - we went to dinner in Georgetown, however we drove. Parking is a nightmare on the weekends and on Saturday you can only park for one hour before being ticketed even after 6:30 PM.

I think Spanky means "Arlington," not Alexandria.

I think we've got most of the trip set up. Booked the Hyatt for $99. Parking is only $7 and it's right on top of a Metro station.

We can't book the trolley tour until one week before. Any other suggestions for seeing DC at night if the trolley happens to be full?

And about the zoo -- would it be a bad idea to drive there early on a Sunday morning? Do they have parking available?

You guys have been great. Big Thanks!