DC Transportation Question
 

We will not have a car but are wanting to do the memorials/museums on our trip in September. Still in the planning stages. I have read lots of positive comments on how great the Metro system is. What are the pros to getting an Old Town Trolly pass over using the Metro. I'm sure I'll have more questions as the trip nears - but I thought I had the transportation covered until I read about the Trolly. Please help? BTW, we will be traveling with my mother who doesn't do well with constant walking for consecutive days.

I've never used the Old Town Trolly. Does it stop close to where you are staying?

I always get the unlimited pass for the Metro. That way you can take it for short distances without worrying about cost. Also, if you get on the wrong train, it's no problem.

A couple of things.

The Metro will get you to the Mall, where most of the museums and monuments are, but it won't get you AROUND the Mall.

If you are going to use a Trolley to get around the Mall, I'd prefer the Tourmobile--which is run by the U.S. Parks Department--instead of the commercial Trolley.

There is also the DC Circuiator, which is a bus that goes around the Mall from the National Gallery end of the Mall to the WWII Memorial end. It is much cheaper than the Trolley.

Another thought: the museums in DC are wonderful but really big. You might consider checking to see if they have wheelchairs available just to give your mom a bit of a break.

My mother-in-law, who does not use a wheelchair at home, did use one quite a bit on her last vacation and it did help conserve her energy.

Another vote for a wheelchair here. DC is just one of those places that you will need to walk alot. Have fun.

You'll definitely want to go to the Jefferson Memorial and the wonderful Franklin Roosevelt memorial, and there's no Metro nearby. So you'll want to go on line for the Tourmobile and the trolley and see if they post the routes. Enjoy the People's City!

The Circulator is a great way to get around the mall. There is another Circulator route that you can connect to that runs between Union Station and Georgetown. The ride is $1 and you can see the routes at wmata.com. If you will be staying in a hotel, you may also consider staying in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington. It's just on the VA side of the Potomac. There are several hotels near the Rosslyn Metro that serve both the Orange and Blue lines which stop at the Smithsonians and near the Capitol. You are also close to Arlington Cemetery (Blue line) and can cross the Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I'll check out the circulator bus. Do you know if the pass you can purchase for the metro can also be used on the bus or not? It's nice to not have to fool with money each time you board the bus!