Hi Fodor friends!

I'm planning a day trip to the nation's capital three Mondays from now via megabus. I am arriving at 5:45am (so I can take the 4:30 trip back to NYC) and I am thinking.....how do I kill time until the museums open and until the locals wake up. I don't want to wait to wait at a 24 hour Starbucks, if there's one, until 9am......that would be too tragic.

Ideas?


Thanks in advance!

p

I would walk around the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean war Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Allmost all of the monuments are open 24/7 - it just depends on how early it gets light. And I think many are lit up during all of the hours of darkness - we visited the Lincoln after midnight and it was lit and there were quite afew people besies us.

Go to the Mall and watch dawn break over the Capitol.

The streets won't be bustling at 6 am but you might be surprised at how much earlier DC gets moving than NYC. BY 7-7:30 things will be pretty active.

As mentioned. think the monuments around the National Mall are a good idea. But there are a couple of other places that open up before 9 or 10: the Library of Congress opens at 8:30 as does the Bureau of Printing & Engraving. Arlington Cemetery opens at 8 am. If the Washington Monument is on your list, same day tickets go on sale at 8:30. The line for those in peak season starts well before then, but that's not your case.

Enjoy your day!

Gab with the pandhandlers at any of the parks. Give them a buck towards their morning nip.

The shops and restaurants at Union Station apparently do not open until 7:00 a.m. but the station itself will be open and is quite beautiful. It might be a good backup plan if the weather is cold or rainy i.e., a place to hang out until the other attractions listed above start opening. Otherwise, agree with the suggestions of checking out the Mall.

Just another note: I'm not sure where the Megabus leaves you off, but some of the NYC buses come and go from the old Greyhound terminal. If that't the case, I would be particularly cautious around that area at 5:45 in the morning.

The Megabus drop-off point in D.C. is at 10th and H St. N.W. You are only about 6 blocks from the Mall and I wouldn't be overly concerned with being dropped there at 6am.

Agree with longhorn on that -- thanks for clarifying the location.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I am overwhelmed by everyone's helpfulness and generosity.

Walk around the mall- it's much bigger than you think, wear comfortable shoes. The walk from the capital to lincoln is long- but awesome weather it's dark out or light.

>>

I once measured it on googlemaps -- isn't it about 3 miles end-to-end?

>>isn't it about 3 miles end-to-end?

Ah, two miles from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, still longer than most people expect

"From the Capitol steps to the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall runs 1.9 miles (3.0 km).
From the steps to the Washington Monument, the Mall spans 1.2 miles (1.8 km).
From Ulysses S. Grant Memorial to Lincoln Memorial, the Mall covers 309.2 acres (125.13 ha)."

Ebbitt Grill near the White House is open for breakfast at 7:30.

oooh - listen to George on this one... breakfast at Old Ebbitt is an experience. Power broker central.

That's where George heads after he gets his morning nip. Snort.

If the Ebbitt Grill is where the mighty have their power breakfasts, perhaps that is why I've never eaten at the Ebbitt. I've heard the food is good but $ 10 for a stack of pancakes is a little rich.

Seeing the Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial etc. would be nice but you'd pretty much have to take a cab.

Stroll down 10th past Ford's Theater and the House Where Lincoln Died, past the ugly FBI building to Pennsylvania Ave. Turn left and walk toward the Capitol Building. After you cross 9th visit the Navy Memorial on your left. Have breakfast at Teaism in the adjoining building. Then wander toward the Mall, past the National Archives.

Also the Capitol Visitor Center opens at 8:30, and they've got tour tickets available (book online) right now for 8:50.