Hello,
More newbie questions for y'all.

The tourmobile makes stops at the
major attractions just like the metro
does, but does it involve less walking
from station to attraction entrance or is it the same?

The Lincoln memorial is listed in the foggy bottom metro stop. How much walking is involved from here to the entrance?

I wanted to know this info for Natural Museum
of History, Gallery of Art, the Capitol, library or congress and the lincoln memorial.

Also, a very newbie question:
Once we get to a metro station for say the
blue line, are there different blue trains
depending on the direction, i.e north, south,
east, west.

Thanks!

I will answer what I can. Using the metro, you have to walk about 10-15 minutes to get to the Lincoln Memorial. It is not a short walk but isn't all that bad. I have not used Tourmobile but did use Old Town Trolley. I would guess the trolley would stop closer. Either should put you right at the Museum of Natural History, since there is a metro stop very near. There is at least one metro stop pretty close to the Capitol. There will be a train going in each direction for each line. Just watch the signs and see which train you need based on the direction you are headed (look at the end point of the train).

I should have said that the trolley is likely to stop right at the Lincoln Memorial, not just closer.

The Tourmobile will drop you off closer to locations on it's route, which pretty much is along the National Mall, whereas the Metro (rail) has fewer stations in that area. You might look into the MetroBUS routes however.

The Foggy Bottom is not real close to Lincoln Memorial, but certainly walkable. If you go to websites, you'll find what Metro station is closest to each venue you're considering. EG: Federal Triangle might be closest to American History, while Federal Center SW closest to American Indian. I think the Smithsonian is www.si.edu

Subway directions? Look at the destination of the train you are looking to board. For example, if you are at the Metrocenter station, and looking to board a Red line to Union Station, you'd look to board trains bound for GLENMONT. If you were going from Union Station to Foggy Bottom, you'd get on the Red Line bound for Shady Grove (or Grosvenor or Rockville - all in the same direction) and take the subway three stations to METROCENTER, transferring to

a BLUE line bound for Franconia / Springfield or
an ORANGE line bound for VIENNA

There will be large maps in the stations, and in the subway cars themselves. In addition, on the platforms and/or tops of the excalators there will be posts with signs stating some of the stops the trains are bound for.

it's really a very simple system and you'll pick up right away. There's a website www.stationmasters.com that gives great info, as well as the metro system itself, www.wmata.com

One more thing. The one disadvantage to trolleys is that sometimes they can get full, although I am sure that can vary by time of year. It is possible to wait for a while before catching another. I have often used taxis to and from the Lincoln Memorial when extremely tired or pressed for time. They are not too expensive and can fill in nicely when needed.

For the National Gallery of Art, the 2 nearby metro stops (Archives or Judiciary Sq) are about 5 minutes walk.

I usually get off the Metro at Arlington Cemetery and walk across the bridge to the Lincoln Memorial. More scenic than the walk from Foggy Bottom. Just be careful to note the closing hours of this station if you are out at night as it closes early.

<<Subway directions? Look at the destination of the train you are looking to board. For example, if you are at the Metrocenter station, and looking to board a Red line to Union Station, you'd look to board trains bound for GLENMONT.>>

Better to say look for SIGNS that say Glenmont - the actual train may say Silver Spring if it's not going all the way to Glenmont. It would still be a train you could take to Union Station...

Thanks for clarification, Bardo - it was the signposts I meant, not the sign ON the train itself. In fact, that's why I mentionned Grosvenor, as I think some of the trains only go that far. I failed to expand on it.

Thanks for the many replies!

I know there have been many threads
on this...

For someone wanting to visit
the cathedral, the Library of Congress and few museums of the Smithsonian,
what would be the best place to stay?

I have been bouncing around from Georgetown, metro center, Alexandria, etc. These are all different neighborhoods.

Actually, I haven't booked, yet, but will do soon and wanted any feedback.

Thanks again!

If you'll be taking the Metro a lot, then Metro Center would be a good choice, and Georgetown would be very inconvenient (though not as bad as it used to be; there is a new shuttle bus).

I would strongly recommend that you get yourself a map that shows the center of DC, with Metro stops (and preferably the colored lines connecting them) for planning your trip and your daily itineraries.

<<For someone wanting to visit
the cathedral, the Library of Congress and few museums of the Smithsonian,
what would be the best place to stay>>

Dupont Circle area would be my choice.

Metro Center area and Penn quarter are also good. I agree that Georgetown is not convenient.

Avoid any place on the south side of the National Mall - better to stay in a nicer area and MEtro to the Smithsonain buildings there.