I'm headed to D.C. on Wednesday, March 19th with 2 teenage girls. Looking for help with the metro and other information. I live on the Eastern Shore, MD and will drive to the New Carrollton metro station and ride in to D.C. on that. I'm looking for the best stop to get off in D.C. We are spending the day walking around and seeing the monuments. We want to see the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, etc. I know the Washington and Lincoln are on opposite ends of the Mall and I realize there is a lot of walking between the two, but also a lot to see. If we walk from one end to the other are there metro stops close to either end, or do we just get off at the Washington, walk to the Lindoln and then back to Washington Monument to get back on the metro? Also, any decent places to eat in that area, not too expensive? I would pack a lunch but don't want to haul that around all day. One more thing, anyone have any good websites that I could check out to get a street map of the area (would hate to lose my way with 2 girls in tow) and where I can print out information on the memorials & monuments so that when they ask me questions I can sound like I know what I'm talking about.

Thanks!

For info on the Washington Metro system, check www.wmata.com. It will have maps and you can use the Trip Planner feature to find out exactly how to get where you want to go; how long it will take; and how much it will cost.
Enjoy your visit!

You might also consider taking a TourMobile which will let you on/off at all the major sites.

Otherwise a couple of good off-metro stops might be Smithsonian or Federal Triangle

The Washington, Lincoln and Vietnam memorials are all within easy walking distance of each other, so don't worry about that. I would just stop for lunch at a Cosi.

You might want to check at your library for a guide book about DC. Some have maps in them also. I like the National Geographic series myself.

Ok, now I hope I don't sound too stupid asking this question. But.... I'm assuming the metro trains will have their destinations on the front or something. Like I know I want the orange line, and I'll get on at New Carrollton, which is the end of the line, and ride to Smithsonian. When returning and I get on at Smithsonian will it say the destination is New Carrollton? I don't want to ride the wrong way and head to the other end of the line. Sorry, country girl here, I can get you around my back roads, you know turn left at Mr. Johnson's red barn, but the whole metro/city thing makes me nervous and I want to know what I'm doing before we head out.

Thanks!!

Here is a site where you can find all the stops of the metro.

http://www.stationmasters.com/System...ystem_map.html

Right in the middle of the map is the Smithsonian stop, for us, traveling with infant and 8 year old, it was the best one. It was pretty much in the middle of the museum Mall. Pretty close to the Wash. memorial. If you click on the station it will bring up the actual street map of the area.

The walk from the Wash Mem. to Lincoln to Jefferson is all doable but not very short. Jefferson is the one that is the most out of the way. But if an 8 year old can do it so can your teens.

Our emails got crossed. What you have to know when you head back is just the last stop for the orange line, if your stop is along that way, that is the direction you want to head in, and since the last one for the orange line IS N. Carrolton it is easy to see which one to get on.

“When returning and I get on at Smithsonian will it say the destination is New Carrollton?”

That is correct, you will get on the Orange line heading to New Carrollton on your way back. It will say New Carollton on the side of the train, but there is also a board which will say when the next line is coming, the color (I think) and its destination (usually, sometimes they are down). The front of the train will say “orange.”

Since there are two lines that run through the Smithsonian, don’t be afraid to ask somebody on the platform if the train pulling up is the orange line if you don't see the signs.

Thank you so much everyone!! I'm a single mom and while I've done this trip before it's always been with a school field trip or with other people. Never where I was the one responsible for making sure I knew how to get where I was going and while I'm not afraid to venture out of my "norm" like so many of my friends are, I do like to be prepared. Thank you again, you have all been so helpful!!! Now if I can just get the weather to cooperate! lol

Hi -- Just to allay your fears -- my family was able to ride the Metro with no problems last summer. You'll be able to do it just fine. Just get a copy of the colored map that shows all of the metro lines and study it a bit ahead of time, and you will do great. I think you can print one out from the Metro website.

The best map for you would be a detailed street map of downtown DC that also includes the Metro stops. My favorite was one that had colored lines for the Metro imposed over the streets; somehow this helped with planning how to get from Point A to Point B. Most street maps of DC also have a little basic Metro map in a corner someplace.

If it nots too late, I have a suggestion.

1. Metro from New Carrolton to the Smithsonian Station. Wander along/through the Mall the the Smithsinian Museums toward the memorials - bascially making your way west.

2. After you've reached your westernmost point, whether it's the Lincoln Memorial or the FDR - TAKE A TAXI back to the US Capitol. Have the txi drop you off at the east side of the Capitol if you are planning to see the Supreme Court (SC) and/or Library of Congress (LOC) or the west side if you plan to skip the SC or LOC.

3. Continue exploring the Mall area (Air&Space, Nat'l Gallery of Art, etc.) by wandering west back toward the Smithsonian station.

A taxi from the Lincoln/FDR area to the US Capitol will: a) be easy to hail, b) cost less than $10 for the 3 of you, c) save a LOT of walking/backtracking, and be the wisest $8 or so you will have spent that day.

Plan to have lunch somewhere along the Mall area - there is nothing (save rancid hotdog stands) west of the Washington Monument. In addition to the Smithsonian cafeterias (I like the Nat'l Gallery of Art's food the best), there are many, many, restaurants just north of Penn. Ave between 6th and 14th St just a few blocks north of the Mall.

Bardo's plan is really good. The best food on the mall, I think, is in the Museum of the American Indian, which is at the Capitol end of the mall. I agree that the food at the National Gallery is good, too.

The food court at the Smithsonian's American Indian museum is arranged in sections having American Indian food from different regions of the continent. It is both tasty and educational - IMO the best food in the area.

Thanks for the tip Bardo. Don't laugh, but I have only every ridden in a taxi 2 times in my life. Once in London and there we stood in a que and waited for the taxis to come to us. Second time was in NYC, where my daughter and I were with a friend who is much more worldly than me. LOL

Park at the New Carrollton Metro stop but park in the private lot or the PG County lot and not the Metro lots. You have to own a pass to park in a Metro lot. As a visitor, you don't want to buy a pass.

Smithsonian is probably the best station to get off at. If you want to swing by the White House, perhaps Farragut West or McPherson Square.

Downtown DC is filled with sandwich shops. Near where I work, the Bread Line(18th and Pennsylvania) is popular with outdoor seating. Ditto Brown Bag at 18th and Eye. For variety, there is a food court underneath the building at 1825 Eye near the Farragut West stop with a variety of ethnic foods- Greek, Cuban, Chinese, Italian, Five Guys Hamburgers, Cajun and Mexican.

There are usually taxis below the Lincoln Memeorial on 23rd St. between the Lincoln Memorial and Independence. There are also some taxis on W. Basin Drive at the entrance to the FDR. Also, you can easily hail a taxi heading east on Constitution Ave. just north of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

" Don't laugh, but I have only every ridden in a taxi 2 times in my life."

I have a 47 year old sister who has never been in a taxi!

I like this map because it gives you a good idea of the scale of the buildings around the Mall and the distances between them. Place the arrow over a building to find out its name. Then press the right mouse button to get more information. The map also shows the Metro stop locations.

http://birdseye.octo.dc.gov/main.html