kayd

The memorials are especially lovely at night, and if you are here during a hot spell you'll appreciate the cooler temps for your outdoor activity. They aren't well served by metro, so taxi would make sense for returning to your hotel.

Nelson

Meyer, if you are interested I wrote a TR of our trip:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...trip-to-dc.cfm

My photos are now here:
http://nelsonchenkin.zenfolio.com/p99789887

Have a great trip. We want to go back!

Myer

kayd,
I was in Washington close to 30 years ago. I remember some of the sights but I think the scale is much larger than I remember.

I do remember there as a transportation shuttle that wasn't for sightseeing but for transportation. It was very inexpensive (even for those days). I don't think it exists anymore in that form.

Nelson,
By the way great photos and I read your report. Some of your top things are high on your list.

We're in good shape so walking all day on a trip is the norm.

I can see my wife getting to bed and reading a book while I go out to the Mall for some nighttime views and photos.

I'm not sure if I'm better walking from Farragut West to the Mall or taking a Metro to one of the stops on the Blue Line and spend an hour or two walking around.

tchoiniere

That shuttle is definitely gone. There are tours but are too expensive and not worth it. Your hotel is not far from the White House so its an easy walk to the West end of the Mall for the Monuments and Memorials but farther from the Capitol and some of the museums so its a quick Metro ride to them.

I agree with doing the Monuments at night giving you more time for museums , etc

tomfuller

Here's the map. http://dctransitguide.com/static/ima...system_map.png
If you get on at Union station (red line) you have to transfer at Metro Center to either the blue or orange line to get to Farragut West.
I like the idea of taking the Metro to Union Station in the morning and coming up to ground level. Walk south to the Capitol Building and then west toward the Washington Monument. Be sure to see the WW2 Memorial.

kja

BTW. the Farragut West stop of the blue/orange line is very close to the Farragut North stop of the red line, which may be more convenient for certain things. Check maps and the wmata route planner to see your options.

Myer

kja,
I realize that. I've looked at most of the sights and maybe a couple of things are just above the Mall.

I'll keep that in mind.

kja

Glad to hear that, Myer! It seems to me that FAR too many visitors to the area wait for a subway when they could easily walk to where they want to go, or vice versa.

Enjoy your trip!

Myer

Some interesting tidbits I've discovered.

Although the Metro / Smartrip web site indicates the Smartrip card cost $10 with $5 for the card and $5 as the initial amount on the card, it has changed to $2 & $8.

A Senior Smartrip card can be purchased at Metro Center which is slightly less than a 20 minute walk from our area of Farragut West. That may or may not be worth wasting the time on such a short trip.

Two people "together" can't use the same card (financially that would be more efficient because two people could use the same balance) since the reading machines are programmed not to permit a double swipe within a certain period of time. I can understand that since many people probably inadvertently double-swiped their cards and got charged twice.

On the positive side, it pays to somewhat over-load a card as you can send the card back for refund of the balance after the
trip as long as you live more than a certain distance from DC.

vjpblovesitaly

You have to swipe on the way in and out. That is one reason two people can't use it. It is not like NYC and Boston where you pay one amount and that is it. The fare is registered at departure.

I don't know what you are talking about with respect to the "double-swiped" accidents. The machine would likely tell you to see an agent if you tried to use it twice in a row on the way in or out.

tomfuller

I picked up a couple of refrigerator magnets at the Forest Service Information center. I put them in my pants pocket before I realized that my Metro card was in that pocket. I had to see the agent to get in and out. The first agent wrote on it so that I could get out at my last destination.
Don't expose the card to a magnet!
The Forest Service Info Center is a red brick building SE of the Washington Monument. It looks a bit strange among all that marble. Sometimes it has Smokey Bear outside the door.
Smokey's office is inside.

Myer

tom,
Funny incident but I'm not so sure funny at the time.

Italy,
that makes sense as the fares could vary based on start / end of trip.

Maybe the people who programmed that system should have been hired to do some others.

NewbE

<you can send the card back for refund of the balance after the
trip >
Or you can just save it for your next trip, right?

I have a small collection of paper fare cards from my annual trips there; for no good reason, I have never bothered to get a SmartTrip card, and FWIW the paper cards are fine to use.

tchoiniere

The only issue with the paper cards is now the $1 surcharge every time you use one compared to SmartTrip cards.

NewbE

Good point! Maybe this is my year, finally.

obxgirl

The only issue with the paper cards is now the $1 surcharge every time you use one compared to SmartTrip cards.

And the fact that they demagnetize when you look cross eyed at them. And Metro makes it a tedious bureaucratic exercise to get a replacement.

The SmarTrip cards have a chip and are much sturdier. No magnetic strip.

I would certainly use up paper fare cards if I had them.

NewbE

I have actually never had one demagnetize, not in the 15 years I lived in DC, and not in all the years of visiting since. I know it can happen, but IME it isn't as common as all that.

The other reasons for the SmarTrip cards are good ones, of course.

eliztravels2

>>Senior SmarTrip cards are sold only in a few locations, with limited service hours,

eliztravels2

For getting around DC I can recommend Fodor's small guide book: Washington DC's 25 Best. Normally I find guide books too big and too detailed but this little one, about 4" x 8", has been great for planning my first trip. The front flat has a plasticized fold out map showing the various neighbourhoods, and also a map of the metro lines. There is a pocket in the back holding a larger street map. All the major sites are clearly shown and there are recommended walks, restaurants etc. for each district. Normally I find it difficult to 'get the lay of the land' but this has made it possible to get a sense of where everything is in relation to everything else.

Myer

We're staying just below the Farragut West metro station.

What type of area is this? Evenings? Restaurants nearby, etc? Thanks.