Washington DC over Memorial day
 

I'm travelling by car to DC with 3 grown sons over Memorial Day, <BR> staying 7 days. Does anyone know anything about Washington Suites <BR> Alexandria in Alexandria? It has suites, a pool, free breakfast and shuttle service <BR> to the metro. Is it really too far from the DC area to be travelling back and forth <BR> each day? Also have heard different things about White House tours. Any good <BR> advice as we haven't contacted any reps or senators about passes. <BR> <BR> If Alexandria is too far out any suggestions for same type of deal. I'd rather not <BR> have to pay for daily parking in downtown. <BR> <BR> Thanks for any information <BR>

I can't speak for the hotel, but I am sure you will find that metro will give you quick, pleasant and easy access to the places you want to see in DC. <BR> <BR>So far as the White House tour, being a long-time resident of the area, I fear you will find that a half day or more would be chewed up with this, if you could do it at all, this time of year, without special passes. You will spend hours and hours waiting on line with nothing to see during your wait. For a weekend visit, I would HIGHLY recommend getting tickets for one of the tourmobile/trolley deals which take you to all the best places to visit, where you can hop off and on as often as you like, visiting the things you want to see. Plus, even just riding it and looking around this time of year is a wonderful experience! <BR> <BR>Be sure to see the FDR Memorial, visit the Mall where the museums are (and take your pick of art, history, air and space--even a quick visit is wondrous), and the Vietnam memorial is awe inspiring. <BR> <BR>Save the White House tour for another visit when you have more time and have seen the other major sights. <BR> <BR>Whatever you do, it's a great time to visit and you'll thoroughly enjoy yourself. <BR> <BR>

Oops, I re-read your post and saw that you were staying for SEVEN days, not a weekend. Do the tourmobile thing anyway--and check into the White House tour deal for later in your visit. With a 7-day visit, you've got the time! Just know that you'll invest the better part of a day doing it!

Staying in Alexandria will be wonderful. And Old Town Alexandria is a great place to visit when you want to relax by the water and get out of the city. The heart of DC is only about 7 metro stops away from King Street in Alexandria. <BR> <BR>I've heard that you have to get in line around 7 am for tickets to see the White House, but the tour is worth the wait. <BR> <BR>You may want to look at Smithsonian's website to find out what exhibits interest you and your sons. The Air and Space Museum has awesome movies in their huge movie theatre. I highly recommend going there! Have fun!

DC over Memorial Day is up there with DC over the 4th of July! <BR> <BR>I can't be the only one who still gets goosebumps and choked up at crisp, flag filled Arlington Natl. Cemetery/Tomb of the Unk Soldier's Changing of the Guard; Viet Nam/Korean et al Memorials over Memorial Day? Beautiful! <BR> <BR>We love the WH tour. I hear there are a few scams with people "selling" you tics. They are free from your Reps. <BR> <BR>As Chris mentions, Alex. Va is just a short Metro hop into DC. You'll actually pass the Arlington NatlCem. stop on the way in. <BR> <BR>The tourmoblie was another way we got around, even tho walking all over the Mall area is our preferred mode...unless it's 95 degrees with 90% humidity! <BR> <BR>We haven't been back since the FDR memorial has been opened. Can't wait. <BR> <BR>In addition to all the usual DC tourist things, drop by the Torpedo Factory while in Alexandria. We stop in every trip and come away seeing colors the rest of the day. <BR>Mahalo, <BR>Kal <BR>

Do the trolley tour, not the Tourmobile. There are more stops on the trolley, and it's open so you can enjoy the beautiful city and probable beautiful weather.

I've never heard of Washington Suites. Are you sure it isn't Embassy Suites? If it is Washington, what is the address? If the hotel is in Old Town, and the shuttle is to Braddock Road or King Street, it's about a 20-minute ride into the tourist sites. If you're coming from Huntingdon, Van Dorn or Eisenhower stops, add at least another 5-10 minutes (well, less than 5 from Eisenhower). It's not horribly far from the city. North Arlington is closer, but Old Town's a great neighborhood in itself. If you're not in Old Town, though, I would go somewhere else. <BR> <BR>Two things, the wait at the White Hous most definitely is NOT worth the wait. It's a very short tour and you don't get to see much. Most people on these site seem to have the same opinion. <BR> <BR>Tourmobiles are also open, and the tour is better than the Trolley. And if I remember, a Trolley blew up a couple of years ago. <BR> <BR>

Oh, heavens about the trolley blowing up. Two years ago, one caught fire. Whoo. Not to beat a point to death, but the stops on the Tourmobile are: Arlington Cemetary; Kennedy graves; Tomb of the Unknowns; Arlington House; Kennedy Center; Vietnam Memorial; Lincoln Memorial; White House; Washington Monument; five of the museums on the mall; Bonatic Gardens; Union Station; U.S. Capital (including Library of Congress and Supreme Court); Bureau of Engraving and Printing (where they make money); Holocaust Museum; Jefferson Memorial; FDR Memorial; Old Post Office Pavilion; FBI Building; Ford's Theatre; National Archives; National Portrait Gallery; MCI Center. Brochures say 24 stops, some of the above are combined. <BR> <BR>Trolley Tours includes all of the above plus Washington Cathedral (fantastic), Georgetown, the National Zoo, and Embassy Row. <BR> <BR>Have fun either way. <BR> <BR>

Let's see. Drive all the way to D.C. and NOT go into the White House? <BR> <BR>Would you go to Rome and not go into the Coliseum or Paris and the Eiffel Tower because the lines were too long? <BR> <BR>If you haven't been to the White House, you should at least try it and form your own opinion, IMHO.

I walked by the White House the other day and there was about a 1/4 mile long line. <BR> <BR>If you like gardens, the National Arboretum and Dumbarton Oaks is great. Dumbarton Oaks also has a free museum with Roman, Byzantine, and pre-Columbian art. Neither are downtown or near Metro stops, so you probably would need to drive

Cheryl, <BR> <BR>All above advise is good. Contact your congressman's office and request passes to the Whitehouse. They may also be able to get you into the gallery at the capital. <BR> <BR>Washington Suites Alexandria is not in Old Town. It is not really close to anything being just off Duke Street East of Landmark Mall. I'm sure it is a very good hotel, but IMHO not a good location for a tourist. I think you would be happier in Old Town or in the downtown area.

Add my vote to the people who say to skip the White House. The unguided tour is just not worth the trouble, in my opinion. Yes, it's a shame to come to DC and not see the White House. I'd suggest that you visit us again when you have enough notice to get White House tickets rather than surrender a whole lot of time to see something that will disappoint you. <BR> <BR>On the Tourmobile vs. Trolley debate, I'm a Tourmobile fan, so I've never done the Trolley. For one day of touring, I don't think the extra stops on the Trolley make much difference. If you're only looking for an easy way to see the mall, the non-mall stops aren't very helpful, IMHO. Also, the Zoo is accessible by metro, and I question whether your adult sons would be that interested in the zoo. <BR> <BR>One warning about the Tourmobile, though. They have a mini-tourmobile that takes you off the mall to things like Ford's theatre. The bus they use was small, terribly crowded, and ran infrequently. Better to stick to the mall. Also, I thought the Tourmobile is an excellent way to see Arlington Cemetery.

I am a Tourmobile fan. We got to D.C. every couple of years with our kids and they get so tired with all the walking between stops and then inside the various museums. Plus I love seeing the sites that way....the tour guides give some great background information (some is funny and had the kids tickled!) The one thing I would not do again is wait for the tourmobile to pick us up after seeing Ford's Theatre (which we really liked seeing). One tourmobile passed us because it was full and we waited 1/2 hour for another one until we looked down the street and realized we could easily walk about 3 blocks and be back at the mall at the Natural History Museum.... a long wait for a short walk! Have fun!

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I was in Washington D.C. for Memorial Day last year. I went out to Arlington National Cemetery on the morning of Memorial Day to hear the President gives an address in the Amphitheater. I'm assuming that this is done every year. If so, you might want to try to attend since you'll be staying right in Arlington. Just be sure to get there early. <BR>

You may not want to cross the National Zoo off your list of stops. The Pandas are a delight.

Yes, tell us exactly wher you're staying in Old Town ... isn't Embassy Suites across the street from the King Street Station. You just do not need a car in DC. The subway is your answer. Do watch the weather ... it's cool and rainy, and the frogs said said seven more days of it this morning. Tour the White House unless it means standing in line for more than one hour. Get a Zagat's for restaurants. If the Tourmobile or Trolley is expensive, walk. Most things are close by, and taxis are cheap (use as needed). Have a great trip. Ciao

Near Landmark Mall is a very bad location for tourists. Not easily accessible to anything touristy (I live a couple of miles from there, I know). Try Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn or the Hilton in Old Town. Or Quality Inn in Courthouse (North Arlington). I think there's a Holiday Inn in Ballston (also North Arlington). <BR> <BR>I'm not advocating avoiding the White House because of the lines, it's because the tour is a complete disappointment. A couple of rooms, that's it. You don't really get a good sense of being in the White House unless you get one of those behind the scenes tours, which you can only get typically if you know someone who works there, or can pull some other strings. The White House looks so much better from the outside, anyway.

Since you'll be here over Memorial Day weekend, you might want to check out the National Symphony Orchestra's free concert on the Mall (actually the West lawn of the Capitol) on Sunday evening at 8:00. It's crowded, but fun. Actually, what sometimes is even better is the rehearsal before - same music, smaller crowd. It's on Friday at 7:30, although it's cancelled if the weather is bad.