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| *Travel Tips>>>Washington, D.C. Travel Tips |
Things to do in Washington D.C. in 2 days for cheap? |
Travel Info I'm 17. My 15 year old brother, my mother, and I will be going to D.C. for 2 days from California. Our real destination is Ethiopia, which is why we will be there for such a short amount of time. Nonetheless, we would like to make the most of it. What are things that can be done/seen there? Preferably places not too far from one another... We will be staying in Manassas, VA which is about 30 minutes from D.C. and that's honestly all the transportation money we're willing to spend. Stopping at D.C. was a last minute decision, so the cheaper, the better :) Thanks. Travel Tips Manassas VA is pretty far out to the west meaning you are flying into Dulles Airport. Unfortunately there isn't a direct public transportation from Manassas into the heart of the Nation's Capitol but (i) there are commuter buses in the morning and late afternoon except I don't honestly know if they sell individual fares one-way or roundtrip; (ii) the closest Metrorail stop on the Orange Line going to/from DC is Vienna and I believe there is also shuttle bus running from Falls Church (also Metro stop) to Dulles Airport. Basically in order to keep your transportation costs to a minimum, your BEST BET is to find a hotel (to incl ones in western Fairfax) that does offer shuttle not only to/from Dulles Airport but also to the Metrorail Vienna stop in Fairfax bec otherwise you are limited to taking a taxi or bus or combination to get to the last Metrorail Stop. FYI you will know the driver is going in the right direction bec the Orange Line metrorail line and all its stops run parallel to I-66 interstate. You did not say or specify what time your flight from Calif arrived, or your flight overseas is departing bec that too is critical considering the lag time you need to allow yourself to going back to your hotel, checking in/out & moving your luggage so you don't miss your flights. It's certainly not like overseas but don't get the wrong impression it's hop skip and jump unless you have a rental car or paying for an expensive taxi ride If you decide just to stay around Manassas probably one place to consider visting is the new Air & Space Museum Annex that has its own exit off Route 28 that runs between Dulles Airport and Manassas. FYI if even though they have widen that corridor, traffic is horrible and crawls along that stretch in Manassas esp which is why you might want to try looking for lodging in Fairfax or Fair Lakes. If you do venture into Washington DC, the the Smithsonian museums has many bldgs and doesn't require adv tickets like other interesting sights like the White House, Washington Monument or visting Congress on Capitol Hill. FYI the Holocaust Museum as well as the Bureau of Printing & Engraving are all located close and within walking distance of the Smithsonian Metro stop are definitely good choices as well! Best of Luck and Enjoy Your Vacation ;<) Others i live in dc you and your family should visit the Holocaust museum, the monument the capitol and the Smithsonian museums which are all located on or in a few blocks radius of the national mall oh and by the way you should visit the spy museum and the bodies exhibit that is located in VA live here Well, from Manassas to DC you'll have to get yourself into the city by a car or get a ride to the metro etc. As far as things to see that's close by that's cheap--there's the Smithsonians on the national mall. You have: The castle, Museum of National History, National Art Gallery, the Capitol, Library of Congress (get a library card for free at the madison building), the arboreteum, the Museum of the native american, the air and space, the hirshorn museum, the freer gallery etc. All within a mile of each other. Then the next day you could do a tour of the Washington Monument; Jefferson, Lincoln Monument and the vietnam memorial. After the Vietnam memorial, walk over the bridge to Arlington National Cemetary and spend the rest of the day there. Total cost as long as you walk to each place? Nada, nothing, everything is free to get into. Also, there's a Civil War Battlefield in Manassas(battle of bull run) thats worth seeing. Its free too. Take the Metro orange line to the Federal Triangle stop. This will leave you off a couple blocks from the Mall (park, not a shopping mall), or to the Smithsonian stop which will leave you off at - well - The Smithsonian. All the museums on the mall are FREE. Museum of Natural History (amazing), National Air and Space Museum, Museum of American History, etc., etc. There are many, and they are free. Also walk around the Mall and see all of the monuments - Jefferson, Washigton, Lincoln, etc. There will be no shortage of things you can do in DC for free. Manassas is actually closer to an hour out of DC, longer in rush hour traffic. I'd recommend metro, but I'm not sure it meets your guidelines. It will cost about $4 a day to park and about $3.50 each way to ride into downtown on Metro. Parking in the city itself is more problematic and can be quite expensive. There is a one day pass $6.50 per day, which would be useful to you if you are traveling at or after 9:30 AM. The good news is once in DC most of the major attractions are FREE. Yes, you read that right, free. The museums, the monuments and memorials and the government buildings: All Free. Try taking Metro to the Smithsonian station. One end of the mall, from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, then around to the Jefferson Monument on the Tidal Basin, is littered with great Monuments. The other side, between the Washington Monument and the Capitol, is just chock full of fascinating free museums. Since you are on your way to Ethiopia, you might immerse yourself in the African Art Museum, or any of 8 or 10 others that are right here. Only a block away is Pennsylvania AVenue, with the Archives, Navy Memorial, Freedom Plaza and others. Beyond the Capitol is the Library of Congress and Supreme Court. Inexpensive food can be easily had in the food courts at Union Station (north of the Capitol), The Reagan International Trade Building (north of the National Museum of American History) or the post office (north of the National Museum of Natural History.) But consider, if you get those day passes, traveling on the red line to Adams Morgan (get off at Woodley Park Zoo, go southwest over the Ellington Bridge to Columbia Road, then walk down 18th street) and try one of DC's well known and wonderful Ethiopian eateries. Or mexican, or latin, or Thai, or chinese, or indian, or. . . . . . If you don't want to travel so far, there are two sights fairly near you in Manassas, which are also free. Right near Dulles Airport, you can visit the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, a wonderful museum of aircraft and space flight history. Also right in the are of Manassas is the Manassas National Battefield. If you have any interest in the United States' Civil War this is a must-do. http://www.washingtontravelcast.com... |
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