Jan 14, 2009 11:36 - By: Sebastien Tobler
By Sebastien Tobler of Colliding Continents
For those of you who do not know DC very well, it is important to note that there are going to be a significant amount of road closures in the city. In fact all the major bridges coming in from Virginia will be closed inauguration day. Authorities are only allowing taxis and public transportation access on these bridges. That being said, here is a map of the Metro Rail system in Washington. It is very simple and you will get the hang of it after a couple of rides. Below is a copy of the Metro Rail Map.
Washington D.C. Metro Map
The Metro system will be very crowded, I used it this morning and police were already in place on the major stops controlling traffic. Please be mindful of this as it would impact your travel time. If you are lucky enough to be staying south of Dupont Circle I highly recommend you walk to the Capitol.
Taxi cabs are a great option but traffic is no doubt going to be especially congested within the Beltway (That is DC talk for Interstate 495 which circles the District). You should be happy to note, however, that DC cabs just recently switched from zone fare to metered fares (this is a great conversation starter amongst DC folks by the way as it was a heated issue). This is great because it is now cheaper to get around DC and you don’t feel like you are getting ‘taken for a ride’ – sorry, I had to.
Remember that the way the mall is structured, splitting DC’s North and South, and considering the sheer volume of people that are expected, try to stay on the side of the National Mall which you intend to exit from. Why? Well, simply because as soon as the inauguration is over there are going to be thousands of people exiting the area as fast as they can. If you are staying in the northern part of the city or need to drive back north towards Maryland try to stay on the north half of the mall (left of the Capitol when looking at the Capitol) and if you are headed back towards Virginia try to stay on the south/left side of the mall.
Please take a look at this Press Release detailing all the details regarding the bridge and street restrictions /closures.
Nov 11, 2008 11:00 - By: Admin
At first glance, the area between The White House and The Washington Memorial known as the National Mall appears immense. In reality it’s a short hike of approximately one mile and it is packed full of things to do and see along the way. The trick is to find them before you’re too tired to care.
Once you’ve walked by all the monuments and peered through the barricades to see the White House, you might find yourself tempted to take a picture with a life-size cut-out of the president and purchase lunch and souvenirs. Once this is done you’ll be broke and the young kids may not be impressed. Don’t be discouraged, I can help add a few free stops along the way that will help keep the little ones interested.
While not directly on the mall this museum is just a short Metro ride away. It’s worth the trip. Who doesn’t love the mail? The Moving the Mail exhibit at the National Postal Museum covers the pony express, stagecoaches, railroads, and planes. This is a great place to explore with children. They can climb inside a stagecoach or hop aboard a re-created railway mail train. There is also a collection of postcards and letters on display in the Art of Cards and Letters gallery. They are often touching and sometimes very funny. Try to corral the kids long enough to read a few of these. It’s worth the time.
If you’re looking for one stop visual amazement, The Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery is the place to go. Created by artist James McNeill Whistler (famous for his mother painting) for a wealthy London shipowner, it is a testament to artistic vision taken to extreme. And it is stunning in an extreme kind of way. Send the kids on a mission to find all the peacocks while you sit and rest contemplate the mind of an artist.
The Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art is a requested stop every time we visit Washington D.C. There is something about the size and unusual shapes of the sculptures that fascinate the little ones in ways Mona Lisa never could. This combined with beautiful plantings and a comfortable bench or two makes it a great place to unwind after one too many security check points.
The Natural History Museum is packed full of exhibits. Everything from animals to insects can be found here. There are also some impressive rocks and fossils. Even if you don’t have the time or energy to see everything at the Natural History Museum, a quick stop to see Henry is a must. Another must see is the above head whale and the fish fossils in The Sant Ocean Hall. It opened in September 2008 and is a very well done interpretive exhibit. It covers ocean life from tiny plankton to giant whales and will give even the smallest visitors an appreciation of the ocean’s ecosystem and the role the oceans plays in our lives.
This is my short list of top stops in Washington, D.C. There are many more kid-friendly attractions that are either free or low cost. I’m always looking for a new place to take the girls. If you have any suggestions let me know.
Photo Credits: A whole sack of thank you notes to Cliff1066 for the mailbag photo. A full stream of gratitude to NCinDC for the Sculpture Garden Fountain Photo.
