Washington, DC – Part One

I live about 45 minutes from Washington, DC. But when I realized I wasn’t going to be able to travel outside of my area last summer, I knew there was a lot of exploring I could do in my own backyard.

How could this be? I actually lived in Washington, DC for a couple of years and worked there for six. I’ve also been living nearby for over 40 (gulp) years. And don’t get me wrong, I’ve explored around over the years. But the truth is, you start to take things for granted when it’s always there. And new places have been built over the years.

So I set a plan and decided to start exploring in one of the most powerful places in our land, if not the world, Washington, DC. While we may not always agree with the power that this place yields (politics, politics, politics) there’s no denying that just driving into the city evokes that feeling of grandeur. But first you must understand how to approach this place. After all, it is like no other place in the world.

Logistics

• Driving Into the City

It can be daunting to think about exploring Washington, DC. It’s not a very big city but like all the cities out there, parking can be a nightmare. Couple that with the absolute worst traffic of about any place in the US and you’re looking at a rough go of things.

Seriously folks, if you want to drive into DC, you better plan on doing at the right time of the day. Avoid Friday’s at all cost, they tend to be the worst for traffic. And the summer months, there really is no good time. Even locals like me screw up sometimes and sit and sit and sit in traffic. Sometimes it’s well beyond your control and they decide to do construction work at the worst time or there’s an accident. This can cause any good plan to go sour.

So, if you’re planning on driving into DC from the south suburbs, here are some things you need to know. Please note, I have zero experience heading in from Maryland or from any other direction.

HOV/Express Lanes (same thing)

We survive this crazy traffic jungle by using the Express Lanes or also referred to as the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. You DO NOT want to travel about any other way.

You can travel on these lanes if you have a transponder in your car and there are at least three people with you. You can also travel on these lanes without three people in your vehicle if you want to pay whatever the rate is for the day/time you’re using them. This varies and to find out all the ins and outs you can go here. The link will also give you information on where to purchase one.

Another thing to note when traveling on the HOV lanes is that the lanes go in different directions at different times. And as I found out the hard way, at different times of the year. For example, at some point (I think around May) they change from heading South to North at around 10 a.m.. And that time changes (maybe September?) to 11 a.m. if I remember correctly.

I, a veteran of many, many years living here, did not know this. As a result, I found myself sitting in traffic that I totally could have avoided. When I called the VA Dept of Transportation (VDOT), they helped me realize my goof. The link above will have all the information you need and even a way to get a hold of someone if you need to. Another resource that can also give you real time traffic stats is called Express Lanes . There is also an app version.

Parking, beep, beep!

 

If you do indeed drive into the city, the other thing you need to take into consideration is where you are going to park. As with any city, this can quickly turn into a nightmare. The easiest way I have found to locate parking is to use one of the parking apps like Best Parking or SpotHero.

These apps are amazing. Not only can you locate parking near where you want to visit for the day but you can also see the best prices on a map. They are super simple to use too.

You can book your spot and pay on the app and just drive right up and show or scan your barcode. Sometimes I had to leave my car with a valet to park and other times I just drove into a parking garage, scanned my code and found a spot. The apps are simply brilliant, love them.

If you’re going to be super brave and try to find street parking, you need to have the ParkMobile app. Using this app, you are able to pay for your parking by zone. No need to carry coins or use a credit card at the meter.

You simply enter in the zone with a credit card you authorize on your phone and voila, you’re done. But make sure you get the zone number correct as I got dinged on this. The ParkMobile app also claims that you can book spots ahead like Best Parking or SpotHero. I have never used it for this purpose but it’s worth checking out.

• Metro, bus, tour guides

If you are staying at a hotel near or in the city, there are a ton of options available to you. You can use the Metro (subway) if there is one nearby. Another great option is to take a bus into the city or use one to get around while in the city. And of course there are taxis, Uber and Lyft.

There is also a train that commuters use called the Virginia Railway Express (VRE). This one is a bit trickier as it only operates during certain hours and has limited stops but is definitely a unique and fun option. Especially if you have young children with you.

Then there are the tried and true tour buses. While a little on the pricier side, especially if there are several people in your party, they can be a great option and well worth the money. We used a tour bus when we went into Los Angeles and not only did we get some history of the city but we just sat back and enjoyed the ride. There was no traffic to fight and it was a win win all the way around. The only negative is that you’re not in control of your own schedule.

Once you’re in the city, another great option is the hop on/hop off buses. We actually used one of those the first time we started exploring last summer. I wanted the kids to have an overview of the city before we started the trek on our own. We also used this service in New Orleans. The big plus is usually there is parking for your car before you start the tour.

What To Do?

• Museums, museums, museums. My kids were sick of them by the end of the summer. And the good thing about museums in Washington, DC? They’re absolutely free. Yep, you heard that right, free. And if you pack a lunch for the day, even better.
  

  They’re made of chocolate!

• If you have a nice day, hanging out on the mall is a great option and also a free past time. You could pack a picnic lunch, fly a kite, throw a Frisbee, walk around and admire the monuments. The options are endless. It’s also good if you just want to relax from days of exploring. There is also a carousel on the mall. Even my teenagers still enjoy taking  a spin on it. And it’s very reasonably priced.
• There are some water activities you can partake in. These can be found right in the city as well as on the outskirts. The Potomac River borders Washington, DC and there are things to do and fun ways to get around.
• And speaking of water, there is the famous waterfront where you can partake in fresh seafood. They’ve also revived most of it and there are hip and trendy restaurants and places to grab a quick treat like ice cream and donuts. 

There are many other places to explore around the city too. We were able to move between DC and the National Harbor via a water taxi (pic above). You can also take it over to Alexandria and a few other stops.

There are also outdoor exhibits to see around the tidal basin, the White House, the National Monument, the Zoo, Mount Vernon and on and on and on. We had the whole summer and made several trips in and around the city and we still have more to do.

And once you’ve been to an art gallery or museum, the next time you go you’ll likely experience a new exhibit you haven’t seen. Also, depending on the time of year, the scenery will change. At Christmastime we saw 50 trees for each of the states in front of the White House. Summer at the Botanical Gardens brings beautiful flowers and winter has a magical new display every year.

I hope this gives you a general rundown of the city and how to maneuver around it. There is too much to cover in just one post. In Part Two, I will share with you the things we did while visiting the city last summer. So stay tuned :-).

{HUGS} from the Crew!