DC vacation ideas

[Ducatista]

I would also sugest that you get either a daily or weekly metro pass to save money, since you will be kind of stranded without your vehicle.

Just keep in mind that these passes have limited hours on them.  All of the information can be found on the WMATA website.

[empress duc]

Alexandria, but we could get a ride to the Pentagon each day and use the station there as a starting point.
There is a stop there right?

top 10 ways to look like a local while visiting dc

• on the metro, stand on the right side of the escalator (let commuters pass on the left)
• ... better yet, walk up / down on the left side of the metro escalators with the commuters
• do NOT wear white athletic shoes, a poncho, a backpack (if you're over 25 y.o.), or any combination of the aforementioned items
• leave your camera in your tote bag until you're ready to take a snapshot (the monuments don't move very fast)
• after the snapshot moment, put the camera right back
• leave your umbrella in your bag until you're ready to use it
• if it begins to rain sideways, never mind the umbrella and scamper toward shelter, have coffee
• never hang an umbrella or camera (individually or together) from your elbow at any time
• avoid travel during rush hours (it's cheaper and easier to get around; chill in adams morgan until 7 or 8 pm)
• hang in adams morgan until 11 pm on a weeknight

enjoy the moment  and the surveillance
  ~ empress ~

[ducpenguin]

[

• avoid travel during rush hours (it's cheaper and easier to get around; chill in adams morgan until 7 or 8 pm)
• hang in adams morgan until 11 pm on a weeknight

Very good advice...especially the Adams Morgan part! 

[LMT]

No camera, no umbrella, no (never) poncho, no white athletic shoes, no backpack or bag.  I (we) blend in well.  We have been to DC a dozen times or so over the past 15 years.  We try to hang out in pubs in the early afternoon writing our post cards.  Worked everywhere except London. To much smoke in the bars there.

Thanks for all the great Ideas.  I have vacation fever!   

Mary

[Geaux]

We got a taste of the sideways rain while at the boat house near the Watergate today.  I thought it would be wise to hail a cab home, and my jeans and socks got soaked gradually by the time we were halfway to the intersection, so the umbrella was pointless.  After about 10mins a cab finally stopped for us at that always busy intersection, while the rest were either occupied or didn't care to stop for two ladies in wet t-shirts, I guess.  Our friends waited in the boat house during the intermittent downpours and came out completely dry.  Yes, it stopped raining by the time we got home, < 2mi away.

[Duc Stamp]

top 10 ways to look like a local while visiting dc

• on the metro, stand on the right side of the escalator (let commuters pass on the left)
• ... better yet, walk up / down on the left side of the metro escalators with the commuters

[/b]

• do NOT wear white athletic shoes, a poncho, a backpack (if you're over 25 y.o.), or any combination of the aforementioned items
• leave your camera in your tote bag until you're ready to take a snapshot (the monuments don't move very fast)
• after the snapshot moment, put the camera right back
• leave your umbrella in your bag until you're ready to use it
• if it begins to rain sideways, never mind the umbrella and scamper toward shelter, have coffee
• never hang an umbrella or camera (individually or together) from your elbow at any time
• avoid travel during rush hours (it's cheaper and easier to get around; chill in adams morgan until 7 or 8 pm)
• hang in adams morgan until 11 pm on a weeknight

enjoy the moment  and the surveillance
  ~ empress ~

A lot of good stuff here.  Metro gets a lot better after 6.  So, between 3:30 and 6, avoid it.  If you don't go to Adams Morgan, there are a lot of good bars in the Chinatown area as well.

The escalator tip she gave you here that I've bolded is gold.  The locals get pissed at people standing on the left side.  I try to be nice about it when I tell them to move, but I've seen a lot of colorful words fly at tourists.

Most people are nice and helpful here though.

[Geaux]

Did you make it through the storm?

[LMT]

Did you make it through the storm?

We had a bumppy landing and were about half and hour late getting in.  We have walked our feet off the past 2 days.  Going to DucPond in the morning.  Yea for the HOT weather!