1 Day in Washington DC

amother

Vermilion

Thu, May 23 2019, 1:25 pm

Hi Bronze, I take it you live nearby if your physicians are at GW Hospital! I live on the other side of the Potomac but make that commute to the District for work.

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For the OP,

Street parking will be free on Monday as it is a federal holiday. That being said, most people take the Metro as it is just easier than finding a parking spot.

If you really want a shopping mall, the Pentagon City Mall is Metro-accessible and just over the Potomac Ocean as we Virginians call it.

The Arlington National Cemetery is a good place to visit but not if you have rowdy children. It is an active burial site so many people are there to pay respects to loved ones.

If you are visiting this Sunday and you happen to like motorcycles in large doses, be sure to check out Rolling Thunder. This is an organization that holds a big event on the Sunday before Memorial Day in recognition of US servicemembers especially those who are POWs and MIAs.

doctorima

Thu, May 23 2019, 3:56 pm

The other poster clearly has more experience than me, but the last time we tried to find parking remotely near the WH, DH commented that it made Manhattan look easy. Circling and dealing with traffic and 1-way roads and blocked roads can be extremely frustrating. The odds of finding parking near both the WH and then the Capitol are extremely remote. Once you get a spot, you just leave your car there and walk, take the Metro, or take taxis/Uber.

amother

Amethyst

Thu, May 23 2019, 4:45 pm

We were there recently, just parked in a garage (cheap on SpotHero-like $18 for day), and walked around for the day. You can also Uber (or Lyft, Lime and other companies) around with electric scooters which is cool, only problem its a pain to find a few available if your a bunch of people. Also they all die by late afternoon, but you can just leave them anywhere. You can also rent bikes through the above apps.
We made the food mistake, had to throw out all our food when entering the Capitol, and was out first stop of the day!! Crying

Also try reaching out to your Senator or Congressman for a House/Senate Gallery pass, it’s really interesting to watch congress in session!

There’s also the new Trump International Hotel (old post office converted), it’s an impressive building not far from the WH. There’s an elevator there that supposedly takes you up to a gorgeous birds eye view of the city. It’s open to the public but closes at 4 or 5pm. (We came after it closed).

amother

Bronze

Thu, May 23 2019, 6:39 pm

I think it's probably easier to walk but a close stop to the white house is McPherson and a close stop to the capital is capital south. Take orange, blue, or silver. It's a few stops. Also, you will be walking thru the mall so you see things as you walk. The metro is different and than the subway in NY. It charges peak/off peak fares and charges per distance. Memorial day will be off peak and your not going far so it shouldn't be that bad. But in general, it's more expensive then the NY subway