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Washington, DC: Getting Prepared, Getting There, and Getting Around

Home » Washington, D.C. » Washington, DC Vacations: One to Three Days » Washington, DC: Getting Prepared, Getting There, and Getting Around

I’m not going to lie to you; one to three days in Washington is not enough to do everything. You will be able to get to the White House, the Capitol and some of the monuments, but other great spots such as Ford’s Theater, the National Archives, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will have to wait for your next trip. In addition, you will mostly be limited to big tourist sites, and you’ll miss the character-filled residential neighborhoods. One to three days is enough time, however, to have several great DC adventures. You will see impressive sights and walk in the footsteps of some of America’s great leaders, and at the very least, it will whet your appetite for more.

If it’s possible, visit during the fall. The spring is beautiful but especially crowded and the summer is still crowded and particularly hot. More importantly, do your homework and make your plans before you go. Reserve a hotel room or stay with friends, and once you know where you’re staying, determine the feasibility of riding the Metro downtown.

Next, make a list of the sites you want to see (suggestions abound on this web site), and contact your Congressman’s office for free reservations for tours of the White House and Capitol. Find out what plays are performing and if either the Congress or the Supreme Court is in session, as you can sit in on legislative and judicial sessions.

If you’re flying into Reagan National Airport or coming on the train into Union Station, you can ride the Metro into town; otherwise you can ride the airport shuttle or get a cab. Once you arrive downtown, most of the big sites are close to each other, so you can walk from one to the next and take in DC culture. If you plan to take the Metro several times, look into buying a weekend pass. Rental cars, on the other hand, are more work than they’re worth. You’ll want to spend all of your time in the city, and you can save the money and the headaches of downtown driving and parking.

Of course, if you do want to leave the city, simply ignore our itineraries and make your own plan. In addition, our itinerary is designed for someone who is staying within a Metro trip of downtown and who is relatively budget-conscious, so if that doesn’t describe you, you may want to make some minor alterations. Above all, tailor your trip to your interests and focus on the sights and experiences you really want to see and have.

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