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Bowie · 09-20-2004, 02:45 AM

Campgrounds near DC are by definition NOT near DC. The cost of land is so prohibitively high that any campgrounds have long since turned into townhouse sites or shopping malls. However, if you check the site azstar gives you should find out quite a bit about the Metro system. If you opt to use the campground which sreigle mentions, your best bet may be the Vienna Metro station right off I-66 (unless they have built one further out since we lived there). Parking is not cheap but is less than in town and the Metro ride is easy. You can buy multiple ride tickets. Be sure to have the most recent Metro map in hand (you can pick it up at the station). Pay attention to the color names of the different lines--very important. HOWVEVER, keep in mind that you will be travelling with the morning rush hour on 66 and on the Metro--and rush hour starts at 6AM out in Haymarket! AND you will be going home in it as well.

IOHO--Fall is a better time to visit than spring though spring is certainly more beautiful especially at cherry blossom time when all the blooms (and tourists!) are out. In the fall the schools have not had time as much time to organize field trips so there are significanly fewer large tour groups about.

PLAN AHEAD! You may find some not so fun city issues to deal with if you don't do your homework. Buy or borrow a current guide book for the city--especially since hours and closings frequently change.

Do spring for a hop-on-hop-off guided bus tour--pick one up on the Mall. They do a "great circle route" through the city and you may get on or off at any stop. Not cheap but it will give you a great feel for the city and how it is laid out. Of course you will want to see all the museums and tourist attractions--and they are fantastic. Don't forget the National Zoo. An interesting place to eat is Union Station where there are all different kinds of food--many interesting ethnic goodies. They cater to the DC lunch crowd with reasonable prices for DC--and the station is gorgeous. We actually frequently packed luch in a bacpack when we were hauling all the kids--there are a surprisingly large number of nice picnic spots.Keep checking back in and people who still live there can offer more tips. Have fun!

09-20-2004, 02:45 AM	#5
Bowie Montana Master Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Aurora Posts: 635 M.O.C. #1475	Campgrounds near DC are by definition NOT near DC. The cost of land is so prohibitively high that any campgrounds have long since turned into townhouse sites or shopping malls. However, if you check the site azstar gives you should find out quite a bit about the Metro system. If you opt to use the campground which sreigle mentions, your best bet may be the Vienna Metro station right off I-66 (unless they have built one further out since we lived there). Parking is not cheap but is less than in town and the Metro ride is easy. You can buy multiple ride tickets. Be sure to have the most recent Metro map in hand (you can pick it up at the station). Pay attention to the color names of the different lines--very important. HOWVEVER, keep in mind that you will be travelling with the morning rush hour on 66 and on the Metro--and rush hour starts at 6AM out in Haymarket! AND you will be going home in it as well. IOHO--Fall is a better time to visit than spring though spring is certainly more beautiful especially at cherry blossom time when all the blooms (and tourists!) are out. In the fall the schools have not had time as much time to organize field trips so there are significanly fewer large tour groups about. PLAN AHEAD! You may find some not so fun city issues to deal with if you don't do your homework. Buy or borrow a current guide book for the city--especially since hours and closings frequently change. Do spring for a hop-on-hop-off guided bus tour--pick one up on the Mall. They do a "great circle route" through the city and you may get on or off at any stop. Not cheap but it will give you a great feel for the city and how it is laid out. Of course you will want to see all the museums and tourist attractions--and they are fantastic. Don't forget the National Zoo. An interesting place to eat is Union Station where there are all different kinds of food--many interesting ethnic goodies. They cater to the DC lunch crowd with reasonable prices for DC--and the station is gorgeous. We actually frequently packed luch in a bacpack when we were hauling all the kids--there are a surprisingly large number of nice picnic spots.Keep checking back in and people who still live there can offer more tips. Have fun!