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WASHINGTON DC: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
25 DC THINGS THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW

DC TRAVEL TIPS   •   18 TIPS FOR A TRIP   •   LONELY PLANET   •   FODOR'S TIPS

1.  NEVER LEAVE VALUABLES - IN VIEW - IN YOUR CAR. ANYWHERE.

DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE IN YOUR CAR ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME OF DAY, FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. IF YOU ARE LOCKING ITEMS IN YOUR TRUNK DO IT BEFORE YOU PARK YOUR CAR. ALSO - WHEN IN PUBLIC, IF RIDING METRO, ARE SITTING IN A CAFE, OR ANYTHING ELSE, KEEP PHONES, COMPUTERS AND OTHER VALUABLES  SECURE. 
TIPS ON KEEPING BURGLARS AWAY.

2.  BEWARE THE MANY SPEED TRAPS - AND OTHER CAMERAS.

DC'S SPEED CAMERA'S HAVE HELPED TO MAKE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT A $179 MILLION INDUSTRY. HERE'S A GOOD LISTING OF TRAFFIC AND SPEED CAMERAS: HERE
ONE TRAFFIC CAMERA RAKES IN $11.6 MILLION.

3.  RUSH HOUR? MOVE YOUR CAR. TOWING ENFORCED.

MANY OF DC'S MAIN ROADS ARE
"NO PARKING" ZONES DURING MORNING AND AFTERNOON RUSH HOURS. IF YOU ARE LEAVING A CAR PARKED IN THE AFTERNOON - CHECK THAT YOU CAN PARK PAST 4 PM
ERRATIC DC AREA DRIVING.

4.  GO WITH THE FLOW - WHEN DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR.

DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR, CONNECTICUT AVE ADDS AN EXTRA LANE GOING DOWNTOWN, AND ROCK CREEK PKWY
IS ONE WAY FROM CALVERT STREET TO DOWNTOWN. IN THE AFTERNOON THE FLOW IS REVERSED.
ERRATIC DC AREA DRIVING.

5.  KNOW WHERE NOT TO GO - WHEN DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR.

YOU CAN USE THE ROADS METIONED ABOVE TO GET IN AND OUT OF TOWN SWIFTLY. BUT BE CAREFUL WHEN TRAVELING ON CONNECTICUT AVENUE AGAINST RUSH HOUR FLOW - AND REMEMBER THAT ROCK CREEK  NOT AN OPTION.
7 CAR HACKS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

6.  WATCH FOR THE ROLLING MOTORCADE - ESCORTING THE LEADERS.

THE PRESIDENT OFTEN MOVES AROUND DC WITH A LARGE MOTORCADE THAT TRAVELS BEHIND A MOVING ROAD BLOCK. THE PRESIDENT'S CAR ALWAYS EASY TO SPOT, AND IS FLYING THE FLAG. SMALLER MOTORCADES ARE USED WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT AND WITH FORIEGN LEADERS. 
OBAMA MOTORCADE BY RITZ CARLTON.

7.  RED OR YELLOW, GREEN OR BLUE... GET TO KNOW YOUR LINE.

IF YOU ARE LOCATED ON A SUBWAY LINE, STUDY WHAT THE OTHER STOPS ARE ON YOUR LINE. GET TO KNOW WHAT THE OTHER HOODS HAVE TO OFFER.
SILVER LINE AD

7.  KNOW WHEN TO RIDE METRO. AVOID RUSH HOUR SPIKES.

THE FARE FOR RIDING ON THE DC SUBWAY IS DRAMATICALLY HIGHER FROM OPENING TILL 9:30, AND FROM 3-7 PM. IF POSSIBLE, SAVE BY TRAVELING OUTSIDE THESE TIMES. CHECK OUT FARES BETWEEN STATIONS HERE.
THE METRO SYSTEM OF DC

8.  REMEMBER... CHILDREN RIDE FREE - TWO PER PAYING ADULT.

CHILDREN 4 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER RIDE FREE ON THE SUBWAY - TWO FREE FOR EACH PAYING ADULT. CHILDREN 5 YEARS AND OLDER PAY FULL FARE. STUDENTS THAT ARE DC RESIDENTS CAN GET A DISCOUNTED STUDENT FARECARD.
DC METRO - IT'S FAMILIAR VOICE

9.  WITH 2 OR 3 IT MIGHT COST THE SAME IN TAXI OR ON SUBWAY.

RIDING THE SUBWAY IN DC IT IS NOT CHEAP - YOU ARE PAYING A PREMIUM PRICE FOR THE SERVICE. CONSIDER THE THE COST OF TAXI OR UBER WHEN TRAVELING IN GROUPS OF 2 TO 4 - SOMETIMES IT MAY EVEN BE CHEAPER.
DC RATED BEST CITY FOR UBER

10.  RIDING METRO?... SAVE MONEY WITH A SMART TRIP CARD.

IF YOU RIDE METRO IN DC YOU SHOULD ALWAYS USE A SMART  TRIP CARD - OTHERWISE YOU MUST PAY A $1 SURCHARGE FOR EACH TRIP - THAT MEANS PAYING $2 EXTRA ON EACH ROUND TRIP. 
METRO'S SMART TRIP

11.  SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES - GET YOUR DISCOUNT.

PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND PEOPLE WITH A MEDICARE CARD CAN PURCHASE A SPECIAL REDUCED FARE CARD - YOU WILL PAY HALF THE PEAK FARE AS A FLAT FARE, AT ALL TIMES
PAYING YOUR FARE ON METRO

12.  ESCALATORS: STAND TO THE RIGHT, WALK ON THE LEFT.

 IF DON'T WANT TO STAND OUT AS A OUT OF TOWER, ALL WHILE ANNOYING THE LOCAL PEEP, MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER - WHEN ON A ESCALATOR, STAND TO THE RIGHT. LEAVE THE LEFT CLEAR FOR WALKERS.
LONGEST ESCALATOR IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE - WHEATON

13.  TAKE YOUR BIKE ON THE SUBWAY - OFF PEAK HOURS ONLY.

YES, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BIKE ON THE SUBWAY WITH YOU - EXCEPT NOT WHEN IT IS RUSH HOUR. MY TIP: TAKE YOUR BIKE TO BETHESDA, HAVE LUNCH & THEN BIKE BACK INTO GEORGETOWN ON THE CAPITAL CRESCENT BIKE TRAIL. A EASY ONE HOUR DOWNHILL RIDE.
BIKE ON THE METRO - RED LINE

14.  PROBLEM WITH METRO?... CANCEL PLANS & FIND CLOSEST BAR.

IF SUBWAY SERVICE IS SUDDENLY DISRUPTED THERE WILL BE A MASS PANIC OF PEOPLE CROWDING ALL OTHER MEANS OF TRAVEL. UBER FARES WILL SPIKE & IT EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. IF YOU CAN, FIND A SPOT FOR FOOD & DRINK. AND RELAX.
RIDERS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION OVER SHUTDOWN

15.  JUST DOWNLOAD IT. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE UBER OPTION.

IF YOU WANT TO USE UBER, YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE THE APP ON YOUR SMART PHONE. EVEN IF YOU ARE THINKING YOU DON'T NEED IT, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE IT READY WHEN YOU DO.

16.  HAVE - OR BUY - A HELMET SO YOU CAN RENT A BICYCLE.

RENTING A BICYCLE IS VERY EASY. DC HAS ONE OF THE NATION'S LONGEST RUNNING URBAN BIKE SHARES. ALL YOU NEED IS A CREDIT CARD AND A HELMET, AND YOU WILL HAVE NO TROUBLE FINDING A BICYCLE.
BIKE AROUND DC FOR $7 A DAY

17.  AVOID DRIVING. IF POSSIBLE - JUST AVOID IT.

STREET PARKING IS LIMITED - AND OFTEN EXPENSIVE. AND OFTEN RESTRICTED TO TWO HOURS OR LESS. PARKING IN A LOT FOR OVER 2 HOURS USUALLY PEAKS OUT AT THE FULL AY RATE. CONSIDER THAT IT'S NICE TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT METERS AND TRAFFIC. PLUS DOWNTOWN DC IS VERY WALKABLE.
DC'S TRAFFIC IS WORST IN NATION

18.  BROKEN PARKING METER? BEST TO MOVE ON - OR RISK IT.

THERE ARE USUALLY ALOT OF BROKEN METERS AROUND DC.
THE STICKER TELLS YOU TO REPORT TO A PHONE NUMBER TO GET PERMISSION TO PARK, BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE FINES THEY RECEIVED WERE NOT FORGIVEN. 
WASHINGTON GENERATED $92.5 MILLION IN PARKING TICKETS

19.  CATCH A FREE CONCERT DAILY AT THE KENNEDY CENTER.

EVERY DAY AT 6 PM THERE IS A FREE CONCERT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER'S MILLILENUMSTAGE. NO TICKETS. ALL AGES. SEE SCHEDULE HERE.
BAILA ME AT MILLENNIUM STAGE

20.  EAT & DRINK YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD. LITERALLY.

WASHINGTON DC IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONALLY DIVERSE CITY'S IN THE NATION. THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE CITY'S CUSINE CHOICES - EXPLORE. YOU CAN LITERALLY TRAVEL THE WORLD AT THE ANNUAL PASSPORT DC SERIES HERE.
MORE EVENTS HERE.
WASHINGTON DC IS KNOWN FOR AUTHENTIC ETHIOPIAN FOOD

21.  MUSEUMS, SIGHTSEEING? BE PREPARED FOR SECURITY CHECKS.

BE PREPARED FOR SECURITY CHECKS: AVOID METALLIC CLOTHING OR ACCESSORIES, PACK YOUR BELONGINGS IN A ORDERLY WAY, PLAN ON HAVING TO REMOVE ALL THE ITEMS IN YOUR POCKETS, DON'T CARRY PROHIBITED ITEMS, AND BE PATIENT AND COURTEOUS TO THE SECURITY.
ENTERPRISE AT THE SMITHSONIAN

22.  VISITING TOURISTY PLACES... PACK YOUR OWN LUNCH.

YOU WILL NOT FIND VERY GOOD FOOD INSIDE MOST MUSEUM DINING AREAS, AND THE LONG LINES CAN EAT UP HUGE AMOUNTS OF TIME. BRING IN YOUR OWN FOOD AND DRINK & YOU CAN EAT AT THE TABLES THERE. ALSO, MOST MUSEUMS HAVE BAG CHECKS AND/OR LOCKERS YOU CAN RENT.
YOU'VE BEEN MAKING YOUR SANDWICH WRONG

23.  SKIP THE STREET VENDORS ON THE MALL. KEEP ON WALKING.

THE VENDING AROUND THE MALL AREA IS STRICTLY CONTROLLED. THE FOOD TRUCKS WILL HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO OFFER.  YOU MUST WALK PAST THE SECOND BLOCK OUTSIDE THE MALL TO FIND GOOD FOOD TRUCKS. OR FOOD.
FLYING OVER THE WASHINGTON DC MALL

24.  CLEVELAND PARK METRO IS A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE ZOO.

WOODLEY PARK-ZOO IS THE STATION'S NAME, BUT THE UPHILL WALK FROM HERE IS LONGER THAN THE FLAT WALK FROM THE NEXT STATION UP - CLEVELAND PARK. ONLY BREAKFAST AT POPULAR OPEN CITY DINER HERE MAKES THE TOUGHER WALK WORTH IT.
BABY PANDA BAO BAO MELTING HEARTS AT NATIONAL ZOO

25.  A LITTLE SNOW CAN MAKE DRIVING IN DC VERY SLOW.

A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW CAN REALLY SLOW - OR SHUT -                  THINGS DOWN IN DC. PARTLY BECAUSE DC DRIVERS ARE SADLY INEBPT IN THE SNOW. THINGS NEVER REALLY SHUT DOWN, SO YOU CAN ALWAYS HEAD OUT ON FOOT.
SNOWBALL FIGHT - DUPONT CIRCLE SNOWMAGEDDON FEB 6, 2010

AND ANOTHER THING..

BEWARE THE CAPITAL BELTWAY AND I-95. KNOW WHEN TO GO.

DC HAS SOME OF THE WORST TRAFFIC IN THE NATION. THE CAPITAL BELTWAY, aka "495",  CIRCLES AROUND THE SUBURBS OF DC THROUGH MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. IT ALSO CONNECTS 95 NORTH AND 95 SOUTH. THIS ROAD CAN CREEP SLOWLY DURING RUSH HOUR, HOLIDAYS OR WHEN THERE'S AN ACCIDENT.
TRY TO BE INFORMED WHEN YOU PLAN TO DRIVE HERE.
CAPITAL BELTWAY

E-Z PASS - NEED IT FOR HIGH FEE ROADS. BEWARE THE HEFTY FINES.

EZ-PASS HAS BEEN USED FOR MANY YEARS BETWEEN DC AND NY, AS A ASY WAY TO PAY ROAD TOLLS ELECTRONICALLY. IN RECENT YEARS, MANY ROADS JUST OUTSIDE OF DC HAVE BEEN SPLIT, WITH A INSIDE EXPRESS LANE FOR "E-Z PASS USERS". THE EZ-PASS EXPRESS FEES ARE VERY HIGH AND THEY CHANGE DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC. YOU MUST HAVE A EZ-PASS TRANSMITTER IN YOUR CAR TO RIDE ON THESE ROADS. IN RUSH HOUR THE OUTSIDE LANE IS SLOW, SO IF YOU PAY YOU CAN GO AROUND THE TRAFFIC. SOME EXPRESS ROADS ALLOW "HOV-3" RIDERS TO RIDE FREE, BUT ONLY WITH A SPECIAL EZ-PASS TRANSMITTER. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO DRIVE HERE WITHOUT AN EZ-PASS, THE FINES ARE VERY HIGH.
EZ-PASS INFO: MD HERE. OR VA HERE
YOU CAN USE ANY EZ-PASS ON ROADS.
EZ-PASS FLEX TRANSPONDERS

WHERE TO NEXT?

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