Washington, D.C

[afigg]

Thought some prospective visitors to DC might be interested in this Washington Post article on how DC has become a hot tourist destination and how some locals get irritated by the visitors getting in the way, especially in the Metro: Tourists getting in your way? There’s a $7 billion reason to be patient. I have on several occasions helped tourists and visitors who have never taken or seen a Metro/subway system before, but this bit below was interesting.

Aimless, distracted tourists who block the path of work-obsessed locals are particularly maddening, especially in Metro stations. The DCist blog calls tourists “escaleftors.”

“They don’t know how to use the Metro system,” said Caroline Miller, a senior business analyst for the Government National Mortgage Association. “People are trying to get to work. They’re like doorstops.”

James Gordon, who makes a living off tourists in his marketing job for the Smithsonian, was astonished last year when he encountered a family at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station that had never seen an escalator.

“They were marveling at it,” Gordon said. “Of course, they didn’t stand to the right.”

Never seen an escalator before? Probably a US family who drove to DC as one will encounter escalators on any almost trip through airports.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Thought some prospective visitors to DC might be interested in this Washington Post article on how DC has become a hot tourist destination and how some locals get irritated by the visitors getting in the way, especially in the Metro: Tourists getting in your way? There’s a $7 billion reason to be patient. I have on several occasions helped tourists and visitors who have never taken or seen a Metro/subway system before, but this bit below was interesting.

Aimless, distracted tourists who block the path of work-obsessed locals are particularly maddening, especially in Metro stations. The DCist blog calls tourists “escaleftors.”

“They don’t know how to use the Metro system,” said Caroline Miller, a senior business analyst for the Government National Mortgage Association. “People are trying to get to work. They’re like doorstops.”

James Gordon, who makes a living off tourists in his marketing job for the Smithsonian, was astonished last year when he encountered a family at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station that had never seen an escalator.

“They were marveling at it,” Gordon said. “Of course, they didn’t stand to the right.”

Never seen an escalator before? Probably a US family who drove to DC as one will encounter escalators on any almost trip through airports.

How long is the escalator at L'Enfant Plaza Metro? I know I was fascinated on my first "subway" ride when I saw how long the escalator was.

Also, as to the stand right, I "know" about that, but rarely go places where it's busy enough to for me to remember to do that.

 

[CHamilton]

And some of us are unable to stand to the right due to physical disabilities. I was physically shoved aside by an uncaring individual on a Metro escalator last year. I almost wish that I had fallen. That jerk would have faced a multi-million-dollar lawsuit.

 

[afigg]

How long is the escalator at L'Enfant Plaza Metro? I know I was fascinated on my first "subway" ride when I saw how long the escalator was.

Also, as to the stand right, I "know" about that, but rarely go places where it's busy enough to for me to remember to do that.

There are many escalators in the L'Enfant Metro station as it is a transfer station between the Yellow/Green Lines and the Orange/Blue/Silver lines and has 3 entrances. I think the longest set of escalators would be the 3 leading to the L'Enfant Plaza Mall on west end at the 9th and G street entrance. Don't have a length for those escalators, maybe 150 feet (very roughly)?

FYI, the longest escalators in the Metro system and reportedly the longest single span ones in the western hemisphere, are in the Wheaton station on the Red Line and are 230' long. Just pointing that out in case anyone visiting DC wants to check off taking the longest escalators in the entire western hemisphere for the heck of it. It is a long slow ride on those escalators. Wikipedia entry on the Wheaton Metro station.

As for standing on the left on the escalators because sometimes you have to due to crowds, carrying luggage, escorting kids, whatever, yes, there are some locals who get overly pushy and downright rude charging up or down the escalators.

 

[CHamilton]

As for standing on the left on the escalators because sometimes you have to due to crowds, carrying luggage, escorting kids, whatever, yes, there are some locals who get overly pushy and downright rude charging up or down the escalators.

And until WMATA posts "Walk on left/stand on right" signs like other systems have, it's ludicrous to expect everyone, especially the tourists (most of them taxpayers), to know that so-called rule.

 

[TinCan782]

Headed there for an upcoming trip...we'll see how it goes. I encounter students on foot at the university near where I work...no clue about walk on the right, pass on the left. Makes you wonder how they drive!

 

[Manny T]

Best attractions within walking distance of Union Station imo are the Newseum (5-10 min. walk from station) and the National Gallery (10-15 min. walk from station).

I was very skeptical of visiting the Newseum but it won me over with 5 floors of diverse and interesting attractions--check website for what's on view during your layover.

National Gallery needs no plug from me. Incomparable art. (East Building is closed for renovation.)

Georgetown is actually quite easy to reach from station via DC Circulator as stated above, but it's a longish ride, and I don't think it's a layover type attraction.

If you want a hotel that's so close to Union Station you could hop there on one foot, I would recommend the Phoenix Park Hotel, with a good Irish pub, the Dubliner, on the ground floor. Literally 1 1/2 blocks away (3-5 min. walk).

 

[flying_babyb]

ok odd question: We took the metro in dc once, it was a longish ride and we ended up in some place with a 3 story shopping mall that had lots of stores, a burger king, subway. It also sold patches and stuff. Anyone know what one Im talking about? I also rode to a outlet mall that had a rue 21 like store... Anyone know this one? Making a trip with a shopaholic

 

[Ryan]

On the Red Line (no transfers)? Long ride from Union Station?

My first instinct is Pentagon City, but that involves a transfer.

 

[pennyk]

On the Red Line (no transfers)? Long ride from Union Station?

My first instinct is Pentagon City, but that involves a transfer.

Is there a mall at Silver Spring, MD?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

On the Red Line (no transfers)? Long ride from Union Station?

My first instinct is Pentagon City, but that involves a transfer.

Is there a mall at Silver Spring, MD?

Isn't that the one we went to (it came to my mind too)? But that was on the new Silver Line. flying_babyb may be talking about before the Silver Line opened.

 

[pennyk]

On the Red Line (no transfers)? Long ride from Union Station?

My first instinct is Pentagon City, but that involves a transfer.

Is there a mall at Silver Spring, MD?

Isn't that the one we went to (it came to my mind too)? But that was on the new Silver Line. flying_babyb may be talking about before the Silver Line opened.

Tyson's Corner Center is on Silver Line

 

[AmtrakBlue]

On the Red Line (no transfers)? Long ride from Union Station?

My first instinct is Pentagon City, but that involves a transfer.

Is there a mall at Silver Spring, MD?

Isn't that the one we went to (it came to my mind too)? But that was on the new Silver Line. flying_babyb may be talking about before the Silver Line opened.

Tyson's Corner Center is on Silver Line

That's right. Silver Springs was where we stopped on the way back. Didn't stay there long, myself, but went with a couple of the guys back into DC to look for someplace for dinner.

 

[flying_babyb]

we got on at wolley park or the omni shoreham... I remember having to transfer. Was there july 1st 2004, 2006 if that helps.

 

[Ryan]

With the transfer (so not on the Red Line), you are almost certainly thinking of Pentagon City.

 

[flying_babyb]

is there a mall in the friendship heights station or near it? my little sis swears thats where we were

 

[AmtrakBlue]

is there a mall in the friendship heights station or near it? my little sis swears thats where we were

Check out the reviews here. I see a mention of a shopping center, Mazza Gallerie

 

[flying_babyb]

ok quick stupid queston: every year on vacation we do some sort of diy thing for a souviner. We painted pottery, made build a bears, built sand castles, made braclets and sea shell jewerly.

The kids are now teens (16, 15) and we want to do something like this in dc. Any suggestions? So there not girly girls, are into music and nightmare before Christmas and funko

Also the 16 year old would like to know how likey she is to find a single stall bathroom. She dresses and acts male, and dosn't like using the ladies room.

 

[flying_babyb]

so were going to be staying in silver springs. I know that dc only has a build a bear open at game time. I need to know if we can take the dc metro to a build a bear in another city. We are totally willing to walk or take a taxi from the last metro stop if nessacary

 

[tp49]

There is no Build A Bear easily accessible solely by Metro rail. There is no location in DC proper but there is one in Westfield Montgomery (accessible by bus from Medical Center Red Line station) in Bethesda, Maryland. There is another location in Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, Virginia but you'd have to cab it from Vienna station on the Orange Line.

Of the two options I'd probably go to Bethesda check out the mall websites for directions (I think there's a bus from Grosvenor Red Line station which is more time on the bus but a shorter train ride from Silver Spring.)

 

[flying_babyb]

random question again:

Where is there a ikea I can get to by metro or bus? I need a new set of klas kids plates! On that note: will my dc metro pass work for the busses there?

 

[Ryan]

Best shot of that is College Park. You can take the Green line to Greenbelt, and probably catch a bus from there. If not, it's a really short cab ride.

 

[flying_babyb]

Best shot of that is College Park. You can take the Green line to Greenbelt, and probably catch a bus from there. If not, it's a really short cab ride.

how long of a walk would it be from the greenbelt stop? I like to torture the teens (and well I like scenery)

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Best shot of that is College Park. You can take the Green line to Greenbelt, and probably catch a bus from there. If not, it's a really short cab ride.

how long of a walk would it be from the greenbelt stop? I like to torture the teens (and well I like scenery)

30+ minutes

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Greenbelt,+MD+20740/IKEA+College+Park,+Baltimore+Avenue,+College+Park,+MD/@39.0156713,-76.9287791,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7c3f3e9e26a11:0xe454fe4e7f5810d6!2m2!1d-76.9110657!2d39.0110214!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7c473c2e3b99d:0x6e8eb44d66ae5169!2m2!1d-76.928983!2d39.020775!3e2

 

[Hal]

Best shot of that is College Park. You can take the Green line to Greenbelt, and probably catch a bus from there. If not, it's a really short cab ride.

how long of a walk would it be from the greenbelt stop? I like to torture the teens (and well I like scenery)

The main scenery is the eight to ten lane Capital Beltway. You would have to walk thru a major, heavily trafficked interchange with Route 1 that has multiple on and off ramps of lanes merging.