Washington, DC -- Washington DC, the National Mall, and surrounding areas hold many, many intriguing places to visit: our nation's Capitol, the White House, renowned monuments, and inspirational museums and galleries. For Washington, DC’s official tourism site, click here.
A Few Tips:
Plan ahead. Visit web sites of select points of interest for more detailed tips and to better familiarize yourself in advance of your visit. Also, please keep in mind that because of heightened security after September 11, access to many government buildings is restricted or denied.
Use public transportation. To avoid traffic and parking hassles, we recommend visitors take Metrorail (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) for speedy, convenient access to downtown.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes -- be prepared to do a fair amount of walking!
Visiting the Mall/Monuments
How to get in to The National Mall:
Metrorail -- From our offices, you can go to Metrorail's Orange Line station in nearby Vienna, Virginia. From there, in about 30 minutes Metro's trains can get you to The National Mall and surrounding areas for a reasonable fare. (e.g., Vienna to the Smithsonian is $3.65 on weekdays and $2.35 on weekends) The Vienna Metro station is about 9 miles from Finetre. The Vienna Metro station has plenty of parking available weekends and other non-commuter hours, but parking is sparse on weekdays. Parking is free on weekends and federal holidays; all other times the parking fee is $3.75 all day.
For Metrorail rates, maps, and additional information, click here, or call (202) 962-1234.
For directions for driving to the Vienna Metro station from Finetre, click here.
Directions for Driving -- For directions for driving down to The National Mall from Finetre, click here. Note: Free parking in DC is extremely limited and posted times are enforced. Limited parking near Mall museums is typically for visitors with disabilities. Key facilities such as the Smithsonian Institution lack public parking. There are a number of commercial parking lots throughout the city. Visit [http://www.worldpages.com] and search under the business category "Parking Stations & Garages" for locations in DC.
General City Tours
For a narrated view of the city by bus, we suggest you consider the following:
Tourmobile -- [http://www.tourmobile.com]; or call (202) 554-5100 or (888) 868-7707.
Gray Line Tours -- [http://www.grayline.com]; or call (800) 862-1400.
What to see in DC?
For comprehensive lists of sites to see in Washington, DC, (and some other helpful information),
check this link, provided by the US House of Representatives.
check this link, provided by the National Park Service.
check this link, provided by the D.C. Visitor Information Center (D.C. Chamber of Commerce).
Free Tours
Please call to confirm that tours are available. Because of heightened security concerns after September 11, many government buildings no longer offer tours:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
(202) 874-2330
National Gallery of Art
(202) 737-4215; (202) 842-6176 (TTY)
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
(202) 395-5895
U.S. Capitol
(202) 225-6827; (202) 224-4049 (TTY)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
(202) 324-3447; (202) 324-1016 (TTY)
Washington Monument
(800) 967-2283
Admission is by free-timed passes distributed by the National Park Service on a first-come, first-served basis.
John F. Kennedy Center
(202) 416.8340; (202) 416-8524 (TTY)
White House Tours
(202) 456-7041; (202) 456-2121 (TTY)
Library of Congress
(202) 707-8000; (202) 707-9456 (TTY)
Passes to US Capitol congressional sessions can be obtained during your visit. Please call the US Capitol Guide Service’s recorded information line at (202) 225-6827 for recorded information on any possible special events.
Special White House tours can be arranged in advance of your trip through your Senator or Representative.
Georgetown
An engaging mix of bistros, bars, eclectic shops, and those memorable stairs from The Exorcist, Georgetown offers both exquisitely-diverse dining and youthful nightlife. For more information, click here.
How to get to Georgetown:
Directions for Driving -- For directions for driving to the Georgetown area from Finetre, click here.
Metro Rail -- If you'd like to begin and end your visit to Georgetown with a brisk 10-minute scenic walk across the Potomac River, you can avoid traffic and parking hassles by taking Metrorail. Start at Metrorail's Orange Line station in nearby Vienna, Virginia, depart after a 20-minute ride at the Rossyln station, and then walk across the Key Bridge. For directions for driving to the Vienna Metro station from Finetre, click here.
Other Places of Interest in Washington, DC:
In Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, are two popular places of interest: Arlington Cemetery (Kennedy Family Gravesites; Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Robert E. Lee Memorial), and Iwo Jima Memorial
The Folger Shakespeare Theatre
9:30 Club -- The 9:30 Club won "Best Place to Hear Live Music" in washingtonpost.com's Best Bets 2002 Readers' Choice contest.
Blues Alley -- Washington, DC's best jazz supper club.
Madam's Organ -- Blues bar and social spot in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.
Newseum -- An interactive museum of news. Scheduled to re-open in 2006, but their link is still highly informative.
