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How can I tour the White House? Tours of the White House are available by advance arrangement through your member of congress or senator. Tours are arranged for groups of ten or more, but smaller groups and families should not be discouraged from requesting to join a tour. You should submit a request through your congressperson's office at least one month and up to six months in advance. Visitors who are not US citizens should contact their embassy in DC about tours for international visitors, which are arranged through the Protocol Desk at the State Department. The tours are self-guided and will run from 7:30 am until 12:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call the White House Visitors Center at (202) 456-7041 or visit www.whitehouse.gov. You can locate your congressperson's office by visiting www.house.gov. For your senator's office, visit www.senate.gov. I've arranged to take a tour of the Washington Monument/White House. Where can I store my bags/ camera while I take the tour? The White House firmly restricts items that visitors can bring with them during their tour. If it's not convenient for you to store your bags at your hotel or in your car, here are some suggestions: If your tour is earlier than 10 a.m., you can go to Union Station on Metro, where a baggage storage facility is available 6am-10pm daily. Items may also be stored for a 24 hour period or longer if desired. A photo ID is required. Cash and travelers checks are the only accepted forms of payment. Rates are $2-$5 per hour, depending on the size of the bag. You can designate one member of your group to wait with your bags while the rest of your group takes the self-guided tour. There should be ample time for that group member to tour as well. Consider having breakfast at one of the nearby hotels or restaurants. The Willard InterContinental's Café du Parc (1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW), Old Ebbitt Grill (15th and G Sts. NW) and Brasserie Les Halles (1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) may allow you to keep your bags there while you tour. How can I tour the Capitol?/ see Congress in session? The US Capitol is open to the public for tours Monday through Saturday. Tickets are also required to tour the US Capitol. To guarantee availability, you should reserve your tour in advance online at www.visitthecapitol.gov or through your congressional representative or senator. A limited number of same-day tour tickets may also be available at the Capitol Visitor Center. Tickets are not required to tour the Capitol Visitor Center, which is open 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Monday through Saturday. Visit www.aoc.gov for more information. To obtain passes to see the House and Senate in session, call your representative or one of your senators at (202) 224-3121. International visitors are always welcome to view a session of the Senate or House, and should enter through the House of Representatives Gallery line on the South side of the Capitol complex. Capitol Guide Service personnel issue international gallery passes inside the South Screening Facility. Information about tours for visitors with special needs is available from the Congressional Special Services Office at (202) 224-4048 or (202) 224-4049 (TDD). Which attractions require tickets? Many of Washington, DC's major attractions are open for the public and do not require tickets, including the museums of the Smithsonian system and the National Zoo, the National Gallery of Art and the national monuments and memorials. Washington, DC's most popular ticketed attractions, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Washington Monument and International Spy Museum, allow visitors to avoid waiting in line by pre-reserving their tour tickets for a small fee. Visitors can pre-reserve individual tickets for the Washington Monument for a fee of $1.50 per ticket by calling 1-877-444-6777 or visiting www.Recreation.gov. For groups, call 1-877-559-6777. If you do not pre-reserve your tickets to the Washington Monument, plan to arrive early in the morning for ticket distribution. Tickets are distributed at the 15th Street kiosk (east of the Monument) beginning at 8:30 am. Lines may form much earlier in the morning. Timed passes are needed for the permanent exhibition at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Passes are free and are distributed daily beginning at 10 am on a first-come, first served basis. You can pre-reserve tickets for a small service charge of $1.75 per ticket through Tickets.com (for groups of 21 or smaller). Groups of 21 or more qualify to make a scheduled visit to the Museum for the Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust or the current Special Exhibitions. Group reservations are free and must be submitted using the Museum's online reservation system. Requests are processed on a first-come, first served basis, and may be submitted from 24 hours to 12 months in advance of the visit date. It is highly recommended that groups who wish to visit during the spring and summer months complete their reservations well in advance of their visit date due to high demand during that period. Visit www.ushmm.org or call (202) 488-0400 for additional information. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving requires tickets for its tours from March through August only; these are only distributed on the day of your visit, beginning at 8 am. Lines form early and, during peak season, tickets are often distributed by 9 am. Reservations are required for Group Tours which take place 11:00 am - 12:15 am. 50 people max per tour). Complete a Group Reservation Request Form and fax it to 202-874-6331. The Bureau is closed on weekends, federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Tickets are also required to tour the US Capitol. To guarantee availability, you should reserve your tour in advance online at www.visitthecapitol.gov or through your congressional representative or senator. A limited number of same-day tour tickets may also be available at the Capitol Visitor Center. Tickets are not required to tour the Capitol Visitor Center, which is open 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Monday through Saturday. Visit www.aoc.gov for more information. Tours of the White House are only available by advance arrangement through your member of congress or senator. You can contact your representative or senator's office up to six months in advance to request a tour. More information is available at www.whitehouse.gov. While the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, Ford's Theatre, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian museums do not require tickets, you may want to check schedules in advance to take advantage of guided interpretive tours, lectures, IMAX movies and other programs. Can we tour the FBI building? At this time, the FBI tour at the J. Edgar Hoover Building is closed for renovations. Please call (202) 324-3447 or visit www.fbi.gov for more information. Can we tour the Pentagon? Members of the general public must contact their state representative's office to request a tour. You can find your senator's contact information at www.senate.gov and your representative's information at www.house.gov. All tour requests must be made at least two weeks in advance and no earlier than three months prior to the requested tour date. Military personnel assigned to the Pentagon with escort privileges may request to accompany their friends and family on tours of the facility. If you are assigned to the Pentagon or if you are visiting a Pentagon staff member, contact the Pentagon Force Protection Agency @ 703-697-1001 to determine escort status. The Pentagon tour office will accept and process group tours from educational institutions (schools/colleges/Academies), churches, government agencies, or military organizations consisting of 5 or more visitors. Please review the Group Tour Guidelines before making a Group Tour request. Call (703) 697-1776 or visit http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil for more information. Can you suggest a good, moderately priced hotel? It's easy to find a hotel that suits your personality and your budget. Log on to www.washington.org to search our database by neighborhood. We work locally with our hotel partners to ensure that we offer the best available rates on our site. It's important to remember that Washington, DC hotel rates are seasonal and are often higher when major events and conventions are taking place. You'll generally find the lowest hotel rates on the weekend and during late summer and winter. When selecting a place to stay, it's helpful to remember that Washington, DC is a very compact city, with most of the hotels and attractions concentrated in the Northwest section of the city. Most all of the hotels listed in our searchable database are located within a few minutes' walk of a Metro station, and you'll discover that Metro is an easy, safe way to navigate the city. On Washington.org, you'll find hotels searchable by neighborhood. If you want to stay near the National Mall, the Washington Convention Center or the Verizon Center, look for a hotel in the downtown neighborhood, where you'll also find many of the city's trendy restaurants. Dupont Circle is known for its galleries, cafes and concentration of embassies, while just a cab ride away is Adams Morgan, which is synonymous with ethnic restaurants and nightlife. Historic Georgetown is the city's most recognizable shopping district and another great dining destination, while Capitol Hill gives easy access to Union Station, the Library of Congress, the National Mall and of course, the Capitol. Hotels located in Southwest are also quite near the National Mall and the waterfront. Many national chains keep a presence in and around Washington, DC, and visitors can expect the same standards they'll find in comparable properties. The city also has a charming collection of B&Bs, if you prefer something more intimate. Visitors may find lower hotel rates in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. We would encourage you to select a hotel that is located near a Metro station or to select a hotel that offers shuttle service to the Metro station. If you do elect to stay in the suburbs, please remember that you'll be sharing the roads and the Metro with commuters. When do the Cherry Blossoms bloom? The National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned to coincide with the blooming of the trees. Peak bloom dates usually occur in early April, though weather conditions can accelerate or delay the bloom dates. For information about the festival, www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org or call (202) 547-1500. What are the future dates of the National Cherry Blossom Festival®? The 2009 Festival will be March 28 - April 12, 2009. The parade will likely take place on Sat., April 4. The 2010 Festival will be March 27 - April 11, 2010 with the Parade on Sat., April 10. What events are planned for Memorial Day weekend? On Sunday, the annual Rolling Thunder bike rally pays homage to the nation's veterans, particularly those still missing in action or prisoners of war, as more than 250,000 motorcyclists ride from the Pentagon to the Capitol (rollingthunder1.com). On Sunday evening, you can also catch a free concert by the National Symphony Orchestra, beginning at 8 pm on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. On Monday, visitors can catch the National Memorial Day Parade, stepping off at 2 p.m. on Constitution Ave. (nationalmemorialdayparade.com). Special wreath-laying ceremonies take place at the memorials during the day. What happens in DC on the Fourth of July? The Fourth of July is a very exciting time to be in Washington. There are festivities throughout the day, leading up to a spectacular fireworks display at night. The National Cathedral offers a free concert of patriotic music beginning at 11 am. The Fourth of July Parade travels down Constitution Avenue, beginning at noon. During the afternoon, you'll find many interesting activities taking place on and near the National Mall. The National Archives' family-friendly programming includes a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence and special appearances by costumed historical characters like Ben Franklin and Martha Washington. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will also be in full swing, with music, performances, crafts and cuisine examining the cultures of Northern Ireland, the Mekong River and the commonwealth of Virginia. There will be concerts by military bands taking place on the grounds of the Washington Monument. An evening concert featuring an all-star cast begins at 8 pm on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The National Symphony Orchestra also performs during the spectacular fireworks show, which begins just after 9 pm. No alcohol is permitted on the Mall, and guests should expect to pass through security check points. The celebration takes place rain or shine. We recommend that you take Metro to join in the festivities. You can also enjoy the convenience of staying downtown and take advantage of special hotel rates available at washington.org. You might also consider taking advantage of a spectacular city view by dining at a restaurant with a rooftop terrace like The Roof Terrace at the Kennedy Center, The Reef in Adams Morgan or Tabaq Bistro on U Street. Where can I park? We encourage visitors to avoid the challenges of parking by taking advantage of Washington, DC's safe, efficient public transportation system with options such as Metro Rail, Metro Bus, and the DC Circulator. Visit www.wmata.com or www.dccirculator.com for travel options and itineraries. We also offer the following suggestions for visitors who wish to drive and park in the city. Parking is frequently available at the City Center Lot, located near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Metro Center and many downtown attractions. Visitors will also generally find parking at the following Metro-accessible lots:
Handicapped parking is available at these lots. DC also recognizes out-of-state handicapped stickers and plaque cards, allowing parking access at all parking meters. Many downtown office buildings have parking garages on-site or close by. These lots generally cost $10-20, but they may fill up. If you have a meeting downtown, it's always best to call ahead to ask for the location of the closest parking lot. You can also refer to a map of parking garages at www.godcgo.com. Metered parking is available on most downtown streets, but many streets have rush hour restrictions in place between 7 and 9:30 am and 4-6:30 pm. "No Parking" restrictions are strictly enforced, and violators may find their cars towed or may face fines up to $100. If you wish to park at a suburban Metro station and ride Metro into the city, you can expect to pay $3.25-$4.75. Rates vary by station; check www.wmata.com for details about the station you're traveling from. You will first need to purchase a Metro SmarTrip card to pay at the station. These cards are available at most commuter stations. The SmarTrip card costs $5, but you must add a minimum $5 at the initial point of purchase. All riders must have their own fare cards, but only one member of your party needs to have a SmarTrip card. Where can I find public restrooms on the National Mall? There are public restrooms, all with handicapped accessibility, located at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial and World War II Memorial on the National Mall. All of the museums on the National Mall also have ample public restrooms. However, there are no restrooms near the Washington Monument. Most downtown businesses restrict use of their restrooms to patrons. How does Metro work? Washington, DC is proud to have one of the world's best public transportation systems. Most visitors quickly master the Metro system and, in the process, they discover that it's a very quick, efficient and affordable way to get around the city, and many find it to be an enjoyable attraction - the trains and escalators are especially popular among kids. Metro operates Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to midnight; Friday until 3 a.m.; Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.; and Sunday from 7 a.m. to midnight. Base fares start at $1.65 per trip (including trips between all downtown points), but the rates are higher for visitors traveling from the suburbs and during rush hour. The maximum one-way fare is $4.50. You can purchase a one-day ticket for $7.80, which allows you to ride as many times as you'd like after 9:30 a.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. To calculate the distance and fares between two stops, visit www.metroopensdoors.com. There are five colored lines: Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow and Green, connected to each other at transfer stations in downtown and the close-in suburbs. Some stations are serviced by more than one line. Trains are clearly marked with the color of the line. Trains indicate the direction in which they are traveling with the name of the end-point of the line. During rush hour, trains usually come every 5-6 minutes. At off-peak times, trains come every 12 minutes. Late-night trains come every 15 to 20 minutes Tickets can be purchased by cash or credit cards from vending machines located at the stations. Station managers are on hand to assist you in purchasing your tickets. Hotel, restaurant and attractions listings on www.washington.org and in the official visitors guide to Washington, DC indicate the nearest Metro stop. The interactive map on Washington.org can also help you identify the closest station. Getting Around by Taxi DC’s taxi cabs have recently transitioned from a zone system to a meter system. The rates for time and distance meters are as follows:
If you wish to file a complaint against a cab, you should obtain the taxicab driver's name, company and license number and report it to the DC Taxicab Commission at (202) 645-6018 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Using the DC Circulator The DC Circulator is a new bus service that connects downtown to Georgetown and Union Station via the Washington Convention Center on an East-West route and the Washington Convention Center and its nearby Shaw neighborhood with the Southwest Waterfront via the National Mall on a North-South route. The Circulator also operates a seasonal loop around the National Mall between 4th Street and 17th Street. Trains operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The National Mall loop operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Circulator also services part of its Georgetown route from 9 p.m. to midnight from Sun.-Thurs. and until 2 a.m. on weekends. Tickets cost $1, and transfers between routes are free of charge. Can you recommend some good jogging and biking trails? Washington, DC is a very pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city, which also lends to excellent jogging trails and biking routes. Here are a few suggestions:
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