The Wilson's trip to Washington DC

[BIGNASTY]

When we were there I spent several days in the Smithsonian. Air and space time well spent if your into that sort of thing.

Enjoy Yourself

 

[mwilson]

It's been a long first day back to work...my guys did an excellent job keeping up with things but still facing a small mountain of issues on the desk..so not a lot of energy left...

Anyhow, back to the trip...arrived at Cherry Hill Saturday afternoon. Get checked in and set-up. Noticed a sign in office that there were two orientation sessions daily regarding getting around DC...one at 4.00 pm and the other at 6.00 pm.

By the time we set up and got the boys some supper we decided to attend the 6.00 pm session. What a nice presentation. Processing it all took a bit of time but after attending the presentation and then reading through the hand outs once we returned to the trailer it all started to make sense.

The easy way to do this is to ride the Metro. It is affordable and works quite well. The campground has a bus stop and is the turnaround point for Bus #83's regular route. Bus # 83 will take you to the College Park Metro Station. From there you get on the Green Line and head for the city.

The Metro runs on a Smart Card system. So does Bus # 83. The campground sells Smart Cards loaded with a $20.00 value for a total fee of $22.00. I bought cards for all four of us, one off - peak trip (Sunday) and then one peak trip (Tuesday) still left a balance of about $2.00 on each card when we left for home. You can recharge them using a credit or debit card at any Metro station or on-line, the campground cannot add value above and beyond the original $20.00.

I strongly recommend the Metro, stops are located very close to any attraction. Leave your vehicle at the campground.



Casa De Wilson all set up...

 

[jgillott]

Thanks for the tip on the D.C. campground and metro system. The family wants to hit D.C. this summer and I will consider that campground if we make it down.

 

[mwilson]

Some pictures of the fares from the Metro Schedule that the campground gave us....please feel free to ask questions and I'll try to answer them..


On top is the fare for Bus # 83...regular fare is $3.50 round trip and Senior round trip is $1.70. In some cases it would be cheaper to drive to College Park Metro Station, there is plenty of parking and it's free on the weekends. M-F the cost is $5.10 per day.....

The bottom are sample Metro fares, for example we went to the Zoo on Sunday. Cost each of us around $9.00 for Bus and Metro combined. Well worth it, get on Bus at the Campground, off Bus and onto Metro at College Park Station, then get off Metro and walk to the Zoo. Get back on Metro, get off Metro at College Park Station and onto Bus # 83, then arrive back at Campground......Easy, Peasey....

 

[jgillott]

Excellent Mike. Thank you.

I don't even have the new trailer set up yet and they are already itching to go....

 

[mwilson]

It looks intimidating at first but doesn't take before it all falls into place...

This is the arrival and departure times for Bus # 83. Both for weekdays and weekends.

CHP = Cherry Hill Park Campground...

 

[mwilson]

As near as we could tell the Metro ran around 10-30 minutes between trains depending on time of day and weekday vs weekend....

 

[jgillott]

Thanks again. It can't be much different than using the NY system. I've done that a few times more than I'd like to mention.

 

[mwilson]

Here is the link to the campground.....I don't carry on much about stuff but this campground has it together.....

https://www.cherryhillpark.com/

 

[jgillott]

Here is the link to the campground.....I don't carry on much about stuff but this campground has it together.....

https://www.cherryhillpark.com/

Any issues getting in and out of there with a 2wd? I may haul the trailer down with the Sprinter depending on how many people end up coming with me.

 

[mwilson]

Last thing and then I got to give up for tonight. The campground offered a DC night tour starting at 6.00 pm on Sunday night, got back to campground around 11.30 pm. Had an excellent driver and an excellent tour guide as well.

In our opinion that's the way to see the monuments for the first time is under the lights. The Korean War Memorial and the Marine Corp War (Iwo Jima) Memorial with the flag under the lights are things that you won't soon forget.....

Cost of tour (again, it left right from and returned to the campground) was $50.00 each for adults and $25.00 each for child. $150.00 well spent, no regrets....

 

[mwilson]

Any issues getting in and out of there with a 2wd? I may haul the trailer down with the Sprinter depending on how many people end up coming with me.

No, roads all paved as far as I know. Sites were all fine crushed stone and very level. If you get a premium site you also get a patio made with pavers. A few slight knolls in the campground but nothing a 2wd would have trouble with....

 

[jgillott]

No, roads all paved as far as I know. Sites were all fine crushed stone and very level. If you get a premium site you also get a patio made with pavers. A few slight knolls in the campground but nothing a 2wd would have trouble with....

Thanks. Certainly appreciate the recommendation.

 

[mwilson]

Just found this on the Cherry Hill website..

https://youtu.be/3kxs6o_6_hU

 

[jgillott]

That looks like a beautiful place. Definitely going to get down there at some point soon.

 

[AEdelheit]

We just got back last night, ended up staying in Arlington and taking the Metro in to D.C. one day, walked in the other day. The heat and humidity made walking 12+ miles a day challenging and overly sweaty, I forgot how dry Oregon is.

Did all the usual tourist stuff, for the Capital tour we went though our Congressmans office so it was a 5 person tour then got a card to visit the house and senate which was not in session but still neat to see the room. Seeing most of the building was as expected, there are so many pictures of them that the only thing that surprised me was how small the White House actually was. Walking the Arlington cemetery was the most interesting to me in terms of just how large the ground are.

The only attraction we paid for was the spy museum, it was cool though with the Smithsonian's being free I cant say it was worth the $20 but still fun.

 

[Tractorat]

I was there maybe 25 years ago. Since you are that close, if you havent been there, drop by to see old Williamsburg if you get the chance and haven't been there before.

 

[DaveHess]

Thank you very much for sharing! This was very fun to read! I'm taking a trip from ND to Niagara Falls this summer. Hate to be "that guy" and copy cat you Mr. Wilson but I think I may do that!

 

[mwilson]

Thank you very much for sharing! This was very fun to read! I'm taking a trip from ND to Niagara Falls this summer. Hate to be "that guy" and copy cat you Mr. Wilson but I think I may do that!

My pleasure. This is a lot more to add but time has not been on my side this week for sure.....

I did it with the intent of helping everyone that wants to visit DC, kinda' take the mystery and worry away.

To sidetrack for a moment, I asked the the wife last night if she had counted the amount of times that we ate at a restaurant during the 10 day trip....she had not.
I told her in a testimonial to her packing and prepping skills that we had only been out to eat 3 times during the entire time. Other than that we had food that was packed in the camper and we ate well....that really cuts down on the expense with two growing boys along for the ride.....RV is the way to go.....

 

[DaveHess]

I'm gonna do it! I'll get my bride to handle the "tech" side of this with pictures. I can type things in here but after that I am sorely lacking...