Minnesota State Society   

1. Transportation 

a. Airport ground transport

Transportation to downtown DC from the two outlying airports, Dulles and BWI, can be expensive by cab. (At least $50 one way is a good guess.) There are cheaper alternatives if your budget is tight.  Stop at an information desk in the airport and ask about bus service all the way into DC (from Dulles only) or a bus line to a metro stop. At Dulles, for example, the bus will take you right to the Falls Church metro stop. (See metro map, below.) From there, it is an easy ride to downtown DC.  Washington Reagan National Airport is very close to downtown DC and the main tourist sites. It is a short cab ride to downtown DC, and has its own metro stop.

For FULL ground transport options, click here:

Dulles (IAD) International Airport
http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/ground.htm

Reagan (DCA) National Airport
http://www.metwashairports.com/national/ground.htm

Baltimore (BWI) Washington International Airport
http://www.bwiairport.com/frames/1_washington.html

b. Washington Metro (light rail transport)

You will likely need to navigate the city at some point by using the “metro” for your visit. For those who have not been on it, it is inexpensive, easy, safe, and clean.  Here is the site to familiarize you in advance. This map is printable. We advise that you print a copy for yourself before you travel to our city.

http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm

You can also actually plan your metro routes in advance by plugging in your locations/addresses/ estinations here:

http://www.wmata.com/

2. Tourism tips

Here are a few of our favorite tourism sites

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/travel/visitorsguide.htm
http://www.dcchamber.org/
http://www.smithsonian.org/

Please note that after September 11, 2001, things are up and running and as festive as ever, but a few things need TICKETS, now, where they didn't before. If you want to go up to the top of the Washington monument, for example, tickets are now needed. You CAN get them on site (only IF available, though). You really should get them PRIOR to your departure from your home state using this web site:
http://www.nps.gov/wamo/experience/experience.htm

Note that tickets to the Washington Monument are still FREE. (As well as all museums on the National Mall. See Smithsonian web site above).

The capital area is still very accessible by foot. The National Park service provides excellent maps.
http://www.nps.gov/

We would not necessarily recommend a rental car for downtown DC. (Since September 11, 2001 many streets are still partially blocked or closed.)

If you wish to see the White House or United States Capitol, we understand that limited tours are available.....but you must contact your OWN United States Senator or Congressperson BEFORE leaving your state for the most updated information/tickets. They generally have e-mail. Just click the information below. Please do this right away, and they will be able to help you better.

Find your Federal Senator here:
http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm

Find your Local Congressperson here:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
or 
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

3. Attire

Washington DC has all four seasons so please check the weather web site listed below before you travel.  Good walking shoes and light clothing are a MUST for walking on the Mall in Washington DC. No shoes with deep grooves in the soles are recommended as the Mall is gravel and not paved.  It can also be very rainy on very short notice, here.  A compact umbrella and/or a travel rain slicker is always a good idea.

4. Weather

For current DC temperature, click here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/

Average high and low temperatures are listed at the following site.  Also for Celsius conversion and other information (more than you wanted to know!) click here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/longterm/historical/data/washington_national_airport_dc.htm 

5. Traveling with kids
Don't miss the National Zoo http://www.fonz.org/ (no admission fee!)
Children's Museum. http://www.ccm.org/

DC is a GREAT place for the family!

6. A little piece of home in Washington, DC

You may wish to patronize these greater Washington DC area activities and businesses with a Minnesota connection.

a.    The Minnesota State Society

Check out our events page to learn what might be going on to coincide with your trip.   We would love to have you as a guest at one of our events.   Tickets and pricing information is included.

http://www.mnstatesociety.org/events/index.htm

(If you are traveling here from another state click on the link for the National Conference of State Societies (http://www.statesocieties.org/default.htm) to see if your home state society has a web page with events that you may enjoy!)

b.   Buca Di Beppo (an Italian restaurant chain founded in Minneapolis)

http://www.bucadibeppo.com/loc_index.asp?FL=YS&ID=DC

c.    The Gray Ghost Winery (an owner is a Minnesota native)

http://www.tricountyi.net/~nstultz/grayghos.htm

d.  Caribou Coffee (a chain of coffeehouses founded in Minnesota)

http://www.cariboucoffee.com/stores1.cfm?STID=7

e.   If you ever have any travel needs from a Minnesota based Target store, they have a nifty store locator on their web site:

http://target.com/target_group/storelocator/index.jhtml

Happy and safe traveling!
Best regards,
The Minnesota State Society

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