To D.C., by train
By Casey Gillis on Jun. 02, 2010
(434) 385-5525
There’s no better way to travel than by train.
It beats the heck out of driving. The seats are more comfortable and spacious than in a car (or an airplane, for that matter) plus you have the freedom to get up and move around whenever you feel like it.
There are dining and café cars and, perhaps most importantly, bathrooms.
It’s also a lot less hassle than air travel, and cheaper, too. To ride the rails from Lynchburg, all you have to do is buy your ticket, show up at the station and hop on. Our roundtrip tickets ran us about $86 each (prices vary, depending on the date and which train you take).
Don’t just take my word for it. Amtrak recently released ridership numbers for the new train that runs from Lynchburg to Washington, D.C. From October through May, more than 55,000 people rode it, generating more than $2.8 million in revenue.
So that got us wondering: If you take the train to Washington in the morning, what can you do while in the nation’s capital before catching the train back home that evening?
The Northeast Regional leaves Lynchburg at 7:38 a.m. most weekdays and puts you in D.C. around 11 a.m. (check specific dates at http://www.Amtrak.com; it leaves later on the weekends). We wanted to get there earlier, so we took the Crescent, which runs from New Orleans to New York, with stops in Lynchburg and D.C., among others.
Talk about bright and early. The train rolls through Lynchburg at 6 a.m. and arrives in D.C. between 9:30 and 10 a.m.
We then rode the Northeast Regional home, leaving at 4:50 p.m. and getting home at about 8:30 p.m.
(If you really want to maximize your time in the city, you can take the Crescent both ways. It leaves D.C. at 6:30 p.m., putting you back in the Burg by 10 p.m., if it’s running on time.)
So that left us with roughly six hours in the city. Yes, that’s right: We traveled almost eight hours, round trip, for six hours of sightseeing.
But it was totally worth it. We managed to fit a lot into those six hours, including stops at the White House, the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress and the U.S. Botanic Garden. We also had lunch at a supposed politician hot spot near Capitol Hill and explored the world of espionage at the International Spy Museum.
Here’s what we learned throughout our travels:
Plan ahead
I’m a planner. I don’t fly by the seat of my pants, especially when it comes to traveling, and on a day trip like this, that is key.
Step one is buying your tickets in advance. Then, you have a three-hour trek up there to come up with a game plan.
Whatever you do, make sure to buy a city guide before you depart. I’ve been to D.C. a few times, but not enough to truly know my way around, and the book I bought was essential.
During the train ride, News & Advance photographer Jill Nance and I both thumbed through it and targeted the different sites we’d like to see.
Once we arrived, we did a lot of walking and, thanks to the book’s trusty maps, never got lost.
Walk like a man (or woman)
We arrived at D.C.’s Union Station at 9:30 a.m., about 30 minutes earlier than expected. We’d originally planned to have an early lunch at Bullfeathers, which is supposed to be a popular place with politicians.
Our early arrival allowed us to fit in a few stops before the restaurant opened. From Union Station, we walked about four blocks to the Capitol Building.
Walking, for us, seemed easier and, since we were on a budget, cheaper. But there are several other options. The Metrorail and Metrobus services both have stops at Union Station. Or you can take a taxi, which we considered, but the line was too long and looked like it would interfere with our tight schedule.
Our next stop, after the Capitol, was across the street to the Library of Congress. It’s stunning, inside and out, especially the Great Hall’s stained glass skylights and elaborately carved staircases.
If you go there, make sure to check out the Jefferson Library, a collection of books Congress bought from Thomas Jefferson after the original library was destroyed by the British in 1814 (not all of the books there are originals, though; most were lost in an 1851 fire, and the library’s goal is to replace them with period copies).
After admiring the books, we made one more stop, a quick jaunt through the Botanic Garden, before we headed a few blocks to Bullfeathers for lunch.
We didn’t see any famous faces there, but there were lots of business types who we imagined were wheeling and dealing. And we had a great meal, for about 10 bucks apiece.
Have cash ready
Next up was the White House, which was definitely too far to walk, especially on a full stomach. So we cabbed it there for only $12. Some cabs take debit and credit cards these days, but I just find it’s easier to get in and out if you have cash.
Now, to actually get inside the White House for a tour, you have to do that whole planning-ahead thing. But, like, months in advance. I’m not quite that good, so we just admired it from afar.
Also spotted: the Obama’s dog, Bo, being walked around the grounds.
Well, we’re pretty sure it was him.
Take suggestions from friends
On our way from the White House to the Old Post Office Pavilion, we came across a neat public art project on New York Avenue. The project, being put on by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, features sculptures by renowned female artists; the first phase includes four brightly colored works by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle.
It was a fun, unexpected leg of the trip (and another reason why walking is a must — we never would’ve found it otherwise).
The Post Office was actually recommended to us by a friend. When going on a trip like this, always ask people for advice. They might know about some little gem that isn’t included in the guidebook. In this case, the Post Office was in our guidebook, but if my friend hadn’t talked about its spectacular views, it wouldn’t have been on my radar.
The main building is now a food court, with a few touristy shops in the mix.
But ride the elevator upstairs, and you get an almost 360-degree view of the city (one side was closed for construction).
The best part? It’s free!
Get a history lesson
The number of museums in D.C. is staggering. They cover a wide range of topics — art, history, fashion — and I wish we’d had the time to fit in more.
The Newseum was at the top of my list. But since Jill had already been there, we went to the International Spy Museum instead. It was pretty silly at first (they ask you to memorize your very own “cover” identity, then test you on it later). But the real-life spy stories and some of the gadgets they used were fascinating.
The point is, find something you’re passionate about or interested in, and spend some serious time there, soaking it all in.
Don’t push it
We finished up at the Spy Museum at about 4 p.m. With our train leaving at 4:50 p.m., we decided the safest bet would be to head back to the station, instead of trying to fit in one more stop.
Another quick cab ride got us there a little after 4 p.m., so we took some time to explore Union Station, which is beautiful.
It’s also full of restaurants and shops (think everything from Express, Ann Taylor and Guess to The Body Shop and Barnes & Noble). I bought a book at Barnes & Noble, and we both grabbed sandwiches, for the ride home.
We could’ve eaten on the train, too. The Northeast Regional has a snack car that sells sandwiches, pizza, hot dogs and the like, with nothing costing more than $7. They also serve beer, wine or cocktails, if you’re in the mood for an end-of-the-day drink.
Get a window seat
The route there and back goes through a lot of scenic spots and cute little towns, so if you can, grab a window seat and enjoy the ride.
Ride the train
From Lynchburg to D.C.: The Crescent leaves Lynchburg at about 6 a.m. every day, and is scheduled to arrive in Union Station at about 10 a.m. The Northeast Regional (the new train, which started eight months ago) departs at about 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and is scheduled to arrive in Union Station at about 11:20 a.m. On weekends, it leaves Lynchburg at about 10 a.m. and arrives in Union Station at about 1:30 p.m.
From D.C. to Lynchburg: The Crescent leaves D.C. at about 6:30 p.m. every day and arrives back in Lynchburg by 10 p.m. The Northeast Regional departs at about 4:50 p.m. on weekdays, putting you back in the Hill City by 8:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. on weekends, with an arrival time of 7:30 p.m.
Details: http://www.amtrak.com
Where we went
Editor’s note: Ticket information and hours are always subject to change, so make sure to call before planning your own trip.
• Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE; (202) 289-1908; http://www.unionstationdc.com
• The Capitol Building, located on the National Mall between 1st and 3rd streets and Independence and Constitution avenues; (202) 226-8000; open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; free admission
• The Library of Congress, 1st St. SE, between Independence Ave. and East Capitol Street; (202) 707-8000; http://www.loc.gov; open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; free
• The U.S. Botanic Garden, located on the Capitol grounds at Maryland Avenue and 1st Street; (202) 225-8333; open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; free
• Bullfeathers of Capitol Hill, 410 1st St.; (202) 543-5005; http://www.bullfeatherscapitolhill.com; open 11:15 a.m. to midnight Monday-Saturday
• Old Post Office Pavilion, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; (202)289-4225; http://www.oldpostofficedc.com; tower open from April-August; building is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday; free
• The International Spy Museum, 800 F St., NW; (202) 393-7798; http://www.spymuseum.org; hours change depending on the time of year, so check out the website for more; admission $18 for adults and $15 for children.
View A trip to D.C. in a larger map
COMMENTS