Washington DC at Cherry Blossom Festival

I am taking my 12 year old son to DC over spring break. It happens to be Cherry Blossom festival. What can I expect as far a crowds ect? We will be staying in the College Park area. How is that for an area to stay? Last of all how is the Metro subway? Safe for mother and son?

Washington DC at Cherry Blossom Festival

It will be crowded, but nothing unbearable. Where in College Park.

Of course Metro is safe. Why wouldn%26#39;t it be?

Washington DC at Cherry Blossom Festival

Some of the motels around College Park get terrible reviews. Most are not in a place that is easy to get into DC, so find out how you will be able to get to Metro and be sure the place isn%26#39;t exaggerating their proximity. You should have no concerns about safety on Metro. There are the occasional pickpocket incidents involving distracted people, but that%26#39;s about all.

Coming from a small midwestern town, going to a ';big City'; without my husband makes me a little nervous. I still really want to see the sites and so does my son. Our hotel says they pick up at the metro station, and that is how we would be doing most of our travels.

I would stay in DC, in the NW quadrant within walking distance to a Metrorail station if it is in your budget.

You could also do much better staying in Crystal City. The Hampton Inn %26amp; Suites is rather inexpensive and very close to a Metro. Everything will be more expensive because you are coming during the Cherry Blossom festival.

The train ride from College Park to Smithsonian will be about 30 minutes and will cost $3.25 each person, unless you wait until after rush hour when it will be cheaper. $1.60 each I think. To that time you will have to add the shuttle time and wait time for a train to show up.

';The train ride from College Park to Smithsonian';

Just to clarify, since you%26#39;re not familiar with the Metro. To get to the Smithsonian museums on the Mall from College Park, your best bet is to take the Green Line to the L%26#39;Enfant Plaza station--don%26#39;t switch lines to get to the Smithsonian station. The 7th %26amp; Maryland exit at L%26#39;Enfant Plaza is about a block from the Air and Space Museum.

Also, where in College Park are you staying? Some of the motels may not be that convenient for you if you don%26#39;t have a car. (They%26#39;re all lined up on Route 1 but some of them are a hike from restaurants, although there is frequent bus service.)

There%26#39;s nothing wrong with College Park, but you might be happier if you can find a hotel close to Metrorail so you don%26#39;t have to rely on a shuttle.

Hi, I%26#39;ll be traveling to DC in March with

my son also, I%26#39;ll be staying in Rosslyn,

which is 10 min ride to DC, there%26#39;s a metro

stop in the area, and it%26#39;s a very safe place

from the reviews of many travelers.

Don%26#39;t be nervous about DC. I%26#39;m a suburbia girl and was a little nervous about going to DC our first trip. I found it to be such a wonderful city. I only felt a little uncomfortable around Fords Theatre (we went the wrong way and ended up down a bad street). The Metro is wonderful! So safe and easy to navigage. Have a great trip.

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