local advice needed

hi

this is really a ny trip for us (parents+4 kids ages 13 to 18)but i got a small riot because we were not visiting Washington

so we are arriving on amtrack at 11.20 and leaving at 18:30 same day on a saturday

i know its very tight but is what is doable at this point.

from union square how do i get to the mall?

once there what itinerary do you suggest?

any restaurant is a must around the mall?

is archives 1 walking distance from mall?

many thanks in advance

A

local advice needed

You are going to spend the several hundred dollars to bring 6 people to DC for only 7 hours???

Union Station is at Columbus Circle, not Union Square. It is about 4 blocks to the eastern end of The Mall, at the foot of the Capitol Building. There are few restaurants on The Mall and all are inside museums. The National Archives are across the street from The Mall at 8th Street, about 11 blocks from Union Station.

Check a map for a better idea of where things are.

nps.gov/PWR/鈥PS-Map-Washington-DC.pdf

local advice needed

Specifically, with that tight timetable, I would recommend the basement cafe of the National Gallery or the cafe at the Native American Museum.Both are buffet style and you can be in and out quickly.

I think the poster is saying they are visiting New York, with Washington as an afterthought.

You must see the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum -- it%26#39;s the most popular museum in the world (and it%26#39;s free of charge, like all the Smithsonian Museums, and it has no waiting line). Read about them at http://www.si.edu . The cafeteria inside the American Indian Museum is excellent. Union Station itself has a food court with many fast-foods. The U.S. Capitol building, National Gallery of Art, and Botanical Gardens (both free of charge) are near there also - you can walk past them on the way from Union Station to the Air and Space Museum. The nearby Penn Quarter area is fashionable and trendy with many restaurants.

Given your tight time schedule, you might consider Tourmobile or Old Town Trolley tickets for your group. You%26#39;ll get a guided street-level tour of all the sites (and sights), and you can hop on and hop off whereever you please. You can board and end your tour at Union Station and head back north from there.

';you can hop on and hop off whereever you please';

True, but please note that given your time schedule and need to catch a specific train, hopping off may not be a good idea. During off seasons the trolleys don%26#39;t always run frequently, and during busy seasons they may be full. I think taking the trolley is a great idea given your limited amount of time in DC, but you might want to stay on it for the complete circle.

thanks to everyone for time and advice

A

To save time, I would recommend eating at Union Station Food Court upon arrival and again just before departure. Quickly do a walking tour of a few monuments and memorials, and check out the Air and Space Museum. I would also recommend taking a peak inside of the Library of Congress (just behind the Capitol) -- it%26#39;s an amazing building on the inside. You might also have some time for the Capitol visitor%26#39;s center and maybe a tour.