Need Some advice/help from East Coast B.S.er's

[rightpedal]

Don't get your self all worked up you will not be the worst driver by far. Which might scare you a little.

I like Gean's idea. DC is tricky. You will miss the worst of summer traffic.... however 95 south out/in to the beltway is a bad idea at rush hour 6/9 going in and 4/7 going out. The metro is the way to go. It costs a bit to park at the station ($25 a day at Springfeild ?) and metro tickets are $6-10. All the museums are free. I am partial to the air and space, American history and the botanical gardens. The cafeteria in the Native American museum is really tasty but you have to step out of the comfort zone and you will drop $50 quick. If you can scheduled it, get Nats tickets for a day game. The park is only two metro stops from the mall down town(1/2-1 mile walk). Oh and everybody refers to museum row as the mall. Don't go looking foe an actual mall.

Out side the city at Dulles airport (10 mi west) is the other air and space museum. it is soooooo worth seeing. $6 to park and free to get in. They have one of the space shuttles and a blackbird. Both are enormous and worth the trip.

Steve

[rightpedal]

http://www.visitingdc.com/boat-bus-metro/washington-dc-metro-map.asp

DC metro map Franconia-springfeild is right off 95 just south of the beltway. Yellow line will put you downtown (E'Lenfant plaza)

The run out to Dulles is best made 10 am and on your way back 2ish.

I forgot you would be going against traffic... so any time going out still come back about 2. 4 hr is more than enough time in the museum unless you catch the Imax (also worth doing...remember the motion sickness goes away when you close your eyes)

[Eagle Kammback]

Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most scenic beautiful drives you can take.

[pdub]

I went to D.C. just to see it about 25 years ago and as DB pointed out, it was crazy enough on the beltway even back then.

I stayed at a motel in Alexandria and took a tour bus from there, upon recommendation of several coworkers. Boy were they ever right. No way I'd want to drive in that. And nowhere to park anyway if you got there.

I saw a story recently where D.C. is the most-worst place to drive crash-wise in the nation.

[Huskinhano]

blue ridge parkway, one of the most scenic beautiful drives you can take.

Absolutely! This is me with my daughter, Lia about 10 years ago on the Blue Ridge. Hey, I had hair!