I’m trying to figure out the best way to tour them at night. I am also trying to figure out the best way to get there and back without walking forever from our hotel. We are staying at the Hamiton Crowne Plaza on 14th and K Sts. I know we can the Metro to Smithsonian Station and walk from there but I’m not quite sure of the easiest way to get back to the hotel. Should we walk all the way back to the metro or take a cab?
I live in DC and actually worked across the street from that hotel. You can catch the subway at McPherson Square which is about a block or two from there and ride two stops to the Smithsonian…OR you can just walk from the hotel. My money is on the latter.
If you catch the train at McPherson square you can go to Smithsonian and come out in the middle of the National Mall, but you now have an issue of doubling back. You can come out of the train and either head towards the Capitol which is a mile or so away or turn and head towards the Washington Monument. The problem with the Capitol is that there really isn’t anything else that way at night b/c the museums close around 5. If you head toward the monument, then you can take pics there, walk down the hill to the WWII memorial and then keep walking toward the Lincoln Memorial. You can sit down on the stairs there and rest your feet, but you have the issue of walking all the way back to the subway unless you plan on going to see the Jefferson and FDR memorials, but they aren’t really within walking distance unless you don’t mind a good long walk.
My proposal is that you can catch the subway to Smithsonian Station and make sure you get out at the mall exit. Then see the Wash Monument, WWII and Lincoln Memorial and then take a few minutes to rest your feet and walk back to your hotel. If you head up 17th Street from the Lincoln Memorial then you’ll run right into Pennsylvania Ave and The White House where you can get some more pics and about four blocks up from there is your hotel.