Smithsonian, Washington

Thank you for your answers !

I’ll take the train (4h) and come back the next day from Dulles with Jetblue (65$, same as the train, but with IFE and leather seat, looks cool).

I’ll write a little debriefing when I come back.

Book ahead on the Amtrak (Acela Express) to go down from NYC, its about a 3-4hr trip from memory

Free Bus from the Mall to Dulles. Allow a full day for each.

Don’t know if Amtrak (the train) is the best way to travel NY – DC but I travelled Chicago – DC (a long journey including over-night) and would thoroughly recommend it. All stories about the poor rail service in the USA proved, in my case certainly, unfounded.

The lengthy trip I undertook by Greyhound wasn’t too bad either.

Roger Smith.

Can recommend Greyhound NY-DC -about half a day, dirt cheap and very entertaining. Alternatively car hire is dead easy and gives the flexibility for getting around.

Don’t know if Amtrak (the train) is the best way to travel NY – DC but I travelled Chicago – DC (a long journey including over-night) and would thoroughly recommend it. All stories about the poor rail service in the USA proved, in my case certainly, unfounded.

The lengthy trip I undertook by Greyhound wasn’t too bad either.

Roger Smith.

Just back myself from Washington, Smithsonian and Udvar-Hazy, allow at least a day for each!
I have been 3 times to the Smithsonian on the Mall, and still find new treasures! 4 hours at Udvar-Hazy was just enough time to scoot all the way round but only photograph about one quarter of the contents, which all extremely historic.

Hi,

Sorry for reviving this old thread, but I’m planning a trip to New York in November, and of course, I’d love to visit aviation related things.

I just learned that the USS Intrepid will be closed 🙁 So I plan to stay 2 days at Washington to visit both Smithsonian museums (the one on the Mall and the other near Dulles).

Here are my questions:
– How long does a serious visit of each museum last ? I don’t plan to make walkaround pictures of all airplanes, but I want to have time to really enjoy ?
– What is the best way to reach DC from NYC ? I think about going by train, and then returning by air from Dulles.

Thank you for your help !

Paul

few more.

Many more to follow, as I visited quite a few museums and a couple of shows, including my childhood ambition – Reno.

Unfortunately (as with quite a few museums in the USA) it was a bit on the dark side, making photography a touch difficult without the aid of a tri-pod, but I gave it my best shot anyway.