I get that, and can completely respect it. But that boils down to the particular places that you're interested in going, which isn't going to the same for everyone. My particular complaint is with people that make factually inaccurate statements like:
I agree. Russell is an impressive Beaux-Arts architectural style building both outside and inside. Before COVID we used to go in there to meet various Senators during the RPA Day on the Hill in Spring every year.
That would be an interesting place to train watch. Year's ago I had drafted by the staff at my teacher led school to take students to Washington for the close-up convention. They thought they were giving me the short end the stick. Once I got them to Washington I discovered that adults from Close-up monitored the students azz and teachers had there own workshops.
And, my favorite museum is on the Red Line: the National Building Museum. Get off at Judiciary Square and it's literally across the street. And within a few blocks from there is the Nat'l Portrait Gallery/Museum of American Art ( and nearby Chinatown).
My sister and I went to the National Building Museum a few years ago (before COVID) to see an exhibit about Hanford, WA. My parents lived there for a time during the war and my oldest brother was born there.
My first job when I got out of the Navy was at 1100 NJ Ave SE, so I would frequently do that exact walk, and extend down over the portal of the Virginia Ave tunnel as well before arriving at the office. This was also right about the same time as I got my first DSLR, so I would frequently carry the camera with me and take pictures of interesting things as I walked over Capitol Hill (this is also when I learned that the “hill” part wasn’t just a name
).
VRE Meet by Ryan Stavely, on Flickr
E PL by Ryan Stavely, on FlickrRyan, that was a cool shot of the two trains.My first job when I got out of the Navy was at 1100 NJ Ave SE, so I would frequently do that exact walk, and extend down over the portal of the Virginia Ave tunnel as well before arriving at the office. This was also right about the same time as I got my first DSLR, so I would frequently carry the camera with me and take pictures of interesting things as I walked over Capitol Hill (this is also when I learned that the “hill” part wasn’t just a name
Some VRE action at the First St. tunnel ends:
My favorite from back in those days though was this one - my wife worked at the Capitol, where I learned that one could tour the dome. They’re tough tours to get, as the actual Member sponsoring you needs to accompany you on the tour, but the highlight is getting this view from the top (I have a nice print of this one that hangs in the office):
Interesting, I will have to check that out if I ever get to Washington again. Back in the 1980s my father in law was working on the Washington Public Power Supply System which was an ambitious plan to build 5 nuclear power stations at the Hanford site. After 3 Mile Island pulled the rug out from the nuclear power industry it was scaled back to I think just 2 reactors. We did get to tour some of the facility there. I think the Liquid Metal Fast Breeder was still operating and maybe the N reactor, I know the latter was shut down when people realized the inherent instability of graphite moderated cores - see Chernobyl.
The Hanford exhibit at the museum was a limited time one, as I recall.
Best thing that they could do, even in a very aesthetic fashion, as has been done in many cities is to build an elevated pedestrian walkway around the circle in front of Union Station with drops at Union Station and the major thoroughfares emanating from the circle that are fully ADA accessible. Yeah it will cost some, but it will eliminate the whole pedestrian issue in front of Union Station for good in a very user friendly way.
I'm a philatelist so I seriously enjoy having that wonderful museum close to home. It is never crowded, and one of the few groups of people who spend time there are people killing time before their train from Union Station.
Interesting - sorry I missed it. My mother took my brother and I to Hanford at age 6mos to be with our father. He was with DuPont working on a government project there. We all returned home to Wilmington a year later. Our trip out was from Nashville on the L&N and UP’s City of Portland.
Lots of hotels, some even affordable in the NoMa WMATA station area. The Courtyard almost adjacent to the NoMa WMATA station is my favorite since I can always get a room overlooking the neck approaching Union Station from the North. But it can be pricey. I have walked from that to Union Station, but typically entered it from the west, and not through the north exit.
Not sure exactly what area you're talking about, but there is an exit on the north side through the bus terminal. Follow signs "To Streetcars".
Or above the Metro station. There are doors to WUS there.
Maybe, maybe not. Any hip folks here, ever heard of the H Street Corridor? "A dynamic one-and-a-half mile corridor, this neighborhood promises a memorable night out, funky shops and chill cafés....The neighborhood’s largest event is the annual H Street Festival, which spans 10 blocks...As far as restaurants go, expect a multitude of delectable options." washington.org/dc-neighborhoods/h-street-ne#
I wonder if you could expand on this. From my map reading, it seems like the end of the Streetcar route is Union Station, not inside but at the intersection of H Street and Capitol Street, which google maps says is a 9 minute (1/2 mile) walk from the exit of Union Station. Once aboard the Streetcar, your ride to the H Street Coridor would be direct and take a couple of minutes.
Not only that, but the H St. trolley (which is undeniably a fun ride) doesn't have its own right-of-way and is slowed down, sometimes blocked, by DC's corps of kamikaze drivers and double-parkers and whatnot. The link at DC Streetcar - Wikipedia lists the most serious accidents, but there are many more incidents that fall short of serious injury.
