*Updated July 8, 2013*

Over the New Year, we were able to visit some of Hubby’s family, a couple hours from here. Since they live on the outskirts of DC, it was a perfect (but chilly) opportunity for our little family to visit the nation’s capital. We were only there for a few hours, but we had a blast!

Tips: Decide if you’re going to drive into DC or take the metro. If you drive, be aware that parking may be difficult to find and can be as much as $10 an hour. I recently drove with Baby J to Alexandria to visit a friend. Parking was $5 an hour in the Old Alexandria area. If you choose to park at one of the outer Metro stations and then take the Metro into DC, you’ll pay around $5 for all-day parking. One day Metro passes for adults are $14.

For military families, coming up from the Hampton Roads area, the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station may be your best option.

If you have little ones, I’d recommend using either an umbrella stroller or babywear on the Metro. During peak times (rush hour), the Metro cars will be crammed with standing room only. People will not make way for a stroller. You’ll have to force yourself on, and there just may not be enough room for a large stroller.

Finally, traffic going out of DC in the afternoons and evenings is horrendous. If you’re not staying overnight, don’t bother leaving the city or the outlying areas (like the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station) before 8pm. Otherwise, you’ll just sit in traffic.

Have you been to DC? What was your favorite place to visit while there?