Originally Posted by jeffcarp
Could someone recommend a Washington DC area location? My situation is:
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The location needs to be close to a train/subway station (not walking distance, just a reasonable drive if parking is available). Hotel area should be safe for families. Prefer that the subway route also be reasonably safe also, though we won't be riding it at night. We travel a lot and are not "big city paranoid." We just want the location to be safe when using common sense.
We will be visiting the typical attractions (White House, monuments, etc) and also a Smithsonian. So, rail access to both of these is imperative. Train ride length isn't a big deal to me.
Any good locations for this scenario?
I have stayed at almost every Marriott in the DC area. I think the Wardman Park Marriott is your best bet. The ride down Connecticut Avenue is an easy and pleasant one as another poster suggested. The Metro stops right at the Wardman Park and it is the red line which is a good line. There are a lot of restaurants across the street from the hotel and it's also a great walking area. When you leave you can even drive back to the beltway or 270(?) through Rock Creek Park. It is a really pretty ride without a lot of traffic.
Bobi