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stefoodie
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We're driving into McLean, VA on Sunday the 22nd and staying at a Holiday Inn there. We need to drive into DC on Monday sometime, park somewhere, and join the March for Life at 1. Any suggestions on what time, where to park, do we use the Metro, should we not, if not, what other alternatives do we have, etc., etc.? A suggestion I received was to attend the 8:30 Mass at the Basilica and then ride the Metro to the March. I'd like to explore other options as well. Thanks!!
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stef
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stellamaris
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Stef, if you have friends in parishes in NV, you might ask them to check and see if their churches are sponsoring any buses into DC for the March. This is the way we usually go in and I think it is the easiest way. It's a real pain to drive in DC, even on a regular day.
Our home parish in the Shenandoah Valley usually has a bus, but that is too far from McLean for you.
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guitarnan
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Our parish has a bus, but we are in Maryland. Still, if that would work for you, please let me know; I know the March for Life coordinator through our co-op.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Maryan
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Stef, have you ever driven in D.C.? Or the D.C. area? (I can't remember from past posts!) Our traffic is up there in the top. And the lights on the side of the road etc. can be confusing... even for NOVA folk. 
But here's my two cents on various options:
When I was single and lived in Manassas, I would attend Mass in Manassas, then drive to the Vienna Metro station (orange line) and get off at the Smithsonian. I think going home I would get on South Capitol back to Vienna and hope to beat the I-66 traffic back to Manassas. OR I stayed in D.C. and waited to go home after rush hour traffic. Metro was crowded, but doable.
Now married, sometimes I can't go b/c of sick kids, but when we all do go, we still go to Mass locally and then drive in to Union Station and park there (you can look up parking costs)... and walk down to the March. The finish isn't that far from Union Station either. We take our car because the Metro with little kids and stroller would be hard. We did it for the Marine Corps Marathon, but never the March. Okay, a little confession here: We don't attend the talks -- just the March. We take the boys to the Air and Space Museum during the talks  which is also crowded, but it keeps my guys occupied and gives them a chance to do something fun after a long car ride. Then we March and drive immediately home to avoid the D.C. traffic.
The traffic to get to the Basilica at 8:30 am will be heavy. You could do that, but just account for traffic in your travel time. I'm pretty sure the Catholic University (CUA) would be the stop you would take to the March.
A thought:If you are staying in McLean, you may want to call your hotel to see if they provide transportation to/from the nearest Metro station (which is probably one of the Falls Church Stations?) If you still wanted to go to the Basilica, you could take the orange to the red line (Catholic University of America stop - CUA, I think). Go to the March from the Basilica and then Metro back to Falls Church (or wherever). Not sure what all those costs would be, but you could figure it out on the Metro website.
Traffic home from DC on I-66 will also be heavy and navigating the roads in traffic is trickier, so that's why you *may* want to consider Metro in and out.
The bus option is a good idea too, but it limits your options. Are you trying to see anything else in D.C. while you are there?
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Maryan
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| Posted: Jan 04 2012 at 6:39pm | IP Logged
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Oh and... I can't remember how old your littlest one is, so if you are doing a stroller that's when the Metro becomes difficult and that's when I'd just drive to the Basilica for Mass and then I'd drive to Union Station and park there. If there are plenty of hands to hold him, then I'd stick with Metro.
And are you attached to an 8:30 Mass at the Shrine? There are also other Masses on that day I'm sure.
Are you trying to see your representatives, etc?
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Mary Chris
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Driving into DC isn't too bad, there is just a lot of traffic and cranky folks. I recommend heading in early if you decide to drive. Maryan had a good suggestion of parking at Union Station. You might even be able to Metro up to the Basilica, then back to the Mall for the March.
In my experience, the March always starts late, so you will have time to visit a museum or see representatives.
Definitely see if your hotel has a shuttle bus. Super good idea Maryan!!!!!
Parking gets full at the Metro stops along 66 early. If your hotel does not have a shuttle and you are going to ride the Metro after 9 am from Virginia, I suggest parking at Pentagon City Mall.
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guitarnan
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What Mary Chris said.
By "early," she means that the Vienna Metro parking lot and others closer to DC fill by, say 6:30 a.m. at the latest, because the March takes place on a work day.
I imagine the Basilica lots will fill quickly, too, for that morning Mass.
Another idea would be to drive to Rosslyn via I-66 and park there - there is a Metro station and there are several parking options.
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stefoodie
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Thanks so very much, ladies! This is all very helpful. Printing out to share with hubby so we can make some decisions... thanks again!!
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stef
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stefoodie
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Maryan, yes, we have driven in DC twice, several years ago but they were ordinary weekdays, we managed to park both times in front of museums and just walked the whole day to see what we wanted to see. I think we'll be taking your Union Station idea. THANKS AGAIN!!
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stef
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stefoodie
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Bumping this up to ask those in the area what their opinion is on how bad the roads are out there. We're driving in tomorrow, an 8 1/2 hour drive, and right now our roads are icy and looks like we're getting a bit more... and I heard that some areas around VA and DC also got ice? Would hate to cancel but also hesitate to go if it might not be safe.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Jan 21 2012 at 10:47am | IP Logged
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We got about an inch of snow and a bit of ice, but roads are expected to be clear here in MD by 1:00 or so. It is going to be warmer Monday with rain, so you will not have problems on that day at all. You might have a bit of freezing rain tomorrow morning, depending on how things go. By later afternoon the roads will be okay, and then you might see patchy ice on overpasses and ramps as the temps drop.
For excellent traffic reports, WTOP (103.5 FM) is your best bet. You can listen online at www.wtop.com before you travel, too. Traffic and weather are reported every 10 minutes "on the 8s," 24/7.
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MarilynW
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Stef - I emailed you at your gmail address. You might be able to get on a bus locally. If you email me I can get you details. Parking at metro stations is no longer simple (I believe?)
If you go on the local buses - there is usually a pro-life Mass before the bus leaves.
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Maryan
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Hard to say Stef. Right now west of DC the temps are not very warm, so the ice is still on my car and it's after 1 pm. I've heard the main roads are perfectly fine, but we're supposed to get a bit tomorrow (but not as much is what I hear). I would have thought the ice would have melted already.
Monday will be very warm 50, so it would be your travel tomorrow (as you say) that would be the issue.
WTOP is accurate weather for this area. You can check their website too to see if the forecast changes.
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Maryan
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stefoodie
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Thank you!! Marilyn, I'm waiting for hubby to come home and I'll show him your e-mail. Thanks. Still weighing.....
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stef
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guitarnan
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I've been out in the area near BWI airport. Roads are clear but wet which means they will freeze tonight. However, they should be just wet again by tomorrow afternoon. Temps are supposed to be in the mid 30s.
My cars have ice on them but that is because I have not bothered to warm up the cars and scrape it off.
IMHO your biggest worry is the roads near you and on the way that you will be driving on in the early morning. They will have just as much ice as our roads will.
If you do decide to come, make sure you have plenty of washer fluid and allow plenty of extra time.
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Jan 27 2012 at 12:28pm | IP Logged
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I just wanted to come back here and say THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN for all the great suggestions!
The most difficult part of the whole trip was driving in fog on 68 the night before. Names like "Big Savage Mountain" did not help  but we did get to the hotel okay.
The day of the March we had a leisurely breakfast, left the hotel at 8:30 to allow us an hour to get to Union Station, parked (there were plenty of parking spaces!) and walked from there, passing by the National Gallery of Art where we met a bunch of pro-lifers, some from our area who came in a bus!. grabbed an early lunch after viewing some Rodins, etc. then onto the March. It was muddy and wet, but the cold wasn't unbearable as I thought it would be. Looking forward to doing it again! Or rather, looking forward to marching next time to celebrate the reversal of Roe v Wade.
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Mary Chris
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I'm glad it worked out. The Federal Gov't didn't open until 11 am on Monday which made parking in DC easy! We went to the Youth Rally and Mass at the Verizon Center, the Metro was practically empty.
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Topic: March for Life - can you help us?
