Once I make it to the Smithsonian metro, what is it like?

[Anonymous]

Can I walk to the museums? Is it not worth it with a 6 year old?

[Anonymous]

Once you come up out of the station, you are on the Mall and can walk to the museums. The museums are spaced apart but you can take your time walking from one to the next. You might want to pick one to go to and spend time there and come back on another day to see another one since there is no admission fee.

[Anonymous]

You might even prefer a different station, depending on your destination museum and Metro line of origin. Check for the nearest Metro stop to whichever museum you want to go to. It isn't necessarily the "Smithsonian" station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might even prefer a different station, depending on your destination museum and Metro line of origin. Check for the nearest Metro stop to whichever museum you want to go to. It isn't necessarily the "Smithsonian" station.

Correct!
For example- if you go to the American History Museum - get off at Federal Triangle, but if you're going to the Castle than get off at Smithsonian.

[Anonymous]

Good advice here. Smithsonian stop is really not the closest for most of the Museums.

L'enfant plaza = Air and Space (use Yellow/Green MD Avenue exit)
Archives = Natural History & Gallery of Art
Federal Triangle = American History / Natural History

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might even prefer a different station, depending on your destination museum and Metro line of origin. Check for the nearest Metro stop to whichever museum you want to go to. It isn't necessarily the "Smithsonian" station.

Correct!
For example- if you go to the American History Museum - get off at Federal Triangle, but if you're going to the Castle than get off at Smithsonian.

It also depends where you're coming from. For example, coming from a Red Line station uptown, I would get off at Metro Center to walk to American history rather than change trains. OP, it's worth doing a little homework while you're learning your way around town. There's really good Metro station density down there.

And yes, 6 year-olds should be (or get) into museum-going.

[Anonymous]

Check www.wmata.com for route suggestions or www.si.edu for visit-planning advice.

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking that OP was referring to the snow and walkways, not where to get off and if her child would like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thinking that OP was referring to the snow and walkways, not where to get off and if her child would like it.

I thought about that, but then I considered that must not be it, because 6 year-olds in proper snow boots can walk on unshoveled sidewalks well enough when it's necessary. So can adults. Families requiring strollers may have a harder time, but that didn't sound like OP's concern.

[Anonymous]

As of Friday afternoon, there were some shoveled sections and some not-shoveled sections. The sidewalks are in good shape, but crossing the mall was a bit treacherous.