The Circulator Cometh!

photo uploaded to flickr by krossbowWalking along the National Mall, distances become quite deceptive. The compulsion to see "just one more museum" can lead you further and further astray. Before you know it, you're a good mile away from the Metro, which in normal times would be but a fifteen minute stroll.

But it's not normal times. It's hot. The kids are clamoring for ice cream and rides on the carousel. Your feet hurt. The damned stroller keeps getting stuck with the godforsaken gravel along the paths. You're not even sure you are going the right way. And your wife is looking at you as if this is all your fault. I've been there before, and as I can't permanently stand outside the Air and Space museum bailing all of you out, I do what I can to point you in the right direction.

But with a little planning some more professional help is available, for the transportation problem at least. Starting this Saturday, March 27th, the Circulator will be re-starting it's National Mall loop. Unfortunatly, it only runs on weekends, from 10 am till 6 pm, but it's better than nothing. For those of you not familiar with this service, the Circulator is a bus system run by the District Department of Transportation, not the regional system that runs the Metro buses (WMATA). It offers a few advantages over the Metro bus system, especially for our out of town visitors. Unlike Metro bus, you don't need a Masters in Systems Engineering to understand the routing, it's somewhat cheaper at an uncomplicated $1 per ride, and the buses stand out with a distinctive color scheme.

The Smithsonian-National Mall loop, which runs in a loop around the outside of the museums (i.e. along Constitution and Independence Avenues) can be picked up on various spots and swings (with short walks) near the Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, Archives-Navy Memorial, L'Enfant Plaza, and Federal Center SW Metro stops (see here for more info on taking the Metro to the Mall). It also has the advantage of getting near the World War II Memorial. Unfortunately, it doesn't continue to the Lincoln Memorial so your options to get all the way down there are to walk or pay $27 for the Tourmobile, which I'm not linking to because it sucks.

So take a few minutes before you come, and familiarize yourself with the route. No doubt, you've already listened to me and purchased SmartTrip cards for your family, but if not, have a crisp $1 bill for everyone. This bus is designed to run every ten minutes, so don't worry about a schedule, although you can showoff and save this link for your smart phone. It'll finally answer the perennial question from your kids: "when is the bus going to be here" (the mass transit version of "are we there yet" for you auto types).

Pull this all together and your kids will have a fun ride and your wife can go back to wondering if you remembered to mow the lawn before you left home. That I can't help you with.