| Union Station tips and photos posted by real travelers and Washington D.C. locals.
50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
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You don't need to go to Union Station just to catch a train. You can go simply for the station itself. There is a vast open area with benches where you can just people watch. You'd be absolutely amazed at just how many famous people pass through here each day. of course, there are the daily commuters, but you may see an actor/actress, a member of congress or an ambassador or two walking by if you sit still long enough. There are shops where you can grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee (the coffee is darned GOOD), and there is artwork to look at on the walls and ceiling of the building. Need a sweet? there's a Godiva chocolate store. Need a pretty bauble for a loved one? There's a jeweler there as well. There are about one hundred stores within the station. Need a tour guide or bus? There are companies available.
store hours are:
Monday – Saturday 10-9
Sunday Noon-6
Beyond all of the stores and restaurants, there really are trains to catch here. Call Amtrac for schedules. Leave a Comment
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Union Station is the most visited destination in Washington, DC with over 25 million visitors a year. Washington’s train station and premier shopping mall, also serves as a venue for world-class exhibitions and international cultural events. The elegant Main Hall with its vaulted ceiling more than 90-feet high and marble floors is reminiscent of the days when railway travel was fashionable. This beaux-arts building, opened in 1908, fell into severe disrepair in the 1940s. It underwent a monumental restoration project and reopened in 1988. Restaurants, including an international food court, and more than 100 specialty shops draw visitors. Its proximity to the Library of Congress and the U.S. Capitol make it a perfect midday stop for lunch. Still a working train station, Amtrak has service from here to all points in the country.
You will find 130 stores at Union Station featuring everything from men’s and women’s fashion to jewelry to decorative arts to games and toys. The Food Court at Union Station is a great place to enjoy a snack or take the whole family for a quick and inexpensive meal. Full service restaurants include America, B. Smith, East Street Café, Station Grill, Thunder Grill and Uno Chicago Grill. A state-of-the-art, 9 screen American Multi-Cinema complex is located on the lower level. Sightseeing tours depart from Union Station for the Gray Line, Old Town Trolley and Tourmobile.
Open Hours: Station: 24 hrs, Shops: 10am-9pm M-Sat, noon-6p Sun
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With over 25 mln people passing through each year, the Union Station is the most visited place in Washington. One of the finest examples of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture has welcomed visitors, 17 Presidents and countless foreign dignitaries among them, to the capital since 1908. This gateway for the capital city is monumental in every respect and has been restored to its former glory since renovation at a cost of $160 million in 1985 - 1988.
The architectural design of the main buiding both its exterior and roomy main hall, I have seen after dusk, has convinced me that the Beaux-Arts style, ever if it's not my favourite one, may create pleasantly hostile atmosphere. But I didn't come to the Union Station to amaze it but to enjoy company of VT-ers who came to meet my wife and me. Walking along its vast undergrounds I have shortly and easily realized that the Union Station performs a few functions.
Surely it's a busy transportation terminal which serves as the main depot for Amtrack trains as well as several types of bus service and the metro. Keep in mind that the USA is not a train country but a car country ("a plane country" as well). But Washington, DC, although it is the capital city, is not at all American city. Look, it's probably the only world's capital which has no airport. Well, there is one, but only for domestic flights just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia.
Apart from key transportation function the Union station has become underground shopping mall since 1988. There are over 130 different stores from cheap and kitchy to fancy and upclass ones together with also different restaurants and the multiplex cinema. Diversity and freedom of choice are common in the USA. One exception: there is no space for all those crazy smokers at the station. For me the Union Station is the place, where we, a group of VT-ers, ended up in that unforgettable evening on 16th October, 2004.
Details in my travelogues, nightlife, shopping and restaurant tips.
Leave a Comment Phone: +1 (202) 898 1908Directions: Northeast of the Capitol Building. The Station is easily accessible by Metro's Red Line.Website: http://www.unionstationdc.com Other Contact: Fax: +1 (202) 289 6263
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There are a reported 25 million visitors each year to Union Station making it the most visited site in Washington. Old train stations tend to be grand and beautiful structures and this is no exception with its central archway based on the Constantine Arch in Rome and barrel-vaulted ceiling decorated with gold leaf. There are Italianate statutes lining the corridor and a marble floor throughout. It was built in 1907-08 as the new terminal for the Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads and was the main gateway to the nation’s capitol for over 40 years. It was constructed between 1907 and 1908 as the new terminal for the Baltimore & Ohio and the Pennsylvania Railroads. The terminal would be the main gateway to the capital of the United States for more than 40 years with over 100,000 passengers passing through per day. It even had a Presidential suite up until the time of President Eisenhower. As air travel popularized the building deteriorated and even parts of the roof started to cave in. In the 1980’s it was restored to the grand place it is today. It still functions as a rail terminal with Amtrak service as well as commuter service to Maryland and Virginia. It is also a starting point for many of the tour trolleys and mobiles and is on the metro Red Line. It is also now has over 100 shops and restaurants so you can fill your stomach and empty your purse. In front of the building is the Freedom Bell, a replica of the Liberty Bell given in celebration of the US Bicentennial by the American Legion. Leave a Comment
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Or as my sister used call it when she was little, "Onion Station". This busy transportation terminal serves as the main depot for Amtrack trains as well as several types of bus service and the Metro, but it is much more that just a train station. Union is a vast building decorated in the Classical Roman style and is absolutely breathtaking to behold. Presidential inaugeral Balls have been held here. It is in fact considered to be one of the world's finest examples of Beaux-Artes architecture. Inside there is a huge shopping center, a food court, and a movie theatre. There are also lovely restaurants where you can sit and relax as well as a huge parking garage, which is great because parking on Capitol Hill is terrible. Leave a Comment
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If you are at Union Station in between trains of if you have arrived too early,
if you are feeling energetic, you are in luck, I have, for you 34 different things to do, depending on the time at your disposal, most of them dont cost much.
(These tips are for the high-energy persons, give yourself twice as much time if you need)
If all you have is ...
10 minutes - visit the passenger information booths and avail yourself of the free maps - full of maps, fun-filled facts, discount coupons and attractions lists
10 minutes - sit down at a seat in any of the open spaces and take it in, look up, look ahead, look left, look right - this place is awesome, take pics
10 - minutes - browse the arts shops and the history shops, to remind you of what you could see of DC when you have more time
10 - minutes - step outside and take it all in !
10 minutes - restroom break !
10 minutes ? - rush to the ATM and get some cash
20 minutes - quick bite in the food court
20 minutes - quick look outside
20 minutes - browse in the book store
20 minutes - browse at Amtrak information office and start dreaming about a rail-road trip
30 minutes - quick lunch at one of the many eateries inside
30 minutes - a cup of coffee - great for people watching
NOW - get the map out - quick ( the freebie for the visitor information booth will do fine)
mark the Capital (1/4 mile straight ahead, south of you, mark the Washington Monument (2 miles west of Capital) mark the White House (roughly 3/4 mile north of the Washington monument)
30 minutes - a quick jaunt to the Capital Hill and back
40 minutes - shopping ! Lots of shops, all around you
40 minutes - quick jaunt AROUND the Capital Hill plus Supreme Court and back
50 minutes - quick jaunt AROUND Supreme Court, Folgers Shakespeare Theater, Library of Congress, National Botanical Garden and back
60 minutes - a quick short trip on Constitution Avenue to the Newseum and Canadian Embassy (outdoors) and back - open all 24 hours
60 minutes - just relax outside the Capital Hill in any of the gardens and take pictures
60 minutes - take advantage of the US Post office
2 hours - you have 2 hours ? how about the Botanical Garden (its indoors and heated and air-conditioned !) or one of the nearer Smithsonian museums or Library of Congress or Judiciary Square, - dont forget to look around you, you will see many Federal Buildings
2 hours - watch a movie in the theatres at Union Station
2 hours - saunter around to the US Postal museum (reminder to myself!)
2 hours - check your luggage in and pick it up later - well worth it
3 - hours , did you say 3 hours ? - find the Circulator Bus and take a go-around trip
3 hours ? - Do you have FlexiCar or ZipCar membership ? make reservations and go for a ride around
3 hours ? - take a taxi and vist the FDR memorial, Tidal Basin, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, go around the Washington Monument, wave to the White House and come back, you will have time to stop at any one but not all of the places
3 hours ? - take a taxi to the Arlington National Cemetry and back
4 hours? - definetely skip all else and head straight for your favorite Smithsonian Museum, it will take you 50 minutes round trip walking, but you will have sufficient time to enjoy your visit also
4 hours - Walk to the Washingtonian monument and rush back if you have to, but you can also cover WWII memorial, look outside into the White House, gape at all the Federal Buildings around you and relax some on the Mall !
5 hours ? you say 5 hours , MAN you are talking serious fun time - I would take one way taxi to Thomas Jefferson Memorial, walk back wards to FDR memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam memorial, WWII memorial, Washington monument, White House, walk backwards towards Union Station,
5 hours ? did I mention the other museums ? monuments? art galleries ? universities ? Chinatown? Verizon Convention Center? National Cathedral ? there are just too many places, but you could pick one if you had to choose - happy discovering !
US Post office - there are two of them - one inside the terminal on the main level and there is also the US POstal Musuem (and of course a post office), the next building on the west side, at the intersection of Massacheusettes Ave, 1st ST NE and Norht Capital St
The FBI building is near Judiciary Square Metro Station, you could walk there and be back to Union Station in 20 minutes - but the exterior is not very exciting and you will not be allowed inside.
Greyhound Bus station is at 1005 1ST ST NE, Washington, DC 20002 - brisk 10 minutes walk north of Union Station
Phone: (202) 898-1950Directions: Amtrak ( several trains) + MARC - Maryland commuter trains + VRE - Virginia Railroad Subway - Metro red line, two stops from Chinatown Metro (yellow and green line), three stops from Metro Center (Orange and blue lines).Website: http://www.unionstationdc.com/intro_fm.html Other Contact: wmata.com
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For over 90 years, Union Station has welcomed people to the most important city in the world. This magnificent building has even played host to 17 Presidents and countless foreign dignitaries. However, what may be most impressive is the fact that Union Station's marble floors echo with the footsteps of over 23.4 million people each year, making it the most visited site in all of Washington, D.C.
Union Station is the most exciting and dynamic shopping destination in the country. The quality and diversity of its stores have made it the choice of Presidents as well as millions of busy commuters and wide-eyed tourists each year. Leave a Comment
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Union Station is not just a place to go in order to catch a train. There are plenty of shops and restaurants there as well. The shops and restaurants are too numerous for me to take each one, instead I snapped the general shopping area at Union Station between the main entrance and the waiting area for the trains. Leave a Comment
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The USA does not have many of the grand train stations like Europe has but this is one of them. It was renovated years ago and the money spent was well-worth it. The station had dining, shopping and entertainment even if you're not taking a train anywhere. Leave a Comment
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