Riding the Metro in Washington, DC

Imagine a group of hard core no nonsense politicos, who think they are all powerful (and in some cases they are), who are already grumpy mixing with the nicest little families from across the country. Now put them in a metal box with unforgiving doors that shoots through underground tunnels. That is the DC Metro in rush hour.

Sound a little crazy? It is! But its by far the cheapest, fastest, and funnest way to get around the Nation's Capitol. The metro is also really safe, and really clean. If you want to ride like a local - keep reading.

I don't want to bore you with the simple facts about riding the Metro that you can find in a guidebook. But here are a few basics.

The metro was conceived in the 1960s, first started running in 1976 and now boasts 86 stations with 106.3 miles of track stretching across DC, Virginia, and Maryland.

The Metro is open from 5 am to midnight Monday - Thursday, 7 am to 3 am on Friday and Saturday, and 7 am to midnight on Sunday.

The Metro has 5 lines designated by color: red, green, blue, yellow, orange.

Fares on metro vary - but for most sightseeing within the city, its $1.35 per ride.

A lot of folks in Washington, DC talk and think in bullet points, so that's how we will explain what are some good things to do before getting on the metro!

1) Have cash and change...you will want to buy farecards in increments of $1.35 so you don't waste money with unused farecards. Have that cash handy in a pocket.

2) Get a metro map and figure out which line you want to get on, and in which direction you want to go (as in toward this end of the line or that end of the line).

1) Don't worry about what entrance you use to get into a metro station, they all lead down to the same tracks.

2) When you ride the escalator, stand to the right/walk to the left.

3) Pickpockets aren't a huge problem in DC - but don't forget you are in a big city. Be mindful about your stuff, which way the zippers on your bag are pointed, stuff like that.

4) At the bottom of the escalator, you will see farecard machines. Simply feed them money - use the white switch looking buttons to adjust how much you want on your farecard (if needed), then hit the farecard button. The machine spits out one farecard. Each passenger needs their own farecard.

1) With farecard in hand, go through the turnstyle...aim for an aisle that has a green arrow. Feed your card in the front - it gets spit out the top, then the gate opens.

2) Follow the signs to the line you want to board (red line, blue line, etc). As you approach a line - make sure you follow the sign for not only the right color, but also the right direction (ie. orange line toward Vienna).

3) When you get to the train platform...everybody will crowd toward the center of the car...so you should walk to the end of the platform. It will be a lot less crowded there.

4) When the train gets close, the lights along the track will start to blink. As a train approaches, watch the electronic board, the front of the train, or listen to make sure its the right colored train. Some different colored lines will stop at the same platform. A lot of times, it won't matter which color you get on because lines go the same places within the city. But sometimes it matters a lot - look at your map.

5) When the train stops, let passengers off the car. If cars are crowded, sometimes its smart to be the last person on so you don't get buried inside the mob. But if you are at either end of the train, it shouldn't be too bad.

6) If you get on a train and you sense its a little warm, and its summer - get off right away. By the time you get to your destination - you will melt on there. Its seriously better to get in another car or wait for the next train in order to get one that has air conditioning.

1) Once you are on the train be aware that with each stop, doors can open on either side - don't get caught on the train. Metro moves fast - don't miss your stop.

2) No eating or drinking on the train. It's ok to carry food or drink, just don't consume any. Local riders will call you on it if you do. No food is why metro stays so clean.

3) For now, only Verizon cell phones and blackberries work underground on metro.

4) Keep an eye out, some tunnels have advertisements that appear to move like a movie when you look out the window as the train goes by.

1) When you get to your stop - get off the train! If you need to consult your map, move to the side of the crowd so you don't get stampeded.

2) On the escalator again, stand to the right/walk to the left.

Have a great visit!