Correction appended.
The Red line is the oldest line in D.C.'s Metro system. From suburban to urban, with 27 different stations and a total length of nearly 32 miles, the Red Line encompasses a large swath of the D.C. metropolitan area. Here are six stops worth checking out.
Dupont Circle
Food, books and shopping are defining features of this D.C. neighborhood. The Metro stop puts you in the thick of it all with only a short walk to Massachusetts Ave., where beautiful embassies line both sides of the street. If you are in the neighborhood on Saturday nights between now and the end of April, The Embassy Row Hotel is hosting Silent Disco Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Back down in the neighborhood is Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, an independent bookstore with large selection of books to choose from, complete with a restaurant to munch on some food while reading your new book. For those interested in something wonkier, The Brookings Institution host events open to the public regularly to discuss various U.S. and global issues.
Gallery Place
If sports, galleries or international cuisine are what you are looking for, this is the Metro stop for you. It is located right next to the Verizon Center, where you can catch a concert, Capitals or Wizards game.
If sports are not your thing, Chinatown is also located near the station with a variety of Asian restaurants to choose from. Before it started serving Chinese cuisine, Wok and Roll was the home of Mary Surratt, where John Wilkes Booth and his group of conspirators planned the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. You can also check out portraits of thousands of famous Americans, from scientists to statesman to movie stars and more, at the nearby National Portrait Gallery.
Union Station
This stop may appear only to be useful for those who need to get to Amtrak or MARC, but Union Station is also a premier destination for shopping in Washington. The station is also located right next to the National Post Museum, which has an enormous array of stamps that is worth checking out. The U.S. Supreme Court Building and U.S. Capitol are also only a short walk away, and the Capitol offers tours to people who register in advance.
Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan
When you walk out of the Woodley Park station, take a left and head to the National Zoo. The zoo, perhaps most well-known for its giant pandas, is free to all. In celebration of Easter, the zoo will be having an Easter Monday Event on April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., complete with Easter egg hunts, field games, animal demonstrations and more.
If you take a right outside the station, then you will get to experience the commercial district of Woodley Park with an array of shops and restaurants. One restaurant, Hot N Juicy Crawfish, will have your taste buds flowing with the likes of Cajun crawfish, shrimp and lobster. Head down to Rock Creek Park to get away from your work while still in the center of the District. It is a great place to run, bike or take a leisurely walk by the creek.
The heart of this stop is the quirky neighborhood of Adams Morgan, which is the center of nightlife, food and culture. There are bookstores, clubs and restaurants in this neighborhood. One place to satisfy your sweet tooth is Insomnia Cookies which is known for its decadent ice cream sandwiches. A COOKIEWHICH, as they are called, comes with your choice of two melt in your mouth cookies with ice cream in the middle.
Bethesda
Bethesda may appear to be a ritzy D.C. suburb out of reach of most college students’ budgets. However, it actually has a lot to offer, starting with a movie theater located within walking distance from the metro station.
If food is more of what you are looking for, one great place to check out is The Original Pancake House. Renowned for its Dutch babies, the pancake house is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a hearty breakfast. If international cuisine is more your scene there is plenty to choose from. Afghan, Asian, Mexican, Spanish, Italian and Korean all call Bethesda home. One trusted Afghan restaurant is Faryab. It has been a part of the Bethesda restaurant scene since 1997. In time of change for the restaurant industry, Faryab has quietly and successfully built up its reputation as serving authentic Afghani cuisine for affordable prices. Bethesda has a wealth of things to do and it is only two stops past Tenleytown.
NoMA-Gallaudet
If you feel the outdoors calling, NoMA is the place. REI’s new D.C. flagship store is located across the street from the metro station and has everything you need to ensure that your next hiking, camping, biking or kayaking trip is one for the books.
If public radio is more of your thing come see where it happens with a tour of the NPR Headquarters. The free tours are offered every weekday at 11 am. Union Market is also located nearby, with its wide ranging food options from southern biscuits, New York style bagels, seafood and more.
Correction appended: The original article wrongly stated that Bethesda had two movie theaters. It has been corrected to say one movie theater.
