How to Tour the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court & White House

[@TripHacksDC]

We've got an updated video specific to White House tours. Check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZulZYJtjpiAitU

[@andybarr6800]

I was in Washington DC for a couple of days in August. I did the tour of the Capitol Building. Very good and well worth doing it

[@TripHacksDC]

Nice. Thanks for the review.

[@jacquelinejohnson6447]

The US Capital is the best. I hope it will open back soon to visitor

[@BillMarion]

Definitely going to recommend this channel on my channel. Good stuff. Every video is great for planning. We're sitting here binge watching while realizing what we missed! Looking forward to our next visit. Probably this Spring!

[@TripHacksDC]

Nice. Hopefully you get warmer spring weather.

[@loripenzato9219]

I contacted my senator's office and signed up 10 weeks out and never heard back!! I would apply at least 4 months out.

[@yeye8920]

Really? Maybe they were just full because we contacted them like 2.5 months out and we heard in the first few days

[@Drakeman2003]

I had a fun time with you touring DC! I would do it again

[@TripHacksDC]

Nice! Your family is welcome back on tour whenever you're back.

[@monte21228]

When visiting a court hearing, is there a minimum time you have to stay inside the courtroom or can you just get up and leave whenever you want?

[@dagda16]

FYI blue room green room yellow room etc aren’t in the east wing...they’re in the main residence building

[@lelakalthi1907]

1yyy3u3uiù7

[@bananahannah2151]

Thanks for all the info! When you contact your member of Congress what do you do Do you just email them or call them and say you want to visit the White House and Capitol? Or us there some specific form to send to them?

[@TripHacksDC]

Most reps will have a "Visiting DC" page on their .gov website. Usually you can find the form there. If you can't find it you can always call and a staffer or intern can tell you what to do.

[@bananahannah2151]

Trip Hacks DC thank you!

[@justaperson2687]

I was surprised how "walkable" the national mall was :O great job!

[@TripHacksDC]

Washington DC is definitely a walking city!

[@tracybrickey2686]

I have a White House tour scheduled this Saturday early morning. Do you know of anywhere near by to store our backpacks while go on the tour?

[@TripHacksDC]

Best to leave backpacks and luggage at your hotel.

[@tracybrickey2686]

Trip Hacks DC , I agree but we are staying down in Alexandria. So it’s a long travel loop to double back to the hotel and then back to the city. We will totally do it if necessary but thought we would ask your opinion. We love coming to DC almost every year. We have watch all most all of your videos and they are EXTREMELY helpful!!

[@TripHacksDC]

Oof. Not an ideal scenario. You don't want to commute back and forth from Alexandria this weekend with the Metro shut down. Dry cleaners are often willing to store luggage for a fee but if you need it early in the morning most probably won't be open yet. You could try going to a downtown hotel and asking the bellhop very politely (or offering a generous tip) to hold your bags. Obviously there are no guarantees so it's a risk.

[@tracybrickey2686]

That’s kinda what I figured. Our local congressman kinda pulled some strings to make the tour happen so we definitely don’t want to miss out on it, looks like we may just pony up and use Uber to make the loop. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my question and thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us here on KZbin!!

[@someotherwag]

Thanks very much!

[@TripHacksDC]

Happy to help.

[@TheDorseylgnc]

We have a White House tour coming up soon. We can’t bring any bags/backpacks in the WH but aren’t staying downtown so we need to find some storage options - Any suggestions?

[@TripHacksDC]

There is no public storage near the White House so it is best to keep things at your hotel.

[@amyhu2905]

i didn't know you could tour supreme court!

[@TripHacksDC]

Yes! And seeing the Supreme Court's oral arguments is definitely a bucket list kind of thing if you live in DC.

[@ehealthy222]

So if the Supreme Court is hearing a high-profile case; and seating begins at 9:30am, what time should you start lining up, like 5am? 6am?

[@TripHacksDC]

Depends exactly how high profile. For the most high profile cases people camp out over night.

[@ehealthy222]

​@@TripHacksDC What if the case we're talking about ---- is challenging the constitutionality of the male-only selective service registration law. (it's not really the *most* high-profile issue, but it's still somewhat high-profile.) What time would you recommend getting in line for that? (I realize this is hypothetical, but, this issue is currently making its way through the federal court of appeals and could potentially reach the Supreme Court around 2022.)

[@amylee1485]

Hey, i got another question, can you get the gallery and floor pass if you're an international visitor? Or is it strictly for resident/citizen only? Thanks heaps! I'm really enjoying your tips :) Thanks for providing it

[@TripHacksDC]

Hi Sally. International visitors can visit the galleries. Try asking at the House and Senate Appointment Desks inside the Capitol Visitor Center. A lot depends if you're coming when congress is in session or on recess, but you might as well ask. Worst they can do is say no.

[@amylee1485]

True! Thanks for the tips :)

[@thebossman60]

What is the link to contact my Congressman? I would like to book a Capitol tour for my vacation to DC in March 2020. Any guidance is appreciated. Thank you.

[@TripHacksDC]

www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

[@thebossman60]

@@TripHacksDC Thank you very much!!

[@thebossman60]

@@TripHacksDC Is the tour better with the docent or the intern? Thanks in advance.

[@TripHacksDC]

They are both good. Congressional office tours have smaller groups, visitor center tour guide are more experienced.

[@thebossman60]

@@TripHacksDC Thank you again!

[@pdxaviation]

Hope to visit the White House someday. Was lucky to get a private tour of the Capitol a couple years ago.

[@TripHacksDC]

Very nice.

[@sandracortez2658]

Hi, I live in New York State, I still have my california ID although my address has officially been changed to NY state. My parents are visiting from CA. Should I contact my congressman and then have them contact theirs? Can I do it for them? Or request it myself even if we come from different states

[@TripHacksDC]

You should be able to do a single request for everyone.

[@princeevans2112]

Hi Rob! That's a cool video. I am a US citizen living abroad for many years. I am visiting Washington DC during Xmas this year and I have applied for a White House tour via my Senate. Since it requires a US address, I used my latest US address, but my tel number is actually not a US tel number. Do you think I will have a problem with my application?

[@TripHacksDC]

Probably won't be an issue.

[@shabbirnaqvi1344]

Are there age restrictions to the tours

[@TripHacksDC]

Good question! There are no age restrictions but strollers are on the list of prohibited items. So if you have children who can't walk on their own you will have to plan ahead for that.

[@kumars6118]

if a guided tour is not working out, how close i can go to these buildings to view from outside considering all security restrictions in place?

[@TripHacksDC]

For the White House you can see it from the south side of E street and on Pennsylvania Ave on the north. Keep in mind that Secret Service sometimes closes these viewing locations down with no notice.

[@clavasquinjesus]

How long does it takes for your congress represent to respond your email? I sent one two week ago, but no answer.

[@TripHacksDC]

Every office is different. Remember that Congress was on recess all of August.

[@itguru6666]

I originally emailed my rep in March and didn't get a confirmation on the Capitol Tour until about June. The confirmation for the White House tour which I emailed also in March was not received until August. I just did both tours last week when I was in DC. They were free and were well worth the wait.

[@Ashley92090]

clavasquinjesus did you ever get a response? I sent a request about 8 weeks out from my trip and we leave in a few weeks and no response yet.

[@bethsvetlev8148]

Are battery backups and charging cables allowed on the White House tours?

[@TripHacksDC]

Hmm. Excellent question. Cables should be fine. Batteries are neither on the permitted items list nor the prohibited items list. If you want to be 100% safe you might want to just leave it at the hotel that day.

[@Bhrugujani]

I am visiting from Canada , is that a way to visit west wing ? Please guide me the Process to connect with My embassy in DC?

[@TripHacksDC]

West wing? Unless you know someone who works there you can't do it.

[@warrenrhinerson6373]

Though I do know a way to visit the Oval Office: visit a Presidential Library run by the National Archives Administration. Every President since Herbert Hoover(with the exception of Barack Obama as his is being built) has one. All but three have replicas of the Oval Office. Please note most you can’t sit behind the Presidents desk in the majority of them. 3 of the ones that have Oval Office displays aren’t full size(Kennedy(his is just the desk really) LBJ(7/8th size) and George H Bush (desk, back wall area rest is picture). However: Harry Truman, Richard Nixon(you can sit behind his desk), Gerald Ford, James Carter, Ronald Reagan, William Clinton, and George W Bush Presidential libraries all have full size replicas decorated as it was during their time in office. Nixon, George H Bush, Clinton and George W Bush all allow you to sit behind the desk.

[@TripHacksDC]

Great info. A secret is that the photo of the oval office used in some of the Trip Hacks DC videos is actually the one at the Clinton library.

[@warrenrhinerson6373]

Trip Hacks DC I did notice that. So far I’ve been to Carter, Reagan, Nixon and Clinton’s. The ones so far I’d recommend the most are Nixon and Reagan.

[@TripHacksDC]

Nice. They are fun to visit.

[@dougbritton1624]

Any suggestions on where to store bags during the tour of the White House? We have been instructed that no bags can be brought to the White House, but they have not lockers or storage.

[@TripHacksDC]

Your best option is to leave all of your stuff at your hotel and come back for it after the White House tour. If you aren't staying downtown then you can use the bag check service at Union Station (near Amtrak Gate A). There are no unsupervised lockers near the White House for security reasons.

[@baseballchamp1734]

I was typing in information for 4 total guests and it only allows me to do two. Do I submit 2 guests and then go back and submit the other two?

[@TripHacksDC]

Every congressional office has a different form and procedure. See if they have a contact page and ask them what's up.

[@baseballchamp1734]

Trip Hacks DC thank you!

[@Diytravelshow]

Hey Rob, you know the White House hasn't being open for foreign visitors since at least 10 years, it's quite a shame since I did a travel show on Washington DC and was told by the Canadian Embassy the only way for a foreigner is to be accompany by a senior diplomatic, which is impossible.

[@TripHacksDC]

Yes it can be quite a bummer for international visitors.

[@Pius-XI]

Tbh I can understand why. Lots of people can cause havoc on the structual integrity of a building. Less people the better

[@imwoo5890]

thanks so much dude, u r a hack!!!!

[@mikerose9313]

They take requests up to 6 months out now.

[@cmartin_ok]

British Embassy is not supporting applications to tour the White House at the moment :-( Am going to DC in a few days and was hoping to see inside

[@TripHacksDC]

I've heard it reported that many embassies are not accommodating White House tours at all at the moment. Sorry.

[@Pius-XI]

Same. Although google tour is more than sufficient 😁

[@benjaminoconnor1687]

How do I get a tour of the Pentagon?

[@TripHacksDC]

You can request one here: pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/tour-selection.jsp

[@mariannatexas]

Houston Texas visitor coming to D.C. September 21st to 24th who do I ask?

[@TripHacksDC]

Find your rep and contact their office ASAP. www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

[@kieshajackson1785]

How do I book a tour can someone tell me how to do it please help me

[@bostonelevatorsaviation]

If you book your capital tour through the visitor center website will you get in no matter what

[@TripHacksDC]

Yes.

[@jonasdenenberg3633]

ive done the capital but i want to do white house

[@darthba11er]

How was she? lol

[@kieshajackson1785]

Can someone help me please u wanna go on a tour there but I don't no w how can someone tell me what to do please

[@warrenrhinerson6373]

kiesha Jackson for the Capital you honestly can walk up and sign up for one in the visitors center. For the White House, I believe the White House website has directions for tours.

[@BeLoud13]

I read that the Capitol won't allow cell phones inside. Bummer.

[@TripHacksDC]

That is not accurate.

[@Mbbc-oy3nt]

First

[@TripHacksDC]

Congrats!

[@ZomBeeNature]

I think that unless you are reeeally obsessively interested in seeing the White House, that you should skip it. It is like seeing the most boring three rooms in the driest, most uninteresting, antiquated architecture museum you can imagine. It is the worst waste of time on your DC trip ever, followed by going inside the Smithsonian castle. 😴ZZZ zzz ZZZ zzz