Activities on Christmas Day

Other than visiting Mount Vernon, do we have any other options for Christmas Day in Washington D.C. ? What about dining options? Are we going to end up at Denny%26#39;s? I am assuming that if our hotel has a fine dining establishment it will be open? Maybe that is assuming too much...Any ideas?

Thanks!

Activities on Christmas Day

There are some bars and restaurants that are open Christmas day for those of us who want to escape family. I would call ahead to be sure, but there are options. I would agree with your assumption that the hotel restaurant will be open.

I think you will find that most museums are closed. But, a lot of the monuments can be enjoyed without the gift shop being open. A walking tour of the Mall may just be the thing to work off some of the huge meal. Driving around the monuments at night is also a favorite of mine so that is an option as well.

Activities on Christmas Day

As Christmas gets closer, restaurants that are open on that day tend to advertise in the local papers re: their Christmas offerings. Many offer brunches, for example. So if you post this again closer to Christmas, you will get more info.

Bumped up several posts from last year on the same subject..

As stated before all of the government sponsored activities on the mall are closed on Christmas (Museums, Galleries, etc.). That is usually the only day that they get a chance to close all year.

-Their are a lot of restaurants opened on Christmas, especially in downtown. They also have specials that they give like a 4 course meal for a certain price. Check out some restaurants you would enjoy and call them and ask. It won%26#39;t be crowded at all downtown so you can still walk up to the monuments and look at it. You will not have to end up at Denny%26#39;s. And yes if your hotel has a restaurant they are usually opened on Christmas and if not go to another nice hotel and eat there.

I don%26#39;t know for sure, but I think that Arlington Cemetary usually does something on Christmas (check their website to make sure) You can still go up to the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Memorial any walk up no entrance type things.

advice on living

Hilton or Westin

After reading some of the reviews on the Westin Grand, Westin Embassy Circle, Capital Hilton and the Hilton Embassy Row, I cannot decide which hotel is the nicest. Doesn%26#39;t seem like one is better then the other. Does anyone have any input? We are only there 2 nights and our purpose in visiting DC is to look at colleges in the area. I am trying to stick with one of the above 4 hotels so I can use my points. Thanks

Hilton or Westin

Well--they%26#39;re all 3-diamond properties. The Westin Grand is on the edge of Georgetown. IMO, this would be a good place to stay if you are looking at both GU and GWU--although it is closer to GWU. Otherwise, all the hotels are near Metro stations so getting around will be easy.

Hilton or Westin

Westin would be better. There are a lot of universities and colleges in the area and the majority of them are metro accessible/metro bus or a short cab ride from your hotel. Not that the Hilton isn%26#39;t good and not near the metro it just isn%26#39;t what it used to be.

-Georgetown University isn%26#39;t metro accessible but there is a Shuttle bus that runs every 20 minutes at the Dupont Circle Metro Station on Q Street exit. At the corner of 20th and Mass. Avenue, that will take you directly to the main campus. They used to ask for Student/Staff ID but they haven%26#39;t in about 1 year visitors are more than welcomed to get on these shuttles. Good convenient and no stops. This stop is a block or so away from the hotel. You could see a lot of the side streets of Georgetown and Dupont Circle as well, nice ride.

-George Washington University is right on the Foggy Bottom Metro Station so that would be good.

-American university is on the Tenleytown/American Univ. Metro station.

-Univ. Of Maryland College Park is on the Green Line and then get off at College Park-UMD station

-George Mason Univ is on the orange line in Fairfax, couple of stops for them look at the map for the closer one.

They%26#39;re all about equal, but I agree that the Capital Hilton would be the first one to get ruled out. It%26#39;s a good location for visiting the sites, but if you plan to spend more time at the colleges, you%26#39;re probably better off at one of the other properties. If the points are equal, I%26#39;d probably go with the Westin Embassy Row, but if you can spend less points at one of the other properties, I think you%26#39;ll do fine at any of them.

If you visit American Univ, you will need to take a shuttle from Tenleytown to the main campus. But I don%26#39;t think you need a student ID (at least you didn%26#39;t last time I used it a few years ago).

At the Univ of Maryland, you will also have to take a shuttle to the campus. For the shuttle from the metro to campus you definitely don%26#39;t need student ID. (I know that for sure because I went to grad school there when I first moved to the DC area!)

Place to stay near Gaithersburg ??

Hi Everyone -

I%26#39;m spending 2 weeks in Gaithersbiug doing an internship in the Fall. I%26#39;m looking for a place to stay that is not an expensive hotel which is all I could find online.

Can you please suggest something reasonably close and not too expensive? It%26#39;s my first time there so I don%26#39;t know the local area. Thanks very much!

Place to stay near Gaithersburg ??

Well most hotels in that area are approx. $75-$100.00 p/night. I don%26#39;t know your budget but that is a good deal for a room but for 2 weeks you are going to spend $2,000 at least.

-Oakwood Corpoarte Apartments rent on a montly basis. You would have to stay at least 31 days (301) 527-2866. This could work if you found someone who wanted to take over the lease, otherwise you would have to pay for the 31 days. It is a fully furnished apartment in Gaithersburg. This could actually run you cheaper than a hotel only problem you would be paying for the apartment and you wouldn%26#39;t be staying there, unless you decided to stay a little longer.

Some hotels that are nice and comfortable, just check their websites for rates and availability:

-Towne Place Suites by Marriott

-Springhill Suites

-Summerfield Suites

-Extended Stay America

-Courtyard (2 locations) there is a new one as well on the lakeside in a nice area of Gaithersburg.

Hope this helps.

Place to stay near Gaithersburg ??

The $2,000 would include the taxes and fees and that is at the high-end of the price. $1,000 could get you a nice hotel room in one of the listed hotels I submitted.

Hi:

I think you%26#39;ll do best with one of the long-term stay hotels suggested by MrsMaryland, but you may also want to try www.craigslist.org or www.washingtoncitypaper.com and look for a sublet - maybe you%26#39;ll get lucky. Good luck!

Also try Studio Plus. Good for extended stays and business travelers.

Surrounding Cities to Gaithersburg:

Germantown

Rockville

Qunice Orchard

Olney

Probably won%26#39;t find much in these areas either, just about the same as Gaithersburg. Rockville may be a second option.

If you choose the hotel route--rather than booking online, I%26#39;d call the individual property (not the national toll-free reservations number). For an extended stay, you should be able to negotiate a better rate than what you%26#39;ll find online.

courtyard embassy row ro convention center

My husband and I would like to go to DC for July 4th next year. We would like to walk to the momuments to sight see and walk to the fireworks. Which hotel would be a better base for our trip?

courtyard embassy row ro convention center

In terms of being near a Metro station and closer to the major attractions--the Courtyard Convention Center.

courtyard embassy row ro convention center

I also just came across the Renissance Hotel near the convention center. The rate there is $98.00 and the rate at the Courtyard is $134.00. How would the reniassance be in terms of the metro and the major attractions?

The Renaissance at 9th and K Sts., NW is about 3 blocks away from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro station while the Courtyard is one block away--so it%26#39;s up to you.

For the price difference, I say go with the Rennaissance. It%26#39;ll be a long walk to the National Mall, but not too bad if you don%26#39;t mind a long walk, fine for the fireworks, and it%26#39;s not too far from the metro or the DC Circulator bus.

And the Renaissance is a higher class of hotel as well.

Generally speaking, yes, Renaissances tend to be 4-diamond properties. However, the one at 9th and K (for some reason) is a 3-diamond property as is the Courtyard by Marriott-Embassy Row.

eye liner

only one day

Hello,

I will be coming to town in a few weeks for business, and only have one day off- a Monday-

What would you say would be the must see(s) to do in a day....?

I have never been here before

Thanks for any info

-s

only one day

With only one day and you%26#39;ve never been here before, here%26#39;s what I suggest---Take a walk along the Mall and see the monuments and memorials. Walk by the White House and the Capitol. If museums interest you, check out the Smithsonian%26#39;s website --- www.si.edu -- to see which ones interest you most. Then perhaps, spend some time visiting one of your choosing.

only one day

Thanks for the info,

I just found out that I will be staying at the Grand Hyatt- from the map it looks like it%26#39;s close to everything....

What is good to see in that area?

-s

I would spend the morning doing some type of tour, either Tourmobile or Old Town Trolleys or similar. This will provide the most ';bang for the buck'; in terms of making use of your limited time. You%26#39;ll see a lot of sites in a couple of hours, and get a sense of where things are if you want to go back in the afternoon and see one or two particular things.

The Grand Hyatt isn%26#39;t particularly close to any of the major tourist sites. Having said that, it isn%26#39;t particulary far either! :)

You can walk from there to the White House and you%26#39;ll be a lot closer to it then you will on the Tourmobile or other tours.

I think you can do a combination of both ideas.

I like the idea of picking one or 2 Smithsonians (depending upon how fast you can go through museums) to do during the day and then doing a late afternoon/evening tourmobile of the monuments at night. You can get to these by foot, cab or metro.

Since the museums close early and the monuments are open 24/7, doing the Smithsonian stuff during the day and taking something like the Grayline Washington After Dark tour which will take you to all the memorial and let you out, and then do a drive-by of the other stuff, this will help you get the most out of your day.

Tourmobile stops at 4:30.

Grayline%26#39;s Washington After Dark tour starts at 7:45 so you can take a break, have a nice dinner and then take the tour.

www.etix.com/travel/servlet/onlineSale鈥?/a>

Sometimes hotel concierge%26#39;s have discount or free passes for you for different tour companies. It never hurts to ask.

How does quilt wizard work

IAD to White House?

My wife is flying into Ronald Reagan and I am thinking about flying into IAD because it is 50 bucks cheaper. Do you think this is a good idea? We are staying at The Madison and I am wondering about the price of transportation to there. Any suggestions?

IAD to White House?

It all depends on how you want to get from Dulles to DC. The cheapest way is $3/round trip. It involves taking a Metrobus--the 5A route. This bus only runs once an hour, is often late and crowded. The Washington Post referred to it as ';The Dreaded Dulles Link';. The second cheapest way involves taking the Washington Flyer bus (www.washfly.com) ($9/one-way) to the West Falls Church Metro station, then taking Metro to DC. The Metro fare varies depending on whether you%26#39;re traveling during rush hour or not (for fare info--www.wmata.com). Next would be a shuttle like the Super Shuttle, hiring a limo service or taking a taxi. If you want to take a taxi, then, IMO, it won%26#39;t be worth the $50 savings to fly into IAD. In that case, I would fly into National. So it%26#39;s up to you--if you prefer the cheaper transportation options, you will save money but have a long ride into the District.

IAD to White House?

Hi Scarface:

I don%26#39;t think $50 is worth the hassle of Dulles even if you take the $3 transportation route into the city. I%26#39;ve always found Dulles to be a difficult airport - you have to arrive earlier because it%26#39;s quite large and most flights (if not all) require a shuttle bus to the gate. IMO, Reagan National is much easier to navigate and it%26#39;s much more convenient to the city (easy metro ride).

Thank you both for the responses. Looks like I might as well pay the extra 50 $ for the convienence factor itself.

best places to eat in chinatown?

any recommendations on places in chinatown for dinner...that are reasonable and have a good atmosphere?

thanks!

ww

best places to eat in chinatown?

Tony Cheng%26#39;s Mongolian BBQ is fairly reasonable and a fun atmosphere--picking out your ingredients yourself is a nice change of pace from ordering off the typical Chinese menu.

best places to eat in chinatown?

If you%26#39;re willing to go non-Chinese (and to be honest, there aren%26#39;t that many Chinese restaurants in Chinatown anymore!), I would recommend Matchbox. They%26#39;re mostly a pizza restaurant, but they have a few other things as well:

http://www.matchboxdc.com/

Do you want Chinese food or just good food with a nice atmopshere? And by good atmosphere, do you mean packed with people/good people watching or do you mean mellow and loungey?

Many of the Chinese restaurants have been pushed out of Chinatown (for better or worse...), but I recommend Full Kee for the food, not the atmosphere, if you want Chinese (509 H St., NW).

Otherwise, I agree with the other poster%26#39;s rec of Matchbox. I also like Jaleo and Zaytinya for the food and atmosphere (usually on the loud and crowded side). I also liked Rasika - a new, upscale Indian place (still loud, but more mellow than Jaleo and Zaytinya), but it%26#39;s a little pricier.

Also, if you like American food, I haven%26#39;t been to it yet, but the new Clyde%26#39;s would probably be a good bet for reasonable prices and good atmosphere.

Hope this helps. Have fun!

Tony Cheng%26#39;s is split into two dining venues - the main floor is the Mongolian all-you-can eat skillet feast. The second floor is the traditional Chinese restaurant. Both are great.

For good food, try Eat First. The atmosphere is clean but not too exciting. I also like the cheesily-named Wok n%26#39;Roll - they have Chinese and sushi, bubble tea, and a trendier atmosphere than some of the other Chinatown places. For a traditional Chinese-American restaurant with good standard fare, Tai Shan is good. They are enjoying some renewed popularity because they have the same name as the baby panda. ;) For some non-Chinese tasty food in a nice and fun atmosphere, try Kanlaya, a relatively new Thai restaurant on 6th street just below H. It%26#39;s true, most of the restaurants in Chinatown aren%26#39;t Chinese anymore.

Any outdoor concerts/events on the weekend?

My boyfriend and I will be spending a weekend 08/25-08/28 in Washington, DC and was wondering if there are any outdoor events or concerts taking place during that time. I am looking for some fun things to do during the day other than sightseeing. Also any ideas of what to do in the evenings will be appreciated. Thank you.

Any outdoor concerts/events on the weekend?

Hi:

Your best bet for up to date info is:

www.washingtonpost.com then click on City Guide and you can find all kinds of events.

To give you a few ideas:

Friday night - Jazz in the Garden (free) - National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden and Ice Skating Rink - 700 Constitution Ave. NW from 5 - 8:30 pm

If you%26#39;re here early around lunch time Fri or Mon, there%26#39;s Live on Woodrow Wilson Plaza (free) - 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC from 12-1:30 pm

There are plenty of indoor music events as well.

I see you%26#39;re from California - DC United is playing the LA Galaxy at 7:30 pm on Saturday 8/26.

Ford%26#39;s Theater is having an open house 8/26 from 10 am - 3 pm. You can get a tour backstage, etc. (free) - 511 10th St. NW

There%26#39;s a poetry festival at Carter Barron Amphitheater on 8/27 from 1:00 pm (free) - 4850 Colorado Ave. NW

Depending on what kind of music you like, there are lots of options for live music indoors (Black Cat, HR-57, etc.)

Another idea for during the day is Easter Market on the weekend mornings. www.easternmarket.net. Fun place.

Have fun!

Any outdoor concerts/events on the weekend?

Hi:

Your best bet for up to date info is:

www.washingtonpost.com then click on City Guide and you can find all kinds of events.

To give you a few ideas:

Friday night - Jazz in the Garden (free) - National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden and Ice Skating Rink - 700 Constitution Ave. NW from 5 - 8:30 pm

If you%26#39;re here early around lunch time Fri or Mon, there%26#39;s Live on Woodrow Wilson Plaza (free) - 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC from 12-1:30 pm

There are plenty of indoor music events as well.

I see you%26#39;re from California - DC United is playing the LA Galaxy at 7:30 pm on Saturday 8/26.

Ford%26#39;s Theater is having an open house 8/26 from 10 am - 3 pm. You can get a tour backstage, etc. (free) - 511 10th St. NW

There%26#39;s a poetry festival at Carter Barron Amphitheater on 8/27 from 1:00 pm (free) - 4850 Colorado Ave. NW

Depending on what kind of music you like, there are lots of options for live music indoors (Black Cat, HR-57, etc.)

Another idea for during the day is Easter Market on the weekend mornings. www.easternmarket.net. Fun place.

Have fun!

Parking near White House this Friday morning

We have tour tickets for the White House this Friday for 8:30 am. We have to report in at 8:15 with only car keys and wallets allowed into the White House. Where can we park nearby and stash our cameras and backpacks? I had originally thought of taking the Metro into D.C., but we want our cameras with us and they are no longer allowed inside.

We are making this a day-trip from the Philadelphia area. I know we will have to leave our house VERY early in the morning. The 3 teens that I%26#39;m taking are thrilled about that. Ha.

Parking near White House this Friday morning

There are several parking garages close to the White House. Since you%26#39;re arriving early, there%26#39;s a good chance you%26#39;ll get a daily parking spot in one of them and likely for an early bird price. Not sure what the prices are like these days, but probably around $15. Keep in mind that some lots are for monthly parkers only.

Here are some places to look for lots:

www.ecolonial.com/parking/locationsearch.aspx

http://151.200.174.54/FindRegion.aspx?RegionID=1

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Parking near White House this Friday morning

Thanks, mopsydog, for your advice. I contacted ecolonial and they do have daily parking available for $15.00 all day, can%26#39;t beat that.

We%26#39;re set for our visit now. Thanks.

After Christmas trip - best area to stay??

Family of 5 - dh, myself, 18yo, 17yo and 11yo. So we need either 2 rooms or a 1br suite

We will be driving in - so parking is an issue.

Places we plan to see: of course the out door monuments; Smithsonian; and Spy Museum. Also might go skating.

Cost is a consideration to an extent, but will pay more to be comfortable. Also, don%26#39;t mind staying out from DC and taking the Metro in but would prefer an area with character and close by things to do.

After Christmas trip - best area to stay??

For an area with character and close to Metro and DC---Old Town Alexandria. Some hotels in that area that have suites in addition to regular rooms--Hampton Inn Old Town King Street Metro; Hilton Alexandria Old Town; Holiday Inn Hotel %26amp; Suites-Historic District Alexandria; Holiday Inn Select Old Town; Radisson Hotel Old Town Alexandria; Morrison House; Residence Inn by Marriott-Old Town; Embassy Suites Alexandria-Old Town; Sheraton Suites Alexandria. I suggest you read the reviews of these places that are posted here under ';Hotels';. It will help you come to an informed decision. BTW--all these hotels are 3-diamond properties and all offer parking for a fee.

eye liner

connecting database

Eastern Market /Capitol Hill area food?

I%26#39;ve done my own research, but does anyone have any personal recommendations (or hates) for restaurants or food places in this area? Any type, any level.

Eastern Market /Capitol Hill area food?

Montmartre is an excellent French restaurant near Eastern Market. It%26#39;s on 7th Street, less than a block north of Pennsylvania Ave. The menu changes seasonally, but I was always able to find something wonderful there. If it%26#39;s in season, try the carrot soup.

For a less expensive lunch, try Bread %26amp; Chocolate on the corner of Penn. Ave. and 7th. Also, Eastern Market lunch counter has some good choices. I hear the crab cakes are wonderful, but be advised that this really isn%26#39;t a sit down type of restaurant.

Sonoma, on Pennsylvania Ave. about 2 blocks down from the Library of Congress, is also very good and has an excellent selection of wines by the glass and by the bottle.

Most of the other restaurants that line Penn. Ave. heading south and east from the Capitol serve edible food, but nothing fabulous. The Greek place always served reliable food, but the service was terrible. Most of the bars along that street also serve food, but it%26#39;s typically bar fare (burgers, sandwiches, etc.)

Eastern Market /Capitol Hill area food?

I second the recommendation for Montmartre--it%26#39;s one of my favorite places on Capitol Hill.

Another possibility--there is a tiny Salvadorean place across from the Eastern Market. I can%26#39;t remember the name and I%26#39;ve never actually eaten there, but the family that owns it also runs one of the stalls in the market. I%26#39;ve always liked the burritos and empanadas that I got from their stall, so I%26#39;ve been wanting to try their restaurant for some time. I did walk by and check out their hours though, and they%26#39;re not open very late. Barely open for dinner at all, really. More a lunch/breakfast place.

I had fairly good Indian food a few years ago at a place called White Tiger. That might be a possibility.

I would NOT recommend Two Quail or Cafe Berlin if you are over that way.

I agree with Montmartre and Sonoma. Both good choices.

visit the white house

Hi everybody,

I%26#39;m from holland and will be in dc in october. I would really like to visit the white house. Do you know if it%26#39;s possible and how? thanks.

visit the white house

Hi,

I don%26#39;t know for sure if it is possible for you to see the White House, but you can probably look into it fairly easily.

For U.S. citizens, there is a process for requesting a White House tour through your Congressperson, but that wouldn%26#39;t be a option for you. What you should do is try to contact the Netherlands embassy here in DC and see if they can help you get a tour.

Another issue is that most people need to request their tours 6 months or so in advance to get in. Obviously you have less time than that, but still, check with your embassy and see if there are any openings.

I know that non-US citizens have posted on here before about trying to get a tour--but I%26#39;m not sure if anyone succeeded!

visit the white house

They usually want 6 months in advance but call (202) 456-7041 for the most updated information on tours of the white house.

I%26#39;ve checked with the embassy and they said that it%26#39;s impossible for non americains to visit the white house. Thank you for your suggestions.

Bye bye

Our family is hosting 2 students from France this summer who also wanted to see the White House. We contacted our senator%26#39;s office and gave that office the security information that was needed. We gave our family%26#39;s social security numbers and birthdates. The French students gave their passport number and birthdates. We are all going soon. Hope this helps.

It seems you have to be with Americans (or residents from a congressional district). That%26#39;s unfortunate. Makes some friends while your here and they can book it for you next time :-)

Tickets for Capitol

If I get up early to get tickets for the Capitol, will they give me more than one (one for my wife and child, too)? Or will all 3 of us have to go?

Also, does anyone know if this applies for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, too?

Thanks.

Bob Meyer

Tickets for Capitol

Bob:

Have you tried to get the tickets through your Congressman and/or Senator yet? It%26#39;s worth a shot even on short notice. If you are unable to obtain tickets, it%26#39;s my understanding that your whole party needs to be there to get tickets for the Capitol. One ticket is distributed per person.

BEP states on their website (www.bep.treas.gov) that an individual may obtain up to 4 tickets.

Have a fun trip!

Tickets for Capitol

Thanks for the advice. It was right on target. I called my Congressman%26#39;s office and they arranged a private tour of the Capitol in a few days.

Glad it worked out. Have fun!

Which Kimpton Hotel??

My husband and I decided to plan a trip to DC over Labor Day Weekend. We have always enjoyed staying at boutique hotels and came across Kimpton Hotels. We are in our 30%26#39;s, want to be close to restaurants, bars, shopping but not afraid to hop on the metro to get to places. Any recommendations on which Kimpton to stay at? Greatly appreciate any advise or recommendations!

Which Kimpton Hotel??

Well, I don%26#39;t know too much about the hotel itself, but the Hotel Monaco is in a really good location. You%26#39;ll be right across the street from a metro station and in a nice neighborhood with lots of trendy restaurants.

Which Kimpton Hotel??

I agree with the Hotel Monaco for location. It would be my first choice, but it could be on the pricey side. Second choice would be Rouge or Topaz. Both are well-located, close to Dupont metro and not too far from Adams Morgan for nightlife. I%26#39;ve also heard good things about the hotels (check the reviews). Fourth choice would be Helix. Palomar just opened, but it%26#39;s pricey and sounds like their still working out some kinks. Have a nice weekend!

I%26#39;d go with any of Mopsydog%26#39;s top three - although you might find the 7th Street corridor too urban and congested on the weekends, with all the traffic and especially if something is going on at the MCI/Verizon Arena. Dupont Circle is much more pedestrian-friendly. (I%26#39;m a big Kimpton fan myself - see if they have any promotions or special rates that weekend).

where to find listing of shows

Hello,

I was wondering if there was a place online to check for listings of any shows/concerts going on in the downtown area while I am in town?

tks

-s

where to find listing of shows

Look at www.washingtonpost.com, then click on City Guide. You can also look at www.washingtoncitypaper.com.

where to find listing of shows

Or visit www.culturaltourismdc.org!

I%26#39;m not sure if the Kennedy Center is listed in either of those links, but they have a free show every night at 6pm on their Millenium Stage. The performance schedule is updated regularly to show who will be performing each night:

kennedy-center.org/programs/…schedule.html

Other performances are listed on their regular calendar by date here:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/

The DC area also has a TON of community theaters that put on fantastic performances for great prices. Here is a link to the ones in Virginia:

celebratingva.com/downloads/Performing_Arts_…

write my name in arabic

50th birthday surprise for my sister???

I%26#39;m treating my younger sister to a weekend at the Hay Adams

Dec/9 and was trying to think of something memorable to wow her (I%26#39;ll hit my brothers up for the $$!) and thought of a limo pulling up in front to whisk us around the city at night- any idea of how much $$$ this might be??? And a reputable company? I did something similar in NYC through the hotel%26#39;s concierge and realized later how way overpriced it was compared to booking it myself. Thanks!

50th birthday surprise for my sister???

I have no first-hand experience with this outfit, but it was recommended to me by a local businesswoman:

http://www.righthandsun.com/tours.htm

50th birthday surprise for my sister???

Also try www.restonlimo.com. One of the local experts took their wine tour and reported that she enjoyed it (even if you don%26#39;t plan to do the wine tour...)

Even though you%26#39;re not looking for a romantic trip - take a look at the ';10 Tips for a Romantic Interlude'; tipsheet. If you mention it when you book they%26#39;ll give you 10% off.

Have fun!

A fun thing to do in DC is to go to High Tea at the Willard (14th %26amp; F Streets). They run it every day from 2-5.

They also have events at the hotel, so be sure to call and ask for an event brochure. I do not believe it is available on line. I have tickets to an event in October where the Washington National Opera is performing a wedding scene from an Opera in the Willard Room that is based on an event at the hotel. They have a lot of fun/interesting events booked to the end of the year. Especially in December with all of the holiday stuff going on around town. It should be positively beautiful.

It%26#39;s a great hotel to tour and to dine at, especially the tea.

eye liner

Flying Frontier Airlines - Advice please

HI,

We%26#39;re flying on Frontier Airlines L.A. - Denver - Washginton Dc in October. I would appreciate your feedback on this airline.

Good experience or not so good?

Thanks!

Flying Frontier Airlines - Advice please

Haven%26#39;t heard anything either way. I assume you are using them so you can fly into National. I would go for it just for the fact that you are minutes from downtown via cab, taxi or metro.

That is worth a ton in an area where traffic is terrible.

Flying Frontier Airlines - Advice please

We%26#39;re also flying Frontier in October (Phoenix-Denver-DC).

I had some concerns as well, but I know a few people who have flown with them in the past and they were happy...so I decided to go ahead and book it.

I%26#39;ve flown them before and will again next month on my way to Arizona. The planes were clean and each seatback had it%26#39;s own small TV screen with a good selection of TV and movies. At their hub in Dever all of their gates are in one small area, so there%26#39;s no running from one end of the airport to another for a connection (though not a concern for you anyway if you%26#39;re originting there). All of my flight segments were on time and they didn%26#39;t lie to me about anything, which is extremely rare in that industry. Not great food options at that part of the airport, so you might pick something up elsewhere. I don%26#39;t recall if they offered any food on the plane. Given my experience, I%26#39;d say they%26#39;re head and shoulders above the legacy carriers.

I have flown Frontier several times. I was real nervous the first time because I didn%26#39;t know anything about them. But they were great. I honestly believe it was one of the smoothest flights I ever had. Everytime I have flown them, they are always on time, never lost anything, and the flight attendants are always very friendly.

I%26#39;ve not flown them but have read recent airline rankings that rate Frontier highly, just a notch or two below leaders JetBlue and Southwest. You should be fine.

Thank you for your advice everyone!

I have booked the trip on Frontier.

Found a great price! $259 for L.A. - Denver - DCA round trip! Can%26#39;t beat that!

I%26#39;m looking foward to their personal T.V.s Anything to make the time pass quickly. I%26#39;%26#39;m not fond of flying!

Thanks again.

Westin Arlington Gateway for $89/night!

I just saw this offer on TravelZoo: rate is for weekends through December [no September weekends other than Labor Day], but you must book by Friday, August 18

鈥ravelzoo.com/washington-dc-hotels/253261

Westin Arlington Gateway for $89/night!

Just rushed to check. It%26#39;s already gone.

Special Offer from The Westin Arlington Gateway:

$89 -- New D.C.-Area Westin at 40% OFF

We%26#39;re sorry, this special has either sold out due to huge demand or may no longer be available at the originally advertised price, terms and conditions.

DC Hotel map

I am interested in finding a map of the capital hill/mall area that would show where hotels and metro stations are located. Does anyone have suggestions? We made a flying trip through DC a few years ago and lucked out with one of those coupon books you pick up at a gas station, found a hotel 1 block from the white house for less than $100, but can%26#39;t remember the name of it! It was very old, but nice and clean, there was an Irish pub under it.

Anyway, would like to be able to see where everything is located for a PLANNED trip of several days this April.

Thanks for your help

T

DC Hotel map

These ';interactive'; maps are such fun to play with; you can select what you want them to feature: metro lines, hotels, attractions, other transportation, etc.

http://map.mapnetwork.com/destination/dc/

The downtown map is what will appear when you open the page, but you can also bring up maps for the entire District and the metro-area by clicking onto the too-faint-to-catch-your-eye bars at the bottom

DC Hotel map

Also try Google Maps and type in Washington DC hotels and it will pinpoint each hotel on the map. You can look by areas. Also find the Metro stops (perhaps on the same display with the hotels). Then it will list the hotels at the side.

How to get from Dulles Airport to Capitol Hilton

My family of 5 is planning a trip to DC this month. We are scheduled to arrive at Dulles Aiport at 4:00pm. What suggestions do you have on transportation from the airport to the hotel? Approximatly how long will it take to get from Dulles to the hotel? It was our hope to do a night tour of the monuments on the OTT after we checked in. Do you think this is possible or should we plan it on another night. Thank you very much for the much needed information.

How to get from Dulles Airport to Capitol Hilton

4:00 p.m. on which day of the week? If it is a weekday and you want to use public transportation, you will be in the middle of rush hour and Metro fares are higher at that time. On the weekend, it%26#39;s a different story. Well, anyway, here are your options:

Cheapest option--take the 5A Metrobus from Dulles to DC. It is $3/one way (exact change only in bills and/or coins). It only runs once an hour, is unreliable and often crowded. In fact, the Washington Post refers to this route as ';The Dreaded Dulles Link';. (for more info--www.wmata.com)

Second cheapest option--Take the Washington Flyer Bus from Dulles to the West Falls Church Metro station. This bus leaves Dulles at 15 and 45 past the hour and costs $9/one way, although there are discounts if you buy 3 or more round-trip tickets. It is a coach-style bus and goes non-stop to West Falls Church. (for more info--www.washfly.com). Once at West Falls Church, you would take Metro into the District.

Next up in cost--the Super Shuttle (www.supershuttle.com/htm/cities/dca.htm). No reservations are required. It is a van that also takes other passengers so it may well be a good while until it gets around to dropping you off at your hotel.

And more expensive--Arrange for a limo. Some companies to consider-- Dulles Limousine (www.dulleslimousine.com); Burkilimo (www.burkilimo.com); Boston Coach (http://www.bostoncoach.com/index.jsp)

Also--There is a taxi stand at Dulles. Since there are 5 of you and if you want a taxi, see if a mini-van cab is available. There is a dispatcher on site who can assist you.

As far as the ';monuments by moonlight'; tour--I would suggest that you schedule it for another night. IMO, this is best just in case your flight is delayed for some reason.

How to get from Dulles Airport to Capitol Hilton

Thank you suefee for the many different options you have given me to choose from. My family will be arriving on a Monday night so I expect traffic to be pretty bad. It is good to know of all the available options.

One more question.... My family is not as concerned about about the money it will take to travel but the time. What is the absolute fastest way from Dulles to the Hilton for a family of 5 at 4pm in the afternoon on a weekday. Thanks

Sam, please, please, please come back and post a review of the Capital Hilton and maybe some pictures. I%26#39;m staying there in October this year. Thank you.

Take one of the grey Washington Flyer cabs on the lower level. They%26#39;re equipped to take credit cards as well. You%26#39;ll be going against traffic, although you might hit counterflow commuters as you come into Arlington. And there%26#39;s no telling what traffic in downtown DC will be, since you%26#39;ll be arriving downtown right at the peak of the evening rush hour, so I%26#39;d figure on arriving around 6 pm.

If you want to take a tour that same night, talk to the concierge as soon as you arrive - he might be able to arrange something for you. OTT might even have someone pick you up at the Hilton if there are enough of you and there%26#39;s still time.

Just go to the Metro Trip Planner page (wmata.com/tripplanner_d/tripplanner_form_sol鈥?/a>) and it will plan your transportation for you. We were told that our only choices from BWI to our hotel near the Mall would be a shuttle bus or taxi, at a cost of $60-80. But with the Trip Planner we took a bus and the Metro for a total cost for both of us seniors of $2.20. And about the same amount of time. You can enter different arrival times to cover when you will get your luggage and be ready to leave the airport, so you can see ahead of time how often the buses run, etc. Then you have sufficient information to decide which option is best for you.

Don%26#39;t forget to use the Circulator after you arrive. It%26#39;s a big money and foot saver! Look online for their routes and once you get on, take a brochure with a detailed map. Brochures are hard to find elsewhere so most tourists we met earlier this month were unaware of its existence. Fares are $1 (half for seniors) and you can get off and reboard free for two hours (three with some drivers). Get a transfer when you first board (they usually automatically offer you one). They come every 5 minutes or so, and start at 7 in the morning I think. Here%26#39;s the link to more info: www.wmata.com/metrobus/dc_circulator.cfm

tech help and advice

Need help with itinerary and trans. between DC and BWI

Hi,

We are planning a four-day trip at the end of August. The sites we want to see are:

Ford%26#39;s Theatre

Smithsonian

Air %26amp; Space Museum

National Archives

Washington Monument

Vietnam Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Museum of American History

White House (requested tickets already)

Can anyone comment on the best itinerary for seeing these sites? What are the best/worst times to visit each? I know the White House, Wash. Monument, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Smithsonian are all near each other, but not sure about the rest. I%26#39;m trying to figure out how to organize the trip so that we group the places that are close to each other and hit them at the most uncrowded times possible. Will we need advance tickets for any of these?

Also, we are staying at the Courtyard Washington Convention Center. We will need to get back and forth to the hotel from BWI. We want to take the Metro. Where do we get the Metro at BWI, and which station do we get off for the Courtyard? Will there be any transfers?

Thanks so much!!!

Need help with itinerary and trans. between DC and BWI

Your hotel is one block from an exit for the Gallery Place metro station. The closest site of interest is Ford%26#39;s theater - don%26#39;t remember the exact address, but I know it%26#39;s within 2-3 blocks from your hotel.

The metro doesn%26#39;t go out to BWI. So what you may want to do catch a shuttle to the airport%26#39;s Amtrak station, and take an Amtrak train into town. Get out at Union Station and transfer to the metro red line. Gallery Place is two stops away. (Note: I think Amtrak will run you about $20 a person to/from the airport. Depending on the number of people in your party, it may be cheaper to just take a cab.)

Alternatively, you can catch the B30 express bus at the airport. It runs every 40 minutes or so between the airport and a green line metro station (Greenbelt, I think it is). Takes about half an hour, and it%26#39;s $2-3 a person. You can then take a metro train directly to Gallery Place (both the red and green lines run through the Gallery Place station).

Need help with itinerary and trans. between DC and BWI

On weekdays, the MARC train, which is cheaper than Amtrak, also is an option. Ground transportation information is available on the BWI airport website (www.bwiairport.com).

This topic comes up frrequently, so if you seach the forum on ';BWI MARC Metro'; you will get detailed information.

One thing to remember is that most of the monuments are open at night and are breathtaking. I know many tourists are reluctant to walk around at night but I assure you. If you go right around 9 or 10 you will not be alone.

Here are my favorite night spots - Lincoln, and Jefferson (these two are really nice) ,Vietnam (which is very solemn anyway but really takes on a presence at night), and the WWII.

The Smithsonian%26#39;s American History Museum is starting to close some of its exhibits in preparation for a major renovation starting in September. Some exhibits closed already are the First Ladies exhibit. On their website they have the list of exhibits that will be closing or have already closed in anticipation of the renovation.

So, if the exhibits you wanted to see are closed, you can cross that one off your list for this visit.

Here is their website with the exhibit info:

鈥i.edu/exhibitions/exhibition.cfm鈥?/a>

We are flying into BWI Aug 25. We got a rental car from enterprise for $21per day. We figure it%26#39;s worth it if you spend 6 or 7 per person to take the shuttle why not spend afew dollars more for car . We will use rental car for transferring to hotel in DC and touring at night and use metro for other days. We got a good rate at Holiday Inn in Chevy Chase, one or two blocks from Friendship stop on the Metro.

I heard that you need to get timed tickets for the Washington monument and Holocaust museum. Get there early 8 am . By 9:00 am they are out.

Have a great trip!

We just got back from a similar trip. Here%26#39;s what we learned.

From BWI to the downtown area, use the WMATA%26#39;s fabulous online Trip Planner to pre-plan your transportation from and back to BWI. wmata.com/tripplanner_d/TripPlanner_Form_Sol鈥?/a> It gives you exact schedules, directions about where to go, and costs. For us two seniors, our fare to our hotel near the Mall was $2.20 (which is half price). Compare that to shuttles and taxis and you%26#39;ll save enough to have a free meal!

We took the TourMobile early one morning (I think it starts at 9:30 a.m.) while it wasn%26#39;t so hot (we were there at the height of the heat wave!). It has open sides instead of windows. You can get off and reboard. The narration was superb from most drivers.

We loved the Franklin Roosevelt Monument (which was a stop on the TourMobile and otherwise hard to access by public transportation). Very moving and beautiful.

The Air and Space Museum opens at 9 a.m this summer, which many tourists don%26#39;t know. So if that%26#39;s on your schedule, go there first. We decided not to wait in line for the Washington Monument but concentrated more on the Smithsonian museums and other sights. The cafeteria in the new Indian museum was THE BEST in terms of food quality. The Arts and Industries building is closed for rennovation. Be sure to use the Circulator to get from one sight to another. www.wmata.com/metrobus/dc_circulator.cfm For $1 each (half for seniors) you can reboard free for the next 2 (sometimes 3) hours and they come every five minutes or so. They cover three major areas of the city. Look at the map online and pick one up after you board to take with you.

Ideas for a good weekend in dc

I will be in DC this Sat - Monday. We are 2 couples, late 20%26#39;s and no children. I wanted to get some ideas of some fun places to visit, please. I%26#39;ve been reading the posts and with so much to see %26amp; do it gets overwhelming to come up with an itinerary for just a weekend. We will try to do on Sat the American Indian Museum, visit Library congress %26amp; a Smithsonian...we are staying at Channel Inn on Waterfront %26amp; 7th. Any ideas/recommendations for a nice/fun/lively restaurant in Georgetown? or where to go at night in Georgetown for a fun nightclub/bar? Or anywhere else that is a must-see on a Sat. night? What about Sunday in DC - dont know where to visit to get in the major sights. Take a tourmobile? night-lights tour? Any direction/advice is soooo welcome. Thanks! kay.

Ideas for a good weekend in dc

Hi:

For Saturday night, if you really want a lively atmosphere, I recommend Adams Morgan. Take the metro to either Dupont Circle or Woodley Park to get there. It%26#39;s very popular with the 20-30 somethings.

For dinner, it depends on your budget.

For something on the higher end, try Cashion%26#39;s Eat Place.

For something more moderate, try Left Bank or, if you want to be more adventurous, try Meskerem for Ethiopian food or for outdoor seating, try Perry%26#39;s.

For something cheap, try Mixtec, Pasta Mia or the Diner.

For post-dinner fun, try Asylum for something kind of down-scale, Bedrock Billiards if you play pool, Felix if you want a martini, Habana Village if you want to salsa. The list goes on!

For more details on all the fun places to go in Adams Morgan, go to www.washingtonpost.com and click on City Guide - then narrow it down to Adams Morgan. Or, just go and follow the throngs!

On Sunday, if you want to try to hit alot of the major sites, I%26#39;d definitely recommend Tourmobile or Old Town Trolley. You%26#39;ll get alot more out of your visit that way, especially since you%26#39;re not sure which places to go. If something is of interest, you can stay there longer and linger.

PS: If you really want to go to Georgetown rather than Adams Morgan, you can also check the City Guide to find a place there. I%26#39;d probably recommend Pizzeria Paradiso then Birreria Paradiso (if you like beer) or Paolo%26#39;s for dinner then Cafe Milano for drinks. Also, Mie N Yu is popular for food and drinks.

Have fun!

Ideas for a good weekend in dc

mopsydog - thanks so much for the info. I didnt even think about Adams Morgan, gonna have some fun looking into the places u mentioned. I think it sounds like a good Sat. night. we will go there instead, i had mentioned georgetown only from what i read here on the posts, so i am up for your suggestions. Thanks again.

';Any ideas/recommendations for a nice/fun/lively restaurant in Georgetown? or where to go at night in Georgetown for a fun nightclub/bar? Or anywhere else that is a must-see on a Sat. night? ';

Georgetown, in and of itself is fun, just to walk around Wisconsin and M Streets. There is also the Georgetown Waterfront that has several restaurants. Sequoia%26#39;s is my favorite of them all. I love their Mango Margaritas and sitting outside on the patio. To get a table on a Saturday night you will need to have dinner and make a reservation (like now). It gets pretty packed, especially in the summer with all you young folks ;o)

Here%26#39;s their website and phone#

www.arkrestaurants.com/section_home.cfm鈥?/a>

Tel 202.944.4200

eye liner

Mothers and Daughters Trip to DC in early Spring

(3) Mothers, (4) Daughters taking a trip to DC in late March, early April for a long weekend. What should we make sure we see? Where is the best place to stay? Ages between 25-55. We will have a lot of fun together. Also need some night life stuff to enjoy. We are planners and love to research things in advance.

Mothers and Daughters Trip to DC in early Spring

As far as where to stay, look for a hotel in the District that%26#39;s near a Metro station. What price range are you looking at? It will help to know in order to give you more specific suggestions. Depending on the weather, the cherry blossoms may be at their peak when you%26#39;re here. If that is the case, then keep in mind that it will be crowded and hotels will be more costly. So if they are in bloom, be sure to take a walk along the Tidal Basin to see them. Otherwise, visiting the Mall and seeing the monuments and memorials is a must. If you want to tour the White House, get in touch with your rep or one of your senators%26#39; offices for tickets. Take in one or more of the Smithsonian museums (www.si.edu).

Mothers and Daughters Trip to DC in early Spring

If it falls within your budget, I recommend checking out the O Stree Mansion -- http://www.omansion.com/contact/ -- for a place to stay. It%26#39;s in a residential neighborhood near Dupont Circle and has a variety of rooms and suites to accommodate groops. All of the rooms are different and are very uniquely decorated. The food here is also excellent. The rooms start at $250 a night, but they may work with you if you are reserving several rooms.

In addition to the usual tourist stuff in DC, maybe you could look into spending an afternoon or a couple of hours at a spa. The spa at the Mandarin Oriental hotel is wonderful (and expensive), but there are others in the area that are not quite as pricey. Also, check into what may be at the Kennedy Center during your time in DC. Their calendar page only posts up to January right now, but check back closer to your visit -- http://www.kennedy-center.org/.

I just double checked and the Kennedy Center does have performances listed for the end of March/beginning of April. Both the ballet and opera have performances at the end of March and the symphony at the beginning of April. Check it out if that%26#39;s something that may interest your group!

All of your suggestions have been wonderful and worth investigating. If we can stay right up to or under the $300 mark for a room that would be great. The group really enjoys broadway musicals and such so we will need to look into the opera house. The spa suggestion is also a great idea for a bunch of women, thank you!

If you like Broadway musicals, you should also check out the websites of the National Theater and the Warner Theater in DC. Both are located downtown and are really easy to get to. They tend to have more of the touring Broadway shows than the Kennedy Center.

You may also want to consider the Hotel Monaco. It%26#39;s within walking distance to many of the museums, monuments, theaters and dining options. The hotel itself has a good (not inexpensive) restaurant (Poste) and if the weather cooperates, they have a large outdoor atrium/bar area that is quite nice. Happy planning!

To add to the Kennedy Center stuff, the Millenium Stage has a free performance every night at 6:00 pm. The schedule of performances is listed a few weeks in advance as they book the performers.

Also, Shear Madness runs just about every day in the KC Theater Lab and is always a fun show.

When is the Cherry Blossom Festival for next year? Do we want to be in town for the festival or plan around it?

March 31 - April 15, with the Parade on Saturday, April 14

nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/鈥?/a>

Cherry Blossom time is a fun time in DC. It%26#39;s a nice time to visit if you plan ahead (as you%26#39;re doing) and you don%26#39;t mind the crowds.

tour of RFK stadium

Does anyone know if you can tour or visit RFK Stadium if there is no game? Unfortunately, we%26#39;re in town while the Nationals are away but my son would still like to visit the ballpark (and get a Soriano shirt!). Any idea?

tour of RFK stadium

They don%26#39;t offer tours. Frankly, RFK falls into the void of not being one of the newer retro ballparks, and not old enough to be considered a classic like Fenway or Wrigley on which the retros are based.

As the Nationals temporary home until their park is completed (2008?), there frankly has been little reason to put a lot of investment into the type of things that would be appealing on a ballpark tour. In short, if there were a tour, there really wouldn%26#39;t be much to see.

Built in 1961, it was the first ';modern'; concrete multipurpose design that so many cities (Philly, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Atlanta) put up in the 1960s and %26#39;70s which they%26#39;ve since demolished.

tour of RFK stadium

The Orioles ballpark offer tours, if Jr%26#39;s interested!

Are you flying to DC? If so, he can most likely pick up a shirt at one of the airport stores and save you the trip to the ballpark.

I don%26#39;t believe the Nationals have a retail store outside of the park, however the Team Store is open on non-game days per their website, so if you have a car or are taking the metro, you can probably take a peek at the park while you are there:

Team Store Hours:

Monday 鈥?Saturday 鈥?10 AM 鈥?6 PM

Sunday 鈥?12 PM 鈥?4 PM

Free parking in front of the Team Store is available for customers on non-game days.

Fans call (202-675-9683) for more information.

Thanks so much for the replies. Sounds like maybe we%26#39;ll hit the team store and see if we can get a peek while we%26#39;re there. Or maybe stop in Baltimore on our drive home.

It's all happening at the ZOO

My wife and I are planning on going to the National ZOO during the Labor Day Weekend with some family that live in Front Royal VA. We want to take the Metro in and want to get to the zoo very early. We were thinking of having breakfast at or near the zoo. Anyone know of any places places to have a breakfast at or near the zoo that we could walk to? Thanks for your help.

It's all happening at the ZOO

There are lots of eating places around the Woodley Park/Zoo Metro station. Finding something suitable for everybody shouldn%26#39;t be a problem there. There%26#39;s also a small cafe across from the zoo and eating options inside that are a step or two above what the residents eat. :-)

It's all happening at the ZOO

At the Woodley Park metro stop:

Open City (2331 Calvert St. NW)

Woodley Cafe (2619 Connecticut Ave. NW) (opens at 9 am on weekends)

At the Cleveland Park metro stop:

Firehook Bakery (3411 Connecticut Ave. NW)

There%26#39;s also a Starbucks inside the Marriott Wardman Park at the Woodley Park metro or if you want a sit down meal, you could go into a restaurant in this hotel or in the Omni Shoreham down the road.

Maybe Cockle Cove can comment on breakfast at the Omni Shoreham if she%26#39;s reading...

Enjoy your visit.

If you take the Woodly Metro and walk to the zoo entrance, you%26#39;ll find a Starbucks directly across the street from the entrance. They have nice pastries and breakfast items as well as fruit juice. You won%26#39;t have a big breakfast, but it might be sufficient. We arrived at the zoo about 8 a.m. recently and were glad we did. Evidently the pandas go to sleep later in the morning. We were able to see the baby wake up its mother, nurse, and then proceed to eating shoots. The crowd was quite small then.

I knew there was a closer Starbucks!

Great Work everybody. This is going to be a lot of help. Thanks a lot.

The Omni offers your typical hotel breakfast... decent enough food, but waaay overpriced.

There%26#39;s a Dunkin%26#39; Donuts/Baskin Robbins emporium at 2604 Conn. Ave :-)

excel

Thank you SueFee and drwong!!!

thank you for all of your suggestions. I just got back from DC and had a great time. The Beacon hotel was very nice. I made reservations for the Sea Catch online for Saturday night and we LOVED it! very nice resturant, food was delicious! I could not have asked for anything better. And my boyfriend was impressed that I found such a nice resturant. I told him that I would be sure to come online and let you guys know it was great. Thanks again!

Thank you SueFee and drwong!!!

You%26#39;re welcome, LaDivaSola. I%26#39;m glad to hear that you both enjoyed your stay and I%26#39;m glad to hear that I was of help to you. Just wondering--did you dine indoors or outdoors at the Sea Catch?

Thank you SueFee and drwong!!!

We dined indoors. but it was so nice i could have ate at the entrance door and still been in pardise. its was costly..but i knew that before i went. worth every dollar!

Excellent!!! Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. Did you get a chance to do any shopping in Georgetown as well? (Now you%26#39;ve got to find a way to hide that credit card bill before he sees it! )

No i didnt get a chance to do any shopping..but I think I will survive..lol. There was so much to do i didnt want to waste it by shopping. thank you 2 again.

Glad to hear that you liked Sea Catch! I have a restaurant week reservation there this Saturday, and I was a little nervous because I know so little about the restaurant. I%26#39;m feeling better now, though!

oh my goodness sunwise it was soooo good. my boyfriend is very well travelled and i have been a place or 2..and that was the nicest either one of us have been too. He had their special( some type of fish with black rice) and he compared it to butter. I am not a fish eater but i am assuming that is good..lol. I had the crab cakes..very good!

Getting veteran around the city

My Dad is 81 and we are going to DC next week to visit the WWII memorial - he can%26#39;t walk too far. What is the best metro stop to get off for this? Would we take a cab from the Metro stop to the memorial? We are then heading to the Kennedy Center - again - should we take a cab?

Then for other touring, he wants to go to the Holocaust Musuem, National Archives, and Natural American History Museum. What are the best metro stops and then would we need a cab?

Thanks for your help - Can%26#39;t wait to take him!

Getting veteran around the city

-WW II Memorial is accessible by the Metro (Smithsonian Station-Orange Line and blue line). Only problem you will have to walk up and across many DC busy streets to get there and with an elderly person who probably isn%26#39;t going to walk very fast and probably doesn%26#39;t want to walk at all, you could catch a quick cab ride for not much at all if you would prefer. Also there is limited handicapped parking spaces next to the Memorial but of course everyone will try to get there first.

-All of the museums you listed are on the Smithsonian Metro Stop and/or L%26#39;Enfant Plaza (orange, blue, yellow, and green) metro stops. All within reasonable walking distance for the average person. It just depends on how far he is willing to walk. Natural History, American History are right near each other. The Holocaust is on the opposite side of the museums closer to the Smithsonian Station exit at Department of Agriculture.

-Kennedy Center is the easiest of all of these. Take the metro to Foggy Bottom Station (orange and blue line) get off and get on the Kennedy Center Shuttle Bus. Check with the Kennedy Center to see what the hours of operation is and how often they pick up. Fast and convenient.

Also, there is a Circulator Bus that runs up and down the street near the museums. The fare is $1.00 and I think free or $.50 for seniors. This is fast and convenient for the museums along their bus line. Go to www.dccirculator.com and look at the map. It will show you the various stops along the ';MUSEUM'; route. This will be cheaper and probably better than catching a cab and wasting $$$$ for a few block cab ride.

Hope this helps.

Also try the Tour Mobile and the Old Town Trolley%26#39;s, the DC Duck Tours all of these allow you to get off an on the bus to see the Monuments but not the museums. At least you could do that in one day for the monument visits.

Getting veteran around the city

Thanks so much for your help...I think we%26#39;ll probably be doing some cab rides - but that%26#39;s OK. I don%26#39;t want to wear him out too much - rather have him enjoy everything. If we spend $100 on cabs, it will be money well spent. Thanks again!

My Dad is also the same age as your Dad and also is a WWII veteran. He%26#39;s had his knee replaced but was still able to walk from the WWII memorial to the Vietnam one and then on to the Foggy Bottom Metro station. FYI, there are lots of benches around if your Dad needs to sit for a while. We considered using a taxi that day but for some reason they were scarce around the Mall. Also, consider buying tickets for the Old Town Trolley (http://www.historictours.com/washington/) or the Tourmobile(http://www.tourmobile.com/). Both go by the monuments and memorials and run frequently.

The Metro stations are pretty far from the memorials and the Holocaust musuem if you%26#39;re not a strong walker--more than a half mile. And the ones that are closest if you wanted to try it often put you places cabs tend not to be. Good stops for a short cab ride to the WW2 memorial would be Farragut West or Farragut North. If you%26#39;re staying in DC, maybe easiest just to get the cab straight from your hotel. From there to the Kenedy Center it%26#39;s a pretty straightforward cab ride--start by looking for one wherever you got dropped off. Holocaust museum is a cab ride for certain.

I second the idea of taking a cab from the hotel. Since DC cabs operate on a zone system (as opposed to a time and distance-based meter), it doesn%26#39;t really matter where your hotel is, as long as it%26#39;s within the same zone as the WW II Memorial. (most of the downtown hotels south of H Street are within the Downtown zone).

You also might want to contact your local VFW chapter or the VFW chapter here in the DC Metro area and see if they have any information for you. It%26#39;s possible the local chapter in DC has volunteers for just his purpose. I know there were a lot of programs available for the dedication and some may still be in service.

Thanks to all of you for all your help.

I need one more piece of advice...My mom and dad will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on Monday and we want to take them somewhere special for dinner that night. This may be our big splurge night!

Any great ideas??

N2 --

What type of food do they like to eat? Would you like a place that has a view, like a waterfront restaurant?

They are farm people and like meat and potatoes - I was thinking something of a view of the monuments..Any suggestions?

Not as a dinner suggestion, but for a nice view of the monuments, The Hotel Washington has a roof top cafe where you can order drinks, dessert and appetizers. (Pennsylvania %26amp; 15th Street, N.W., about two blocks from Metro Center 13th and F street)

It%26#39;s beautiful at night or to go for sunset. You get a nice view of everything. I usually go there after dinner for coffee and dessert and relax.

You can get hamburgers and stuff there, but I don%26#39;t recommend it. I had a burger there once and it was pretty bad. The fruit and cheese platter was fine though.

I haven%26#39;t been to any celebratory-type American restaurants in DC lately, so I will leave that to the experts.

I will say that the meal we had at the new Clydes at the MCI Center before the Bon Jovi concert in January or February was awful and they are the same people who own Old Ebbitt Grill. I%26#39;ve never been to Ruth%26#39;s Chris Steakhouse.

Grand Hyatt Washington -- comments please

Just changed my reservation and booked the Grand Hyatt Washington... got a great rate including breakfast. The reviews fluctuate so much... loved it or hated it... Any comments here??

Seems that the location is key to this hotel... $26 to valet park however!!

Any feedback would be appreciated

Grand Hyatt Washington -- comments please

In addition to above question, I was concerned about the safety of this area in the evening.... any help would be appreciated

Grand Hyatt Washington -- comments please

Hi, I just wrote a review of the Grand Hyatt that recently got posted under ';I%26#39;d give it 3.5 stars...'; - so you can check out my complete experience. We were there a couple of weeks ago (8/5-8/7) for two nights and there were definitely pros and cons, but overall I%26#39;d go there again. The rate including the breakfast that we got via the Hyatt%26#39;s website was well worth it - we paid $139/night including breakfast. The breakfast was great, really nice upscale buffet. Location-wise, you are close to the Smithsonian museums and the White House and the Metro is located via a walkway underneath the hotel. Very convenient. I think the issues with this hotel come into play when the hotel is at capacity and the service suffers then. Our first night it was crowded with some kind of convention and things did suffer as a result of so many people, but our second night the hotel was like a different place after they left. It%26#39;s kind of luck of the draw with that, though. The one feature we (as a family with young kids, ages 7 and 4) were disappointed in was the pool. Small, you have to go through the health club to use it and no hot tub. But it was clean. But I constantly had to ask my kids to ';keep it down'; because I was worried they were bothering people with their noise who were utilizing the health club. If that is a very important feature to you, you might want to look elsewhere. I thought the area seemed safe at night, but we were never out very late with the kids, in all honesty. We opted to not use the valet parking and went to the lot directly across the street from the Hyatt and it was $26 total for both Saturday and Sunday night. I%26#39;d stay again for the rate we got, though. Hope that helps!

Suzanne

thanks for this very informative reply. My children are 10 and 14 so I dont think I will have the same concerns that you did. I also booked through the Hyatt Website and got the $139 rate with breakfast included. I orginally had a reservation for the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlngton but the Hyatt turned out to be less money and seemed so convenient. Would you say the parking lot across the street was safe to leave our luggage in the car after we check out of the hotel, if we are still sightseeing for the day??

Did you have to pay to use the pool?? I see conflicting information aobut whether or not there is a charge for the pool.

Thanks for all the help

I bet there%26#39;s no need to invite a break-in of your car; the Hyatt will undoubtedly agree to hold your luggage while you%26#39;re sightseeing after you officially check out

good idea!! I will arrange that when we arrive...

I agree - don%26#39;t leave luggage in your car - the hotel will gladly hold it for you.

Regarding the pool -- it was free to hotel guests, but the fitness center costs something like $7/day.

The hotel was very convenient and that is a great rate (that%26#39;s the same rate I got), given that the breakfast is thrown in as well.

Enjoy!

Suzanne

eye liner

Fabulous time in DC

Mad props go out to DrWong who gives magnificent advice about DC. I had a great time there during the sweltering month of July. Great recommendations about where to eat (Dancing Crab) and where to stay (William Lewis House).

Fabulous time in DC

Thanks. Coco214!!! Was there enough diversity on the Dancing Crab%26#39;s menu to satisfy everyone in your party? What did you think of the restaurant and its food?

Library of Congress?

My family scored a Congressional tour of the Library of Congress. However, from what I read people are saying the Library of Congress is not necessarily a highlight of their trip. Does the Congressional tour differ that much from the public? Is it really worth doing and maybe sacraficing time at the BEP or National Archives?

Thanks

Library of Congress?

Can%26#39;t really say - depends largely on your areas of interest! If you can get your Cong rep to get you passes to the BEP, I%26#39;d opt for that over the LoC, but if the LoC is all you got, then take it.

I%26#39;ve never had a Cong tour of the LoC, but I know the only difference between the Cong BEP tour and the public one is that you gotta line up an hour earlier than the rest of the public. Plus, you%26#39;ll know you have a guaranteed time slot.

I would have told you to see the Archives in the evening (they open until 9 pm during the summer), but they%26#39;ve been closing early to repair flood damage in the basement.

Library of Congress?

The Library of Congress has some cool stuff, for sure, but for me, the cooler stuff is at the American History Museum (which is closing some of its exhibits now for a multi-year renovation).

Hi Samlamqt

We did the Congressional a couple years ago. It was a guided your at 8:30 in the morning. At the time our guide told us that the public tours were self guided. I am glad we went with a guide. He was able to explan all areas in great detail. That is something you would not get out of a book.

The LOC was a way for America to show Europe what grand palaces we could build. We enjoyed it.

We also did the Congressional tour of BEP. Also good.

At the National Aechives you will not spend more than 1 hour.

If you can fit them in, do them all.

Enjoy your trip!

The Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress is amazingly beautiful and there are some very interesting things to see with respect to the artwork housed there and used in the construction of the building. That being said, you don%26#39;t really need a ';Congressional tour'; to see this. The building is open to the public and you can get a docent led tour from the information desk several times a day. I recommend the guided tour, especially if you are interested in history and/or architecture, but you do not have to be wed to your scheduled Congressional tour time to do that.

rodents

Radisson Barcelo @ Dupont Circle?

Does this hotel exist with a new name or new hotel affiliation? It%26#39;s at 2121 P St. Or any other suggestions for a hotel for a sole 50ish woman being a tourist? I%26#39;m looking for October. Thank you!

Radisson Barcelo @ Dupont Circle?

That space is now home to the Kimpton group%26#39;s new Palomar Hotel. I%26#39;d recommend Jurys Washington Hotel, also at Dupont Circle. Check the reviews. If it%26#39;s in your price range, another poster raved about her solo stay at the Ritz at Pentagon City (Arlington, VA). If you prefer to walk to city nightlife, though, then I think Dupont is your place.

Radisson Barcelo @ Dupont Circle?

FWIW, mary, my SO %26amp; I stayed at the Ritz Pentagon last year as a belated Valentine%26#39;s getaway. Although not the best of the chain, it was fine for our purposes, but this wasn%26#39;t much of a tourist weekend for us. I think you could do better... the big drawback to that Ritz imo is that it%26#39;s connected to an enclosed mall which could be Suburbia Anywhere, and the immediate environs are fairly ';sterile.';, with the result being that solo evenings would pretty ho-hum.

So, I%26#39;d like to second mopsydog%26#39;s recommendation that you stay in Dupont Circle. That and the Kalorama/Woodley Park neighborhoods are where I much to prefer to stay when I%26#39;m in DC by myself; I always feel comfortable walking around there in the evenings, and there%26#39;s such a diversity of places to go for dinner or aftewards.

The prices I%26#39;ve been seeing for the Palomar have been high (even by DC standards), and the Jurys Washington mopsy suggested would be a fine alternataive (allho%26#39; it%26#39;s not as trendy/';hip'; as a Kimpton property). Other possibilities you might wish to consider: the Churchill at 1914 Conn Ave., , the adjacent Courtyard at 1900 Conn Ave., and the Jurys Normandy Inn (much smaller than its brother, the Washington) on a side street off the corner of Wyoming Ave. and upper end of the 2000 block of Conn. Ave.

Planing Trip with Veteran

I plan to bring my 88 yr old father to see the WWII memorial and probably the Air/SPace Museum. He gets around pretty well and is really sharp for his age. But I need help planing this. We will be coming from SLC would also like to visit relatives in the Harrisburg PA area. SO, shoud be fly into BWI--stay near the airport--drive (ugh!) into DC. Drive to PA for a few days then fly out of BWI again. OR would it be better to just stay in DC. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I haven%26#39;t been to DC since I was a girl scout (very long time ago)

Planing Trip with Veteran

For starters, are you planning to buy round-trip tickets on the same airline, or can you afford one-way tickets? (buying them separately via Hotwire or Priceline might cut the price somewhat, although you might end up with inconvenient connections).

The easiest way is to fly from SLC into DCA (Delta has convenient non-stops) and stay downtown. Then visit PA, and fly out of PHL via Southwest or US Airways. (You can fly out of Harrisburg as well to PHL or PIT and then onto SLC).

Planing Trip with Veteran

VickyBee,

For your drive to Harrisburg, I%26#39;m not sure if you%26#39;ve planned your route, but I recommend taking 15 instead of 83. I take this all the time and it%26#39;s just a beautiful drive. If you get on the beltway out of DC and take 270 North to 15 North, it%26#39;s a much less hectic drive to Harrisburg with a lot of nice pit stops along the way.

You pass through Thurmont, where I recommend The Shamrock restaurant for lunch. http://www.shamrockrestaurant.com/

Next is Gettysburg (for the history and the outlet mall), there%26#39;s also a Boyd%26#39;s Bears Musueum and Gift Shop with a cafeteria to eat lunch if you get to the Shamrock before lunch.

VaBelle is right on money with advice. If you have a choice take 11/15 North. I head into PA quite a bit through Harrisburg and it is a lovely drive. Once you get past Frederick, Maryland there is rarely any traffic. Ironically, I stopped at Shamrocks just two weeks ago. Lovely!!

It should take you take you a wee bit over two hours into downtown Harrisburg from DC and very Northern Virginia.

Men's Hair Salon

What would be an upscale men%26#39;s grooming establishment...looking for haircut and facials. Read about the Men%26#39;s Grooming Lounge in the recent edition of Best Life. Thanks.

Men's Hair Salon

I like the Grooming Lounge--it%26#39;s very modernist and masculine and I%26#39;ve always gotten good service there for haircuts and manicures. You also might like the spa at the Four Seasons in Georgetown. It%26#39;s not specifically aimed at men, but they can handle a man if he doesn%26#39;t mind being in the minority of the clientele.

Men's Hair Salon

Salon Jaques Dessange is upscale and a good place to go.

What to do in DC on Christmas Day

Got last minute package to DC.

Need advice to spend 12/25 where most places are closed and best DC brunches are fully booked.

Had signed up for trolley tours on other days.

What to do in DC on Christmas Day

Just about everything will be closed. As to brunch, I%26#39;ve found that some places don%26#39;t advertise until it%26#39;s closer to Christmas day, so don%26#39;t give up just yet. For example, there are some Holiday Inns that offer holiday buffet brunches at their restaraunts.

What to do in DC on Christmas Day

Try this..........

washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/鈥ndex.html

Not sure how much help, but it may have some info on Christmas day events and brunches.

Here are some possibilities for Christmas day meals:

Holiday Inn-Rosslyn--The Vantage Point ';overlooking Washington, DC';--Christmas Buffet 11 a.m - 8 p.m. adults $22.95, children 12 and under $11.95. You can get there by using Metro (Rosslyn on the blue or orange line) and the restaurant is now taking reservations.

Legal Seafood in Crystal City is open on Christmas day. Again--easy to get to from the Crystal City Metro station. (Not all Legal Seafood restaurants are open on Christmas day--this one is though.) For more info: www.legalseafoods.com

McCormick and Schmick%26#39;s is open, too. They have 2 locations in the District. For more info: www.mccormickandschmicks.com

M %26amp; S Grill has 1 location in the District. For more info: www.mandsgrill.com

And don%26#39;t forget that the outdoor stuff like memorials are always open--about the only thing you won%26#39;t be able to do is go to the top of the Washington Monument. And you will need to self-guide yourself through them.

Bump for someone asked the same question.

Mount Vernon, George Washington%26#39;s home, is open on Christmas Day.

Bumped for Readaloud

The Holiday Inn Old Town Alexandria does holiday brunches that are outstanding. I have been their on Christmas Day and you will not be alone (Sylvester Stallone%26#39;s mother was there the day I had Christmas brunch here!)

101 Royal - 703-549-6080

While most things in Alexandria will be closed, Christ Church will be open and is beautiful to walk around the grounds. The waterfront is nice to walk around and to look in the shop windows. Hopefully, it will be a pleasant enough day for walking around.

You may always want to consider movies, as well as the monuments. Walking around Georgetown, and eating Chinese food. The Jewish Community Center usuallly hosts some type of movie or other event on Christmas day.

scars

One day advice

I will spending Friday in DC before a wedding. Looking for suggestions for museum shows to visit. Thanks

One day advice

Without knowing your interests, I%26#39;d check out the Smithsonian%26#39;s website, where they list current exhibitions on the front page.

http://www.si.edu

I%26#39;d lean towards the Museum of American History because 1) I%26#39;ve always considered it the most ';generic'; of the museums, and 2) it%26#39;ll be closing shortly for renovations (for about two years) and will be inaccessible if you make a return trip during that time.

One day advice

Check the website for American History first - Some of the exhibits have already closed so it may not even be worth a visit.

As Tubman said, though, it really depends on your interests. There are some things I found interesting at the National Gallery (Rousseau, for example). Or, you may want to check out the newly renovated and reopened National Potrait Gallery and American Art Museum. I thought it was great.

Check the website for American History first - Some of the exhibits have already closed so it may not even be worth a visit.

As Tubman said, though, it really depends on your interests. There are some things I found interesting at the National Gallery (Rousseau, for example). Or, you may want to check out the newly renovated and reopened National Potrait Gallery and American Art Museum. I thought it was great.

Also check www.culturaltourismdc.org.

Why do bed sheets shed

Returned from 4 day DC vacation

First I want to thank everyone that gave me ideas and suggestions for my trip, a BIG help.

Myself, husband and 11 yr. old son. We spent 4 days in Washington. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Capitol. I did my homework and it all worked out wonderful. The Holiday Inn Capitol is very nice, clean and location is great, one block from Air %26amp; Space and Tourmobile stop, make sure you ask for a room overlooking the courtyard. When we arrived they said there was no notation on my reservation about that. I knew from postings here to make sure I asked in my reservations not near the train tracks. They gave us a room over the courtyard. I would recommend this hotel to all. We arrived Wednesday around 2:00 and we had tickets for the Washington Monument for 4:00 (ordered them online for $1.50 each plus .50 for postage). We drove so we walked to the monument (10-15 minutes) it was a nice walk after 9 hours in the car. My complaint with the Washington Monument was the staff. If I was not from the U.S. I would wonder if everyone in the U.S. was miserable. The Park Staff was not very friendly. We got to the monument early and saw a sign that said tour 3:30 so we stood aside with some other people that were early. When asked what tour time we had we told a staff person and he pointed to were to stand. Then he asked us again and we told him again and he told us we were not in the correct waiting area. We all looked at each other and told him that was were he told us to stand. He than pointed again to another area. It was hot and late so maybe he was tired. When it was our time for the tour some people were sitting on the bench and when the staffer came to get us he said follow me...NOW! I was shocked! The people were not getting off of the bench fast enough for him. On the elevator the person running it said you go to the top look out and then come down one floor and you can look out again. That%26#39;s it!!! Nothing about the monument (we found out the history of it on the Tourmoblie the following day) On the way down not a word! There are carvings or quotes on the walls on the way down and you can see them from inside the elevator but we were never told what they were or what they said. The elevator did slow down but not enough to read them!

I think I will email the Parks department about this encounter.

Our first full day started at the B of P%26amp;E at 7:30 to get tickets for the first tour. It was interesting to see the money being printed, our son’s favorite part of the trip.We took the Tourmobile for the two days (adults $30.00 and child $15.00) right across the street from B of P%26amp;E, it was cheaper then the others. It was great...There was always a seat and never a long wait. The tourmoblie also includes the Arlington Cemetery tour which was our first stop ( $6.00 if you take the tour at the cemetery). The changing of the guard was moving. Then to the Lincoln Memorial, WW I, WWII, Jefferson Memorial, etc.

Second day was American History and Natural History Museums. Lunch at Union Station (beautiful place). Some of the museums are open late and some open early at this time of year. Took a not planned side trip to the Ford Theatre and the house across the street where Lincoln died. That was a very informative side trip, highly recommended. I learned a lot and my 11 year old son even enjoyed it. He had learned about it in school but found out being there was better.

Third day we had not been able to get a tour of the Capitol with our State Rep. We waited too long . As we waited for the Tourmobile in front of the Air and Space to go to the Capitol we met a family from California that was taking the tour. We told them we did not have the tour we were just going to take pictures. They invited us to tag along with them. What was the worst to happen, they would say no when we got there. Well they said yes! It was a wonderful tour and we learned a lot. It took a couple of hours and put us off schedule but well worth it. After the tour we went to the White House (no tour) took pictures from the front gate. I thought the White House was bigger!

Fourth day the Air and Space Museum (first floor opens at 9:00am). Then our 9 hour drive home.

Over all a wonderful trip, we did everything we had planned to do and some, we had a couple of 12 hour days (our son fell asleep on the Tourmoblie, woke up and ready to go again!). Tourmobile guides very friendly, we even had to change vehicles once at the end of the day before they stopped running and the driver called ahead and asked the other driver to wait for us. Security in all of the building was either scan your bags or hand check them. We carried snacks and bottle water and never had a problem.

Since we drove in we brought a cooler with frozen water, danish and muffins for breakfast so we started each day not having to find breakfast. Lunch was on the run (with snacks in between) and dinner was McD’s and Subway. Thanks again everyone!

Returned from 4 day DC vacation

Thanks for posting your trip report. I%26#39;m sorry to hear about your encounters with less than friendly park rangers. It%26#39;s interesting because we were in Philadelphia this past weekend and the park rangers we encountered there were all helpful and friendly--go figure. I think it%26#39;s great that you were able to tag along with another family and tour the capitol! Glad to hear that you all enjoyed yourselves!

Returned from 4 day DC vacation

Sounds like you had busy and memorable trip! Is the Holiday Inn still offering free meals for kids? And did you have any time to use their pool?

As a former volunteer with the National Park Service (stationed primarily at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial), I am sorry that you had an unpleasant experience with the Park Rangers that day. Not to excuse their rudeness, but by way of explaining what they are responsible for, hopefully you will understand what a complex job they have. They have multiple jobs to do and not always the right amount of help (volunteers and paid staff), equipment and conditions in which to do it. They deal with millions of people each year and some days it can be challenging. They have to protect the memorial from damage (inside and out), keep the area free of obstacles, protect the visitors from getting hurt, answer questions, provide crowd control, first aid, and, of course, information about the memorial itself. Each person has a lot going on and there are not always volunteers available to pitch in every day.

I hope that your experience with the Rangers doesn%26#39;t ruin any part of your memory of our beautiful city.

I also have to agree that the Philadelphia Park Service staff are great. Some of the rangers assigned to the various buildings really know their stuff and are passionate about the buildings and areas they work in. They make the tours very enjoyable.

drwong,

Our son used the pool one night and enjoyed it. There were a few people in it but not enought to not enjoy it. The other nights he was to tired to swim (we have a pool at home so it was not a big deal to him). We did not eat at the hotel but they did give us discount coupons for meals at the hotel and I do believe kids eat free. We were always out at dinner time.