Day one started at 5am with our flight out of Tucson with a stop in Dallas which is always a mixed bag.45 min wait on the tarmac because our toilets would not flush!Arrived in DC through Reagan.With the no fly zone we banked hard a few times to land so that was interesting.Got to the ES on 22nd per taxi ($22 w/airport fee and 1.50 per additional passenger and 50 cents per bag?)After checking in we headed to Union station for food and the start of the Monuments by Moonlight tour (no moonlight,cloudy)Great tour,very informative. Dave was the tour guide and was excellent.Got back around 10
Dc Trip
Day Two
Got up early for the free breakfast which is always good,get there before seven to find a seat.Walked out the door to head off to Dupont Circle metro and low and behold their was a light snow falling which was a nice change for us Zonies,took the metro to the Metro Center stop and had a short walk to the White House for our tour.Some have posted that the tour was not worth the effort in getting tickets well I don%26#39;t know what they were expecting but we saw the Library Room,Vermeil Room,China Room and Map Room on the ground floor.On the first floor was the East Room(which looks smaller than it does on tv)the Green,Blue and Red Rooms and last the State Dining Room and then exited out of the north side.As my daughter looked up at the house she noticed a stained glass window hanging in a window and she is convinced it is one of the girls room.Went to the WH visitors center which was very informative then headed back to the ES for our things(cameras,cell phones,back pack) then to the Newseum for lunch (good but pricey) and to tour it.
Dc TripKeep the postings coming, I%26#39;m going to this hotel July 1-4 and I am enjoying your play by play. Did you book your hotel far in advance? I have been quoted $189 per night with AAA discount. How did you book?
I booked through AAA also.Day 3 later on,drying off from all day rain.
Easy day today,slept in till 9 then off to breakfast.Big mistake,large crowds at every area and kids running a muck as parents sip coffee ): go before 8 and life is good.Walked to the Mayflower Hotel to catch the Ole Towne Trolley (10 min walk)for are day at the zoo and a tour of the National Cathedral plus a stop in Georgetown.So much for best laid plans,was dropped off a ten min walk from the zoo and half way there it started to drizzle but not a problem.The zoo was ok only because the trail to make it a full circle was blocked off for construction so you had to walk back the way you came in.The pandas were great and playful but due to the rain some of the animals were inside.Only one food area was open so long lines,so we ended up at a Mickey D%26#39;s near by.The trolleys were full because of the rain so we had to wait a bit longer so we ended up missing the tour of the Cathedral.The trolley company gave us a open date ticket to use again to see the Cathedral and visit Georgetown.Plan to see Mount Vernon by boat tomorrow but you know plans may change.
Day Four
As Flash said on their post another drizzly day in DC,but we were outside the District today.We did the Spirit of Mount Vernon boat tour to Washington%26#39;s home and back.The ship left the marina at 8:30am so it was a early rise and taxi trip(metro starts at 7am on Sundays so it would have cut it close).Nice cruise down the Potamic River past Reagan National,Alexandria and Fort Washington then docked at Mount Vernon for 3 hrs of self touring the 8000 acres of property(we did not see all of it).There is a new visitors center and museum which I highly recommend seeing.Back to the boat for the trip back and docked at 3.Got on the Green line to China Town Station then the Red to Farragut North and a 12 min walk to ES.On to the Library of Congress and tour the Capital tomorrow.
Thank you for the updates. I sure hope we%26#39;re able to get a White House tour as well.
Be persistent,call or email them for an update.Have you been notified yet and filled out the security sheet?
Day 5
Today was the Capital and Library of Congress tours.Weather was better if you think fog is better which it is.Took a taxi in to Library of Congress because we heard that metros going into the Capital area can be crowded in the morning.Once in the Library we were taken to a room were we watch a short film on the L of C then given ear phones and a receiver to be able to hear our tour guide.Beautiful building with lots of history,was there for 2 hrs.Went under the road between the L of C and the Capital to start our tour of the Capital,what a difference 12 years makes for that was the last time I was here in DC where I just walk in to the Capital and roamed around but those days are gone.First we got in line where we were told to take the jackets off and that certain items are not allowed,went through a metal detector when one of the officers asked me do I know what is in this pocket of MY DAUGHTERS backpack I said no and he said are you sure and now I%26#39;m wondering what she has in their,I said no and he said with out seeing it ';A MUFFIN,no food is allowed inside';to then my daughter say%26#39;s';So thats where it went,I bought that a week ago';he smiled and ordered me to dispose of it outside!Kids.Nice tour,Congress was not in session until later so we gazed at an empty chamber,no harm done this morning.Walk over to our senators office to say hi and took pictures then he was off to vote on something he%26#39;s against.Took the subway home and had dinner at Mei Wah%26#39;s a two minute walk from our hotel,fabulous food and great service.I had the Kung Pao Chicken and my wife had the Beijing Duck,the helping%26#39;s were enough for four I highly recommend this place http://www.meiwahrestaurant.com/
bzydad, yes we did get an update. We are pending, so no security check yet. I%26#39;m hoping all will work out in the end.
Overall are you happy with the hotel location and cleanliness? We will also take the boat tour to Mt Vernon is the dock close by? Thanks.
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