going to washington d.c. NEED HELP?
Hotel Rates
ch3rrybl0ss0m asked:
going to washington D.C. over the summer.do you know any good places to go to? also cheap but nice hotels?
Ashley
going to washington D.C. over the summer.do you know any good places to go to? also cheap but nice hotels?
Ashley
March 24th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Cynthia
Lots of good places to go. The National Zoo, the C & O Canal Park, all of the monuments (Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson), the war memorials on the Mall (Viet Nam, WWII, Korean War), all of the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The US Capital. Lots of free concerts on the mall, the Capitol steps, etc. The list goes on. Read the Washington Post for ideas, and any good travel guide from your library will have ideas. Read the Washingtonian magazine site for ideas
My recommendation for hotels is to stay in the Virginia suburban hotels near the Metro and ride the subway downtown. The subway is safe, reliable and relatively inexpensive. Hotels aren’t cheap, and are cheaper on weekends than on weekdays (because of business travelers).
In DC, my daughter stayed at the Georgetown Suites hotel for a school trip and found it convenient, relatively nice, and a relatively good deal.
Enjoy your trip! Its a great town.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Lucy
Low cost motels are located on the beltway around the city. Get a AAA tourbook for ratings and prices. You can also try Alexandria (great shops and Colonial pubs), and Arlington.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Helen
I would recommend getting a metro pass, and bringing a good pair of walking shoes. The link below is should take you to the Official Tourism Site for D.C. If you browse around you will be able to find tons of things to do. You can even order a brochure that they will mail to you. These places are a must… and the best part is that these are all free!
1. All the Smithsonian Museums
2. The Capitol (tours daily)
3. National Holocaust Memorial
4. Washington Monument
5. Lincoln Memorial
6. FDR Memorial
7. Jefferson Memorial
8. Vietnam & WWII Memorials
9. Chinatown (fun place to walk around and lunch or dinner)
10. Union Station (great for breakfast…they have an Au Bon Pain and Corner Bakery)
11. International Spy Museum
March 28th, 2009 at 3:23 am
Clyde
Make sure to walk around DuPont Cricle and Georgetown. Kind of spendy but parts are very quaint and beautiful.
March 30th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Frederick
Hello: this is just an example I have more ideas for you. email me at
Why Go: Trip Ideas
Washington Vicinity, DC: Capital Outposts
Beyond the capital city’s main drags, find homey crabshacks, presidental retreats and steep cascades at the foot of the Alleghenies.
Outside of Washington, DC, historic suburbs sport a wealth of worthy attractions. Take a jaunt to stately Mount Vernon, the beloved country estate of George Washington and wander the banks of the Potomac just like old George. On the Alexandria waterfront, check out the Torpedo Factory that once produced munitions for World War I and is now a venue for browsing crafts sold by local artists.
The other side of the river boasts the University of Maryland where the Terrapins play some of the nation’s best men’s college basketball. Take a ride down the old C&O Canal on a mule-drawn barge. Practice rock skipping while gazing at the natural splendor of Great Falls. Feast on jumbo spiced shrimp, fresh corn-on-the-cob and Chesapeake Bay blue crabs at the Bethesda Crab House. This meal may require an abundance of wet naps and a change of clothes, but it’s worth leaving the city for!
Recommendations & Suggestions:
Bethesda Crab House
As you walk in, the smell of steamed crabs and Old Bay seasoning tantalizes your senses. The friendly wait staff lays down some old newspapers on your table along with a towering stack of napkins and the two necessary utensils, a mallet and a knife. Roll up your sleeves, tie on your bib and prepare to get messy.
There is no menu here. You eat steamed crabs, jumbo spiced shrimp, corn on the cob and cole slaw and that’s it. The only decision you need to make is whether you’ll dip your crabs in Old Bay sauce, vinegar or melted butter. Treat yourself to a pitcher of beer as well, a perfect compliment to the food’s tangy spices. The crabs come by the dozen or by the bushel. Sometimes they offer an excellent all-you-can-eat deal, but regardless, you MUST call ahead (301.652.3382) to reserve your crabs! They don’t take table reservations, but you must order the crabs in advance as they do run out rather quickly, especially in the summer months.
C&O Canal
The C&O Canal, a hiking and biking route, follows the Potomac River for over 180 miles from Washington to Cumberland, MD. The canal was primarily used to haul coal from Maryland to Georgetown between 1828-1924. Many original structures, including locks, lockhouses, and aqueducts still stand and the canal’s towpath provides a well-groomed trail through the spectacular scenery of the Potomac River Valley.
The park is open all daylight hours. Some of the park’s six visitor centers operate on a seasonal schedule. Contact one of the visitor centers for current hours of operation.
Evening Star Cafe
Stylish in a kitchy sort of way and kid-friendly, the Evening Star Cafe is a homey cafe with American food prepared to a tee; it’s classic and plentiful with added flair. Don’t miss the pecan-crusted rockfish and creamed spinach. Save room for the pumpkin cheesecake and if you have to wait, grab a board game and mix with the locals, it’s one of their favorite spots.
Mount Vernon
Overlooking the Potomac River sixteen miles south of Washington stands the colonial home of America’s first president, George Washington. He lived in this historic country estate for forty years, passed away in his bedroom there and was buried on the property next to his wife, as his will directed. Gaze over the perfectly-kept grounds and get a sense of what life was like for an 18th-century gentleman farmer. Tour the inside of the mansion and see authentic furniture, and walk through the estate’s outlying buildings including the slaves’ quarters, gardeners’ sheds and stables. Visiting Mount Vernon is a must for history buffs and a delight for families with children of all ages.
With 160 artists working in 83 studios and exhibiting in countless galleries, the Torpedo Factory is a sight to behold. Created through the joint effort of a group of local artists and the City of Alexandria in 1974, it is considered the largest and most successful commercial visual arts center in the U.S. and is open to the public.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center started out as an actual torpedo factory. The day after Armistice Day in 1918, the Navy began construction on the original building, which became the U.S. Naval Torpedo Station. When fully operational, it was responsible for the manufacture and maintenance of torpedoes for the next five years of war. The facility served as a munitions storage area until World War II. When peace was declared in 1945, the U.S. government decided to use the building for storage space: the Smithsonian stored art objects and dinosaur bones; Congress stored documents; the military kept German war films and records in sealed vaults.
The University of Maryland’s main campus has a few attractions worth seeing, including Memorial Chapel, a campus landmark, Byrd Stadium, home to the country’s finest lacrosse teams, and the brand new Comcast Center, home of the Terrapins, Division I Men’s Basketball’s top team in 2002. The Comcast Center replaces the storied Cole Fieldhouse, the site of numerous NCAA Final Four rounds. For more information about these and other campus sites, the UMD Visitor Center will provide you with a campus map, as well as other information .