Here is the trip report for our trip to Washington DC and Chincoteague, VA. I want to thank everyone for all their advice leading up to the trip. It was very valuable.
Day 1 (Wednesday):
My husband and 1 flew from SFO to DCA on Continental – connected in Houston. We met my uncle in DC. My mom and one of my aunts were supposed to come too, but neither could make it, so it was just the 3 of us.
We checked into The Hamilton Crowne Plaza on 14th and K streets. It is a neat historic hotel, but a combination of small issues made for a less-than-ideal stay. They screwed up the rate for our rooms and it took a long time to sort out, the elevators worked only intermittently, the beds and linens were only ok, almost no counter space in the bathroom, our room looked out onto a wall, etc. I just expect more from a Crowne Plaza, so I would probably choose a different hotel next time. The location was pretty good though – a block and a half from the Metro, across from a park, near the White House. The area is more business oriented, so not much going on in the evenings with regard to restaurants and so on.
It was late by the time we checked in at the hotel, so we had dinner and drinks at the hotel restaurant 14K. The food was pretty good, if expensive. And the service was nice.
Day 2 (Thursday):
We had breakfast at the hotel (1/2 price for club members) – and the breakfast buffet was very good. Then we headed to the Capital for our tour. We took the Metro to the Capital South station and walked a couple of blocks – very easy.
The Capital tour was really neat – we got tickets through one of our Congress people. The guide took us around and told us about the history of the Capital building. Afterwards, we walked around the outside and headed to the National Mall.
The Air and Space Museum was tops on our list, so we went there first. Absolutely wonderful. We ended up spending 5 hours there, but could have stayed longer. We even ate lunch at the McDonalds in the cafeteria because we just didn’t want to leave. A storm came in while we were there, so we stayed longer to wait out the rain. Terrible, I know – to be forced to spend more time in the Air and Space Museum. What luck.
We had dinner at RFD on 7th between H and I, which has a fabulous beer selection – dozens and dozens (hundreds?) of choices. The food was pretty good, not great, but good. The place was crowded and loud though, so somewhat of a drawback.
Day 3 (Friday):
We had an 8:30 tour of the Library of Congress scheduled, so we got an early start. Again – tour arranged through a Congressperson. We took the Metro again – used the Metro to get everywhere. It is very easy and efficient.
The Library of Congress tour was a highlight of our trip. Our guide was wonderful. She was full of information and very entertaining. We learned a ton. And the building is incredible – absolutely covered in artwork: carvings, paintings, sculptures, mosaics. We spent quite a bit of time at the Library after the tour was over. There are some neat exhibits there.
After we left the Library of Congress, the weather was beautiful, so we went to the Sculpture Garden and had lunch. The Pavilion Café there is very good. Much better than we expected to find on The Mall. The food isn’t cheap, but it is good. After lunch we hung out in the Sculpture Garden and relaxed with our feet in the fountain. Lots of others were doing the same and it was just a nice place to be.
After lunch we wandered down the Mall to see the monuments. It was a hot afternoon, so we took our time. I had not seen the WWII memorial, so that was really neat to see. We saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and a couple more. We even found a statue of Albert Einstein. We wandered for hours until it was dinner time.
For dinner we went to the F Street Bistro – chosen because it looked pretty good and was only a few blocks from where we were. The restaurant is a little place down a small alley near George Washington University. The food was very good – I had some pasta with chicken and cream sauce, and for dessert a fried cheesecake. It was definitely a nice find.
After dinner we went back down to the Mall area because my husband wanted to get some night shots of the monuments. The Korean War memorial at night was especially interesting.
Then we wandered back down the mall toward the Metro to ride back to the hotel. By the end of that day, we were exhausted. It was a wonderful day, but we basically walked our feet off.
Next up - Chincoteague.
Washington DC and Chincoteague, VA - Trip Report
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The Smithsonian Museums are like casinos.....your concept of time is warped, and you end up amazed at how much time you've spent in them. I also often wish I had a pedometer....
I find DC fascinating~it's one of my favorite destinations! Sounds like you had a good time despite the hitches in the hotel....
tenthumbs - absolutely, I love that analogy. Time definitely warps in the Smithsonian Museums. We will definitely be going back to DC. I could see it becoming one of our favorite destinations too. We barely scratched the surface of what we wanted to see.
Day 4 (Saturday):
My husband and I headed off for a week in Chincoteague, VA, which is an island off the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay. My uncle stayed in DC, so it was just the two of us now. He was originally going to come to Chincoteague, but because my mom and aunt weren’t with us and he was having a really good time in DC, he decided to skip the island.
The drive out to Chincoteague was fairly easy, but we did hit a lot of traffic at the Bay Bridge east of Annapolis. There were a lot of people headed to the Eastern Shore and the backup was pretty bad. Once we cleared the bridge though, we only had minor backups through some of the towns. After about Easton, MD, it was smooth sailing.
Chincoteague itself is really great. We absolutely loved it and would definitely go back. The island is not very big – everywhere is 5 minutes from everywhere else – and the vibe is very laid back. Lots of people were on foot, bikes, and mopeds. And the scenery around the island is great.
We stayed at a rental house called Island Bliss on Willow Street that we found through VRBO.com. It is located a couple blocks from Main Street, but in a quiet area without much traffic. The location was perfect for us. We immediately felt at home in the house – it is a very comfortable and inviting place. We especially loved the sun room and the pool.
We arrived at about 5:30, so we settled in and then went out for dinner. We went to the Sea Shell Café on Maddox, which was good. It isn't fancy (nothing in Chincoteague really is), but the food was solid and the service was good. Afterwards we went to BYOC – Build Your Own Cookie – which is a little stand on Maddox where you can get cookie sundaes. Terrific. Then we had a dip in the pool back at the house and called it a night.
Day 5 (Sunday):
We woke up to terrific weather, and after all the walking in DC and the longish drive the day before, we decided it was a perfect day to relax by the pool with a good book. After awhile we motivated ourselves to go explore the island. We had BBQ lunch at Woody’s on Maddox, which we loved. Their BBQ sauce could use some more heat, but it was still very good. And we liked the beachy feel of the place. There were lots of people hanging out and everybody seemed to be having a good time.
Then we went to the grocery store to stock up for the week. There is a Fresh Pride not far from the house, but the shelves were pretty sparse. So we went to the mainland to the Lion market (can’t remember the exact name, but there are a bunch around that area). This one is right at the intersection of Hwy 13 and 175 and has a nice selection. It also shares a parking lot with Sonic. We don’t have Sonic here, so I make a point of stopping when I have the chance. After that, it was back to the house to grill out and enjoy some wine.
Day 6 (Monday):
Great weather again, so we decided to pack a lunch and head out to Assateague Island and see what we could see. We bought a week-long pass for $15, which we thought was a decent deal. We went to the lighthouse and climbed to the top – great views and a wonderful breeze. The rangers and docents at the lighthouse were very helpful too.
Then we drove further into Assateague toward the beach at Tom’s cove. We saw the wild ponies along the road, which was neat. Then we went to the beach. We didn’t bring our suits, but we waded in the water a bit and had lunch. The beach there is great – wide and sandy, pretty tame waves. There were quite a few people there, some of which had more beach gear that we take on a camping trip. They were really set up with pop-up sun rooms and everything. Most people just had a beach umbrella and a couple chairs though.
That evening we had a sunset boat tour scheduled with Daisy’s Dockside Cruises, so by mid-afternoon we went back to the house to clean up. We went to an early dinner at Bill’s on Main Street. This place looks like a diner or something from the outside – sort of a non-descript building – but inside it is very nice. We had a fabulous dinner there. The pepper crusted tuna was really good and they had a nice selection of wines by the glass, including some local wines.
The sunset cruise was great – definitely a highlight of the trip. Our boat captain was a wealth of information and really easy to talk to. We cruised around the southern tip of Chincoteague and into the channel between Chincoteague and Assateague. We didn’t see any ponies, but we saw lots of birds and a ton of dolphins. There were probably 15 dolphins swimming with our boat at one point. When it was time for the sun to set, the captain beached the boat on a small sandbar island so we could get off and walk in the sand while we watched the sun set. Absolutely beautiful.
Day 7 (Tuesday):
This was a lazy lazy day. Our friends came down from New Jersey to spend a few days with us and they arrived in the wee hours of the morning – they were supposed to get in around 10 or so night evening before, but got a late start and then hit construction traffic on the way down from New Jersey. So we just took it easy and hung out around the pool.
In the evening we went out to dinner with some relatives of our friends who have a house on Chincoteague. We went to Don’s on Main Street and had terrific scallops. Best scallops I had all trip. The restaurant is a little dark and dated, but the food was very good. And they have pitchers of Yeungling for like $7. Can't beat that. After dinner we wandered along the waterfront to see the boats and watch the sun set.
So far, we are loving Chincoteague.
I'm glad you're enjoying Chincoteague. I haven't been there in years so it's good to hear recent reviews. Thanks for the report.
Thanks for your report, november_moon. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Your report reminded me of when I stayed at Assateague many, many years ago with my husband, and a dozen Boy Scouts. We spent the weekend camping right on the beach, with the wild ponies all around us. The park rangers were wonderful, teaching the boys how to crab with chicken pieces, and rake for clams. They also took us on a canoe tour of the bay area. It was a great time for all, except putting up with those darn mosquitoes, affectionately known as the "state bird".
Robyn
Day 8 (Wednesday):
After breakfast, we packed a lunch and our beach gear and headed out to the beach at Tom’s Cove on Assateague Island. We didn’t see any ponies en route to the beach this time. There were a fair number of people at the beach, but we didn’t have any trouble finding a good spot. We set up our umbrella and beach chairs and hung out for the day. The water was a bit cooler than it was a couple of days earlier and also rougher – not cold or rough by Pacific Ocean standards, so we were just fine with it. We played in the water a bunch, hunted for shells, sat in the sun and read, sat in the shade and read, played with Anna in the sand. It was just a nice day.
After we’d had our fill of the beach we went back to the house, grilled up some dinner, and relaxed by the pool. Renting a vacation house was definitely the way to go on this trip.
Day 9 (Thursday):
Thursday dawned dark and stormy. We had thought about taking a boat trip that day, but the weather did not look promising. We turned on the TV and sure enough, a storm was coming - weather alerts telling people to seek shelter, warnings of deadly lightning and flooding. About 10 am, the rain started and it poured for a couple hours.
After the rain let up, we went out for a little girl time to do a little shopping. Left the husbands and the toddler at the house.
There are plenty of souvenir shops and places to buy beach gear, but we were looking for someplace that sold things by local artists and things out of the everyday. We found 2 shops that we absolutely loved: Island Arts and Island Cottage. Both were great – we could have stayed in there forever. Then we went and got some coffee at the coffeehouse on Main and Maddox. Terrific coffee – best I’ve had in awhile.
After we got back, the kid was restless, so we went to Memorial Park to get some energy out. The park is great – lots of good structures to play on, including one shaped like a wooden ship. And the park is right on the channel between Chincoteague and Assateague, so it has nice views.
For dinner we got take-out from Woody’s – loved that place.
Day 10 (Friday):
Our last full day in Chincoteague. Our friends had to head home, but they decided to wait until evening to make the drive. So we had most of the day to hang out. We decided to go back to Assateague and bum around some more. First we went to breakfast at Maria’s Family Restaurant on Maddox. Never again. It was the only bad meal of the entire trip. I’d rather eat at McDonalds.
On Assateague we saw some ponies, took a walk out through one of the marshes on a nature trail, went to the visitors center, saw the ponies in the pen, etc.
After our friends left, my husband and I went out to a quiet dinner – after spending a few days with a 3 year old, we were interested in some quiet. We went to Etta’s, which isn’t far from Memorial Park. We sat out on the screened porch and had a nice meal. The view was great and the people were very nice.
We loved Chincoteague and are eternally greatful to the Fodorites who recommended it to us. It was the perfect place to relax for a week.
Last installment:
Day 11 (Saturday):
We said good-bye to Chincoteague and headed back to DC. The drive was fine – a lot less traffic than going the other direction. Dropped the rental car off at Union Station and took the Metro to Dupont Circle. Other than driving in DC traffic, it was easy. And the DC traffic wasn’t terrible, just traffic.
We stayed at the Dupont Hotel, which we loved. It looks like an apartment block from the 1960s, so I was a little dubious at first, but it was great. The hotel has been remodeled and it nicely done. The people are great, and our room was very comfortable. Probably the most comfortable hotel bed I’ve ever slept in. My only complaint about the room was that there wasn’t much privacy in the bathroom. The bathroom was pretty though.
After we got settled at the hotel, we took the Metro back down to the national mall to see some things we missed on our first 2 days of the trip. We went to the American History Museum, which is open later during the summer, so we had a couple hours there. We saw a bunch of stuff, but not nearly everything. It was really neat though.
Back to Dupont Circle for dinner – Mai Thai on 19th street. I was craving Thai food specifically – spicy food in general – after being out on Chincoteague for a week. The restaurant is a nice, smallish place and was fairly busy when we got there at about 8:30. The food was delicious. Very fresh, very well prepared.
Day 12 (Sunday):
Last day of the trip – had to fly home on Monday.
We had breakfast at the Firehook Café, which is on Q street, just around the corner from the hotel. The coffee was pretty good, the ham and cheese croissant and fruit tart were really good.
Back down to the national mall again – this time to see the National Art Museum and the Natural History Museum. Both were great. Didn’t spend as much time in either as we would have liked, but such is life. We will just have to go back. Plus, with only about 3 ½ days in DC, we barely scratched the surface of what we wanted to see. We barely even got off the national mall. We did walk past the White House to take a peak – thought we shouldn’t leave town without at least having a look.
For dinner we went to Agora, which is a greek place near Dupont Circle. We sat on the terrace out front, which was nice for people watching. The neighborhood is great – lots going on, plenty of restaurants. Agora serves items on small plates, so we got to try a lot of different things. The food was great and the service was really good. And they have a nice wine and beer list. Being our last night in town we drank up.
We loved DC and will definitely be back. There is just so much to see. And transportation on the Metro couldn’t have been easier.
The End
NM, so glad you liked the Dupont Hotel (so did we).
Our DS will likely end up on DC once he's out of school, so it's great to get hearty recommendations for places to visit nearby. I'm filing away Chincoteague for future reference!
Glad you all enjoyed the report
And Chincoteague definitely was neat. We were looking for a low key place on the coast where we could relax - it fit the bill perfectly. There was enough to do to keep us occupied, but not so much that it cut into our relaxation.
sf - How neat that your son may end up in DC. Good reason to visit over and over again
artstuff - We saw some people camping on Chincoteague, and I decided that those people are made from heartier stock than I am. I love to camp, but those mosquitos are fierce.
LOVED your trip report. I've always wanted to see Chincoteague. After reading your report it's moved up on the list
starrs - Chincoteague was definitely fun. I'd spend another week there.
"My only complaint about the room was that there wasn’t much privacy in the bathroom. The bathroom was pretty though."
I've read before and don't know what it means. Does the bathroom not have a door or something?
Thanks for the trip report. Chicoteague is special and for a different look try late October when the snow geese fill the water with sound, fantastic.
topping for Ronga
I got it. Thanks "starrs" for the lead to this blog. I didn't read your reply closing.
Ahh - I see you've already found it
And just in case VJ sees this - in answer to the question about the bathrooms at the Dupont Hotel: The rooms are designed in an open format where the bathroom is divided into 2 sections - sink area and then toilet/shower area. The sink area is open to the room and the toilet/shower is behind a door - however, the walls and door into the toilet/shower area are a frosted glass, so not much privacy.
Very nice trip report. I have not been to Chicoteague in years and now want to go back!
ttt
topping
Just read this report & want to comment that the section on Chincoteague brought back wondeful memories. We took our daughters there several times when they were younger. I think our last trip was in 2000 when we were looking at colleges in DC. Spent a couple of nights in Chincoteague to make a vacation out of touring college campuses. Chincoteague is one of our favorite places. We always stayed at the Waterside Motor Inn. Would love to return some day. It is very quiet & relaxing.