mes3

Our family of 4 (boys 14 & 12) will be traveling to DC July 3-8. We are looking forward to this trip, our first DC trip. We have been reading about the crowds and cost in DC and are thinking about Arlington area. We found Hampton Inn & Suites Reagan on TA. Anyone have any thoughts or advice. Also, we would like to site- see till around 5p. Need help for a July 4th itinerary. What would be a good fireworks viewing place to set up in VA. We have heard about Iwo Jima area. Any thoughts on hotel and viewing sites. We need help.

bardo1

mes3,

Hampton Inn & Suites Reagan and its Crystal City location is OK, but I would suggest you pay more for a central DC hotel location if your hotel budget allows it.

Crystal City is a pretty dead area after office hours and on weekends/holidays but maybe that's what you're looking for. Crystal City IS cheaper and convenient to downtown DC via Metro. It's ultimately a personal preference: less expensive and somewhat duller vs. more convenient and more exciting.

What all do you hope to see? If avoiding crowds is a big factor, then on July 4th you might want to visit the National Cathedral, the Zoo, Georgetown or some other place of interest away from the National Mall that day.

mes3

Bardo1, thanks for the hotel info, we are not night lifers. We thought of the Harrington downtown but, they have no pool. I figured my boys will want to swim to cool from the heat. We will probably do some of the monuments at night. Thought about renting bikes to see DC at night. Your advice on Cathedral and Zoo on the 4th is great. I thought about getting up early before the crowd and see one of the museums and maybe WWII site but,your advice my work better. Do you have any idea on a good time to stake out on Va side for fireworks. I heard Gravelly Point is good. We thought of the Harrington downtown but, they have no pool. I figured my boys will want to swim to cool from the heat.

Thanks

bardo1

This small DC hotel has an arrangement with the YMCA 1/2 block away to use all their facilites (including the olympic sized pool).

http://www.tabardinn.com/

Just another option.

Gravvely Point is good, just plan to get there hours before sundown. Most groups bring a picnic dinner, playing cards, board game, etc. and make an evening of it,

mes3

Is it the same way at Iwo Jima? Is 5p too late? I've only read how packed it is around the Mall area. Any suggestions?

mes3

Dukey

It will be crowded at both G. Point and the Iwo..and the big "issue" would be parking at both places.

You might consider staying in the Roslyn area of Artlington and from there you could walk to the Iwo or into Georgetown (when not viewing the fireworks..and take the Metro to other places. At night it might not be any more livel;y than Crystal City but at least it is close to places which are.

EllensWords

I agree with the recommendation of Rosslyn (accommodations may be listed under either Rosslyn, VA or Arlington, VA with a mention of Rosslyn)and also of the idea of seeing the fireworks from Arlington, due to the long, long waits for security and for Metro one must endure if watching from the Mall.

Check out the Quality Inn Iwo Jima. It is moderately priced and within walking distance of the Iwo Jima memorial which, as someone else has mentioned to you, would be an outstanding place to see the DC fireworks. It has a pool.

Just be sure you specify a room that is new or has been recently renovated. I was quite satisfied there but was aware of a big gap in quality between a newer room like I had and the older ones. I think I noticed that they have had some extensive renovation/construction since I stayed there. Be aware that it is a long six block hike to Metro.

More or less right on top of the Metro, though, are the Holiday Inn Key Bridge and the Best Western Key Bridge, but both are a little more expensive and a longer hike to the Iwo Jima Monument. They both have pools, and the Holiday Inn has a three meals a day, moderately priced restaurant at the top with sweeping views of DC, the monuments and the river--a little known treasure.

All three of the hotels I have mentioned have free parking, a real plus if you are planning to have a car with you (not otherwise recommended.) There is also a Hyatt and a Marriott within a couple of blocks of the Rosslyn Metro if you want to go further up the scale.

bardo1

5 pm is fine (and maybe slightly early). Fireworks are at around 9 pm

mes3

EllensWords, thank you for the info. Arlington is sounding better each time. I'll look into the Quality Inn Iwo Jima. I'll have to think about the 6 block hike to Metro and easy walking to Iwo Jima Memorial. I'm still thinking of the Hampton Inn Reagan 1 mile away with easy access to Metro, free Breakfast. This will req.a hike up for the fireworks however. Maybe we can catch meto up to Rosslyn station. Has anyone Biked the sites before? Is this safe? Maybe at night? Thanks guys/gals for all your input. This is a great site.

mes3

kayd

I think you'd do well to choose your hotel for its proximity to a fireworks-viewing site. Metro is very crowded and chaotic on July 4, so if you can avoid it by staying near Iwo Jima, do so unless the Rosslyn property is way over budget for you.

vegasnative

My DH and I went to DC for the 4th of July in 2003. We stayed at a Holiday Inn, can't remember which one but it was very close to a Metro stop which was great. One thing I remember was that a lot of the restaurants were closed that day/night, which is something we are not used to, so we fnally found a little place around the corner from our hotel which turned out to be terrific, but that too I cannot remember the name of it, I just remember we went down steps from the sidewalk to get to it.
Anyway, we decided to go to The Mall to watch the fireworks, we got on the Metro at about 5-6 and it was CROWDED. We just kind of pushed our way in and stood VERY CLOSE to 3 guys that stood jam packed like that all the way from Boston. Anyway, be prepared for the crowds, but I can tell you it was well worth it. We plunked ourselves down right by the Washington Monument and we heard the music and saw the BEST fireworks display EVER!!!!!!!!! After the show we decided not to take the Metro back and decided to walk because of how crowded it was, I can tell that many people decided to do this and although it was very late at night we felt so safe because there were so many people out walking around, it truely was a great experience and we can't wait to take our kids when they get a little older.
Also, I do not know where you will be coming from but we were not used to the humidity at all. That was probably the most difficult part of the trip.
Have fun!

mes3

Vegasnative, thanks for the tips. We are frome the deep south and yes high humidity is a problem. We still have time to decide where to view f/w. We may try going across the river to the mall area. Are there walk ways to go by foot? We are thinking as an option of starting early in the morning and visiting the Archives and possibly one other museum or attraction and staying in the mall area. Thanks
mes3

Emucom

Things have probably changed since I went to fourth of July activities in Washington DC (1998), but we stayed at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower (Alexandria, VA) and took the Metro train into town. We got to the mall around 11 am and visited the Smithsonian museums to pass the time. About 7pm or so we got a spot across the street from the Capitol just in front of the Air and Space Museum. and watched the fireworks. We then all headed over to the Metro for the ride back to the hotel. They add extra trains for that night. Everything seemed to move smoothly along. Now I'm not sure how things have changed post 9/11.

MoonGirl

In Rosslyn, you may wish to check out the Key Bridge Marriott, which is located right on the river. I expect the prices are not cheap there, particularly for river-view rooms, around the Fourth of July, but it is worth investigating. There is a bike trail/footpath running along the Potomac that can be accessed near the Key Bridge that may be of interest.

Ann41

Please do not stay at the Harrington. It's cheap for a reason. It's a dump.

The last time I watched the fireworks on the mall, we walked 5 miles home because the metro was so crowded. My suggestion would be to stay in Rosslyn, and then you would have the option to walk back to your hotel.

There's nothing quite like seeing the fireworks from the Mall. It's worth the hassle and the crowds.

mes3

Ann41, thanks for the tip. Do you have a preference of hotels in the Rosslyn area. How about family dining thoughts in or o/s DC area. We have entertained going into Md. area for fresh seafood.

mes3