best tips for D.C. Visitors
Jan 24th, 2008, 05:23 PM
#61
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Just to clarify the suggestion about holding Metro doors. They don't have electric eyes so that they might retract if you put your arm, etc. in to "hold" them. Your good outcome is that they might bounce off of you. In any event, they'll leave a bruise.
Jan 24th, 2008, 05:40 PM
#64
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There are people downtown in spring, summer, and fall (and maybe winter but I don't walk around downtown as much then so don't know), who dress in BLue, red, and white, and they have patches on their arms. They have stands on many street corners. Thier job is to help tourists- they exist to help you in a BIG way! Trust them, they have lots of resources!
These people are the D.C SAM! Check it out here:
http://tinyurl.com/37wqc3
These people are the D.C SAM! Check it out here:
http://tinyurl.com/37wqc3
Jan 25th, 2008, 05:55 AM
#65
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Some cheap but good eats:
Old Ebbitt's Express: For $4 you get a great daily pasta takeout, (There are tables). Also salads, sandwiches and cheap plates.
New food cards downtown: It's not just hotdogs and half smokes these days. Among the best are new "SmartKarts" flanking the Portrait Gallery. At 7th and H, it's Julia's Empanadas and great $2 tacos. At 7th and F, (across from the Verizon Center metro entrance), it Rocklin's BBC. The great guys who run them say coming soon at 12th and G is a cart with Teaism chow.
As mentioned, the Market Lunch at Eastern Market with its bluebuck pancakes and crab cakes.
Old Ebbitt's Express: For $4 you get a great daily pasta takeout, (There are tables). Also salads, sandwiches and cheap plates.
New food cards downtown: It's not just hotdogs and half smokes these days. Among the best are new "SmartKarts" flanking the Portrait Gallery. At 7th and H, it's Julia's Empanadas and great $2 tacos. At 7th and F, (across from the Verizon Center metro entrance), it Rocklin's BBC. The great guys who run them say coming soon at 12th and G is a cart with Teaism chow.
As mentioned, the Market Lunch at Eastern Market with its bluebuck pancakes and crab cakes.
Jan 25th, 2008, 06:30 AM
#67
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As for finding cheap lodging near Metro outside of DC, Ill take whack ... with a few givens:
1) Unless you have a compelling reason not to, it's almost always best to stay in the city.
2) It's all about balance and priorities, if you're a budget foody and staying in College Park allows you that extra dinner at Central ... then that makes sense for you.
I put those out because I was roundly flamed by comforting a cash-stretching questioner that you can still have a decent DC visit even if you have to stay on the outskirts.
So here goes, there are other areas but I'm not going to make stuff up about places I don't know well. (Others can do that
)
-- Rosslyn, a top choice just across from Georgetown. Also has easy access to the gem that is Roosevelt Island.
-- Old Town Alexandria. A truly fun place to stay and stroll.
--Crystal City and Pentagon City area. Convenient, safe but not a lot of charm IMO.
--Arlington--???? (many other folks are more familiar)
--Chevy Chase. Wonderful neighborhood on the Red Line. Great shopping and Embassy Suites sits on station. But for price of the ES you could probably Priceline it in the city.
--DT Silver Spring: Hopping area with improved dining scene (esp. Ray's the Classics and Mandalay). American Film Institute. Don't get a cheap hotel here but the new Marriott Courtyard plus the Hilton and Crown Plaza are good values for the DC area.
--There's also a Days Inn off the UDC Red Line stop in NW DC.
--Bethesda. Nice city with lots of good but not great dining.
--College Park: Out of the way and not very Metro convenient
--Rockville: Is there a hotel in the new Town Square? There ought to be. (Love the Fractured Prune treats.) If not, there are a few places (Doubletree now Hilton?) right on the Twinbrook stop and a Marriott near the White Flint stop.
--Gaithersburg: You're getting a long ways out but several have shuttles to Shady Grove.
Plenty of gaps here for others to fill in.
As I mentioned, it's a balancing act but if you don't have the bucks to do it all, you can still make tradeoffs to do the things you like.
1) Unless you have a compelling reason not to, it's almost always best to stay in the city.
2) It's all about balance and priorities, if you're a budget foody and staying in College Park allows you that extra dinner at Central ... then that makes sense for you.
I put those out because I was roundly flamed by comforting a cash-stretching questioner that you can still have a decent DC visit even if you have to stay on the outskirts.
So here goes, there are other areas but I'm not going to make stuff up about places I don't know well. (Others can do that
)-- Rosslyn, a top choice just across from Georgetown. Also has easy access to the gem that is Roosevelt Island.
-- Old Town Alexandria. A truly fun place to stay and stroll.
--Crystal City and Pentagon City area. Convenient, safe but not a lot of charm IMO.
--Arlington--???? (many other folks are more familiar)
--Chevy Chase. Wonderful neighborhood on the Red Line. Great shopping and Embassy Suites sits on station. But for price of the ES you could probably Priceline it in the city.
--DT Silver Spring: Hopping area with improved dining scene (esp. Ray's the Classics and Mandalay). American Film Institute. Don't get a cheap hotel here but the new Marriott Courtyard plus the Hilton and Crown Plaza are good values for the DC area.
--There's also a Days Inn off the UDC Red Line stop in NW DC.
--Bethesda. Nice city with lots of good but not great dining.
--College Park: Out of the way and not very Metro convenient
--Rockville: Is there a hotel in the new Town Square? There ought to be. (Love the Fractured Prune treats.) If not, there are a few places (Doubletree now Hilton?) right on the Twinbrook stop and a Marriott near the White Flint stop.
--Gaithersburg: You're getting a long ways out but several have shuttles to Shady Grove.
Plenty of gaps here for others to fill in.
As I mentioned, it's a balancing act but if you don't have the bucks to do it all, you can still make tradeoffs to do the things you like.
Jan 25th, 2008, 06:37 AM
#68
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I find many of these tips cute and amusing. Here are my tips.
If it has "Smithsonian" in its name, it's free. But not all museums are free in DC.
Don't throw away your Metro card! You need it to go out.
(This is for the hardcore public transit rider tourist) Remember to get your bus transfer ticket before you get on that train! Immediately after you go through the turnstile, there will be a little brownish gray drab looking machine. Push the button to get your bus transfer, which is good for $0.90 off the bus fare.
If you want a map of where the trains go, it's not called the metro map, it is called the system map. And you can get it at almost every station, right near the turnstiles.
When staying at the Hotel Monaco, near Gallery Place, you can request a pet goldfish for your room. They will feed and clean the bowl, so all you have to do is stare at the fish.
Best burger in DC? Five Guys. One is in National Airport (US Air shuttle terminal), the other is at H Street and 9th Street, right in Chinatown.
I'll think of more...
If it has "Smithsonian" in its name, it's free. But not all museums are free in DC.
Don't throw away your Metro card! You need it to go out.
(This is for the hardcore public transit rider tourist) Remember to get your bus transfer ticket before you get on that train! Immediately after you go through the turnstile, there will be a little brownish gray drab looking machine. Push the button to get your bus transfer, which is good for $0.90 off the bus fare.
If you want a map of where the trains go, it's not called the metro map, it is called the system map. And you can get it at almost every station, right near the turnstiles.
When staying at the Hotel Monaco, near Gallery Place, you can request a pet goldfish for your room. They will feed and clean the bowl, so all you have to do is stare at the fish.
Best burger in DC? Five Guys. One is in National Airport (US Air shuttle terminal), the other is at H Street and 9th Street, right in Chinatown.
I'll think of more...
Jan 25th, 2008, 06:59 AM
#69
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Library of Congress - near the Capitol - a very interesting building and free tour also a small gallery with rotating exhibits from their collection. You can see a Guttenburg Bible - where else ya gonna do that? But the building and ornate interior is the real draw. Certainly not a style that's in vogue today. Worth two hours of your time.
Jan 25th, 2008, 08:21 AM
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Re Pentagon City as an area to stay: It is much beter now than it used to be. I think it is a great area to stay. There is Pentagon Row dining (13 restaurants, some pretty good ethnic ones too. Vietnamese, Irish, Thai, Lebanese, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Asian bistro and wine bar) and shopping area, centered on a courtyard type place and a lot of the action is outside, people watching, etc. Also there is a pretty nice row of restaurants in Cyrstal City now, by Mortons and Jaleos, etc. And Pentagon City Mall is right there.
The Residence Inn in Pentagon City will give you lots of space if you have several people in the rm (they even have two queen bedrm, two bath quites; studios have 2 doubles and a sofabed)and their price is relatively reasonable for the space and what you get (incl. hot breakfast). All rms have kitchen, living area, and you are close to the metro, 2 metro stops from Arlington Cemetary, 2 stops from D.C. at L'Enfant Plaza, and very close to DCA airport.
The Residence Inn in Pentagon City will give you lots of space if you have several people in the rm (they even have two queen bedrm, two bath quites; studios have 2 doubles and a sofabed)and their price is relatively reasonable for the space and what you get (incl. hot breakfast). All rms have kitchen, living area, and you are close to the metro, 2 metro stops from Arlington Cemetary, 2 stops from D.C. at L'Enfant Plaza, and very close to DCA airport.
Jan 29th, 2008, 10:31 AM
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Don't forget Great Falls just into Maryland--one of America's most beautiful water fall. Not far by car, easy to get to, wonderful walkways over the falls, nice walk along the historic canal. Also, I can't remember the name, but we stopped at a restaurant/bistro while driving up. It was elegantly informal, tasty, and affordable. The Virginia side is also worth seeing, but not as well developed.
bleason
bleason
Jan 29th, 2008, 07:57 PM
#76
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OK here's my two cents:
Visit The National Museum of Women in The Arts to see the building as well as the art; any Smithsonian you choose, Imax (get tickets as soon as you enter Air & Space museum) Indian Museum great food Use the Old Town Trolley to get around, its well worth the fare when you don't have a clue, stay away from the restaurants on the waterfront ( Maine Ave) Do stay in downtown area if you can; metro around if you feel comfy; If you park your car in a Metro lot know that you must pay by prepaid ticket as you exit; Be carfeul if you decide to do the monumnets at night; DO NOT eat from the vendors (good advice anywhere)
Make advance reservations for the Spy Museum which is really fun but NOT cheap; visit the newly re-opened Newseum; there's a good food court at the National Gallery West wing basement level and a cool underground fountain, facing the Capitol is East and the Washington Monument is west;numbered streets go up east to west; Union Station is magnificent; as is the small Botannical garden at the foot of the Capitol (on the right facing east) My personal favorite is The Vietnam Memorial for its personal, haunting and unforgettable impact. There's a directory of the Wall at the Lincoln Monument side path to look up anyone whose name you would like to touch, and usually someone around to help you. Its a beautiful city....make a plan because there's a lot to see. Oh, and Alexandria is charming, Mt Vernon is lovely....
Visit The National Museum of Women in The Arts to see the building as well as the art; any Smithsonian you choose, Imax (get tickets as soon as you enter Air & Space museum) Indian Museum great food Use the Old Town Trolley to get around, its well worth the fare when you don't have a clue, stay away from the restaurants on the waterfront ( Maine Ave) Do stay in downtown area if you can; metro around if you feel comfy; If you park your car in a Metro lot know that you must pay by prepaid ticket as you exit; Be carfeul if you decide to do the monumnets at night; DO NOT eat from the vendors (good advice anywhere)
Make advance reservations for the Spy Museum which is really fun but NOT cheap; visit the newly re-opened Newseum; there's a good food court at the National Gallery West wing basement level and a cool underground fountain, facing the Capitol is East and the Washington Monument is west;numbered streets go up east to west; Union Station is magnificent; as is the small Botannical garden at the foot of the Capitol (on the right facing east) My personal favorite is The Vietnam Memorial for its personal, haunting and unforgettable impact. There's a directory of the Wall at the Lincoln Monument side path to look up anyone whose name you would like to touch, and usually someone around to help you. Its a beautiful city....make a plan because there's a lot to see. Oh, and Alexandria is charming, Mt Vernon is lovely....
Jan 30th, 2008, 05:15 AM
#79
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The Eastern Market has an indoor site now as well. I think it might be temporary while they fix the old building, and Market Lunch (that food place where there is always a big line for lunch and breakfast) is there. I think the outside vendors started up again a few week after the fire.
Jan 30th, 2008, 06:07 AM
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A branch of Madam Tussauds Wax Museum opened recently in downtown D.C. It is located on a corner of the old Woodie's dept store. Actually, the museum is all underground, only the entry lobby and exit lobby are above ground.
We had been to the one in NYC, which we thought was amazing and very extensive and worth the $$. I took a friend to the one in D.C. a few weeks ago. It is very small, and the figures are almost all political and military figures. Not nearly as many wax figures, and nothing at all like the "party room" at the NYC location, or the section w/music stars and sports figures that they have in NYC. The D.C. location is more "interactive' (exhibits where you can listen on a phone to a narration or play a trivia game on a screen) but really was a big disappointment after the NYC location.
We had been to the one in NYC, which we thought was amazing and very extensive and worth the $$. I took a friend to the one in D.C. a few weeks ago. It is very small, and the figures are almost all political and military figures. Not nearly as many wax figures, and nothing at all like the "party room" at the NYC location, or the section w/music stars and sports figures that they have in NYC. The D.C. location is more "interactive' (exhibits where you can listen on a phone to a narration or play a trivia game on a screen) but really was a big disappointment after the NYC location.
