Hello Fellow Fodorites:

I am in general VERY excited about this once in a lifetime historical event and I have finally gotten the first draft of this 10 day journey completed. Let me know your thoughts!

So as not to breach "family security" (LAUGHS) I have broken this trip into travel categories for your review:

LODGINGS:

The Washington Plaza Hotel
Akawaaba Bed and Breakfast Inn
Sheraton Suites, Arlington Virginia

I have a combination of 3 or 4 night stays in the three above places. The cost is...oh well...

SIGHT SEEING:

The National Archives
Bureau of Engraving & Printing
Library of Congress
Supreme Court
The Capitol
The White House

I am allowing 3 flexible days for these visits which require Congressional and Senate RSVP.

I will visit the Washington, Lincoln, FDR and MLK Jr. Monuments over 1 day.

I devote a FULL DAY (up at 4:00am) for President-Elect Barack Obama's Inagurural activities(Swearing in, SPEECH, Parade, etc. legal fireworks I HOPE).

I devote another full day to obsorb all of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of events.

Over 4 days I plan to visit the following Museums:

Newsmuseum
Smithsonian Am. Art Museum
National Portrait Gallery
Anacosta Museum
Ripley Center
National Gallery of Art
National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of African Art
National Museum of American History
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Plates Exhibit.

That means about 2.3 museums per day which is good for me and the crowds.

EXTRA SPECIAL INAUGURATION SPLURGES:

Illinois Presidential Inagural Ball & Gala

California Presidential Inagurural Luncheon and Fashion Show

One Official Presidential Inaguration Committee Ball on the 2oth (for my election "help")

Private (4 hour) Inaguration Cruise on the Potomic River, etc.

Pre-Inagurual Reception and Gala, one evening, with one of my National Organizations

FOOD-FOOD-FOOD!!!

Reservations for:

Proof
Cityzen
Michael Richard Citronelle
Hook
Adour
Georgia Brown's Jazz Brunch

High Tea at The Willard with girlfriends!!!

Ben's Chili Bowl with my son's college friends

Lunch at Source and dinner at the yet to be opened Bourbon Steak which is a Michael Minna project.

I plan to hit as many parties and just join in the fun of whatever presents itself.

Oh, we have tickets to Bill Crosby at The Kennedy Center with friends.

Ok, Fodorites, weigh in. You always have the angels that I miss!

I want your life!!!
I have nothing to add, but seriously, that sounds like the trip of a lifetime to me, for the event of a lifetime. Enjoy the heck out of it!!

...LAUGHS!

Thanks.

I am SO excited I feel like it's Christmas Eve every night I go to sleep. I have a packing list to pull together too. It is going to be cold as all get out an dus California folks do not have those kinds of fashionable clothes for like 10 days.

I am not renting a car which is a first for my travels to DC. The Metro has just released a commerative Metro pass. A photo of it is on their site. A friend is ordering one just to have it (GRINS).

I plan to get the 7 day pass and I understand it is wise to do that now as the lines to buy and ride are going to be unreal...

I'm beside myself with jealousy.

Austion...nooooooo(laughs)

Please do the happy-dance for me.
I see sugarplums..

you just posted this to get the rest of us jealous didn't you?
well, my green eyes are bulging.

Oaktown9, you will have a fabulous time. It definitely is a once in a lifetime experience. We went to Reagan's Inauguartion in Jan. 1981 with a group of friends and had a fabulous time. We still talk about what fun we had when we all get together now. ENJOY!!

Hi,

Are you saying you are moving between those 3 hotels or are lookign to choose 1 for your stay? If you are moving around make sure you are at the Washington Plaza hotel for Inaguration. You can walk to the mall from there.

The Metro just announced today that if you live within 2 miles of the mall you are better off walking on Inaugaration day. Even though they will be running more trains the waits are expected to be long and the stops near the mall will be closed for security.

Also don't plan on getting to the mall early in the a.m. because they are going to empty the mall and bring people back in for security reasons.

Metro card - purchase it early and bring plenty of patience.

Restaurants - make sure you reconfirm your reservations as you get closer to the dates.

Have a great time.

I think we might be the only people leaving DC during this time and we live right downtown!

Please, pleeeeaaaasssseeee post a trip report when you get back!

Thanks for the great feedback.

We have to do three hotels because of RSVP policies for that time, availability and price considerations. We booked like 2 months ago with the thoughts that we would stay at one the whole time.

The prices for the nights before and on Inauguration day went up like 3 to 4 times the amount that our other nights cost so we had to decide which did we want to part with...the liver, the kidney or the
first born child...in short all of the choices were painful to the pocket book for a minimum of 4 of the 10 nights. The other nights are none too cheap either. They just aren't over $600-1200$ PER night.

We then, after passing out when we realized that we would be paying somebody's mortage for each of our 3 to 4 night segments...we chopped up the rest of our stay based on what we wanted to see and do.

I "think" I have a handle on the metro situation. I am not sure that they do. Here is why. "It" is expected that 3 million folks will journey to DC for Inauguration. A good 2 million will be looking to take metro to complete the journey as folks are staying miles and miles away and many are parking several cities away to avoid the unavoidable. Metro "bends" under any 1 million attendance event...see my point?

Even on foot the folks are going to be way too many in number to "clear" without pushing them back onto folks just arriving. I thought of building me a lil treehouse, way up high somewhere along Pennsylvania Avenue but the sercet service would probably take me out no questions asked...LAUGHS!

As for the restaurants well, in most of the ones that I have listed I had to provide a deposit (non-refundable) and or my VISA card. With the massive amounts of folks coming into town I got on these hard to get RSVP's a while ago. You really can't get a RSVP at most of the ones I listed anymore. The next tier of resturants which are also very good are booking for whole corporations (those not seeking any type of federal bailouts) and large influential groups of folks.

Me, I am a passionate traveler, foodie, wine-o so after I take care of my transportation and shelter I am all over getting my food nailed.

More later!

Well, if ANYONE in your trip needs to back out, let me know.

Sigh.

You can have my first born if you take me!

wow, congrats and have a wonderful time - sounds like you've done a great amount of research and homework. Buy extra memory cards for your camera, I'm sure you'll take tons of pix and won't have time to download!

Thank you everybody. I feel like it is a dream still on so many fronts.

I have been really really excited about my travels but this one actually brings me to tears. Sorry for the sappy emotional info. I have simply never been this deeply emotional about a trip.

Ok, now that we got that out the way...

I shoot(photograph) with a "vintage" 35mm Pentax. I have two extended lens and rolls and rolls and rolls of film! I attach a flash when needed and I tell you my photos are beautiful. I do have to spend a little more time with the TSA folks as all my camera items are hand inspected but its worth the extra minutes.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

I have some exciting Inauguration trip up-dates but I need to start the holiday dinner prepping...

Update!

I may be getting one of those coveted invitations to an "Official" Presidential Ball. Turns out a friend of a friend is volunteering working closely with the decision makers. SHe will not be attending as she does not like to dress formal. She will try and get me her invitation!!!!!

More detailed information about the swearing in and speech are available on the official website. I don't know if I am suppose to post it or not. The information is great however, it eliminates me bringing my camera case or bag...not allowed. Your ticket will place you in a specific section which is also great alleviating the "cattle-call-on the mall" nightmares that I am avoiding in my mind.

Oh, if you read the official site they are really not encouraging babies and children at all. I expect backlash but have been doing the happy dance every since I spied their wisdom. It is going to be COLD and things can go LONG and that is no combination for a baby or a child or one who acts like one.

Three more friends and two more relatives are making the journey as of today! My hotel rooms are now filled to the rafters which will be interesting...

Hubby is "considering" getting me a very nice winter coat. I am torn as I will not need it day to day in California...a lovely white snow parka...would be oh so classy though...

Hubby said he did see one in The One Warm Coat bin at the shopping center...that man!

Any more thoughts, angels, suggestions?

Thanks everyone!

Oaktown9 - I join in those expressing good natured jealousy. I'm hoping to get tickets to the inauguration itself but will settle for being amoung the millions. Its exciting and I didn't even vote for him. My DS lives in the area and we are just a days drive away so we figured we should witness history. Have a great time.

Oaktown9

With respect to that snow white parka you are dreaming about, take it from someone who has spent most of her life in a cold climate, white is not a practical winter colour. It will get dirty. It will turn grey or yellow. All it will take is one smear or smudge on your Washington trip (a likely occurrence given the crowds you will encounter on the way there and in DC) to make your coat look less than divine.

Instead, buy a brightly coloured midweight cloth coat, preferably knee length. Bright colours are stylish, you'll be easy to find in inauguration day crowds, the knee length is less bulky and easy to wear in cars and on public transit, and if it is stylish enough you can wear it to the ball (and find it easily in the coat check). I bought a gorgeous, eggplant coloured Tahari wool coat from Nordstrom.com for less than $200 full price a few months ago. With the sales, I expect you could get a better deal on something similar.

Thanks to everyone for your great wishes and good suggestions.

The coat search is turning up some possibilities. Thanks for the information.

This is so exciting. The DC Bars will be open 24 hours for a few days and then for like a week the bars will stay open til 5am!!!

I am so happy that the que at the bars around town has been resolved.
Folks are going to make so much money and with everybody doing public transportation...and with Metro extending their hours...sounds like Mardi Gras comes to WA DC!

My mom says...hmmm, sound like the makings of a hot-ness!

My dad has visions of an adult Spring-Break...grown folks gone wild!

A new Barack Obama STORE has opened in Washington DC as well. Another first and never in the history of a USA President hallmark.

Any more gifts, goodies and bonuses for us President-Elect junkies and I am going to think Ms. "O" is back there pulling strings for us travelers!

With all these new improvements...gee, who needs a coat? (of course I do...fashional boots too)

I gotta work on my DC bar crawl routes...all suggestions welcome!

Oh boy the list of unofficial balls and parties keeps growing and all sound really fun too...Just visit presidential-inaguration.com for some fun and up to date information.

Ok, I am taking all bar suggestions!

Update:

Well, my Senator is in a snit about the bars...

My girfriend just got noticed by The Illinois State Society that the ball was sold out so they gave her and her hubby their checks back in a very lovely, large and official commerative invitation packet. She saw the envelope and started dancing around and then when she opened it with the bad news she literally fell to the floor.

The marching bands selected for the Presidential Inaugural Parade are going to turn the parade out!

I got new boots from Nordstroms. They are lovely, comfortable and stylish yet, I will never wear them pass my 10 days in DC. Never.

The coat thing is icky. I found one or two but can not justify the expense as I will NEVER wear this new coat past the ten days in DC. The sales folks in San Francisco, which is where I shop, inform that they have many ladies coming in and shopping like crazy for Inauguration. They are dropping significant dollars to look great.

I gotta re-do my outfit list which is probably more than what most folks will be wearing anyway...maybe.

I will NOT be getting an invite to an Official Ball. My friend of a friend decided that her aging aunt should get her ticket. No comment.

I have put my request in for The American Music Inaugurual Ball which is a double header. I hope to get a chance to spend more of my husband's, son's and our money on this priceless and most unbelievable Gala. I will need another formal gown if I am so lucky. You simply can not wear the same formal within the same week or 3 year span actually...

Heck, Obama needs to know that we do indeed have an Inagurual economic stimulus packet right here with Oaktown9...and all these California women buying out Nordstrom, Barneys, Chanel Boutique, Saks and Needless Markup.
I so nearly choked after looking at the "sale" rack for ball gowns. UPS is going to have to ship all of my evening wear anyway. Way too heavy with my ten days and 6 to 7 nights of clothes...minus the formal wear.

More updates as I get um!

So no one knows of any good bars in DC besides the ones on the hill?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Wow!

Any insights or assistance? I have been very busy planning more details to this trip of a lifetime.

About the events: A public Inauguration reception has been announced today!

My undergraduate college is hosting a private reception. One of our Alums is a high ranking Congressional Rep!

California is NOW hosting a Ball at The Air and Space Museum...signing up for that one too. Will keep my dinner RSVP as this Ball is going to be a big one...

The Ball Gown is not coming off a rack. It is being made for me. I am elated!!!!
With the addition of the California Ball I have another evening outfit to decide. The dress is evening dressy...Cali style (thank goodness...)

The coat saga is finished. My mom is loaning me my grandma's floor length fox coat. I know, I know, I know...

The bars staying open legislation is a hot potato...I am bringing my flask!!!GRIN.

Anyone going yet? Any more tips, suggestions?

Comfy shoes/boots for daytime. And, you'd better break them in. This for time on the streets for the Inauguration and all those museums (doubt you'll visit half of them).

For a Californian, not used to concrete under foot for longer than it takes to get from a building to a vehicle and vice versa... it won't be a pretty sight. Be prepared with Dr. Scholl's foot repair stuff.

Have fun!