Hi Yestravel- I think a GTG would be fun and I'd love to help. I will be away on and off in April. The problem with May is our son plays college baseball and if he and his team make the post-season play-offs (which of course we hope they will) we may not be here May 14.

But I will certainly be here early May to tie up loose ends. Also, maybe LaurenKahn will help! She seems like a together and organized person! Whaddya say Lauren?

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Since LaurenK put an email out there, I sent an email 2 her.

I would be happy to organize a GTG for Maitai, but, as I told yestravel in private email, it is unlikely that I could go. April and May fill my schedule with student tours. I just had one that straddled May 14h canceled, but I am certain to get another.

Someone want to suggest a location for this? I am familiar with restaurants but really do not hang out in bars at all and don't know that scene.

Just to respond to the person who mentioned all the kids. Most of them are either 5th or 8th graders and they behave in appropriate fashion for 5th or 8th graders.

You can do a night tour with On Board tours as well as their day tour. I would not do both. Check onboardtours.com. There are, of course, other options on larger buses as well. On Board uses small buses/large vans with a maximum of 35 per tour. Other options can mean larger buses. Examine all the options and you choose what fits what you want--and your budget.

Please remember that in April & May there can be 20,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at once--especially at night. People like to go at night to see the lights but also because most other things of tourist interest are closed.

This is why I always recommend that adults come in the fall and avoid the masses of school kids in spring. It can be really insane.

that's a bummer that u might not be able to come, LaurenK (havent gotten your email yet)-- should we do a general note on Fodors to get others who might be interested? I could do one on the DC board.

You can do it any way you like that is convenient. Can't imagine why you didn't get the email but you know pretty much what it said from this thread. It is an easy thing to call some place and make a reservation or reserve a room provided we do it in advance.

LaurenKahn, How late do your tours go?
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I am usually with a group until they are done--usually 3 days at a time. Please don't plan this with me in mind. My schedule changes from day to day. Sometimes I am at the hotel with the groups and sometimes I work hourly. I contract with a number of tour companies and each one wants something else.

Try contacting one of your senators to set up a tour. I don't know if this service is still available. We were told to give our names at the reception desk at the dept of interior at 9am. A parks department employee met us and drove us around in a parks dept suburban all day. We drove right up to the back door (near the dumpsters) of each of the landmarks we wanted to see and walked in the back door - no lines, no parking issues. I think he would have driven us to Charlottesville if we had asked. Unbelievable trip.

Wow that sounds like quite a deal you got. Different Senate/Congressional office are willing to do things (or not) for their constituents. It does vary tremendously from office to office.

We're going to have a GTG on May 14 at Jack's in Dupont Circle--easy access to the Red Line metro.
http://www.jacksdc.com/ We're thinking after work 6-6:30.
Half priced wine on Thursdays....

There is a thread on the lounge
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35182651

and on the DC Area Board
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35182554

Anyone want to join us??

In reading the 90 replies, I don't recall the mention of Great Falls on the Potomac River and nearby Billygoat trail. If you have a car, a ten mile drive on the Maryland side is a must. And if you are a hiker, Billygoat trail may be the best two hour hike in America. http://www.yelp.com/biz/great-falls-...-trail-potomac.

bleason

I'm going to try for the GTG. I truly think the Great Falls visit would be for a separate visit. With Monticello and DC itself, the week will be "tout" full.

TDudette -- you're added in. Agree about adding Great Falls -- a bit much with all you've got scheduled.

Maitai--nice weather u have out here on your coast...

As for the BillyGoat trail, I'm afraid if I asked Kim, Mary and Tracy to do that hike, they would be Three Billy Goats Gruff. Plus after looking at the trail, I'm afraid the term "Great Falls" might not just apply to water. I think we'll stick to the original plan.

Glad to see more people on board for our night at Jack's.

yestravel. Today is a beautiful day in So. Cal. I might have to get off work early and enjoy the sunshine.

((H))

We're probably up to about 15 people for Jack's

It's actually very warm -- of course I welcome it coming from the dreary,cold East Coast. Definitely worthy of an afternoon off work, I'd say.

In the NYT Travel section today -- New visitors center at Monticello
http://tinyurl.com/dldfr9

Thanks for the info, yes-t. Timing is everything. Only two months to go!

((H))

I just happened to think of this website (sorry I don't know how to do tiny url):

http://www.washington.org/visiting/b...e-things-to-do

Not implying you're a cheapskate MaiTai, just thought you might find something here you hadn't thought of.

Giovanna, to make a long url tiny, go to this url http://tinyurl.com/. U copy your long url in and it makes the "tiny url" which u can copy to wherever u want to.

Thanks yestravel. Will come in handy. Learn something new all the time here.

"Not implying you're a cheapskate MaiTai..."

With my ever-dwindling portfolio, Free is Good! I'm saving my money for drinks at Jack's. A client recently told me that Annapolis might make for an interesting visit. Thoughts?

((H))

yea, I fondly refer to my 401 as my 201...tough days. 1/2 price wine is a good fit... Some good stuff on the website giovanna gave u.

I don't love Annapolis -- been there a ton of times and did enjoy it my youth. Its the capital of MD. The main tourist part of it is a cute, little town around a harbor. Naval Academy is there, but not sure u can do tours anymore. It's nice place for boating. Can get overly crowded. Coming from SCal not sure it will have huge appal to u. I think there are much nicer areas in CA similar to Annapolis. It's about 45 minutes drive from DC and while there is some public transportation, a car is really the best way to get there.

I like Annapolis. You can eat on the water, take a sailboat ride and look at the historic area.

BUT, with only a week, you do have some choices to make and I am not sure you have enough time.

yes-t, thanks for the info. I think we already have enough on our plate.
((H))

<I'm saving my money for drinks at Jack's.>

That's my kind of thinking. Good plan!

We live in Annapolis area. I agree that you might not have enough extra time for a visit to this neat place but if you do end up coming, I totally recommend taking the Naval Academy tour-it's awesome and the grounds are lovely. Annapolis is great for strolling through colonial-era neighborhoods, eating seafood on the water and shopping (although quite a few small stores haven't made it). It's a full day.

We are very excited because Kim pulled a few strings, and we now have a special guided tour of the State Department. Of course, I got in a little trouble when they asked, "What do you think of Iran?"

When I answered I Ran was my favorite Flock Of Seagulls song, they almost withdrew their invitation, but I guess we're still good to go.

Hope to see a bunch of you at Jack's on May 14. Remember, it's half price wine night.

((H))

Are you going to the State Department reception rooms? I did that years ago. I just went up in the Capitol dome last week. You must go personally with a Congressman or Senator. I allowed my Congressman neighbor to use my house for inauguration and refused to charge him. In my opinion, you can't do that to neighbors. I was with a tour group in a hotel, so the house was empty.

After it was all over, I said, "There is something you can do for me." I thought he thought I was going to ask him for a piece of legislation. Then I said, "I'd like to go up in the Capitol dome." We all went last week. I was allowed to bring 5 other people and asked some tour guides. We actually went above the painting of George Washington and walked out on the teeny balcony right under the tholos (the small columned bit right under the statue of Freedom on the top). Best view of DC! We got some great photos. It was a nice day.

The Congressman brought his wife. They had never done the tour! In the end, he and his wife thanked me for motivating them to go. It was about 300 stairs but there were lots of stops. You see the old dome (the one that was there before the Civil War). Priceless!

The dome tour is the most difficult tour to get in DC. Numbers are very limited because the passageway is very narrow. Obviously, there cannot be a tour going down at the same time one is going up. Another Congressman was there at the same time with some lobbyists.

A once in a lifetime thing even if you live here and have a Congressman for a neighbor, for sure.

We ran into Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on the way out.

Today's WPOST has an article on the new visitor/crowd control center at Monticello http://tinyurl.com/cek4fg. Not sure if it adds any new information to the earlier NYT article. Be interested to hear if u think the Center adds anything to a visit to Monticello. I think it might help with the waiting in line to get in that is generally experienced.

Agree with person who suggested a separate post for the final GTG May 14 at Jack's when we get a little closer.

Also, we should get a "head" count and let Jack's know their bar (and maybe restaurant???) is about to be descended upon!

Yes, we will do another post closer to May 14. I'll top the one in the Lounge and on the DC Board next week. StCirq who lives near Jack's, will be taking care of reservations and any other final details that may be needed. Right now we have about 20 who have said they will be coming.

Thanks, yestravel and StCirq. Add my DH into the count, please.

will do

Thanks to everyone for all your help. Hope to see some of you at Jack's on the 14th. It's on to the airport. DC, here we come!! Hide the women and children.

((H))

Helloooooooooo..... So, maitai- where's the trip report? How did the GTG go? Details! :)

Paula

"
Helloooooooooo..... So, maitai- where's the trip report? How did the GTG go? Details! "

Paula, the trip was great as was the GTG. Trip report will come when work calms down and might also hinge on whether I am called to be on a jury next week. Heaven help the judicial system if they get me on a jury. Do they allow Limoncello Martinis in the courtroom?

((H))

MTT I hope time allows. Your trip reports are a joy to read. Prague, Krakow, etc. was so well written and such fun. With our seat (no pun intended) of government in DC, I'm sure your experiences and descriptions will be equally entertaining and informative!

Wow -- such pressure on u... DC allows just about anything in the courtroom. After all we had the mayor for life, Marion Barry

Looking forward to Tom's report, too!
Tom- Good luck w/jury doody. I am up for Federal jury doody for the whole month of June. <heavy sigh> You're gettin' off easy!
Pam