Trip Report DC & Topsail w/teens Part 1A
Jul 28th, 2002 | 07:48 AM
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Trip Report DC & Topsail w/teens Part 1A
Huge thanks to all Fodorites who helped plan this trip.
I am the crazy lady who thought a vacation with her own two teens might not be challenging enough -- so I invited four more. Yep, that's six teens:
1. 18 year old male who had never traveled before - anywhere
2. My son who turned 17 during the trip
3. His other 17 year old buddy
4. My 14 year old daughter
5&6. Her twin 13 year old vegetarian best friends
We took two cars. The 18 year old drove his own and transported the other two boys, three suitcases, three skateboards, a Playstation, two guitars and one conga drum -- but no toothbrushes ;^) We got off to a great start and they didn't manage to get lost until we hit Pittsburgh and they followed another gold Impala instead of ours. We pulled off and had a hot and nervous wait by the side of the road until they figured it out and caught up. Note to self - don't bother with handheld radios, teenage boys have the music turned up too loud to hear the beeping until they are out of range. They found their way back to the interstate about an hour (and a million gray hairs) later. We made it the rest of the way to DC without incident.
Unfortunately, by the time we arrived we were too late to make the moonlight monument tour. Instead we checked into our hotel (Jury's Washington). The hotel was fine, the rooms large-ish, the location (Dupont Circle) great and the rate ($79/night) excellent. The kids spotted a Starbucks from their room -- I know, I know, but we live in rural Indiana and it was a big deal to them. They headed out for capuccino while we asked for dinner recommendations at the front desk. A very nice young man, who'd just arrived from Ireland two weeks before, not only made a suggestion but walked us out to the corner so he could show us the location.
The restaurant was Kramerbooks, just around the corner (on Connecticut?). We herded our charges and headed over there. The vegetarians among us raved about the veggie chili and nachos. My son liked his grilled chicken sandwich. His friend thought the salmon was awesome. Likewise for my husband and his crabcakes and me and my grilled chicken with oriental noodles. My daughter claims they have the best banana split ever. The entire meal for eight including two glasses of wine and a mixed drink was less than $140 including tip.
I am the crazy lady who thought a vacation with her own two teens might not be challenging enough -- so I invited four more. Yep, that's six teens:
1. 18 year old male who had never traveled before - anywhere
2. My son who turned 17 during the trip
3. His other 17 year old buddy
4. My 14 year old daughter
5&6. Her twin 13 year old vegetarian best friends
We took two cars. The 18 year old drove his own and transported the other two boys, three suitcases, three skateboards, a Playstation, two guitars and one conga drum -- but no toothbrushes ;^) We got off to a great start and they didn't manage to get lost until we hit Pittsburgh and they followed another gold Impala instead of ours. We pulled off and had a hot and nervous wait by the side of the road until they figured it out and caught up. Note to self - don't bother with handheld radios, teenage boys have the music turned up too loud to hear the beeping until they are out of range. They found their way back to the interstate about an hour (and a million gray hairs) later. We made it the rest of the way to DC without incident.
Unfortunately, by the time we arrived we were too late to make the moonlight monument tour. Instead we checked into our hotel (Jury's Washington). The hotel was fine, the rooms large-ish, the location (Dupont Circle) great and the rate ($79/night) excellent. The kids spotted a Starbucks from their room -- I know, I know, but we live in rural Indiana and it was a big deal to them. They headed out for capuccino while we asked for dinner recommendations at the front desk. A very nice young man, who'd just arrived from Ireland two weeks before, not only made a suggestion but walked us out to the corner so he could show us the location.
The restaurant was Kramerbooks, just around the corner (on Connecticut?). We herded our charges and headed over there. The vegetarians among us raved about the veggie chili and nachos. My son liked his grilled chicken sandwich. His friend thought the salmon was awesome. Likewise for my husband and his crabcakes and me and my grilled chicken with oriental noodles. My daughter claims they have the best banana split ever. The entire meal for eight including two glasses of wine and a mixed drink was less than $140 including tip.
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