I hopped a bus from NYC round trip $79 greyhound. I will try to book ahead in future as U.S airways if offering weekend deals from LGA starting at $95. Why would I skip bus? I don't like who you have to sit next to. Not good experiences coming or going this weekend. If you are going with a friend though your trip should be fine we made it in 4hours and 20 minutes on each trip.

Great Hotel Bargain through Sheraton Four Points. I paid only $59 for a king bedded room. The hotel is entirely new with indoor pool on roof. People from the city come dressed the nines to hotel restaurant, Corduroys (Sp). I had breakfast here skimpy&pricey and a little greasy but ok if you are in a rush. The menu is limited , I did not even see eggs benedict (a weekend favorite of mine). On my second day I was advised by the front desk to try The waffle house on 10th and E. When I arrived and thought I was at a greasy spoon with only counter service but I was too tired to leave. This place is great if you are looking for a cheap (nofrills) hearty breakfast. Waffle, 2 eggs scrapple sausage or bacon, home fries or grits $5.20 and not as greasy as the hotel restaurant. This place was constantly crowded when I was in there.

In my search for crab cakes the first day the White house visitors center sent me to Philips. This place was crowded as they have a $13 seafood buffet. I ordered crab cakes Maryland style and was very disappointed. They use a mix and you can taste this, and it was $28 after tax and tip, a lot considering it is not from scratch. I would not go again unless I had a hoard of kids with me. It was packed so it appealed to some perhaps for the buffet. On Sunday I went to the market inn at another posters suggestion. They advertise a lunch menu on there website and maybe I did not look close enough for on the weekend they only offer a buffet which did not look appealing. Having said that the place was packed so perhaps it is just me, always looking for great food and atmosphere. The atmosphere here looked dark and dingy. I had wonderful crabcakes at the Franklin Exchange the hotel restaurant for the Crowne Plaza $30 after tip and worth every penny!!!

Most of the problems I ran into over the weekend were due to my lack of planning. Hotel at the Sheraton Four Points was comfortable clean and new. For those reasons the price was a steal but the front desk was poorly advised on sights, though. There was also no inhouse video on local attractions a nice feature at the capital Hilton.

The hotel front desk sent me to the White House visitors center when I asked for tourist information on the city and the Smithsonian. They did not tell me it was the White House visitors center, I only saw this when I arrived. They could only advise on the White House which is no longer doing tours it was also about 10 blocks from the hotel and past the Smithsonian where I planned to spend the day. So I am clueless as to what there purpose is. I asked them what they could tell me was special about the area and I was giving blank stairs and friendly but empty response. Some warning should have come with the Waffle house and Philips not everyone is looking for the best deal in town. I also think a quick glance at a zagats would have lead me to better restaurant experiences.

Lack of planning also got in the way of sight seeing.cont

I saw a promo for the American Indian Museum at the Smithsonian information center on Saturday, it was even locatable on an electronic map here. The very next day I was told it was coming to D. C in about 2 years time. Polynesian Cultures exhibit while advertised in one brochure is close until August in reality. In cooler weather this would not have mattered but in the heat it was maddening. A bit more thought would have told me a federally sponsored museum group like the Smithsonian is bound to have bureaucratic problems I will call ahead in future if I have my heart set on an exhibit. Last but not least tickets to tour the capital go out at 8:45 and are usually gone by 9am for the day. People start lining up at 7 am in summer. I missed the tour not know this, Sunday tours shut down.

You also just want to plan ahead as there are so many wonderful exhibits you could easily skip. I saw an exhibit on Koohawalawe, a Hawaiian Island that was bombed by the U.S military for twenty years. A great exhibit, I was guided by a Hawaiian Lawyer who had a rich knowledge base of Hawaiian history. This was a real treat to be lead through the exhibit with all of her background. This was in the Art's and Industry building and I would have never guessed it. It was very ironically placed too as it was directly behind WTC flag and photo exhibit of Sept.11. Another exhibit I would not expect to find in the Art's and Industry building.

Just next to this exhibit was Chich Rivera’s collection of Mexican American art. I saw a promo for this on entertainment tonight but completely forgot about it. A beautiful exhibit that just pulls you in with many paintings,drawing on cultural symbolism (spirits etc) . I could spend days in the museum of American history. In September an exhibit larger the King Tut exhibit is coming from Egypt. Silk Road Festival is already being set up a week in advance so this will be incredible also. So much to do and see plan ahead and see as much as possible. Hope somebody found something helpful here if not pat on the back to you for the marathon of reading you just did.

Sarah did you get the hotel deal over the phone because I got a different deal when I called.

Sarah, if it still in existance, you might want to try taking Amtrak from Penn Station to Wash, DC. It stops at a large mall in Washington where you can easily get a cab or take the metro.

The thing about taking a plane from NY to Washington is that you have to take into consideration the costs of getting to and from the airport. Same for DC.

It's definitely worth it to take a couple of hours on the internet to do your "sites research". Or just buy a guidebook.

I love going to DC for a weekend.

thanks M but believe it or not it is cheaper to fly many weekends instead of the train. The tran fare into D.C from the airport is just 1.10 and 12 minutes away. From my apartment in Manhattan it is only $18 cab fare after tip if memory serves. That tacked onto a US airwasy $95 or $118 cab fare is not so bad. Train fare from NYC to D.C is $178 round trip (or more if you take the excelceor) if that changes I will go though. I would like to check out the new Union Station.

Mark the deal came from the four points website

that was my apartment to LGA other airports are accessible by mass transit

that's interesting. I guess when I was looking at air fares, they must have been higher. I usually fly through JFK, I just like it better.

The train ride is about 3 hours, and isn't bad. I really like the Union Station too. Amtrack isn't wonderful, especially having the seats first come first serve, which means everyone rushes to get a seat. It can get very crowded sometimes too. (We've had people sitting on the floor at our feet because there were no seats.)

In general, I've preferred it to flying.

Usually I would prefer the train from NY to DC and back. I think the regular far is less than the $178 that you quoted here - but the Amtrak site is not responding right now; and the decision may be academic for now!

The amtrack site responded for me and I got a rate of $161 non acela express trains (this weekend)not such a deal for 3 hours of sitting and with people at your?