OT - Washington, DC - please share your travel tips!

[elemusing]

Yes thank you all! And thanks to the OP for letting me tag along on this thread.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Ask and ye shall receive!!! Thanks so much for all of this great advice (for me and my fellow traveller). You guys are awesome!!

 

[thatslygirl]

I wanted to give a couple links to some websites if you're feeling adventurous! I've used them to try new restaurants and spas in the DC area for a steep discount.

These are social media sites that work on "collective buying power", or group coupon. In short, it works like this:

1. A business is interested in promoting their food, services, etc. They approach the site and they work out a deal offer to customers.
2. The site launches the offer for 24 hours.
3. If people are interested in the offer, they purchase it. The business has set a minimum and maximum limit of how many coupons they will give out. Once the minimum number of people interested in the deal is met, then you get get the deal.

The first Groupon and the other one is Living Social

I've seen some deals for the following:
- $7 for admission to the Spy Museum
- Half off to Madame Tussand's
- $7 for admission to the Phillips (half off) plus 20% off in the gift shop

So if you are on a budget, then this would be great for restaurants.

 

[BWVNUT]

I wanted to give a couple links to some websites if you're feeling adventurous! I've used them to try new restaurants and spas in the DC area for a steep discount.

Awesome; thanks!!

I've sent you a PM with my email since I noticed if you ask a friend to sign up you get some further discounts for yourself. So, if you'd like to 'friend' me I would be happy to help you out!

 

[FireDancer]

One more question for you locals in the know. What would you recommend for the cheapest parking in DC? We will be staying at a friend's in Dupont circle and all the garages in the area look like they are about $15/day. We are willing to drop our stuff and dive a bit further away since we will be using the Metro the whole weekend.

Where would you suggest we look for less expensive parking, if there even is any? We would be willing to drive the car a ways and just take the Metro back to Dupont.

Thanks again.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

One more question for you locals in the know. What would you recommend for the cheapest parking in DC? We will be staying at a friend's in Dupont circle and all the garages in the area look like they are about $15/day. We are willing to drop our stuff and dive a bit further away since we will be using the Metro the whole weekend.

Where would you suggest we look for less expensive parking, if there even is any? We would be willing to drive the car a ways and just take the Metro back to Dupont.

Thanks again.

$10-15 is about as cheap you're going to find it. Unless you can find somewhere along the street for the day. Whenever we drive in to DC, that's what we do. Granted, we never stay overnight or anything.

Good luck!

 

[thatslygirl]

Usually cheap parking will be because it's after 5pm or you came early (early bird special). If a metro station has its own lot, it would be $5, but it's only for 24 hours. Since you won't be staying in a hotel, $15-25/day isn't too bad..

Today's Living Social deal is $25 toward $50 of food at Dino, an Italian restaurant I mentioned a few posts back

Since one of you will be staying in Rosslyn, here is a food review of one of the food places there:

I was craving a salad today and wanted to go to Chop't. As I walked by their location in Metro Center, there was a line going out the door, so I took the metro to their Rosslyn location (it's "on the way" home). I used to go to school in Rosslyn but it has been about 4 years and lots of things have changed; Chop't being one of the newer additions to International Plaza.

The thing in DC that's hot now asides from cupcakeries and $10 gourmet burgers is salad joints. Chop't is set up similar to Chipotle and designed to move the line along when it get slammed at noon. They offer chopped salads and chopped salad sandwiches. You can pick from the 13 salads they have to offer, or you can make your own. They also have about 28 different dressings. Their Chop't Spa dressings I believe are only made only with agave nectar or honey. If you like your dressing, you can even buy one to take home; they are made fresh daily. You can also get your dressing on the side.

You place your order and they toss all the ingredients in a bowl. They move it to the chopper person and he/she asks you want dressing you want. They then dump the bowl on a chopping board and mince it up, then put it in a metal bowl with the dressing, tosses it nicely, then puts it in the plastic bowl. Then you go and pay.

They have Boylan's sodas here, which are only made with cane sugar and no high fructose corn syrup. There is also Diet Coke and Boylan's has diet versions of some of their sodas as well. They also have kettle chips, brownies, blondies, cookies, and fleur de sel caramels.

I usually get the Veggie Powerhouse but today I got Steakhouse (grilled flank steak, tomato, fried onions and romaine) with blue cheese dressing. They give you a huge portion so I think for kids, one salad is enough for 2-3 servings depending on your appetite. It ended up being $10.56 for my salad and soda with tax--this is a typical price for lunch in the DC area, especially if there are a lot of office workers. I would recommend frequenting Chop't before 12 noon or after 1:30pm when crowds have died down. There is also outdoor seating available.

I love to go out and eat so if there is a place that you are curious about and isn't prohibitively expensive, post here and I will investigate!

 

[woodleygrrl]

Good time to be coming to my home town! On the way to work I saw a cherry tree in full blossom! it is about 70 here today and promises to be nice all weekend. Looks like we are going to have some beautiful trees this year, notwithstanding the terrible snow storms we had this year that damaged many trees this winter.

I would also like to recommend some of my favorite restaurants here. All of these require advanced reservations which you can get on www.opentable.com.


Michael Richards Central: http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/
This is my absolute favorite restaurant in town. Please make sure to try the steak tartare and the mushroom sandwich. Michel Richard also owns Cintronelle, a grand-dame of Georgetown and one of the best restaurants in the country. Try Central (pronounced Sen-TRAL), the less expensive version of Richard's cooking.


Bourbon: http://www.bourbondc.com/ adams morgan location
This is our regular hangout. Along with one of the largest bourbon collections in the country, they have a master mixoligist and some great comfort food. You will come for the drinks and stay for the food.

Marvin: http://www.marvindc.com/

Located in the hippest part of town (the U street area), this place has great drinks, and some of the best chicken and waffles and pomme frites in the land. After you are done here, go explore the blues and jazz clubs in the area and the other great bars and lounges.


If there is one thing I know, it is food in DC. let me know if you would like any other recs!

Jennifer

 

[disney4dan]

One of the best moves I made (DC wise) was to buy a Metro SmarTrip® Card. http://www.wmata.com/fares/purchase/store/

It is $30 but comes with $25 on it. Metro did away with paper transfer slips (http://www.wmata.com/bus/transfers.cfm) so if you plan to go from a metro exit and get on a bus, for example, having the card saves you money. It is also much more convenient in going through the gates. I don't have to take mine out of my wallet. And best of all, you look like you know what you are doing.

I am wondering why I would pay $30 for $25 worth of value? Is it a $5 fee for the plastic card?

 

[jcb]

I am wondering why I would pay $30 for $25 worth of value? Is it a $5 fee for the plastic card?

Essentially, yes. The card lets you do transfers at less cost so if you go from metrorail to bus, you make up the $5 eventually. Metro did away with paper transfer slips a few years ago so the card is the only way to get a reduced transfer fare. Some fares are slightly cheaper using the card over paying cash.

It is worth $5 for the convenience, especially if you use the buses. Of course, when you reload the card, you don't pay the $5 again.

 

[disney4dan]

Thanks for the reply, looks like we may still be heading down at the end of next week, but our daughter is going in for an MRI on Sunday because of possible damage done to her heels by doing a front handspring in the school gym on the hardwood floor. We are up in the air on whether to take this trip now or wait a year, but I wanted to know how accessible the metro would be to a person in a wheelchair?

From what I've read, it is supposed to be very modern and the Frommer's guide says that all the Smithsonian buildings are accessible. I think we could just roll with the punches and still do this trip if I can locate a wheelchair and push her around all these places. She is probably just going to have to stay off her feet for a while (hoping).

 

[jcb]

I have used Metro extensively but have never had to navigate the metro with a person in a wheelchair. All the stops have elevators. Sometimes the elevators do not work at a particular stop. When that happens they make sure to tell you (on overhead signs at other stations) so you can make other arrangements for transport.

Metro has an accessibility page http://www.wmata.com/accessibility/ and (for metrorail) http://www.wmata.com/accessibility/metrorail.cfm. You can even sign up for alerts for elevator outages. https://www.smartrip.com/mst/portal.login

 

[dpic]

I haven't read the whole thread, but we love D.C. Here's the best place to stay downtown D.C.

http://www.hotel-harrington.com/

It's older, creaky floors, tiny bathrooms, but it's two blocks from the Mall, four blocks from the White House--one day we saw the President two blocks from the hotel. It's a 3-4 block walk to the Natural History, American History Museums, and the National Archives. We walked to Lincoln Memorial and the Capital. We parked our car and didn't need it for the next four days. We love D.C.!

The Hope Diamond at the Natural History Museum.

The President waved at us, but I didn't catch that.

National Archives is a MUST see. Go late, and you'll have time to be able to read the original Constitution.

Tour the WWII Monument at night. It's incredible at night. Downtown D.C. is the safest place on earth. There are armed guards in every government building doorway. Take time to walk around at night. From our hotel, we visited the White House at night--really cool and not many people. It's just like Disney, tour early, crash, tour late. The buildings close fairly early, but all the monuments are open.

 

[Alztybrn]

WOW....my timing is impeccable! I just found this thread as I returned from DC 2 hours ago...Perfect

We did a real quick trip at the end of spring break. Went up Thursday night and returned this afternoon.

We stayed outside of DC in Centreville and took the Metro in. Metro was the way to go!

Did some of the museums/monument during the day, and then did go back at night to see more of the monuments. I definitely recommend this. They were beautiful at night and I also love some night photography!

 

[thatslygirl]

Just a head's up: there is talk of WMATA raising Metro rail and bus fares again (they just did it in March!) to cover a $145 million budget shortfall.

It's so confusing, you might as well buy a one-day pass and save yourself the math! WaPo link. Basically the further out you are, the more you have to pay.

So let's say you decide to stay in VA and the closest metro station is Vienna, which is the end of the orange line. You drive and park the car on a weekday. $5. You and your family travel into DC before 9am. $5 per person one-way. Then if you travel back during peak times, that is an additional $5 per person. For a family of 5 that would be $55 with parking!

Last year, I paid $1.25 to ride the bus. In March of this year, it increased to $1.35. Now they're planning on increasing it to $1.50. This is if you use a SmarTrip card--you pay $0.10 more if you pay cash. Also, the Express buses that took you to Dulles or BWI airports used to cost $3. Now it is going to be $6.

I think they need to find a way to stop paying so much overtime for Metro employees.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Hey all, I'm the OP...we didn't make it in May...too much going on at work which made it impossible. We're now looking at going August 5-8, possibly ending at Brickfair (DS loves LEGO) on the Sunday in Chantilly, Virginia prior to a long drive home.

I have questions about parking in DC. We're looking at staying close to the museums for at least Thursday and Friday nights...it's so unclear whether hotels have parking and no indication of cost. I like the suggestion of parking in the public lots for $10-15, however are you allowed to leave your car for 2 or more days? If we were to arrive Thursday at 5 p.m., what is the likelihood of finding a parking spot? (I'm thinking/hoping good.) There are some great deals on hotels for the weekend we're looking into and I'd love to be right where we want to be.

Is there anything closed on Sunday? Most of our trip will be jammed into Friday and Saturday, but if we can stretch it one more day we'd sure love to except if there will be nothing to see on Sunday!

Thanks all for the great suggestions and for the advice you will no doubt keep sharing...you guys are awesome!!!

 

[uncleleo]

Hey all, I'm the OP...we didn't make it in May...too much going on at work which made it impossible. We're now looking at going August 5-8, possibly ending at Brickfair (DS loves LEGO) on the Sunday in Chantilly, Virginia prior to a long drive home.

I have questions about parking in DC. We're looking at staying close to the museums for at least Thursday and Friday nights...it's so unclear whether hotels have parking and no indication of cost. I like the suggestion of parking in the public lots for $10-15, however are you allowed to leave your car for 2 or more days? If we were to arrive Thursday at 5 p.m., what is the likelihood of finding a parking spot? (I'm thinking/hoping good.) There are some great deals on hotels for the weekend we're looking into and I'd love to be right where we want to be.

Is there anything closed on Sunday? Most of our trip will be jammed into Friday and Saturday, but if we can stretch it one more day we'd sure love to except if there will be nothing to see on Sunday!

Thanks all for the great suggestions and for the advice you will no doubt keep sharing...you guys are awesome!!!

Hey, I work in Chantilly! In case you don't know, the Air and Space Museum's annex is out there and definitely worth a visit. It has a space shuttle, a Concorde, the record-setting Blackbird, and planes from all the wars, including the Enola Gay.

Most commercial lots won't care if you're leaving the car in place multiple days. Just be sure to ask. Yes, arriving after 5pm means that all parking lots should many spaces available.

Most attractions are open on Sunday. If you elect to remain in DC on Sunday, depending on where your hotel is located, it may be hard to find open restaurants within walking distance. If the street address of your hotel contains "SW," you're in the area that shuts down to a great extent when the nearby office buildings are empty. If the hotel is in NW or NE, there will be plenty of restaurants nearby that are open on Sunday, late at night, etc.

Have a great time,
Lee

 

[Gigi22]

See Arlington. It is out of Washinton D.C., very easy to get to using public transportation, very moving to see. Be sure you visit Lee's house, which is just charming.
You might want to work on improving your walking endurance before you go. DH and I walked from the Library of Congress to the Vietnam Memorial and back--and it was one long walk! But well worth it.

 

[jcb]

August in DC can be brutally hot. DW almost got sick from the heat and she wasn't walking a long way. Either take a water bottle and keep it filled or take plenty of cash to buy bottled ice water from the street vendors.

have fun.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Hey all! We have settled on August 4-8 and here is the tentative itinerary:

August 4 - leave at 8 a.m. and arrive in Mount Vernon around 5:30-ish, shop a little at Potomac Mills mall, pick up some food for dinner and then check into Best Western Mount Vernon (breakfast, wifi and MV tics included in rate)

August 5 - tour Mount Vernon arriving as early as possible and likely stay until 12- 1 pm; drive through Alexandria and see Arlington or drive to see the Naval Yard/Museum; check in late afternoon at L'Enfant Plaza to the south of the Mall (package includes valet parking with in/out privileges), drop by a visitor's centre and see the monuments by night and/or tour a bit of the Air & Space Museum; Need to find a good restaurant nearby, preferably reasonably priced.

August 6 - tour White House (registered with Canadian Embassy but won't know until one week prior if we are allowed entry) followed by Washington Monument or vice versa (I read that getting tickets ahead of time is wise); head to Smithsonian - likely American History/Natural History and possibly one or two Art museums or the Postal Museum; Head back to hotel, pick up car and drive through the Embassy area followed by dinner and chill time in Georgetown; Need a good Georgetown restaurant, preferably reasonably priced however want to have one really nice meal and realize may need to up the ante a bit.

August 7 - go to the Spy Museum, check out the Capitol building and the Library of Congress, pick up car and head to Chantilly to check in at Staybridge Suites ( inc.breakfast, wifi) , possibly do a little bit of shopping, will likely pick up dinner to eat in;

August 8 - Either sleep in and check out by 10:30 or check out real early and head to the Air & Space annex; Head to Brickfair (LEGO "convention") for several hours before getting on the road home by 3 pm, rolling into our driveway ideally before midnight.

I know this may seem ambitious and I welcome any suggestions! Our son loves museums and we are all high energy. We had also wondered about the Ford Theatre, the National Archives, the National Cathedral and Lee's house however I know we cannot do it all! I'm open to hearing opinions about what we should consider skipping as clearly we want to optimize our time!