OT: I'm planning to visit Washington

[jmrosenth]

I normally don't mind WTA's single-platform posting style but somehow the contributions to this thread gets under my skin.

I think you just defined what an Internet troll is. That's his only intent. As he's proven in other threads about this topic, his shtick is tired.

[sfam]

To be clear, from April 6-9, chances are, the MAIN thing you will want to do is see the cherry blossoms. Everything else should take second place to that. They are THE thing to see in DC, and are only available at the time you are coming. They should be peak then. You should plan at least a day walking around the Tidal Basin and just enjoying the Blossoms.

Depending on what you are used to, the Smithsonians will probably be your best second option. From the Natural History museum, with dino bones, diamonds, moon rocks and the insect zoo, to the Air and Space museum (or even the Udvar Hazy center Annex near Dulles if you want to see a Space Shuttle), the variety of art museums and so forth, there are a bevy of things to see. It also still surprises me how many people want to go to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

[fendilim]

Whats up with the CVS? hahaha

Anyway, is the Tidal Basin near the Mall or something?

Is 2 days enough to roam around DC?

[montestewart]

Whats up with the CVS? hahaha

Anyway, is the Tidal Basin near the Mall or something?

Is 2 days enough to roam around DC?

You can see the White House, Capitol, many monuments and memorials from or on the Mall, and museums run along each side of it. It's about two miles long. Tidal Basin next to the Mall, to the south of the Western end. Timewise, it depends how quickly you move, how much you want to see, etc. but you can easily see the Mall, some monuments, Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin, and maybe a museum or two in that span. If you're a super-traveler, maybe you can see a lot more.

[fendilim]

Everything in DC depends on your budget.
If you are a baller stay at the Mandarin Oriental (perfect hotel to see the cherry blossoms). I also think it is central to the "tourist" sites. Capital, Mall, Cherry Blossoms, China Town, etc). You are also close to the Orange line.
My favorite hotel is the Ritz Carlton G-town. Awesome hotel, but it is not close to any public transportation. It's quiet, but you can walk around in your robe and eat roasted smores.

If your budget is not baller, I'd try to for any of the Kimpton hotels (I see deals for those ALL the time. Try to stay at the one near Verizon Center) that is really close. There is also a Hyatt on Capital Hill that most of my friends stay at...at that is normally reasonable < $200


There is ALOT to do in DC. Depends on what you like doing.
I HATE Georgetown. Most tourist go there, but I don't know many locals who hang there.
Drink a lot ( chill near Ust, Hst or Adams Morgan). Lots of cool people.
History (walk around the mall and got to the museums)
Foodie (City Zen, America East(might have closed and become Mini Bar...must eat)
Jogger (Mall, jogs from capital building to lincoln memorial and back)
Mall (need a car, but Tyson's Corner...Pentagon City is on the metro and ok)
Education ( George Washington, American & Howard have hot chicks)

There is a lot to do. Just depends on your budget and interest. Most things, you don't have to pay for.

Really like the Hyatt idea but it was fully booked already. I just booked at the Holiday Inn at Dupont, I hope its good. Free cancellation though, as I am also looking at an apartment (which is cheaper).

Not really sure which HolidayInn is better because there was an Holiday Inn at the Southwest part, or somewhere really near the Mall, unfortunately, it is rated lower than the one at Capitol. So I dont know. Any thoughts on the hotel there?
Where I booked:
http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us ... oteldetail
But this looks nearer...
http://www.booking.com/hotel/us/holiday ... ity_target

Anyone knows which if the one at Capitol is better?

Also is this worth the price?
http://www.visiticket.com/WashingtonDC/ ... -pass.aspx

[montestewart]

The one you have booked is closer to nightlife, but about ten blocks from the Mall. The other one is right next to the Mall (short walk to the Air and Space Museum), so if doing things on and around the Mall is important, that would probably be more convenient. Washington has a pretty good subway and bus system to get around either way, and is a good walking city if the weather is good and you like to walk.

That pass might be a good buy if you actually plan to do a lot of those things. Spy Museum is pretty interesting, and Corcoran is a old and pretty extensive private museum. I've never been to the other museums. The bike pass sounds good, but you could just wait and pay as you go. Most of the monuments and museums worth seeing (at least in my opinion) are free.

Here are some museum sites to help you decide whether you want to spend a lot of time at the museums on or near the Mall.
http://www.si.edu/Museums (click on the list to the left to check museum collections and exhibitions; be sure to check location, since some are not near the Mall)
http://www.nga.gov (National Gallery of Art, two buildings also on the Mall)

[Mizerooskie]

In WTA's defense, I think we all wish DC could return to being the murder capital of the country.

Those were the days...

And did you know that there are 22 CVS locations in Baltimore city? What an over-gentrified hellhole that place is.

[noworriesinmd]

In WTA's defense, I think we all wish DC could return to being the murder capital of the country.

Those were the days...

And did you know that there are 22 CVS locations in Baltimore city? What an over-gentrified hellhole that place is.

Baltimore is still WAYY more blue collar than DC, though that is changing FAST. I went to school in Bmore and I hated going to the Royal Farms because twenty-two people would ask you for money. Plus a lot of He-She's (might be a plus if you are into that type of thing). I remember at my freshman orientation they said most chicks in the city had a STD. DC might have been the murder capital, but Baltimore is grimy in a Old Dirty Bastard type way.

In terms of the holiday inn choice....I don't know about the two hotels, but they both are probably good.
Stay in SW if you want to be a tourist. A lot of things will be in walking distance. I actually love SW. If you stay here, you'll have to grab a cab to go to any night life.

Stay in Dupont if you are going to be going out a lot at night. Its on the red line. You'll have to take public transportation to do any tourist stuff. However you'll be close to all the night time activity.

Most hotel rooms in DC are small, unless you are paying a lot. So I wouldn't worry too much about hotel size.

[fendilim]

The one you have booked is closer to nightlife, but about ten blocks from the Mall. The other one is right next to the Mall (short walk to the Air and Space Museum), so if doing things on and around the Mall is important, that would probably be more convenient. Washington has a pretty good subway and bus system to get around either way, and is a good walking city if the weather is good and you like to walk.

That pass might be a good buy if you actually plan to do a lot of those things. Spy Museum is pretty interesting, and Corcoran is a old and pretty extensive private museum. I've never been to the other museums. The bike pass sounds good, but you could just wait and pay as you go. Most of the monuments and museums worth seeing (at least in my opinion) are free.

Here are some museum sites to help you decide whether you want to spend a lot of time at the museums on or near the Mall.
http://www.si.edu/Museums (click on the list to the left to check museum collections and exhibitions; be sure to check location, since some are not near the Mall)
http://www.nga.gov (National Gallery of Art, two buildings also on the Mall)

I see. There is another an apartment i am looking at near harvard st and 14th st at Northwest? Is this better than the white house holiday inn hotel? I think it is near Meridian Hill.

I have a free cancellation on that hotel so i am still looking for better and cheaper places but i already have it booked for insurance, it has free cancellation anyway.

[montestewart]

The apartment is twice as far away from the Mall/museums as the hotel you've booked, but is right near a subway stop (so only a short ride to the sights), and near plenty of restaurants and such.

[noworriesinmd]

You'll LOVE Columbia Heights, it just no where near the tourist stuff. I watched NCAA tourney games all day Friday there. You'll just have to transfer on the metro everywhere you go.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

I normally don't mind WTA's single-platform posting style but somehow the contributions to this thread gets under my skin.

Have you ever heard the saying... The truth hurts?

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Because there's not a Duane Reade on every corner in NYC.

PS: one of these CVS's WTA posted is my work building. Can't beat the convenience.

Well I am sure if the CVS in your work building was not there you could easily find another one 2-3 blocks away.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

I normally don't mind WTA's single-platform posting style but somehow the contributions to this thread gets under my skin.

I think you just defined what an Internet troll is. That's his only intent. As he's proven in other threads about this topic, his shtick is tired.

Not true. I love tourists. I just wish they could experience more than this current watered down, generic, cookie cutter version of DC thats full of fake people.

I cant wait until Rolling Thunder in a few weeks because Rolling Thunder is a nice breath of fresh air and change of scenery from all the disgusting, gentrifying yups.

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Whats up with the CVS? hahaha

Oh thats not even close to touching the tip of the iceberg.

Do you want to see more?

[Wes_Tiny_Abe_]

Everything in DC depends on your budget.
If you are a baller stay at the Mandarin Oriental (perfect hotel to see the cherry blossoms). I also think it is central to the "tourist" sites. Capital, Mall, Cherry Blossoms, China Town, etc). You are also close to the Orange line.
My favorite hotel is the Ritz Carlton G-town. Awesome hotel, but it is not close to any public transportation. It's quiet, but you can walk around in your robe and eat roasted smores.

If your budget is not baller, I'd try to for any of the Kimpton hotels (I see deals for those ALL the time. Try to stay at the one near Verizon Center) that is really close. There is also a Hyatt on Capital Hill that most of my friends stay at...at that is normally reasonable < $200


There is ALOT to do in DC. Depends on what you like doing.
I HATE Georgetown. Most tourist go there, but I don't know many locals who hang there.
Drink a lot ( chill near Ust, Hst or Adams Morgan). Lots of cool people.
History (walk around the mall and got to the museums)
Foodie (City Zen, America East(might have closed and become Mini Bar...must eat)
Jogger (Mall, jogs from capital building to lincoln memorial and back)
Mall (need a car, but Tyson's Corner...Pentagon City is on the metro and ok)
Education ( George Washington, American & Howard have hot chicks)

There is a lot to do. Just depends on your budget and interest. Most things, you don't have to pay for.

Really like the Hyatt idea but it was fully booked already. I just booked at the Holiday Inn at Dupont, I hope its good. Free cancellation though, as I am also looking at an apartment (which is cheaper).

Not really sure which HolidayInn is better because there was an Holiday Inn at the Southwest part, or somewhere really near the Mall, unfortunately, it is rated lower than the one at Capitol. So I dont know. Any thoughts on the hotel there?
Where I booked:
http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us ... oteldetail
But this looks nearer...
http://www.booking.com/hotel/us/holiday ... ity_target

Anyone knows which if the one at Capitol is better?

Also is this worth the price?
http://www.visiticket.com/WashingtonDC/ ... -pass.aspx

No but if you want to get an authentic 2013 Washington DC experience then you have to overpay for everything.

That means if your hotel room costs $100 a night, just go ahead and pay them $1200 for the night and tell them to keep the change.

The same thing applies with eating out.

If your restaurant bill is $50, pay them $400 and tell them to keep the change.

If you take a cab and the fare is $75, just give the cab driver $500 and call it a night.

If you really enjoy your stay here well then you might want to consider relocating here and you can do all of the above on a daily basis.

Like Yah!

[Zonkerbl]

Personally, I enjoy being able to live in SE dc without fearing for my life.

I guess some people think murder is cool. Not such a fan myself.

[Zonkerbl]

^^^It kinda depends on money in that case. The Mayflower is top of the line in Downtown DC. I'm guessing its mainly for sightseeing so downtown is where you wanna stay. There are also cheaper hotels in NE DC.

1 word of advice, don't go to Anacostia on the green line. Having family there its pretty crazy on that side

Enjoy the many sites

SO SICK OF PEOPLE BAGGING ON ANACOSTIA.

Anacostia is no more or less dangerous than any other part of non-northwest DC. I've lived there for more than a year now [edit: two years this march! holy cow!]. The people there are poor and uneducated, sure, but they're not evil for chrissake. Frankly I prefer living there to Wheaton. Would you rather live around poor mellow happy people or wealthy cranky white people?

[Zonkerbl]

Oh, god, stay the hell away from Tyson's Corner. Ugh.

Georgia Brown's near McPhearson square. www.gbrowns.com. The farmer's market on Dupont's Circle on Sunday is awesome.

H st: Granville Moore's, get some mussels. Yum. The Atlas Room is truly awesome, but reservations are REQUIRED.

Ted's Bulletin on Barrack's Row. Also check out the crazy soda pop can giraffes at Eastern Market.

Busboys and Poets on U St.

Lessee, grownup entertainment during the day. Uh, get on a bikeshare and ride around on the mall, I suppose.

And fricking go to Anacostia and go to the fricking Frederick Douglass historic site, don't be a coward.

http://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm

[sfam]

Again, Cherry blossoms first and foremost...assuming they come out this weekend.