susan E goes to washington, dc that is..

S

starcrafttom

Active member
Well Susan has been asked to give a talk on her research project in D.C. April 8 and 9th. So we have been planning, or trying to, the trip. She wants me to tag along and stay a few more days so we can see the sights. We are having a hard time finding flights and a hotel. The out fit Susan is visiting is flying her out on that Sunday and putting her into a hotel in Bethesda MD until Tuesday afternoon. We can NOT stay any longer at that hotel due to it being full the rest of the week. We are surfing the net looking for other places to stay and even tried price line ( which forced me to fly out of baltimore???) in order to get the price down below a $1000. Is there a better way? Yes I am cheap, not to mention broke, and don't really want to spend that much for a flight ( that's the red eye) and a bed that I'm not going to see that much.

We are thinking of staying in near the Reagan National airport and using the Metro to get around. Does that sound good? or should we stay some place else?

Second part of post. what should we go see. I was there several times in the mid 70's, I was 11 or 12, and dont remember much so its like going for the first time. Susan has never been there at all. so what are your favorite things to do in D.C.???
 
A person could spend a week or two at the smithsonians and not see everything. They are amazing.

My personal favorite was the national arboretum and the zoo. Also the spy museum was pretty cool! Have fun
 
The most awesome thing we did while there was attend the Easter sunrise service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier several years ago. Unfortunately you will just miss Easter. It was an unplanned event for us that we learned about the night before. It was my bright idea to hike there as a family in the dark with flashlights about 4 mi. Not knowing what we were doing we ended up at a gate that the guard informed us was accessible by military personnel only and unfortunately we would miss the service. As we were leaving in disappointment, a soldier in a vehicle stopped and asked if we needed a ride to the service and invited us to join him. The same guard gave a smart salute as we drove through the gate with our sponsor. I asked our new friend in a dress uniform what his job was. He humbly stated that he was the Colonel in charge of the presidential honor guard. It was a great family experience that made me very proud of our military and Christian heritage of our country.
 
You can get all over DC using the Metro. Fast and cheap. Taxis used to be on a zone system that was also inexpensive. You can stay out in Virginia near a metro stop and get into town pretty easily. Patti and I will be glad to offer tour suggestions, we lived in the district for several years in the late 80's.
 
Tom, I used to live just outside DC and used all three airports (Dulles, Reagan, Baltimore). Just choose the cheapest flight as there will be shuttles from Dulles and Baltimore. If you fly into Reagan, the metro is right there. You are likely having some difficulty with transportation and lodging because it is cherry blossom time in DC. I forget the name, but the last time I was in DC I stayed at a B&B right on the hill -- cheaper than a hotel and within walking distance of the mall.

As for thing to do, the options are almost endless. The Smithsonian museums are priceless. Take a tour of the House and Senate. Visit Georgetown. Just walk around the mall. DC is great in the spring.
 
We fly into National or Dulles and use the Metro

Take your kids and comfortable walking shoes and enjoy DC in the evening, too. We have been many times and still have not seen everything on our "to see" list

We usually stay in Alexandria but once by the Pentagon

Have fun :thup

I asked a collegue at ASM which iis on N street

A couple places that American Society for Microbiology uses

ASM is close to Farragut North and Dupont Circle (both are on the metro’s red line). ASM uses the Beacon Hotel (closer to Farragut North) and the Topaz Hotel (closer to Dupont and ASM). The Topaz tends to be more expensive than the Beacon. The Topaz is across the street from ASM and the Beacon is about a block away.


http://www.beaconhotelwdc.com/?mcid=gc587k216



http://www.topazhotel.com/?utm_source=g ... 9-VQ15-1t1


If you need other lodging places I have another colleague at NIH
 
Do you have points/miles on a credit card that you can redeem for air travel? If not, you might consider signing up for a credit card with a generous sign up bonus. Not sure what the best deals are right now, but I've gotten many free flights this way.

For housing, check out http://www.airbnb.com. These are houses/condos/apartments that are individually owned and rented out for short periods of time. Rates are typically reasonable and you'll have a kitchen so you don't have to eat every meal out. You don't typically get hotel amenities like spas, concierge, etc. but it may be a good option for you.
 
Tom,

If you are talking airfare for just yourself at $1000, then look at Alaska Airlines. I found round trips from Seattle to Reagan Natl departing on Apr 8 and returning on Apr 15 for around $545 in the cheap seats.

Tom
 
Tom
Can't tell you how to get there or where to stay, but the Holocaust, Air and Space, Native American, American History Museums are a MUST see. The Natural History Museum and National Archives are also very good. Kathy and I are planning to go back soon
 
The annex of the Air and Space museum that has most of the big stuff (including the space shuttle) is located adjacent to Dulles airport. There might still be a bus that goes from the terminal to the museum.
 
Check hotels in Ballston -- Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Marriott, etc. Metro stop right there. Inexpensive dining of all kinds. Arlington cemetary is short
cab ride away.

Southwest will get you to BWI or Dulles. Pay the extra $10 when you make your reservation so check in is automatic 24 hours before flight -- should get you A group boarding.

Enjoy the trip.

Bill Uffelman
I wll be in DC April 15 - 17 for work
 
Well thank you one and all for your idea and offers. We think we have it worked out. The big problem was finding a hotel after the 9th. Susan has to give her talk on the 9th so the collage was only getting her a room until then and we were trying to stay a few more days. That week is cherry blossom week so every room, including the one we are in for two nights , is booked. So after a lot of calls and playing the price line game we thought " why are we staying after the conference, when we can just come early?". So we are now booked in a hotel in Bethesda the week before the conference. We will be there from april 3rd to the 9th.

Its funny that almost everyone has recommended the air and space museum, which is the one " another dam air plane warehouse" museum I will not be going to unless its while Susan is working. We will be hitting as the history museum, a art warehouse:wink: or two. Maybe the native american museum and the natural history. I want to see all of the mall and the memorials. So much ahd been built there since my visit in 76. The Vietnam wall, the korean war, the Roosevelt statue , The WW2 memorial. Lots to see.

What I am really wandering is , what fishing is open in town or close by?
 
Try the waterfront on Maine avenue. I'm trying to work a business visit to a client office there on the 4th. If I can set it up, we'll go to lunch at a seafood place there and see if there are any day fishing charters. Trouble is, that's way up the Potomac, probably too far for Stripers.

Now if you want to rent a car for a day or two, you could come down here and we can get out to the bay in 20 minutes!

Charlie
 
All that walking and sight-seeing can make a guy thirsty. I'd hit places like the Black Rooster Pub, Gordon Biersch Brewery, The Dubliner (Irish pub), Boundary Stone Public House, and Capitol City Brewing Company just to name a few. :beer
 
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