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Trip to DC, first time, would love advice

EZC-Boston

By EZC-Boston
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EZC-Boston

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So my girlfriend and I are heading to DC on our way back from Buffalo for Christmas. We're only going to be there from Wednesday (12/29) morning to Thursday (12/30) night. We're trying to figure out the best place to stay and be close to everything, right now I'm looking on Hotwire at 4 star hotel for $89 in the Washington House - Capitol Hill area. It's basically an area with Constitution Ave as it's southern border, 15th street as its western border, K St/Massachusetts Ave as it's northern border and Capitol St as its eastern border. It seems like a good place but still wanted to check before I pulled the trigger. Neither of us has been before, so we're kind of clueless. I'm assuming that whole area is safe since we're close to everything. We're runners so hope to explore a lot that way. Does anybody have any thoughts?

 

Any restaurant suggestions in the area? We love good food. We have all the basics on our to do list, Smithsonian, monuments, etc. but any off beat suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

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GG Hall of Famer

GG

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There's a guy with a monstorously big head at the DC tollbooth. Except he doesn't take money, but asks you a question then insults you when you invariably don't know the answer.

 

I'd just stay home.

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plenzmd1 Hall of Famer

plenzmd1

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So my girlfriend and I are heading to DC on our way back from Buffalo for Christmas. We're only going to be there from Wednesday (12/29) morning to Thursday (12/30) night. We're trying to figure out the best place to stay and be close to everything, right now I'm looking on Hotwire at 4 star hotel for $89 in the Washington House - Capitol Hill area. It's basically an area with Constitution Ave as it's southern border, 15th street as its western border, K St/Massachusetts Ave as it's northern border and Capitol St as its eastern border. It seems like a good place but still wanted to check before I pulled the trigger. Neither of us has been before, so we're kind of clueless. I'm assuming that whole area is safe since we're close to everything. We're runners so hope to explore a lot that way. Does anybody have any thoughts?

 

Any restaurant suggestions in the area? We love good food. We have all the basics on our to do list, Smithsonian, monuments, etc. but any off beat suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

Don't listen to these chuckleheads, my advise will work for ya!!

 

That area sound fine, great rate..and you should be fairly close to the Mall to do some running down there.

 

In terms of restaurants, tell me what you would like to spend and i can give you some better ideas. Do you want to try some ethnic restuarants( best Ethiopian in the country here) while you are here, or stick with more traditional fare. You a beer guy, a wine guy etc?

 

It a little pricey, but the the Newsuem is awesome :thumbsup: Also, American History has been renovated and is quite different if you have not been there in the last two years or so. If your trip is taking ou by car south of the city on 95, the Marine Museum is awesome, and if you are west of the city near Dulles, the annex to the Air and Space is actually way better than the one on the mall.

 

I am also partial to the Portrait Gallery and the Building Museum, but in that short a trip they would not be top of my list.

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/dev/null Hall of Famer

/dev/null

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There's a guy with a monstorously big head at the DC tollbooth. Except he doesn't take money, but asks you a question then insults you when you invariably don't know the answer.

 

I'd just stay home.

 

 

Stop! Who approaches the Tollbooth of Death must answer me these questions three, 'ere the other side he see.

 

What is your name?

What is your quest?

What is the capital of Assyria?

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Chef Jim Hall of Famer

Chef Jim

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Stop! Who approaches the Tollbooth of Death must answer me these questions three, 'ere the other side he see.

 

What is your name?

What is your quest?

What is the capital of Assyria?

 

Hey wait a minute. They told me question #3 was going to be what my favorite color was. :angry:

 

I was all prepared with blue.......wait no, red. Aw crap.

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aussiew Veteran

aussiew

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The best part of my last trip was the Jefferson Memorial. Reading all his quotes inscribed on the inner walls was amazing. Also the Holocaust Museum is a must see.

 

Wear your most comfortable shoes. Everything is really spread out.

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Fezmid All Pro

Fezmid

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It a little pricey, but the the Newsuem is awesome :thumbsup:

 

I second the Newseum -- it was the best museum we went to on our trip last year. They have part of the Berlin wall, a communication antenna from the World Trade Center, tons of interesting newspapers, news clips, etc. It's really good!

 

You say that you want to see the Smithsonian. Keep in mind that it isn't a single museum but rather a collection of many different museums and you won't come close to seeing them all in that short amount of time.

 

Great views from the top of the Washington Monument - but you have to get there early to get tickets so I don't know if you'll be able to make it.

 

We stayed at the Quincy ( http://www.thequincy.com/ ) in the business area and it was wonderful -- we had to take the metro to the Mall, but it was a breeze. Public transportation is very good there.

 

If you want to see an entertaining show, check out the Capitol Steps - http://www.capsteps.com/live/

 

A lot of people recommend the Holocaust museum, but it sounds really depressing. At the start they give you a card with information on someone who was in a concentration camp and by the end you find out if they lived or died. No thanks... :(

 

You'll love DC - but you'll have to plan a longer trip in the future. :)

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plenzmd1 Hall of Famer

plenzmd1

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allright, I am going to break down and give you some mid priced restaurant suggestions

 

Brasserie Beck..Great Belgian Beers, good food, beer sommelier to help you pair food/beers

http://www.beckdc.com/

 

Birch and Barley/Churchkey

 

Another beer themed restuarant, with Churchkey being the bar area. Wondeful food/beer etc.

http://www.birchandbarley.com/

 

Zaytinya--great Greek Turkish, Mediterianian Taps by Jose Andreas

http://www.zaytinya.com/

 

Jaleo-Spanish Tapas also by Jose Andrea..excellant happy hour here

http://www.jaleo.com/

 

Meskerem..traditional Ethiopian.. in a great neighborhood, Adams Morgan, that most tourists never get too. Plenty of great ethnic restaurants in the neighborhood, just google some.

http://meskeremethiopianrestaurantdc.com/

If you go to Adams Morgan, make sure to stop in and get a beer at Madams Organ

http://www.madamsorgan.com/press.html

 

Nice wine bar/restaurant in Penn Quarter

http://www.proofdc.com/

 

For something completely different, try this place. I have not been, and not cheap at $54 for three cocktails and a small plate , but friends have gone and loved it.

http://www.passengerdc.com/columbia/index.cfm

http://www.yelp.com/biz/columbia-room-washington

Edited by plenzmd1
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BB27 Veteran

BB27

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Holocaust museum although entirely depressing is 100% worth the time to see it. It should be a must see for anyone going down there.

 

Hard to explain how something so depressing could be so worthwhile. You'll understand if you go.

 

Went with a bunch of other people from work when we were in DC for training for 2 weeks. After we left the museum no one really had much to say for a couple of hours.

Edited by BB27
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Chef Jim Hall of Famer

Chef Jim

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We were in Georgetown on a company trip a couple of years ago. We were at a restaurant with another couple. The waiter came by and said "welcome to________ (I forgot the place). What part of California are you all from?" Holy crap how did he know? My wife said "look around. See how everyone is dressed and look at how we're dressed." Oh, I didn't know it was that obvious, but it was. Hawaiian shirts and khakis for us, dark conservative suits for them. :lol:

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CowgirlsFan All Pro

CowgirlsFan

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So my girlfriend and I are heading to DC on our way back from Buffalo for Christmas. We're only going to be there from Wednesday (12/29) morning to Thursday (12/30) night. We're trying to figure out the best place to stay and be close to everything, right now I'm looking on Hotwire at 4 star hotel for $89 in the Washington House - Capitol Hill area. It's basically an area with Constitution Ave as it's southern border, 15th street as its western border, K St/Massachusetts Ave as it's northern border and Capitol St as its eastern border. It seems like a good place but still wanted to check before I pulled the trigger. Neither of us has been before, so we're kind of clueless. I'm assuming that whole area is safe since we're close to everything. We're runners so hope to explore a lot that way. Does anybody have any thoughts?

 

Any restaurant suggestions in the area? We love good food. We have all the basics on our to do list, Smithsonian, monuments, etc. but any off beat suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

A tour of the Washington Nationals Ballpark. A Washington Capitals hockey game.

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