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When to go to DC
Topic Started: Oct 20 2014, 07:40 AM (180 Views)
George K
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Finally
D4 and I are beginning to plan a trip to DC next fall. What's the best time to go? September? October?

What about crowds and weather?
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- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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jon-nyc
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September and October are both lovely, generally. Avoid holiday weekends like Columbus Day, crowds get thicker. Its actually a problem that so many of the attractions are free. They get pretty crowded.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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jon-nyc
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I think you want to go when congress is in session to get the full experience. There's less douchebaggery in the air when they're home, so it doesn't seem quite the same. Plus you can go have breakfast at Pete's Diner and see Boehner. (assuming they reelect him as speaker)
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
I'd go in October. September can be hot as balls at times; October's the safer bet in terms of weather. And what jon said: stay the hell away from holiday weekends.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Copper
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Shortstop

That depends if you want the distraction of fall colors out the window while you are driving the plane. I guess you could let D4 drive for a while.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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big al
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Bull-Carp
I like the idea of October. too. The fall colors should be near their peak and you'll be travelling the most scenic portion along the Youghiogheny and Potomac Rivers during daylight hours, at least eastbound and partially westbound.

When in Washington, consider buying a pass for the sightseeing bus that makes many stops where you can get on and off. It's a good way to get around without walking everywhere.

My wife and I were in Washington for a couple of days last year. We saw a lot of the newer monuments that had been erected since we were there in the 1970s. The WW II monument was nearing completion with just a little finish work to do. I thought the FDR monument was particularly well done. We drove and stayed at a hotel near the center of the Mall and walked from that point. Our last day we left the hotel and drove to the Air & Space Museum near Dulles airport. That's an impressive destination in itself, but may not be very accessible without a car.

Big Al
Location: Western PA

"jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen."
-bachophile
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George K
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Finally
We did the hop-on hop-off in San Francisco. Great tour, and then we decided what we wanted to see again - up close. I've been told that the night tour is worth it - very different from daytime.

I've also been told that staying in Washington can be very pricey, and I should consider staying in Alexandria or Arlington.

Thoughts?

As far as scenery goes, we're taking the Capitol Limited (can't book until next month), and it has had a horrible record of on-time performance in the last year or so.
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
I'd be surprised if Alexandria and Arlington would be that much cheaper, but hey people keep telling me that's the way to go so maybe it is.

I will say this, however: staying in a place close to the metro is handy, but stay the hell away from 7 to 9:30 am, and 4:30 to 6:30 pm. I'm serious. DC was stupidly designed to have few residents, and due to its infrastructure and the fact that the city now holds the title of most expensive fvcking place to live, everybody commutes. Everybody. And it's the full catastrophe, in all its disgust and horrors.

The metro is convenient but don't get on there during rush hour. Eat breakfast near where you're staying, reverse commute it down to Arlington or something in the morning, or just sit it out.

Don't say I didn't warn you.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Copper
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Shortstop

The metro now goes most of the way to Dulles Airport. On the way there it goes through Tyson's Corner, this is a nice area. If you see a hotel there that catches your eye it might be ok, it's outside the city but if you avoid rush hour the metro might work.

There are some areas around DC you don't want to go. NE and SE are generally not great although my knowledge of that area is a little dated and some of it is getting better.

Since you are coming on the train somewhere near Union Station might be the best. Head south and west from the station (not north and east) around the white house is a good location for sight seeing. Georgetown, Arlington and Alexandria, in that order, can all be ok. Look at a map to see which works best for your plans.

The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
NE is fine in the daytime. I'd say that goes for everything north of Brentwood.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Aqua Letifer
Oct 20 2014, 07:59 AM
I'd go in October. September can be hot as balls at times; October's the safer bet in terms of weather. And what jon said: stay the hell away from holiday weekends.
What he said. :uparrow:
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
We stayed in the Embassy Suites in Old Alexandria. Just a block from a major metro station, nice area. Plenty of restaurants. If you decide to stay in DC try to stay around one of the many squares.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Old town Alexandria is a good choice because it's a nice place to walk around and have dinner as well. (As mik mentioned). I'd still price out the DC hotels maybe on a weekend they're not bad. I used to stay at the st Regis, later made famous by my ex governor.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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George K
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Finally
jon-nyc
Oct 20 2014, 03:02 PM
I used to stay at the st Regis
$665 a night?

Sweet.
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Catlady
Junior Carp
Yep. I agree Jon. I spoke to George already about this. There are a few hotels in my old "hood" (near my former piano shop) and 2 or 3 I'd recommend near the metro.
In any case, they all have free shuttles to the metro/Amtrak station (King St.)
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jon-nyc
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Even on weekends? Anyway, for me the client was paying, and this was back in 1999-2000, and we probably had a negotiated rate.

Did I mention old town Alexandria? :lol:
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Catlady
Junior Carp
Also they are more like $120. to $160.
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big al
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Bull-Carp
When we were in DC, we stayed at L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. We had a LivingSocial deal that made it very reasonable for our stay. I understand the hotel is currently closed for renovations and that may up the price. It's a short distance from the mall and close to a Metro station. You could take the Metro from Union Station to there if you wanted.

Big Al
Location: Western PA

"jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen."
-bachophile
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