Washington DC or Boston?

[grlNIN]

We're going on an overnight 2 day trip (arriving early spending the day out, staying the night and next day). My boyfriend says Boston and i have no fucking idea what there is to do there other than drink (WFD). I say DC just because it's more bang for the buck in terms of monuments and museums.


I officially declare this thread a Fallon vs. AJ brawl of tourism.

[Tall_James]

Can I be an undercard bout?

I sez Boston.

[grlNIN]

Yes but you must state your reasons.

I really want to know what there is to do in boston.






















































Other than Fallon.

[sailor]

a lot of ideas here (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64068).

[grlNIN]

Ugh, why did i say Boston?

I seriously can't find anything even remotely interesting on the travel sites.

[cupcakelove]

Unless you really want to go to a free museum, DC doesn't have that much. Except for traffic. There's a lot of traffic, you could check that out.

[sailor]

i enjoyed both cities. boston has a lot of cool historical sites. this time of year dc would probably have nicer weather if you're going to be doing a lot of site-seeing and walking about.

[grlNIN]

I didn't get anything from that thread other than Boston is a good place if you want to party.

[Fezticle98]

DC.

When are you planning on going? You'll need to check ahead for some of the more popular tours.

Cherry Blossom time is coming up soon. If all else fails, you can get the Subscriber Tour at XM HQ. :tongue:

[Fezticle98]

Then again, Dave Loggins has a different opinion. Although he does get a little specific.

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[grlNIN]

DC.

When are you planning on going? You'll need to check ahead for some of the more popular tours.

Cherry Blossom time is coming up soon. If all else fails, you can get the Subscriber Tour at XM HQ. :tongue:

Early Friday AM into Saturday. (21-22)

[A.J.]

I'd rather be in Boston myself.

As for DC, well, it IS before the start of the god-awful tourist season so that's a plus. The cherry blossoms are actually quite impressive and if the weather's good, you can make a nice afternoon along the Tidal Basin where you can check out the FDR, Lincoln, Korean, Vietnam and Jefferson Memorials. There are obviously a number of museums along the Mall. Georgetown is nice and touristy -- shops, bars, restaurants, old buildings, the university.

If you tell me what you guys would like to do, or are interested in seeing, I can offer some more suggestions.

[grlNIN]

We're really big into museums. I would actually really enjoy checking out the Vietnam memorial (my Dad served) and we both generally enjoy that type of thing.


We're not into partying, a nice place for some dinner and drinks that's moderately priced is a plus. We're not trying to go all out or spend more than we need to, so just the necessities but a tad better would suffice.

I am also curious about hotels and where to look/ steer away from, what is the best location specifically.

I think we're pretty much set on DC at this point.

[Tenbatsuzen]

This thread sounds really familiar...

Maria:

I went to Boston with liz. We did the Sam Adams brewery, and walked around, it was fun, but I think Washington is friendlier with tourists for historic things to see and do.

[Hottub]

If you go to Wahington, be sure to stop by the JFK studios. It helps if you let Brian or Keisha know beforehand. Friday Night Lights is always a great way to cap off the week.

Enjoy.

[Tenbatsuzen]

If you go to Wahington, be sure to stop by the JFK studios. It helps if you let Brian or Keisha know beforehand. Friday Night Lights is always a great way to cap off the week.

Enjoy.

Well played. Good show.

[cupcakelove]

Don't plan on dining/drinking near the Mall/Smithsonian, there really isn't anything moderately priced near by. As far as hotels go, anything near a metro should be fine, you might be able to save a couple bucks by staying across the river in Arlington. I did I quick search, and it looks like there are decently priced hotels in the Dupont/Foggy Bottom/Georgetown area. All those areas are nice. Just don't stay too far into the middle of Georgetown, as public transportation is pretty much non existent there.

[cupcakelove]

It also looks like the Cherry Blossoms are supposed to peak the week after your stay. The tidal basin is still worth checking out if its a nice day, there are a lot of monuments to stop at on the way around.

[A.J.]

I am also curious about hotels and where to look/ steer away from, what is the best location specifically.

Most of the good hotels would be in either Capitol Hill, Metro Center/Downtown or Georgetown. The advantage to Capitol Hill and Metro Center is that you have access to the Metro (subway).

Personally, I would recommend my old neighborhood of Glover Park which is directly above Georgetown and very close to the National Cathedral. The downside is that there is no Metro closeby BUT you are on Wisconsin Avenue which leads right into the heart of Georgetown. It's on a main bus line plus cabs are readily available. It's a great residential neighborhood with nice little bars, restaurants and stores nearby within walking distance. I hope the following fall within your price range/what you're looking for.

The Savoy Suites is literally next to my old apartment. (http://www.savoysuites.com/)

The Georgetown Holiday Inn is a few blocks down the street towards Georgetown. (http://www.higeorgetown.com/)

You might also want to also consider the Key Bridge Marriott which is in Rosslyn, Virgina just across from Georgetown (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/waskb-key-bridge-marriott/).

Let me know if I can help you further.

[grlNIN]

Well we're driving down there so that would be our way of commuting around i suppose. I don't want to spend extra money for cabs if it's really not necessary.

I'm looking at hotels and don't really know the area at all so i am becoming somewhat frustrated. It also doesn't bode well that my boyfriend isn't helping at all.

I'm gonna check out the sites you gave me AJ. I really appreciate the help.

[A.J.]

Not a problem. Keep me posted on your progress and feel free to ask me questions about....whatever.

EDIT - all of those hotels have parking BTW so don't worry about that.

[A.J.]

Well we're driving down there so that would be our way of commuting around i suppose. I don't want to spend extra money for cabs if it's really not necessary.

Oh -- I should have noted that parking can be quite pricey around town and parking (around the Mall especially) is quite limited. I haven't been down there post-9/11 but security got a lot tighter and parking is more restricted so cabs MAY be the better option. Parking garages are, well, parking garages so they can be steep too.

Just something to consider.

[grlNIN]

The H.I. seems like the best of the three. We do have Triple A, so anywhere i can use that discount would be great as i am trying to be somewhat frugal in my planning. Their check in is at 4pm however, so that is somewhat annoying.

I'm looking to stay in the $80-$100 range seeing as we won't really be utilizing the room 'cause well be out and about.

I think the hardest thing is going to be deciding where to go and what to see but 2 full days should be a good amount of time.




EDIT* Are the Crowne Plaza Hamilton or 4 Points by Sheraton Washington decent in location or quality?

[grlNIN]

Actually, with taxes and paying for garage parking (which the hotels i am looking at do not offer-yuck) we might be better off at the Savoy (includes parking and is very nice looking) because it will end up being less with taxes than anything else with the original price + tax + parking.

[A.J.]

EDIT* Are the Crowne Plaza Hamilton or 4 Points by Sheraton Washington decent in location or quality?

Eh, kinda, sorta. The Crowne Plaza is at 14th and K which, 20 years ago, was whore/crackhead central. There's been a major redevelopment of the area since then so don't worry. If it's the same hotel I'm thinking of, then yes it's quite nice. The location is next to the McPherson Square Metro Station but there's not much else around there at night as there are mostly office building around.

I saw the Map Quest of where the Sheraton 4 Points is and there's it's close to the Crowne.

Actually, with taxes and paying for garage parking (which the hotels i am looking at do not offer-yuck) we might be better off at the Savoy (includes parking and is very nice looking) because it will end up being less with taxes than anything else with the original price + tax + parking.

Actually, the Key Bridge Marriott has outdoor and garage parking. But if you go with the Savoy, see if they can hook you up with a room with the view of the city. They built an overpriced condo next door which obstructs some of the room views but if you can get one, the views are the best around. If I recall some of these rooms (with the sweet views) have hottubs in them.

[grlNIN]

The Savoy is closer though, no? and the rates i would get at Key Bridge Marriott aren't anything fantastic considering it's in Arlington and we'd have to drive/shuttle/train or whatever.

Unless i am completely off.

The Savoy is about 20 something minutes away from a lot of the museums.

[AKA]

All of the Smithsonian Museums in DC are free - only the 2nd Air and Space Museum out in Virginia costs anything, and that's for parking. On the mall are Air and Space, Hirshhorn (Modern Art), the American Indian Museum and the Natural History Museum. The American History Museum is closed for renovations. Off of the mall, a few blocks up near the Verizon Center (please don't laugh at our pathetic Chinatown) is the Smithsonian's Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum.

The National Gallery of Art has two wings - is not part of the Smithsonian - but is also free. Really nice experience - the only DaVinci on permanent exhibit in North America.

There are no lines to get into the museums, except to go through security, and the occasional special exhibition. They all open at 10am, and I think close around 5:30 every day of the year except Christmas day.

The new "Newseum" may be open by the time you are here - is it across the street from the mall, not far from the Archives (another good visit, actually). I do not know if Newseum is free (it is not Smithsonian). The only two museums in the DC area that I know are not free are the Spy Museum (which is pretty cool, but expensive) and the Phillips Collection, near Dupont Circle. I think the Corcoran Museum is free, but asks for donations (don't rightly know).

The Washington Monument and the Holocaust museums require timed tickets that are free - plan more than 3 hours if you do Holocaust.

I don't know anything about the Capital, White House or FBI tours anymore.

Lincoln, Vietnam, WW2, Roosevelt , Korean and Jefferson memorials are all clustered together, and easy to walk towards. Across the river is Arlington National Cemetery, where the eternal flame at JFK's grave and the tomb of the unknowns are. Imo Jima is also across the river, but really should only be done if you find a place to stay in Virginia.

Hotels in Arlington usually have really easy access to Metro, and might be cheaper. And if you stay in Arlington, you can look into some good Vietnamese, Salvadorian or Ethiopian restaurants - there are also some good Ethiopian places in the district too.

Parking on the mall can be done (!) - if you get there early, or if you are patient.

Around the Smithsonian's, on the inside, there are no meters. They only ticket if you are there before 10am (even though they say they are 3 hour, in the years I worked down there I never remember them ticketing for that).

It doesn't sound like you are here very long, so skip Mt. Vernon and the Kennedy Center - they aren't going anywhere.

The metro map is pretty simple to figure out - if you are going downtown to Air & Space you'll want Lefant Plaze metro stop - Navy MEMORIAL is good for National Gallary - the Smithsonian stop is good if you want Natural History or if you want to go to the Smithsonian Castle building, which is the main info center.

The closest metro into Georgetown is Foggy Bottom - if it's a nice day, it's a nice walk. It is very touristy, and has some decent restaurants. I am a big fan of AJ's old neighborhood, Glover Park, but it is pretty much away from a lot of things you'll want to see - unless you want to do the zoo, which (since it is part of the Smithsonian) is also free.

***

Personally, I want to hear about Boston, since I'll be up there this July.

[AKA]

The Savoy is closer though, no? and the rates i would get at Key Bridge Marriott aren't anything fantastic considering it's in Arlington and we'd have to drive/shuttle/train or whatever.

Unless i am completely off.

The Savoy is about 20 something minutes away from a lot of the museums.

I'm pretty sure Key Bridge Mariott is walking distance into Georgetown (right on the other side of the Key Bridge) - and near the Rosylyn Metro, which is about 5 metro stops from the museums downtown on either the Blue or Orange lines. NOT long at all.

Also, if you walk across the bridge you will get to see the steps from the "Exorcist!" - which, imo, is the only reason to visit DC.

http://www.greatrealtyusa.com/content/photo/1354-12.jpg

[cupcakelove]

The Savoy is closer though, no? and the rates i would get at Key Bridge Marriott aren't anything fantastic considering it's in Arlington and we'd have to drive/shuttle/train or whatever.

The DC Metro goes out into Virginia and Maryland, so unless you're trying to avoid taking the metro, it won't be any different the staying up in NW DC. Its also pretty easy to drive into DC from Arlington.

[A.J.]

The Savoy is closer though, no? and the rates i would get at Key Bridge Marriott aren't anything fantastic considering it's in Arlington and we'd have to drive/shuttle/train or whatever.

Unless i am completely off.

The Savoy is about 20 something minutes away from a lot of the museums.

I'm pretty sure Key Bridge Mariott is walking distance into Georgetown (right on the other side of the Key Bridge) - and near the Rosylyn Metro, which is about 5 metro stops from the museums downtown on either the Blue or Orange lines.

What AKA said. Like I said, the only bad thing about the Savoy is that it's not near a Metro. The Key Bridge is close to the Metro which I highly recommend because the traffic in Georgetown and the Key Bridge can be a pain in the ass.

I'd say pick between the Savoy and Key Bridge. I think you'll be happy either way.

[grlNIN]

Ok. with all this info and now my boyfriends actual help and input he says to stay at the Marriott.

AKA and AJ, thank you so so much, you've been way more than helpful and i probably would have spent way more time (and had more frustration) planning this trip without you guys!

[A.J.]

Glad to help. During the week, I can recommend some restaurants if you'd like.

Here's the Metro map (http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm), FYI along with the website so you can see the fares (http://www.wmata.com/). It's really easy to figure out.

[Fallon]

You can check out our new bridge. It's pretty nice.

http://www.stephcocleaning.com/images/ZakimBridge1.jpg

Plus other historic stuff that I've never bothered to check out.

[keithy_19]

You've already made up your mind and I think you made the right choice.

I've never been to Boston, but my friend goes to school at Boston College. He loves Boston, but there's not all that much to do.

I was going to go down to Washington DC this upcoming weekend with my girl friend this weekend as well, but price became an issue and we scrapped the idea.

Enjoy it. It's one of my favorite places to visit.

[Thebazile78]

I actually love the DC Metro. When my friend Sara lived in No. VA, we used to drive up to the Metro station so we could spend the day walking around the Mall and museums.

One thing I do want to emphasize about the museums...the Smithsonian museums I've been to are all fabulous. I've been in and out of the Natural History and American History museums almost every time I've been to DC because they are cool. I've been to the Air & Space museum once...it's really neat and the building is cool, too.

I have been to the Vietnam Memorial as part of a spring performance tour trip with my high school choral ensembles. It's probably one of the most moving experiences anywhere in the USA. Give yourself enough time not only to walk the length of the memorial, but to people-watch the visitors. The polished surface of the Wall is part of what got to me - I was reading the names and ages of the soldiers listed and realized they weren't much older than I was at the time they either died or went missing (I was 16) ... and people leave notes, flowers and other memorabilia at the base of the Wall.

AKA mentioned the Holocaust museum.

Again, a very moving experience.

There are two permanent exhibitions. There's the "timed ticket" exhibit that takes you through the history of the Holocaust, starting with the rise of the Nazi party in Germany during the 1930's, moving through the second world war and Himmler's "Final Solution" and into the modern era. While most museums are very quiet, you can usually hear whispers and a dull roar of quiet conversations. This one is pin-drop quiet.

One of the parts that I found to be most interesting was towards the end, a poem written in Yiddish and English called "The Shoes." If you choose to visit the Holocaust museum

The full exhibition will take you about 3 hours to go through and about an hour to shake off.

The other permanent exhibition is a child's-eye view of the Holocaust called David's Story. This is the exhibition I saw when I was in high school and the one I used to improve my performance in one of our spring semester shows for the drama club, a performance of the stage version of I Never Saw Another Butterfly which was the culmination/final exam of someone's Independent Study project. A few years ago, I found my copy of the working script with all my notes. It made quite an impression on me. And it still does; those notes made a huge difference.

You can visit its website to see what else is going on ... they have rotating exhibitions and sometimes lectures and memorial services which are worth checking out if you're interested. Also on the website are the Metro directions...this is a big deal because driving in DC is not something I would attempt myself and the Metro is reliable, clean and efficient. Plus, you can get to pretty much every major attraction from a Metro stop, just wear good walking shoes; sometimes it's a bit of a schlep. But, it's still early in the year, so you won't have to deal with the Potomac Humidity that reminds you our nation's captal is built on recovered swampland.

You might also want to check if there are any festivals going on...I used to visit around this time of year for the Taste of DC or the National Book Festival, not to mention hanging out with my friend.

[drusilla]

when dino & i went to dc in september we stayed at the beacon. it was about $109 for the night with a king sized bed & had no problem finding parking right out front on the street. it was a bit of a walk from the museums, but it was really nice. there is soo much to do in d.c. & all of the museums are great & free which is a big bonus.


boston sucks. i lived there for two years & since i'm not a partier all there was to do was walk around & shop. maybe visit the museum of fine art every once in a while, but that was really it. thats why i came home most of the time i had free. good choice on d.c.