<p>
That’s probably the Phillips Collection, though I don’t think I’ve ever only spent an hour there. :)</p>
<p>I agree the Spy Museum is overhyped and frenetic - that’s why my boys like it. :rolleyes: They hate art museums.</p>
<p>c51 -</p>
<p>In Gettysburg look into staying at either the newish Wyndam or Courtyard. Walking distance to a few resturants in a complex that also houses movies. Both places are highly ranked on TripAdvisor. If you shop don’t forget that cloths and shoes are tax free in PA and Gburg has one of those ubiquitous outlet malls.</p>
<p>Check out Great Falls, recommend the MD rather than the VA side. Great for hiking.</p>
<p>If you go to Harpers Ferry, there’s some great hiking on the App.trail right near there.
Also, we love the trail along the C&O canal, which starts in Georgetown and goes all the way out to western MD. My H an I biked from Shepherdstown to Harpers Ferry, locked up our bikes and toured the town. Really nice. Bile rental places are spaced out along the canal.
And if you’re checking out the battlefields like Antietam and want a change of pace, drive another 25 minutes or so to Berkeley Springs in WV. Eat at Tari’s or Lot 12. Soak in the warm mineral springs baths used by GW. Shop at uniques store and check out the art (top 100 art town). Love that place…Cacapon State Park is right down the road and has a small lake, a beautiful (and cheap!) golf course and nice hiking.</p>
<p>I have been to the Newseum since it opened in DC. Expensive, but excellent.</p>
<p>Don’t miss the exhibit of the Pulitizer Prize winning photographs…especially the video in the middle of the room with the winners discussing their photos. Memorable.</p>
<p>Go into Georgetown one day and eat at Martin’s Tavern. Martin’s Tavern has served every president from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. It has survived the Great Depression, World War II and Korea, Camelot and the Great Society, Vietnam and Watergate, the Cold War and the Gulf War. It’s the place where JFK proposed to Jackie-booth #3. Other booths were always used by presidents such as Truman, LBJ, Nixon, etc. It’s a great place.</p>
<p>Also, you HAAAVE to go to Ben’s Chili Bowl. Order the chili half smoke. It’s heaven. AND Obama was just there for lunch a few weeks ago. It’s famous and a must see. This place was known as the safe haven during the 1968 riots, where rioters and police ate together…pretty amazing story. So much character–they even have a sign up saying:</p>
<p>List of Customers Who Eat for Free:</p>
<p>Bill Cosby</p>
<p>Lol–he’s been there so many times that they did that for him.
(A new sign was added to read that the Obama family can also eat there for free!) </p>
<p>Also, I don’t know where you want to stay, but my family stayed in the Crystal City in Arlington VA. It’s beautiful has and easy/quick access to D.C. There is also an extensive network of underground shopping areas and connecting corridors beneath Crystal City.
Might want to check it out.</p>
<p>If art museums interest you or your H–consider the Corcoran (already mentioned), the Phillips, East Wing of the National Gallery, or the Hirshhorn. </p>
<p>I think the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is a must-see. Finally, if you have any interest in gardens/landscape design then make an effort to see the Beatrix Farrand designed gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. You can take a guided tour, which is excellent. There are lots of great restaurants in DC. One that is fun and very historic is the Old Ebbit Grill.</p>
<p>Hey Tango - I’ve stayed at that Holiday Inn a number of times as well. Good choice. :)</p>
<p>I love, love, love Dumbarton Oaks, but hesitate to recommend it to someone with limited time. If you love Gardens by all means! We really enjoyed the collection at the Kreeger Museum on Foxhall Road last time we were in DC, but I don’t think you need to go on your first big trip. :)</p>
<p>if u are going to the Holocaust museum, go online & get a time period ticket for admission; they strictly adhere to crowd control…we got shut out a few years ago…</p>
<p>Since you have a car, drive out to the Air and Space by Dulles. It has the Concorde and Enola Guy and others. We missed it because we were Metro bound.</p>
<p>Also, BEWARE! Son and I stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn Georgetown, preparing for a summer program. Boasted a free shuttle. Well, we wound up taking cabs. It was nowhere near Georgetown University. And the place was a dump! Bathroom and bedding were filthy. The food in the restaurant was horrible.
And the rate was 200 bucks a night!</p>
<p>On our family vacation to DC earlier in the year, we stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn, that was a couple of blocks from a Metro station. Walking distance to the Mall. Great free breakfast in the morning. A garage to park your car while you tour on foot. If you’re there on a weekday, the NASA building is across the street, and there’s a great lunch/breakfast diner on the bottom floor. </p>
<p>Even if you’re not an art lover, you must go to the museums. You will be amazed at all the artwork there.</p>
<p>This year, there is supposed to be a big deal for Lincoln’s birthday. The Ford Theater was closed last year when we went, preparing for the celebration this year.</p>
<p>Also, the American History museum should be open now.</p>
<p>Also, Beware! DC is hot in August! Try to go earlier in the summer.</p>
<p>There is supposed to be a new Fairfield Inn opening in the DC area that will have free parking. Don’t know anything about this hotel, but Marriott properties are usually very good, most offer a free breakfast, and you can earn points for free stays. </p>
<p>Thanks for this post, as we are planning a return trip to DC to visit colleges, and want to catch things we missed last time.</p>
<p>We have also opted for the Marriott Residence Inn in Pentagon City…good garage, and good fast access to a metro stop. Good large suite for the money. Son had an internship in DC and he would take the Metro to my hotel and we did our shopping at Pentagon City…for his semester abroad…he took the metro back to Capitol Hill. Others I know who like to save bucks do this at Tyson’s Corner in hotels there. Personally, I think the excruciating traffic around Tyson’s is not worth it…better to be at Dupont Circle near the Metro…or in Pentagon City near their Metro…</p>
<p>We stayed at Hawthorne Suites in Alexandria, VA. Full free breakfast in the morning ( yes sausage and bacon ). The suites are spacious and furnished. Near a Metro Station. The hotel has a shuttle to take you there, or you can drive. Did I mention free parking? When we drive to the DC area, that’s where we stay.
[Hawthorn:</a> Online hotel reservations, hotel discounts, hotel packages, Wyndham Rewards](<a href=“http://www.hawthorn.com%5DHawthorn:”>http://www.hawthorn.com)</p>
<p>We will be staying there again when we go and pick up the kid. </p>
<p>On a side note, when we went to visit the kid (took a train), We stayed at the Holiday Inn-Washingon Capital. I was looking for easy access to the Metro, since we did not have a vehicle. We were literally steps away from the Smithsonian Air/Space museum and a 3 minute walk from a Metro Station. The hotel was fine and it cost $99 / night over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Now that was a bonus!!!</p>
<p>Just got a room at Westin Alexandria (new hotel in 2007) for $129/night & Willard in the heart of DC for $229/night. We’re excited about these hotels and happy we were able to get low rates via Hotwire. Looking forward to our stay – planning to be tourists some as well as meeting with some folks.</p>
<p>HImom “you done good” with those locations and rates. Alexandria is super enjoyable for an “insider” neighborhood in DC/VA side for strolling and very arty with good restaurants.<br>
Now, can you help your fellow CC parents find these rates on beachfront in Hawaii? 
You might consider one of the Trolley tours that leave from Union Station by the way…if it is cold…and you want a gander at all the spread out mall sights quickly…before going in deeper into the museums…you will enjoy that there are no tickets or fees on the Mall.</p>
<p>For beachfront HI I suggest VRBO. We used it when we were there over the holidays. Not beachfront but huge, beautiful 3BR 2 BA house for $145/night. Would stay there again.
(Not meaning to hijack my own thread either ;))</p>
<p>Hi! Price range for lodging? How long? What time of year? Which island(s)? What type of lodging? We’re all different as to what we consider “good” or acceptable" lodging–for me, 3 diamonds from AAA is OK & 4 is luxury. For some, it has to be 4 or 5 or it’s considered a dive. What part of which islands–there are microclimates–for example Kauai has Princeville which is a very wet side with lots of green growth (think Jurrasic Park) and also a dry, sunny side (Poipu Beach). There is Waikiki that has most of the tourists and Ala Moana Hotel which is adjoining the shopping center. There are also a few hotels and also other types of lodging that are further from Waikiki, as well as some condos and timeshares.</p>
<p>Mold l& mildew are pretty common in our humid state, so hubby likes to try to only have newer properties so he avoids having our allergies flare.</p>
<p>I’ve heard great things about VRBO as well but haven’t personally had the patience to sift through the different options and find something available in my price range & location.</p>
<p>For inexpensive hotels, often just across the street is MUCH cheaper than on the beach, so it can be something to consider if you’re on a budget. </p>
<p>Maile Sky Court is a short walk from the beach and sometimes has rooms for under $100. I booked a friend at New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, which is on the beach for under $200/night. Right now hotels are averaging 60% occupancy, so there is some room for negotiation. Inexpensive lodging was also available at the Executive Center in downtown Honolulu, using the Entertainment rate and included free breakfast. It’s convenient to many of the sights in and near town, like the capitol, Iolani Palace, galleries, Aloha Tower Marketplace, chinatown, and more. We have also enjoyed staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hawaii Prince and Ilikai hotel (tho the last one has not been maintained as well as I’d like recently).</p>
<p>Ihilani is far from the hustle & bustle of Honolulu but is very luxurious. Don’t know the other islands all that well, but they have many nice resorts, especially at pricey Wailea on Maui (good whalewatching Jan-April).</p>
<p>HImom: I am not really coming to Hawaii in this century (lifetime) from the way things have gone this year with our college savings, retirement, finishing one son in private college in more optimistic times…and second son graduating HS this spring…although I appreciate your experiences and ideas…perhaps others took their retirements out of stocks sooner? </p>
<p>We could start a CC TimeShare/exchange housing network for those of us with kids in college no longer taking vacations. I have known some of you longer than some of my neighbors…now …if you come to stay in my house…you can access the Blue Ridge Parkway from my rear yard…everything else is a bit of a 2-4 hour drive unless you like Bluegrass and mountains. We have the most Presidents homes to visit! Virginia is also for Lovers in case you didn’t know! So…I think we may approach HImom first…(Like no one does that to you already right>_)…and now that I finally realize that Mominca is not an Inca but more likely from California…perhaps I will also see if she wants to do a Swap.</p>
<p>Hi Faline! Things are pretty grim when we look at how much savings shrinks every time we turn around. S will have one more year of private college (fortunately with good merit aid) & we will pay D’s full freight unless somehow they decide they want to help us with some merit aid (though quite unlikely). No idea how long she’ll continue there–she had 3 semesters of CC before transferring this semester.</p>
<p>House swapping can be OK and I believe there are several websites & businesses that allow it. Have never had experience with it myself. We live about at 15 minute walk from the ocean but have no view of it. Mostly, we have much of our family & friends here.</p>
<p>Your son’s school has worked out so well…and hope your Daughter will find her match, too. We will know in April what we can commit to for second son.
You were smart to find the Willard at that rate…a landmark historic inside DC hotel. And smart to also move to the outskirts a bit in Alexandria…in case you decide to give up a day to drive to either Mount Vernon or Monticello…both are lovely and will give you much more of an authentic feeling for Virginia and American history–sort of like going to San Francisco for us but skipping the Muir Woods…is what it is like to visit DC without taking in a drive to one President’s home… which to me is as wonderful as any cathedral or art museum…and I do like museums. The trip to Monticello…brings you into horse and wine country, rolling hills rather than mountains. Albemarle County is really special. If you don’t want to lose a day doing that…perhaps you might try seeing the Chesapeake Bay culture. Annapolis is probably the most stress free “in and out” town that is truly of the Chesapeake Bay culture, and seeing the Naval Academy is great fun. It is also cobblestoned strolling kind of like Alexandria actually…but with sailing ships in view.</p>
<p>Not sure if these have already been mentioned…</p>
<p>-Walking/driving down Embassy Row- looking at some of those buildings is so fun and trying to guess what country they represent</p>
<p>-Touring the National Cathedral (with a guide, definitely) and its grounds- we were there around Christmas and there was a display of creches (sp?) from around the world- not sure if they have rotating displays at other times of the year</p>
<p>-I’m not much for museums at ALL, but the Postal Museum (as nerdy as it sounds!) is REALLY interesting and fun! Maybe it’s just because I like mail, but it was pretty interactive and easy to breeze through in an hour or two, especially for a break from the heat in August It was right across from…I’m blanking on the name…the train station with all the shopping/food court stuff</p>