Frommer's Washington, D.C. from $80 a Day

321 Pages·2004·7.574 MB·English

by  Elise Hartman Ford

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Washington,
D.C.
from $80 a Day
12th Edition
by Elise Hartman Ford
Here’s what the critics say about Frommer’s:
“Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.”
—Booklist
“Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price ranges.”
—Glamour Magazine
“Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.”
—Des Moines Sunday Register
“Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.”
—Knight Ridder Newspapers
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About the Author
Elise Hartman Fordhas been a freelance writer in the Washington, D.C., area
since 1985. Her writing has appeared in theWashington Post;Washingtonianmaga-
zine; the London-based Bradman’s North America Guide; The Essential Guide to
Business Travel;Ladies’ Home Journal;and other national, regional, and trade publi-
cations. In addition to this guide, she is the author of Frommer’s Washington, D.C.;
Frommer’s Memorable Walks in Washington, D.C.;and Unique Meeting, Wedding,
and Party Places in Greater Washington.
Published by:
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ISBN 0-7645-4128-5
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5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
List of Maps vi
What’s New in Washington,D.C. 1
1 The Best of Washington,D.C.,on a Budget 3
1 Frommer’s Favorite Free & Site Seeing: The Best
Affordable Washington Washington Websites . . . . . . . . .8
Experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 Frommer’s Best Dining Bets
2 Frommer’s Best Budget on a Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Hotel Bets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
2 Planning an Affordable Trip to Washington,D.C. 12
1 The Washington from 6 Travel Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . .31
$80 a Day Premise . . . . . . . . . .12 7 Health & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
2 72 Money-Saving Tips . . . . . . . .13 8 Specialized Travel Resources . . . .33
3 Visitor Information . . . . . . . . . . .21 9 Planning Your Trip Online . . . . . .38
Destination: Washington, Frommers.com: The
D.C.—Red Alert Checklist . . . . .22 Complete Travel Resource . . . . .40
4 Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 10 The 21st-Century Traveler . . . . . .40
5 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 11 Getting Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Washington Calendar 12 Recommended Reading . . . . . . .51
of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
3 For International Visitors 53
1 Preparing for Your Trip . . . . . . . .53 3 Getting Around the
2 Getting to the United States . . . .59 United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Fast Facts: For the
International Traveler . . . . . . . . .61
4 Getting to Know Washington,D.C. 66
1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
The Neighborhoods in Brief . . . .73 Fast Facts: Washington, D.C. . . .81
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iv CONTENTS
5 Accommodations You Can Afford 84
1 Capitol Hill/The Mall . . . . . . . . .85 6 Dupont Circle . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Family-Friendly Hotels . . . . . . . .87 7 Foggy Bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
2 South of the Mall . . . . . . . . . . .90 8 Georgetown/Glover Park . . . . .106
3 Downtown,East of 9 Woodley Park &
16th Street NW . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Points North . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
4 Downtown,16th Street 10 Suburban Maryland . . . . . . . . .109
NW & West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
11 Suburban Virginia . . . . . . . . . .111
5 Adams-Morgan/North
12 Long-Term Stays . . . . . . . . . . .111
Dupont Circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
6 Great Deals on Dining 114
1 Restaurants by Cuisine . . . . . . .115 5 U Street Corridor . . . . . . . . . . .134
2 Capitol Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 6 Adams-Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Dining at Sightseeing Great Places to Picnic . . . . . . .138
Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 7 Dupont Circle . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
3 Downtown,East of 8 Foggy Bottom/West End . . . . . .146
16th Street NW . . . . . . . . . . . .120
9 Georgetown . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Vegetarian Times . . . . . . . . . .128
10 Glover Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Family-Friendly Restaurants . . .130
11 Woodley Park . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
4 Downtown,16th Street
NW & West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
7 Exploring Washington,D.C. 158
Suggested Itineraries . . . . . . . .159 Museums of Special Interest . . .200
Call Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163 7 Other Attractions . . . . . . . . . . .204
1 The Three Houses of Walking Tour: Historic
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163 Homes Near the White
2 The Major Memorials . . . . . . . .171 House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
8 Just Across the Potomac:
3 The Smithsonian Museums . . . .178
Arlington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213
Museum Exhibits
Scheduled for 2004 . . . . . . . . .184 9 Parks & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . .215
4 Elsewhere on the Mall . . . . . . .190 10 Especially for Kids . . . . . . . . . .219
5 Other Government Agencies . . .193 11 Organized Tours . . . . . . . . . . .220
6 More Museums . . . . . . . . . . . .195 12 Outdoor Activities . . . . . . . . . .223
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CONTENTS v
8 Shopping 225
1 The Shopping Scene . . . . . . . .225 3 Shopping A to Z . . . . . . . . . . .227
2 Great Shopping Areas . . . . . . .226 Museum Shopping . . . . . . . . .242
9 Washington,D.C.,After Dark 244
1 Free & Almost-Free Late-Night Bites . . . . . . . . . . .262
Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . .245 4 The Bar Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . .264
2 The Performing Arts . . . . . . . . .251 Cheap Eats: Happy Hours
Washington Celebrates to Write Home About . . . . . . .266
Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .254 Arlington Row . . . . . . . . . . . . .268
3 The Club & Music Scene . . . . .257
10 Side Trips from Washington,D.C. 271
1 Mount Vernon . . . . . . . . . . . . .271 Biking to Old Town
2 Alexandria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274 Alexandria & Mount Vernon . . .279
Appendix A:Washington,D.C.,in Depth 287
History 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288 Dateline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288
Appendix B:Useful Toll-Free Numbers & Websites 296
Index 298
General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . .298 Restaurant Index . . . . . . . . . . .306
Accommodations Index . . . . . .306
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List of Maps
Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Georgetown Dining 151
Area 43
Washington, D.C., Attractions 160
Washington, D.C., at a Glance 70
Capitol Hill 165
Major Metro Stops 76
The White House Area 169
Washington, D.C.,
The Mall 173
Accommodations 88
Walking Tour: Historic Homes Near
Adams-Morgan, Dupont Circle &
the White House 209
West End Accommodations 97
Washington, D.C., After Dark 246
Capitol Hill, Downtown & Foggy
Old Town Alexandria 275
Bottom Dining 122
Adams-Morgan & Dupont Circle
Dining 137
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An Invitation to the Reader
In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful places—hotels, restaurants,
shops, and more. We’re sure you’ll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share
the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed
with a recommendation, we’d love to know that, too. Please write to:
Frommer’s Washington, D.C. from $80 a day, 12th Edition
Wiley Publishing, Inc. • 111 River St. • Hoboken, NJ 07030-5744
An Additional Note
Please be advised that travel information is subject to change at any time—and this is
especially true of prices. We therefore suggest that you write or call ahead for confirma-
tion when making your travel plans. The authors, editors, and publisher cannot be held
responsible for the experiences of readers while traveling. Your safety is important to us,
however, so we encourage you to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep a
close eye on cameras, purses, and wallets, all favorite targets of thieves and pickpockets.
Other Great Guides for Your Trip:
Frommer’s Memorable Walks in Washington, D.C.
Frommer’s Washington, D.C.
Frommer’s Portable Washington, D.C.
The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C.
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Frommer’s Star Ratings,Icons & Abbreviations
Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality,
value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system.In country, state,
and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices
and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (rec-
ommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and
regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star
(highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).
In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature iconsthat point you
to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that separate travelers from
tourists. Throughout the book, look for:
Finds Special finds—those places only insiders know about
Fun Fact Fun facts—details that make travelers more informed and their trips
more fun
Kids Best bets for kids, and advice for the whole family
Moments Special moments—those experiences that memories are made of
Overrated Places or experiences not worth your time or money
Tips Insider tips—great ways to save time and money
Value Great values—where to get the best deals
The following abbreviationsare used forcredit cards:
AE American Express DISC Discover V Visa
DC Diners Club MC MasterCard
Frommers.com
Now that you have the guidebook to a great trip, visit our website at www.frommers.com
for travel information on more than 3,000 destinations. With features updated regularly,
we give you instant access to the most current trip-planning information available. At
Frommers.com, you’ll also find the best prices on airfares, accommodations, and car
rentals—and you can even book travel online through our travel booking partners. At
Frommers.com, you’ll also find the following:
• Online updates to our most popular guidebooks
• Vacation sweepstakes and contest giveaways
• Newsletter highlighting the hottest travel trends
• Online travel message boards with featured travel discussions
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What’s New in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., in the year subsidiary, Song (& 800/359-7664;
2004, continues to grapple with secu- www.flysong.com). Song started up
rity issues as the city meanwhile carries service to Dulles Airport in late 2003,
on as a busy business and tourist des- with flights to only a handful of cities,
tination. You may encounter road including some in the northeast and
blocks, concrete barriers, and police Florida. Check it out.
officers directing you around town, as GETTING AROUND In mid-2003,
well as metal detectors and more the Washington Metropolitan Area
intense scrutiny at most sightseeing Transit Authority (WMATA) length-
attractions. ened Metrorail’s hours of operation on
You will also notice that the capital weekends, so that now Metro trains
is a city under construction. This is a start running at 7am on Saturday and
good thing, since it augurs prosperity, Sunday and stop running at 3am Satur-
though it can be unsightly and some- day and Sunday. To fund this expanded
times inconvenient. Major museums, service, WMATA increased base fares
such as the Phillips Collection, are in (for the first time in 8 years) for bus and
the midst of an expansion, and others, rail service by 10¢, to $1.20, with
like the Corcoran Gallery of Art, are $3.60 the maximum you would pay for
about to embark on a significant travel to the furthest destination.
expansion. An underground visitors The District and federal govern-
center is nearing completion at the ments, and downtown businesses are
U.S. Capitol, and, by the time you discussing the creation of a “Circula-
read this, the same may be underway tor” shuttle bus system, whose buses
on the grounds of the Washington would run every 5 minutes along two
Monument. Two large hotels are being east-west routes between Union Sta-
built in neighborhoods, the waterfront tion and Georgetown and two north-
and the Mount Vernon/Shaw area, south routes between the D.C.
that only recently would have been Convention Center and the water-
unlikely choices; these days, D.C. is front in southwest D.C. Similar in
developing all over the place. service and purpose to the successful
GETTING HERE If you are hoping Georgetown Shuttle, the Circulator is
to book a flight to D.C. on a discount intended to ease the city’s congested
airline, you probably know about streets while providing quick, easy,
Southwest Airlines, which flies into and cheap (50¢ one-way) access to
Baltimore-Washington International well-traveled spots around town. Pro-
Airport, and you may know about the ponents of the system expect resi-
relatively new, low-fare airline, JetBlue, dents, tourists, and federal workers to
which flies into Washington-Dulles use the buses, which will supplement
International Airport. But you may not Metro’s rail and bus transportation. If
have heard of the latest discount air- approved, some Circulator buses will
line on the scene: the Delta Airlines have started circulating in 2004.