The self-guided tours include four historical building.  On the walking tour are:

• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum – a colonial tavern and meeting place.
• Carlyle House – Alexandria’s only stone Palladian-style house dating back to 1753.
• Lee-Fendall House, the home of the Lee family, and son Robert E. Lee. The urban plantation house was built in 1785 and restored to its early Victorian elegance.
• Old Presbyterian Meeting House – In 1772, a small group of Calvinist who had split from the Church of England, built their own meeting house in which to worship. Today, the church is still used for regular services.

Enjoy seasonal decorations, carolers and light refreshments along the way. Plan on about two hours, if you stop to enjoy the music. 

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours 
Gadsby’s Tavern
138 N Royal Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 (map it)

Start at any of the four sites and continue at your own pace.

Dates and Times – December 13, 2008, From 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Start at any of the four locations and tour at your own pace.

Tickets – Adults – $20.00, Seniors $15.00, children 6-17 – $5.00, and are available online or by calling Gadsby’s Tavern Museum at 703-838-4242

Nearest Metro Subway Station – King Street – Yellow and Blue lines. then a 20-minute walk or take the free King Street Trolley form the Metro station.

Parking – Street and paid garage parking is available.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

This year kids will enjoy the 12 themed Christmas trees, one for each day of Christmas. Each professionally decorated with themes relating to George Washington, life at Mount Vernon, and the time when the Washington’s lived there.

And look for the live Christmas camel, just like George Washington had at Mt. Vernon during the Christmas season of 1787, two years before he became America’s first President.

Besides a gingerbread recreation of the Mount Vernon Estate created by a former White House pastry chef; watch historical chocolate-making demonstrations, and 18th-century period dancing.

Tour the rarely-seen third floor of the Washington’s mansion and if you’re lucky, meet the always charming "Mrs. Washington" along the way.

Christmas at Mount Vernon 
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy.
Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121  (map it)
703-780-2000

Dates and Times – November 28, 2008 through January 6, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily

Tickets – Adults – $13.00, Seniors – $12.00, children 6-11 – $6.00 with adult,  Kids under 6 with an adult are free.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Huntington – Yellow line, then catch the Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon or take a 6 mile cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Image – Flick _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating Rink
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
Constitution Avenue, NW at 7th Street NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-289-3360

Dates and Times – November 15 through mid-March, 2009

• Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday -10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Sunday – 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The rink is Closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Admission - The fee covers two-hours of skating.  Adults – $7.00, Seniors, students with ID and kids under 13 – $6.00. Sessions begin on the hour.

In the evening, use the Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive entrance at 9th Street entrance. 

Skate Rentals – $3.00 with ID and rental lockers are just 50¢ with a $5.00 required deposit.

The National Gallery of Art is open Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Images – mom & daughter, at night 
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Post from: The DC Traveler

With the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as a back drop, enjoy a sampling of wines from one of 17 Virginia wineries along with enjoy festival foods while watching hot air balloons (and even a few lawnmower races).

In it’s 12 year, the Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival at Historic Longbranch had lots of fun activities throughout the day, including:

• Live entertainment
• Mansion tours
• Antique cars and the ld Dominion Fire Society antique fire engine display
• Kids activities
• Monster Truck rides
• Crafts and area artisans
• Radio-controlled planes
• Lawnmower races

Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival at Historic Longbranch 
Longbranch Historic House
1830 Longbranch Lane 
Millwood, Virginia 22646 (map it)
540-837-1856

Dates and Times – Friday, October 17 – 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Tickets – $10.00 per person admission, plus $10.00 for wine. under 12 free. 

Parking – Free

Images – Flickr – drinking wine, balloons

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Located on the western edge of the Pentagon’s grounds, just across the Potomac River from the National Mall in Washington, DC, the site is open 24 hours-a-day to the public, it is adjacent to the original impact spot.

The 184 victims of the tragedy (59 victims on the plane and 125 died inside the Pentagon) are commemorated by a "memorial unit" or steel bench, one  for each person killed. 

A gray concrete retaining wall around the memorial park ranges from 3 inches tall, representing the youngest victim, Dana Falkenberg, who was just three years old, to a height of 71 inches tall, for the oldest victim (71 years), John D. Yamnicky Sr., a former Navy pilot and veteran of two wars.

The direction of the bench, signifies if the victim was a passenger or in the Pentagon at the time of the crash.

At night, the benches are illuminated, as is the small water pool below each one.

The two-acre site was originally a grassy field, sued as a helicopter landing field.

The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial
The Pentagon
Arlington, VA 22202   (map it)

Dates and Times – Open daily, 24-hours,

Tickets – None required – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon, Blue and Yellow lines, then a ¼ mile walk.

Parking – There is no public parking at the Pentagon. Paid parking is available at the public lot at Pentagon City Mall, a 10-minute walk.  There is no shuttle from the Mall.

Images – Flickr Pentagon 9/11 memorial benches, Single Bench

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The building’s style with its twin tall towers is considered similar to Berlin’s famous New Synagogue, build in 1866.

Originally on the site of a Methodist Episcopal church, the building was initially the home of Washington, DC’s oldest Jewish congregation, until 1954, when New Hope Baptist moved in.

The lower floors hold a large meeting room and cafeteria, while the top two floors house the church and galley.

When it was a Synagogue, women sat in the two side balconies, while men sat on the main floor.

The interior is a bit run down, but the large pipe organ in the back of the church and red cushioned seating make it an interesting place for a walk through.

Before Sunday services, the organist plays a short inspirational recital.

A cafeteria style “down home” lunch is served Wednesdays through Fridays for around $7.00, but try to arrive before noon. The large portions and fried-to-order fish gets the best ratings.

Greater New Hope Baptist Church
816 8th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 (map it)
202-842-1036

Sunday Service - 11:00 a.m., open at other times, including  Wed. – Fri. during the lunch hour.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Gallery Place-Chinatown – Red, Green and Yellow lines, then a 2-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Metered street parking is available in the area.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

National Symphony Orchestra Labor Day concert
West lawn of the US Capitol Building
E. Capitol and First Streets, NW 
Washington, DC   (map it)

Dates and Times – Sunday, August 31, 2008, 8:00 p.m. Gates open at 3:20 p.m.

Tickets – FREE , no tickets required, but all attendees are subject to a security search

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Capitol South – Blue and Orange lines, or Federal Center SW – Blue and Orange lines, then a 4-5 block walk from either station or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Parking will be difficult in the area, so try to take Metro.

Image – NSO

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Post from: The DC Traveler

I recently took a short rafting with Front Royal Canoe Company and the entire experience was great.

FRCC rents canoes, one and two-person kayaks, inflatable rafts and tubes for rides down the Shenandoah River.  You start out at their facility, grab a life jacket, and they shuttle you and your choice of water craft to the drop off point.  After some directions and basic instruction, off you go. 

Trips range from under 2 hours, about 3 miles (30-4 hours on a tube) to their 3-day, 40-mile excursion.  On overnight trips, you need to bring your own camping gear. You an make about 20 miles a day, (7-8 hours).  Timing and distance traveled depends on the speed of the river and your paddling speed. The river ranges from calm and slow, to brisk (after big rains). So check current river conditions on their website.

Trips include water craft, paddles, life vests, maps, shuttle service and basic riverside instruction.  Tube trips also include a floating cooler. Weekdays are much quieter on the river, and 10%-25% discounts are available.

Make sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, a cover-up to get out of the sun, a small cooler with ice and drinks (and food for longer trips), as there aren’t many places to stop along the way. 

For a second choice, check out one other company, located in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Front Royal Canoe Company
8567 Stonewall Jackson Hwy.
Front Royal, VA 22630  (map it)

Dates and Times – 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.  Call 540-635-5440 or 800-270-8808 to make a reservation.

To allow enough time to complete the trip, tube trips start weekdays between 9:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. and between 7:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. on weekends.

Costs – Prices depend on type of watercraft and length of trip.  Trip Raft traps range from $40 – $140 for 3 up to three people, canoe trips (up to 3) $40 – $130, Kayaks $28  – $130 for one or two person kayaks, and 3-4 hour tube trips cost $16.00 per person. Each person must sign a waiver (under 18 requires a parent’s signature).

NOTE: No child under 6 years of age is permitted except on raft trips, where children 4+ are allowed only with two or more adults in the same raft.

Parking – Free

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

And you too can add a bit of romance to your life and surprise your loved one with an afternoon or sunset rental of a rowboat at Burke Lake Park, in Fairfax Station, Virginia. All you need is a book of your favorite poet’s work.  Mother Nature can proved a romantic sunset.

In the late 1950s, Fairfax County Park Authority decided to create a public fishing lake. They found a 218 acre location that could be flooded in Northern Virginia, inside of a 900 acre track of land, less than 30 minutes from Washington, DC. 

After a dam was erected in 1961, the newly created lake property began to fill and was stocked with fish. 

The area was originally considered to become an small international airport, but area residents defeated the plan, in favor of a park and lake.

The 200+ acre lake and 900 acre park boasts over 5 miles of shoreline, with plenty of places to relax and read something like this, She Walks In Beauty Like the Night, by Lord Byron. 

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

If boating isn’t your pleasure, or romance isn’t in the air, the park also offers fishing (license required), camping, a 4.7 miles crushed gravel and paved shoreline hiking and biking trail, disk golf, horse shoe pits, volleyball courts, and picnic areas with grills.

On weekends for the children, the park provides a 1.75 mile miniature train ($2.00), carousel ($1.50), along with miniature golf ($6 for adults, $5 for kids), three playgrounds and an ice cream parlor, all open daily.

The golfer can also have some fun on the par-3, 18-hole golf course, or hit a bucket of balls at the park’s driving range. 

Row Boat Rentals
Burke Lake
7315 Ox Road
Fairfax Station, VA (map it) directions & park map
703-323-6600 

Dates and Times – Park hours – daily sunrise to sunset, May 24, 2008 – September 1

Row Boat Rentals (weather permitting)

• Saturday &  Sunday 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Reduced days/hours before Memorial Day and after Labor Day

Admission & Boat Rental Costs – Free admission to the park on weekday, weekends – non-Fairfax County residents in a car or on motorcycle – $8.00. Row boat rentals* fees extra.

• Rowboat Rental – ½-day – $10.50, full-day – $16.00, includes up to 3 life preservers. Add’l. life preservers – $1.00,
• Rowboat with electric motor – ½-day – $27.50, full day – $41.00

* Poetry not included.

Half-day rentals begin at 3:00 p.m., full day rentals at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and 8:00 a.m. on other days.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Metro is not convenient. Vienna/Fairfax-GMU – Orange Line or Franconia-Springfield – Blue line, line, then a 10 mile cab drive. 

Parking – Free.

Images – wedding couple, sunset, train, carousel,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The observatory uses 4 telescopes during open houses, ranging from an 8″ 1960s-era NASA reflector, to a 20″ reflector. 

The star gazing evening starts with a 30-minute presentation by an astronomical expert, followed by a tour of the observatory and, if weather permits, some star gazing.

The summer lecture schedule includes topics such as little galaxies,  black holes, the Hubble telescope, and more.

Univ. of Maryland Observatory Open House Nights
University of Maryland Observatory – Lecture Hall
Across from UM System Administration building at 3300 Metzerott Rd.
College Park, MD  (map it)

Dates and Times – the 5th and 20th of each month – May – Oct. at 9:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. all other months. Doors open 15 minutes before start times, so arrive early for best seating.  Dress for the weather.

Tickets – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Greenbelt, Green line, then a 10-minute cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available in a couple close by lots.

Images – Moon,  stars – NASA/JPL-Caltech via pingnews, telescope – U of MD

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Post from: The DC Traveler