The DC Traveler

Heather, who writes The New York City Traveler, uncovered another new I-95 corridor bus line, operating between Washington, DC and New York City.
While I wasn’t able to find the  $1.00 fare she mentioned, I did find several one-way tickets in the $5 – $8 range. 
In order to be more cost-effective in a car driving alone, you would need to get about 112 miles to the gallon. 
Even the top fare I was able to find ($15), requires a single driver to to get at least 60 miles per gallon to be more cost effective. And that doesn’t …read more

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The annual running of the Virginia Gold Cup horse races in The Planes, Virginia,about 45 miles from Washington, DC, attracts 35,000 spectators each May. 
It all started in 1922 when eight area horsemen organized a four-mile race through the local countryside. 
Today, the event has grown to seven races run throughout the afternoon, over a formal cross-country racing circuit between two and four miles long. The mostly former thoroughbred race horses jump dozens of fences, railings and hedges, some over 4 feet in height along the grass circuit.   Riders and horses from around the county come to the Gold Cup …read more

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In April, I wrote about the controversial plastination human body exhibit here in Washington, DC, Bodies – the Exhibition.  The major controversy surrounding the exhibit were reports of questionable sourcing of Chinese bodies, for use in the preserved and skinless anatomical exhibit.  The claims were that many of the bodies were used in Bodies – the Exhibition were used without the legal consent of the deceased or their family.
A second competing and potentially less controversial exhibit, BODY WORLDS 2, now on display at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, has publicly stated that all bodies used in its …read more

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A piece of submarine history is floating in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and is open to the public for tours.  The submarine is the USS Torsk, a WW-II Navy submarine. It made two war patrols in the Pacific theater during World War II and remained active until 1968.
The Torsk operated out of Pearl Harbor from where it began its missions, patrolling off the Japanese coast in 1945
While on her second patrol, the Torsk sunk three Japanese ships, including two frigates that ended up being some of the last enemy warships torpedoed during the war.  The boat then became a trainer for …read more

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Virginia produced four of the first five U.S. presidents and 8 in total; more than any other state.
For all but one, you can visit their home, estate, library or where they are laid to rest. Most places are within a couple hours of DC and make for a great short trip. Plus, during the winter, crowds are significantly smaller.
George Washington – 1st President George Washington’s Mount Vernon3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HwyMount Vernon, VA 22121
Just 30 minutes form DC, the estate of our first president and father of the United States, George Washington, sits on the Potomac River and …read more

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Ever see a whale up close in its natural environment?  Now you can too off the coast if Virginia, on a whale watching boat tour.
I had the lucky experience on a dive boat, while scuba diving off of the Big Island of Hawaii several years ago. 

My encounter occurred while cruising to a new dive site, a pod of about ten humpback whales, ranging from 10-foot calves to 45-foot adults, came within about 20 feet of our boat. 
The experience was something I’ll never forget. My only regret was that I couldn’t (by law) jump in the water with them. …read more

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Now that the temperatures are  more typical of winter, it’s time to think about snowboarding and skiing.
Within about a 3½ hour drive from Washington, DC, are close to a dozen ski resorts. All offer traditional skiing and snowboarding, others include snowmobiling, snow-tubing and ice skating options. For relaxation and to comfort tired bodies, spa services and night clubs are available at a couple. And at Massanutten, non-skiers can enjoy the 85-degree water park. 
Lift tickets prices listed are for adult weekend full-day tickets during prime times/days. Discounts may be available for off-peak days and times.
A recent check shows …read more

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When you think of the best in American comedy, one name that must be included on the list is The Three Stooges. Whether you remember watching their slap-stick TV program on Sunday mornings or seeing their silly and often violent physical comedy in one of their movies on late-late-night television, they are an American treasure.  But no matter how hard they punched, smacked, poked or slapped their fellow Stooge, the pain magically and instantly disappeared.

Who can’t remember the classic eye-poke or the double face slap? Or a few of their classic lines lines heard over and over — “Nyuk Nyuk …read more

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We’ve had our first snowfall of the season. The first frost of the season has come and gone, killing any Fall bedding plants.  And the annual tradition of people freaking out due to a trace of snow on the roads has occurred, all without major death and destruction. 
And sadly, that means most of the trees have lost all their color. 
So I thought I’d post a few photos of the drive I took last month out to the Shenandoah National Park to drive the famous Skyline Drive. 
I only drove about 32 miles of the 105 mile road, stopping about a dozen …read more

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Even if your environmentally unaware neighbor uses 700 gigawatts of electricity each night powering their own personal holiday light show (see below video), you may feel more inclined to check out some of the area’s professionally designed Christmas and holiday light displays.
And there are enough to let you visit one a week, from now until Christmas, and even hit one during the first week of January.

The Winter Lights Festival in suburban Gaithersburg, MD is a 3½ mile drive through Seneca Creek State Park with more than 400 unique displays. Open daily except Christmas, 6-9 p.m. (until 10:00 p.m. weekends). …read more

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