The DC Traveler

Over 20 million tourists visit Washington DC each year, and it’s a safe and tourist-friendly city.  Most local people will go out of their way to assist tourists, provide directions, take your photo in front of the White House or offer recommendations for dining, nightclubs and more. 
But you might just be approached by a scam artist offering you anything from tickets to “designer” products. 
So when visiting Washington, DC, you know you are getting ripped off if…

Anyone offers you discounted tickets to the National Zoo (it’s free).
You get approached to buy a Smithsonian Museum Pass, good at all …read more

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There are over 40 Washington, DC radio stations within listening distance to downtown.  Most DC-based radio transmitter towers are shorter than in most cities, since most are located on shorter buildings or in the suburbs. This causes reception to be poor. It is partially because Washington, DC allows no buildings to be built that are taller than the tip of the statute on the Capitol Building (228 feet), other than the Washington Monument (555 feet).
The tallest radio/TV tower (also the tallest structure) in the District is located at 6001 Georgia Ave., at 9th and Peabody Streets, NW. At 761 feet …read more

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Besides normal heavy Labor Day holiday weekend traffic in and around Washington, DC, there’s a couple major issues to plan around this Labor Day weekend.

 
If your travels take you to Reagan National Airport , expect a 30+ minute delays on Metro’s Blue and Yellow line subway trains this weekend. Metro is replacing tracks south of Reagan National and riders arriving from the south or heading towards Alexandria , Virginia , will be shuttled by bus around the effected area.

And if your plans take you to a final summer weekend at the beach, your fun in the …read more

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On another Monument Monday, I thougth I’d come up with a Top Ten List of the most important artifacts, national treasures, and pieces of history in Washington, DC’s museums and archives. With all of the the Smithsonian Institution museums, the National Archives, Library of Congress and so many, that was tough to come up with just ten. So here’s mine list (plus 1), in no particular order.
Feel free to add to the list by making a comment below.
1) The Declaration of Independence on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives.
2) The U.S. Constitution, also at the Archives.
3) …read more

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Going green is all the rage, and you know, it should be. But you can’t really have a totally green vacation when visiting Washington, DC.  But you can reduce your carbon footprint, without too much effort.
Can you find a “green” hotel to stay at? And even if the hotel claims to be green, are they really all that green?  Or are their claims simply a PR team spinning out eco-friendly press releases on glossy recycled paper?
Most major hotel chains have developed policies or are developing goals that help build sustainability into their business plan, to reduce waste, energy …read more

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If you are heading to see the famous Washington, DC blooming cherry tree blossoms tomorrow, expect major delays around the National Mall, especially in the morning and early afternoon.
The limited free parking along the Tidal Basin (at the paddle boat docks) will be closed to parking for the next week, so Metro is your best weekend choice. 
With weather over the next week forecasted to include rain or possible showers every day except tomorrow and Wednesday, traffic will be even heavier tomorrow.
Additionally, not only is Saturday the first major weekend of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, with the cherry trees …read more

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Interested in adventure travel?  Want to vacation to an exotic destination? Planning a quick get-away, but not sure where to go?
The Adventures in Travel Expo in Washington, DC is an ideal place for travelers to explore destinations, visit with foreign and domestic travel and tourism bureaus, and learn about exotic places to visit.  No matter if it’s a short trip weekend trip by car or a global adventure, there’s all kinds of fun places to explore and lean about.
With a couple hundred exhibitors and lots of hands-on activities -  scuba dive in the 18,000-gallon heated pool, climb the rock wall …read more

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You know it’s Springtime when the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC start to bloom.  And while they are not an official DC monument, the cherry trees in full blossom are one of Washington, DC’s most prized and loved attractions.

The 2-week festival begins Saturday, March 29th and runs until Sunday, April 13th, with peak viewing some time during that two weeks.  But I recommend that, if possible, you get  down to the National Mall early (the first weekend) to view the blossoms.  Historically, DC’s spring rains and wind can often put an abrupt and early end to the show.
Historically, the average …read more

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In the latest annual Forbes survey of America’s most wired cities, Washington, DC came in at number 11, an improvement from it’s 14th place ranking last year.
The rankings are based on a combination of the adoption of broadband Internet access in the home, the number of companies providing high-speed Internet access in the area and the number of public Wi-Fi wireless Internet hot spots per capita in 30 major cities.
For the second year in a row, Atlanta won the honors, with Seattle close behind.
Some of the more interesting places in DC to find free Wi-Fi wireless Internet access is …read more

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A buddy of mine has a couple teenagers and asked for a few ideas of fun things to do with them.  As a parent, he tells me that planning an outing and finding something both he and his kids enjoy can be tough. He mentioned his kids find attractions such as museums “totally boring”.
So I thought about for a while and came up with a few things parents with older kids might enjoy.  
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If the kids are into sports, try the ESPN Zone.
They often have appearances by local sports celebs. On Wednesday, Jan. 30th, at 7:00 p.m., for example Washington …read more

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