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…

1. Anyone offers you discounted tickets to the National Zoo (it’s free).
2. You get approached to buy a Smithsonian Museum Pass, good at all of the Smithsonian museums, (entrance to all of the Smithsonian museums are also free).
3. The “designer” purse that normally retails for $300 at the mall, you happen to find on sale from a tabletop vendor at a festival or from a street vendor in Georgetown.  Yes, it’s a knock-off and worth about 10% of the retail price. But if you really want a $600 Louis Vuitton bag, but can’t justify the price, spending $45 on a knock-off might make you feel better.
4. A cab driver mentions that from downtown to National Airport, he’ll be taking the Beltway…because it’s the fastest route this time of day (talk about the long and expen$ive route). Best to ask at your hotel for the approximate fair before grabbing a cab.
5. You are paying full price for speciality tours.  Sure, it’s common to pay full price when the tour is in high demand. But often, you can negotiate a discount (sometimes a big one), but only if you ask.  I was talking to one speciality tour operator last week about prices and he made it clear that “he would work with me” on a tour, within just a couple minutes, he ended up offering me a 70% discount.
6. Someone offers to sell you White House tour tickets (also free, but limited).
7. You see a Georgetown street vendor selling Rolexs, Gucci and Tag-Heuer watches or designer sunglasses by Oakley or D&G for under $25. Yes, they are fake.  And if you must, always try to bargain them down. Start your offer at nothing higher than 50% of the initial price.*
8. Tickets to events (plays, The Kennedy Center, theaters) are so inexpensive that it seems too good to be true. Don’t fall for a seller on the street that simply used a good scanner and color printer to part you from your vacation cash. Buy from the theater’s box office or let your hotel’s Concierge arrange for tickets.
9. Someone offers you Metro fare cards at a discount. They might be fakes or expired, so go ahead and pay full price for a real Metro card a the station.  The Metro is not that expensive.
10. Vendors, dealers or shops offer “real and authentic” Revolutionary War era, Civil War era,  George Washington slept here artifacts, or other "historical” treasures.  Best to buy from reputable dealers only, ones with a return policy.

* About ten years ago, I did buy a $15 fake “Tag” watch from a Georgetown street vendor. It kept perfect time for over four years. So yes, you might get lucky with a cheap, but well functioning watch.  But my buddy who was visiting DC also bought a diamond “Rolex” (or was it a “Rollex”?). The logo on the face fell off during his flight home and the watch stopped a week later. So buyer beware!

Images – Rolex, purses, Metro SmarTrip card,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 (232 meters) tall, the tower is a couple hundred feet taller than the Washington Monument, but it doesn’t carry commercial radio signals, only television (The CW – Channel 50), and DC Police radio signals. 

Since no broadcast towers in DC even come close to the towers that hit as high as 1,500 feet (500 meters) on top of 100-story skyscrapers in many large cities, radio reception tends to fades in and out as you move around the city and suburbs.  Even in hotels, some within a few miles of downtown, solid reception can be impossible.

But if you do want to find a specific station or radio format without searching the dial, check out Radio-Locator, a web site that finds all the local radio stations in a specific geographical area.

For a link to Washington, DC radio stations, click here. 

But don’t get too attached to the station.  In the last year, my favorite classical station changed to Gospel, my jazz station went oldies, my rock station went all shock-idiot talk.

Luckily, many of the station have live feeds, so even if you don’t live within the reception area, you can still get a piece of local flavor over the net.  

Images – radio tower, vintage radio

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 sun time may be cut down a bit, due to construction and resulting congestion on the Bay Bridge near Annapolis , Maryland . The work is being done to repair some damage from the major truck accident on the bridge earlier this month. The deadly accident caused traffic to be snarled for miles. One lane of traffic on one of the two spans will be closed for the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Images – Bay Bridge, Metro

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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) The Bill of Rights, the third in the trilogy of landmark American documents, also at the National Archives.

4) The 45.5-caret Hope Diamond located in the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals in the Harry Winston Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History.

5) A moon rock brought back from the moon’s surface, by Apollo 17 astronauts in December, 1972, at the National Air and Space Museum.

6) The 1903 Wright Flyer, also  at the National A&S Museum.  Built by Wilbur and Orville Wright, it was the first engine driven plane to fly. It flew for just 59 seconds at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903, but change the way people travel forever. Also at the Air and Space on the National Mall.

7) The Gutenberg Bible at the Library of Congress. One of only 3 perfect original copies of the 1,282-page Gutenberg Bible, which  dates back to 1450.

George Washington’s Landsdowne portrait by Gilbert Stuart on display in the America’s Presidents exhibition at National Portrait Gallery.

9) The Star-Spangled Banner, the massive 30 feet x 42 feet flag which survived and proudly flew after surviving a 25-hour shelling and bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry by the British in 1814. The flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem “The Star-Spangled Banner”, which was later set to music and became the nation’s National Anthem. Normally on display at the National Museum of American History (closed until Fall 2008).

10) Renoir’s highly recognizable and classic French impressionist painting Luncheon of the Boating Party at the Phillips Collection.

Bonus) Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci, one of only 17 paintings attributed to da Vinci, on display at the National Gallery of Art.

 Images – da Vinci and Declaration of Independence – public domain, all others from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 and water use, as well as a commitment to build more environmentally-friendly properties.  But finding a green hotel in Washington, DC is not always possible.

So here’s ten tips for doing your part to help save the planet. 

Even if you are staying at a green hotel, try to:

1. Park your car or skip the rental car counter and take public transportation. Washington DC’s Metro subway system can get you to most tourist destinations, quickly and efficiently. 
2. To avoid cabs, check if the hotel has a courtesy van to and from the airport, Union station or the nearest Metro station. If you must take a cab to and from the airport, try to share with at least one other rider.
3. Reuse towels, by hanging them up to dry.  Most housekeeping staffs understand that a towel on the floor gets changed, hanging towels signals you’ll reuse it.
4. Request that sheets are not changed every day during your stay. 
5. Walk or rent a bike versus taking a cab.  DC is a great walking and biking city in most seasons, even the summer. And even though it can get really hot and sticky, you can still save some gasoline and reduce your personal carbon footprint. Plus, the extra exercise is always good for you.
6. Recycle glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Even if your room doesn’t have a recycle bin, take your recyclables to the hotel’s restaurant and ask them to toss them in their back-of-house recycle bins.
7. When you leave your room, turn off all electrical devices, including the lights, TV, radio and the AC/heating unit.
8. Recycle your daily newspaper or leave it in the lobby for others to read. If you are not planning on reading a paper during your stay, ask that one not be delivered to your room each morning.
9. Select paperless check-in and check-out, and save a few pieces of paper.
10. Report any dripping faucets to the hotel’s maintenance staff.

Bonus Tip – Don’t throw out your plastic water bottle, refill it, versus buying a new one every time.  Close to 88% of all plastic water bottles are not recycled and end up in landfills. That’s over 26,000,000,000 (26 billion) each year.

Here’s just a couple of Washington, DC hotels that claim to be a bit greener than others:

• The historic Willard InterContinental Hotel, which I recently reviewed, is powered by 100% wind energy.  It’s energy supply comes from renewable wind energy credits, making it the first U.S. urban luxury hotel to be fully supported in a sustainable manner.
• The Hyatt Regency Washington, has been Green Seal certified. Green Seal reviews and certifies hotels on their efforts to recycle, conserve energy, reduce fresh water resources, replace hazardous substances with alternatives, and have an environmentally friendly purchasing process.
• Residence Inn at 333 E Street, SW, boasts 50% of its electricity comes from renewable sources. For extended stays, they change linens twice weekly, replace towels only upon request and have a guest recycling station on the 2nd floor. Guests can also rent a hybrid “Flex car” on an hourly basis. They also have eliminated all Styrofoam from their food service.

And for all kinds of green travel ideas, check out Traveling the Green Way, an informative green-focused travel blog from b5media. 

Images – We recycle sign, bottle,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 around the Tidal Basin in full bloom, but other events will impact traffic, including:

• The National Marathon (not the Marine Corps Marathon) will be run from 7:00 a.m until around 1:30. Rolling street closures, including on Constitution Ave. around The White House and The Capitol Building (between 7:30 and noon), will seriously impact traffic. 
• The Smithsonian Kite Festival at the Washington Monument, starts at 10:00 a.m. and will reduce already limited Mall area parking.
• In the early evening on Saturday, the first and only preseason baseball game at the new Washington Nationals Park, against the Baltimore Orioles, starts at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday evening (8:05), the Nat’s home opener will add to early evening car and Metro traffic.  But since the game day traffic flows and Metro plans have only tested on paper, traffic heading to the new ballpark and to designated parking around the city could result in additional driving and parking challenges.

Also on Saturday, due to the marathon and kite festival, parking on Constitution Ave. should be virtually nonexistent.

If you do visit the Mall on Saturday, expect long delays, impossible parking, rerouted traffic and no parking along the Tidal Basin.

Bottom line, take Metro and bring along a big cooler of patience. Or if possible, plan for a Sunday or midweek visit when crowds are lighter.

Just don’t miss one of DC’s most impressive sites – the annual cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Images – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 or ride the aerial zip line, it’s sure to excite your travel spirit.

Enjoy a few free music, dance and cultural performances from performers and cultures from around the world.

Some of the travel celebs that will be at the show include:

• Host of “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern,” on the Travel Channel.  He travels the globe and samples strange foods such as rotted shark, jelly-rolled pork, donkey tail and fish stomach. His keynote presentation is Saturday, 1–2 p.m. on the Adventure Travel Theatre stage.
• Author of the travel bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, Patricia Schultz

See a video of last year’s show.

Adventures in Travel Expo
Washington D.C. Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001 (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, March 29 & 30, 2008. Hours – Sat. 10:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-4:30

Tickets – Adults – $15.00, Kids under 16 with adult – free. Online tickets – $10.00.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Mt. Vernon Square/7th St./ Convention Center, Yellow and Green line.  The Metro stop is located in the Convention Center.

Parking – Metered street and paid garage parking is available.

Images – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 blooming date is April 4th, but nature doesn’t always cooperate.  The earliest blooms have started was March 15th and as late as April 18 back in 1958.  The National Park Service reports one of the earliest “green buds” on the trees, suggesting blooming may occur early this year.

The Yoshino cherry tree blossoms (Prunus x yedoensis) range in progressive colors from bright whites to then soft then brilliant pink. So visiting a couple time over the two weeks usually results in seeing a different range of nature’s colors.

The original cherry trees along the Tidal Basin were first planted in 1912.  The trees were a gift of friendship from the government of the Empire of Japanese.

The blooming season of the cherry tree blossoms is probably the most picturesque time of year in the nation’s capital.

My favorite locations for enjoying the colors and for photo ops is:

• Anywhere around the Tidal Basin, notably across from the Jefferson Memorial. 
• Along Independence Avenue along the Tidal Basin, at the southern and eastern ends of the Washington Monument grounds.
• Near the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.
• At the garden at the Smithsonian Castle (Smithsonian Information Center) at 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW.

Tours

• You can attend a free 20-60 minute National Park Service Ranger talk daily at 10:30 a.m., noon, 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. at either the The Tidal Basin near the of entrance of the FDR Memorial or at the visitor’s welcome tent at the Jefferson Memorial.
• There’s also a self-guided mobile phone tour, starting Friday, March 28th. Call  202-727-3465 to hear Park Rangers present information about the historic cherry trees. (Phone charges may apply.)
• There are also 1½ mile Ranger led night time Lantern Walking Tours of the Tidal Basin on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, during the festival, starting at 8:00 p.m.  Reservations are required. Register at the National Park Service Welcome Tent, but reservations are accepted only on the same day, and they go fast.

To avoid the big weekend afternoon crowds, try to schedule your cherry blossom visit before 9:00 a.m. on weekends or after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays.  Parking is easier and there are less people that might end up in the background of your photos.

Want to see a few more photos?  Check out my photos from last year’s cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Nearest Metro subway station – Federal Triangle or Smithsonian – Blue and Orange lines.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 at Dupont Circle, Freedom Plaza at 14th and Penn, and other limited areas around the National Mall and Capitol Hill, (courtesy of the Smithsonian Institute).

To find other fee-based and free Wi-Fi hotspots in and around Washington, DC, check:

• Wi-Fi Hotspot List
• Wi-Fi 411
• Ji Wire

Images – Flickr

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 Capitals’ defenseman Mike Green will answer questions and sign autographs.

Watch a game on one of the 300 hi-def televisions, play an arcade game, listen in on a live radio sports show broadcast form the Zone, or just grab lunch.  With 8 different burgers and the Ultimate Tailgate appetizer  – Buffalo and BBQ Wings, sliders, chicken fingers, BBQ ribs and spinach & artichoke dip, there’s something for almost any teenager.

ESPN Zone
555 12th St NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-783-3776

• Hours – Daily 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., until midnight on Friday & Saturday
• Metro – Metro Center – Blue, Orange, Red lines, then a 2 block walk.

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Let your teen experience the thrill of flying.

Spend about 30 minutes in the air  with a certified instructor co-piloting a single engine 4-seat plane.  After a 20-minute briefing and filing a flight plan, one of the two of you can sit in the co-pilot’s seat and fly with the instructor, while the other take photos or silently screams.

Offered by Dulles Aviation, and located at Dulles airport, you can take an introductory flying lesson for only $69.00 (two people max.).

• Hours – Daily, with reservations, subject to weather conditions.
• For info or reservations – Call Dulles Aviation, 10501 Observation Road, Manassas, VA, 703- 361-2171

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Are they into music?

And what teenager isn’t?  Promise them lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, if they take a tour of Ford’s Theatre with you, just next door.

At the Hard Rock, they can see:

• President Bill Clinton’s saxophone that he played at his Inaugural Ball in 1993.
• Stage wear from Gwen Stefani, 50’s rocker Buddy Holly and Queen’s Freddie Mercury.
• Stacked-heel boots, fangs, black leg wraps and cape, and a chain chest piece from Gene Simmons of KISS.
• Guitars used by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend of The Who, a Les Paul played by Lenny Kravitz, a Marilyn Manson bass and one from former Van Halen front-man, Sammy Hagar.

Hard Rock Cafe
999 E. Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004 (map it)

• Hours – Daily – 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday until midnight
• Metro – Federal Triangle – Blue and Orange lines – then a 3-block walk.

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If global warming, the environment or outdoor adventure is on their list, visit the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall.

With regularly changing temporary exhibitions as well as permanent displays visitors can explore global cultures, natural history, animal science and ongoing National Geographic Society projects.

National Geographic
1145 17th Street NW, at M Street
Washington, DC 
202-857-7588

• Admission – free.
• Hours – Daily – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. except Sundays – opens at 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Metro – Farragut North – Red line and Farragut West – Blue and Orange, both within a couple blocks.

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If they enjoy television and radio (at least until the Newseum opens), take them to hear and tour the Voice of America.

The global TV and radio service provides free 45-minute guided tours on weekdays. Tours including behind-the-scenes looks at the VOA newsroom and broadcast studios during live shows.

The Voice of America
330 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, D.C.  20237

• Hours – Tours offered weekdays only, at Noon and 3:00 p.m.   
• Metro – Federal Center – Blue and Orange lines , then a 2-block walk

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Want some retro fun?

At Strike Bethesda, 1960s Austin Powers retro meets techno bowling. The neon lighting, big screen TVs and pop music add to the scene.

• Hours – Opens daily at 5:00 p.m., but after 9:00 p.m. (8:00 on Mondays) it’s 21 and over only.
• Metro – Friendship Heights – Red line, then a 10 minute walk.

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Images – courtesy of the respective sites

Post from: The DC Traveler