We're Going To DC!

[plumtreeblossom]

Yes we are, October 12 through 15! I'm really excited, as I haven't been there since I was a kid. We'll be meeting up with beowabbit's sister and her husband while there, too! I won free Amtrak tickets earlier this year, which was the catalyst of the trip to begin with, and we both really enjoy train travel so it was a big win for all. We're museum lovers, so we'll be haunting the Smithsonian to our heart's content. Yay!

What I don't know are the neighborhoods of DC, and which ones would be good to stay in. Being within walking distance of the local subway system is crucial. We like to be in the thick of things, so not looking for suburbs or outskirts. We'd love a neighborhood with some Cool Stuff where we could just kick around a bit. Since out train travel is free, we don't have to pinch pennies so much on the hotel. Who's familiar with DC?

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Thanks much for all the helpful input!! Can you tell me, what's the story with the neighborhood called "White House" on the hotel websites? Obviously we know one thing that's in the neighborhood. :-) But is the neighborhood itself sketchy?

[noire.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. When I lived in DC there was no neighborhood called "White House." But if it's the area I think it *might* be, it's a downtown business district where there isn't much in the way of life after 6pm (and not much of a restaurant area, either.) But if I recall correctly, there were a number of very nice hotels there, the Madison being a fave. But do NOT go to the TechCenter at L'Enfant Plaza. It's very close to Chinatown and the metro (and a beautiful hotel!) but again, if you turn down the wrong block you could be in trouble.

That's the thing of it. Most of the hotels I know are on okay blocks, but you don't want to wander. And, in some of those areas, there's no place really to go after dark anyway. Dupont, Adams Morgan and up near the Sheraton have restaurants, nightlife, Metro, and are safer.

The problem is that one block could be fine and the next dreadful.

OTOH, you may just want to use a taxi to get back to the hotel in the evening. You wouldn't have to worry about that.