| Travel News from Washington, DC | May 2007 |
| See also: Non-Partisan News | Capital Ideas | DC Dish | Now Showing | Quick Tips | |
Quick tips
- Visitors can now explore Washington, DC on board a double-decker bus with a new hop-on, hop-off tour from Open Top Sightseeing. The two-level air-conditioned bus offers gorgeous views of the National Mall, White House, Georgetown, Dupont Circle and other neighborhoods and attractions while a narrator relates the city's history and answers questions. Buses operate every 30 minutes, with 25 stops throughout the city. Tickets are a terrific value, priced at $32 for adults and $16 for children and valid for two days.
- Arlington National Cemetery now offers a two-hour interpretive audio tour, available on an iPod Nano. Visitors can choose from more than 30 audio tracks paying respects to President John F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and the heroes buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns. An informative cemetery map, historic audio broadcasts and "Audio Theatre" dramatizations are included on the audio tour, along with stories from Old Guard and National Park Service personnel. The tour comes pre-loaded on an iPod and is available for a $5 rental fee in the Visitors Center Gift Shop. General admission to the cemetery is free.
- This season, Washington Walks will make its tours available to a wider audience by offering walking tours with American Sign Language interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing visitors. A different neighborhood tour will be offered each month. Walks are given rain or shine and last approximately two hours. Cost is $10 per person; reservations are not required.
- Love the star-studded July 4th concert on the National Mall? You can enjoy the entertainment and the picturesque setting without the crowds by attending the concert's rehearsal on July 3. The show starts at 7:30 pm.
- For a VIP experience, book a tour of the State Department's Diplomatic Reception Rooms. Used by the Secretary of State and other high-ranking government officials for official receptions, the building houses an impressive collection of 18th century decorative arts, furniture and ceramics. Free public tours are offered Monday through Friday at 9:30 am, 10:30 am and 2 pm. Look online for more details.
- If you don't want to wait in line to ride to the top of the Washington Monument, visit DC's first "skyscraper," the Old Post Office Pavilion, located at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue. You'll seldom find a long wait for the elevator, which takes you into the twelve-story bell tower for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.
- Smithsonian National Zoo officials recently reached an agreement with the Chinese government that will allow Tai Shan, the giant baby panda born at the National Zoo in 2005, to stay in Washington for a few more years. Tai Shan, who was the first baby panda born at the National Zoo to survive for more than a few days and only the third to survive in the United States, will stay in the District until 2009.
- Hotel Palomar, a sophisticated and art-inspired Kimpton property located in Dupont Circle, has finished developing its outdoor pool, and it will be open to guests for the first time this season. With the pool's opening, Hotel Palomar becomes one of DC's only luxury hotel properties to offer this amenity to guests.
- This summer, families can take advantage of a great deal while enjoying Mabou Mines' enchanting puppetry production of "Peter & Wendy," playing at Arena Stage through June 24. Through a partnership with Target, Arena Stage is offering a Family Fun Pack, including four tickets, four non-alcoholic drinks and four snacks for $100.
- The Washington National Cathedral opened a new $34 million underground bus facility, giving Washington, DC its first underground bus parking. The new garage offers space for up to 18 buses; reservations are required.
