Washington, DC Travel Guide
7/03/2008 at 10:00 AM
Tags: Masons, Museums (all tags)
Washington, DC , being the capital of our nation, naturally has tons of buildings celebrating the men who built this country. Nope, not the founding fathers--the Freemasons.
The masons were responsible for much of the grand architecture of early Washington, but none of the buildings is more intriguing than the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, the secret society's monumental national headquarters on 16th Street, the entrance of which is guarded by two giant sphinxes.
While most Washingtonian pass by the towering complex assuming its secret gates are closed to the public, the building is actually open for tours--albeit only on weekdays. While you won't be shown any secret ancient rites (unless you wander off the tour, perhaps), the building is mysterious enough that you should be able to concoct all your own conspiracy theories regarding the cavernous rooms and hallways filled with hieroglyphics, creepy stained glass murals and secret passageways.
Related Stories:
· Scottish Rite [Official Site]
· Washington, DC Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: NCinDC]
by BS
6/26/2008 at 2:00 PM
Tags: Festivals, Culture Travel, Museums, Summer Travel (all tags)
As if we weren't already jealous of Washington, DC residents and their free world-class Smithsonian museums, the doors have been thrown open for a two-week celebration of cultures from all over. The Folklife Festival runs today through Sunday; it continues next Wednesday through the holiday weekend on the National Mall. Like the museums that spawned it, it's completely free.
Special exhibits for 2008 include demonstrations of Bhutanese archery, art exhibits celebrating the last 50 years of NASA and a panel of Texan winemakers as well as artifacts from all corners like this Pakistani truck. And we'd love to kick our heels up at the zydeco concert at 6 pm on July 2. It's also free!
Related Stories
· 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival [Official Site]
· Smithsonian Folklife Festival Opens on Mall [AP, via Yahoo]
· Music Festival Travel: Pinging the Hills of Catalunya [Jaunted]
[Photo: lilitabada]
by egw
6/18/2008 at 12:46 PM
Tags: Biking, Active Travel, Bike Sharing, Travel Snapshots (all tags)
In April, we mentioned a new bike-sharing program in Washington, DC that was supposed to start in May. Judging from this snapshot we took on the corner of 7th Street NW and F Street NW, that launch date has been pushed back.
Whenever it finally gets going, the Clear Channel-sponsored bike program will start small, with just 120 bikes at 10 rental kiosks throughout the city. (Here's map of the rental locations.)
We wonder, though, how useful the SmartBike DC program will be to visitors. So far, rentals are only available via a $40 yearly subscription.
Related Stories:
· SmartBike DC [Official Site]
· Springtime Pedals [Jaunted]
· Travel Snapshots coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
6/06/2008 at 9:35 AM
Tags: Celeb Travel, Activism Travel, Jim Carrey, Jenny McCarthy (all tags)
It's been awhile since we've contemplated the whereabouts of Jim Carrey, but apparently the actor is following in the footsteps of Sheryl Crow and Mr. Rogers (not to mention Mr. Smith!) and going to Washington.
Specifically, he and girlfriend Jenny McCarthy marched on behalf of Green Our Vaccines, a nonprofit dedicated to funding studies of vaccinations.
McCarthy has been crusading for medicine to investigate the side effects of ingredients in certain shots since her son was diagnosed with autism. We don't know who put the what in the where now, but Jaunted fully supports performing studies to benefit kids--and celebs using giant megaphones to promote something besides "Horton Hears a Who."
Related Stories:
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Washington, DC Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Famecrawler]
by egw
5/21/2008 at 1:00 PM
Tags: Starbucks Alternatives, Coffee Shops, Coffee, Free WiFi, WiFi (all tags)
Always a corporate-lovin' town, Washington, DC's java options skew the chain route, with more Starbucks and Cosi outposts than corrupt politicians and lobbyists. But local Mayorga Coffee has crept up on the big guys, building a mini-chain of nine area locations, from the grab-and-go counters at BWI, Dulles and Reagan National Airports, to a massive lounge and performance space in Silver Spring.
The company's newest offering, Mayorga Lounge and Coffee, is in suddenly happening Columbia Heights, recently insta-gentrified with a flurry of new establishments both cool (uber-hipster bar Wonderland Ballroom and vegan bakery Sticky Fingers) and corporate (Target, Ruby Tuesday and, yes, Starbucks).
MORE...
by BS
5/19/2008 at 2:30 PM
Tags: Attractions, Landmarks, Ben Bernanke, Buildings, Government Building Travel (all tags)
There are three ways to get into the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC and only one of them involves President Bush introducing you to the flashbulbs at a press conference. If you know that you'll be visiting the capital and have a burning desire to see the Martin or Eccles buildings which hold the offices of policymakers like Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, you can request a group tour at least two weeks in advance.
Can't round up 9 friends who care about monetary policy? We recently entered the Martin Building on the coattails of a private group, for which we had to submit our Social Security number and don an "ESCORT REQUIRED" badge at all times. We also had to pass through an airport-esque security checkpoint, including the dreaded removal of shoes. (It could be worse: Some federal buildings, like the US District Court in Oklahoma, don't allow any electronics to be brought in.)
If you visit, you might not to get to see much, either; your escort will usher you past an eternity of closed doors, and once in the building you won't be allowed to exit and re-enter at will. We didn't spot any giant bricks of money, but you will see the idiosyncratic collections of art which decorate the elevator banks. That said, it's a trip you should take if you can, if only for that opportunity to say, Hey, this is where the makers of monetary policy eat lunch.
Related Stories:
· Info on Touring the Fed [Official Site]
· Washington, DC Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: ayjayem]
by egw
4/09/2008 at 1:04 PM
Tags: Spring Travel, Museums, Libraries (all tags)
It's springtime in Washington, DC, and you've smelled the cherry blossoms, posed with Abe and cheered on the Nationals. Now it's time to walk on the wild side and head to--wait for it--the library!
OK, we know what you're thinking.
But beginning this Saturday your trip to the Library of Congress will be completely revolutionized, super hi-tech and dare we say exciting, thanks to the new Library of Congress Experience.
MORE...
by CourtScott
4/04/2008 at 1:05 PM
Tags: Travel Advertising, Travel Marketing, Tourism Board Travel, Tourism Boards (all tags)
One thing that tourism boards never seem to get is that having an incredibly long name isn't helpful. Like, say, the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation. Doesn't exactly scream "We're hip! Come visit!" does it?
So the tourism folks in the capital decided to change the name to Destination DC, which besides being reasonable is also an easy to remember URL. Along with the new name comes a major marketing push, playing up the fact that Washington is the country's most powerful city.
Besides all the obvious governmental stuff ("Seat of Power"), you've got your "Fire Power" (sunsets over the Potomic and July 4th fireworks), your "Power Play" (flying kites on the National Mall) and your "Soul Power" (massages, jazz and Sunday brunch). Some of the "power" puns are definitely stretching it, but the overall effort looks pretty slick. It should: Destination DC's spending $2 million on the campaign.
Related Stories:
· Destination DC [Official Site]
· My Houston, We Don't Have a Problem [Jaunted]
· Tourism Board Travel coverage [Jaunted]
by pbb
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