Halloween in DC

If you will be in DC for Halloween, you’re in luck! There are lots of fun events happening all over the city. 

Boo at the Zoo: This fun event is held at the National Zoo each year.

Fright at the Museum:  This scary exhibit at the National Crime Museum will make you want to sleep with the lights on!

DC Ghost Tours: The Most Haunted Houses walking tour will take you through Lafayette Park, which is known as one of the most haunted areas of DC!

DC Drag Queen Race:  For something a little less scary, head to Dupont Circle to check out this over the top, flamboyant annual race. Stay for a fun block party following the race.  It attracts a very diverse crowd, and really everyone should check it out at least once.

Last but not least, Georgetown is the place to be on Halloween night.  The streets are blocked off, and costumed revelers wander in and out of the bars on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue.  It makes for some fun people watching!

Visit DC The Smart Way

The smart way to plan your next trip is to use your smart phone! Check out these travel apps that help with everything you need to make your trip go smoothly from start to finish.

AOL came up with a list of the 11 Best Travel apps. USA Today also put together a list of the Top Free Travel Apps.

The National Park Service just announced their first mobile app: National Mall mobile app. There is an app to help you plan your visit to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. There are also several other Washington, DC specific mobile apps to help you get around while you here.  GEORGETOWNDC.com has a mobile site where you can access information on Georgetown stores, restaurants and businesses, plus  parking information, and real-time DC Circulator bus feeds on your mobile phone.  Georgetown Suites also has a mobile booking engine, so you can book your reservation on the go!

You can even pay for your parking at meters all over DC with your smart phone. No more searching for quarters.  Just sign up for free at http://us.parkmobile.com/.  You can even get a text when your meter is about to expire.

If you are travelling with kids, be sure to review this list of apps for the family road trip for some fun ideas to keep the kids busy while on the road!

Related articles

• Cherry Blossoms in DC  (georgetownsuites.wordpress.com)

MLK Jr. Memorial Dedication in Washington,DC

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC will be dedicated on October 16. The monument will be a lasting tribute to Dr. King’s legacy.  The dedication ceremony itself will be preceded by a weeklong series of events to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. The dedication takes place on the 48th anniversary of his “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. The Memorial is located on Independence Avenue, southwest of the World War II Memorial.

The dedication will have both unticketed public viewing areas as well as reserved tickets available through a ticket lottery.  This online ticket lottery is open until May 31, 2011.

According to  www.MLKMemorial.org ”The King Memorial is intended to be personally transformative for visitors, building a sense of commitment to the promise of positive change and active citizenship. Drawing from Dr. King’s own rich metaphorical language, the themes of “the Man, the Movement and the Message” are intertwined into a larger experience of place.”

For more information on the memorial and the dedication ceremony, visit the Dedicate The Dream website.

The MLK Memorial Foundation expects 250, 000 visitors for this event.  So book your reservations soon!  Check rates and availability at Georgetownsuites.com.

Royal Treatment in Georgetown

All eyes are on England this week in anticipation of the Royal Wedding of William and Kate.

The American version on Royalty was John F. Kennedy and family. The wealth, glamour and photogenic quality of the family members, as well as their extensive and continuing commitment to public service, has elevated them to iconic status over the past half-century and has led to their reputation as “America’s Royal Family.”^[1][

The Kennedys lived in several houses in Georgetown before they moved to The White House. Take a self guided walking tour of Georgetown and you will pass by several of these residences. After your walk around town, you can stop at Martin’s Tavern for a bite to eat. JFK frequented this Irish pub for Sunday brunch after church. This is also where he proposed to Jackie!

If you would like to join in on William & Kate’s wedding celebration, there are several events happening in Georgetown. Join in and celebrate in style!

Par for the Course US Open Special

The Masters is now over, so it’s time to start counting down to the US Open which will be held June 13-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD located just outside Washington, DC.  The US Open Championship tournament sells out every year. For ticket information, click here.  Make plans now to take advantage of all DC has to offer while you are in town. Here are some tips from the staff of Georgetown Suites on our favorite things to do in Washington, DC.

Georgetown Suites is offering a Par for the Course package available 6/11-20, 2011. Stay 2 nights, and the second night’s rate is Par for the course: $70.  Don’t worry, we won’t charge you extra if the pros shoot over par! Rate includes continental breakfast, discount parking and free wireless internet. Based upon availability.

Civil War 150: Washington, DC

April marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War.   The Washington, DC area played a big part in the war.  The city took on the role of military headquarters and logistics center. More Civil War battles were fought in the Capital Region than anywhere else. Several Civil War era buildings and statues of war heroes are scattered across the city.  

 Destination DC has a great website dedicated to the commemoration of the Civil War. The site offers information about special events and exhibitions in and around Washington, DC. Be sure to check out the list of 150 insider tips on Civil War related things to do in DC.

Here are some other great resources for information about Civil War commemorations in Washington, DC:

Washington Post: Civil War 150

Civil War 150, a commemoration by The Smithsonian

African American Civil War Memorial (Opens July 2011)

Civil War 150th Anniversary Events in DC area

Capital Region USA Civil War Trails 

There is even a quiz on the Civil War Statues around town. See how you do!

20 Best Kept Secrets of Washington DC

                                                                                                                                                                        

Budget Travel Magazine just released it’s list of The 20 Best Kept Secrets in Washington, DC.

They offer great tips on what to do in DC, such as go to a baseball game, visit an embassy, or go to a free concert.  For a list of what Georgetown Suites’ staff recommends in DC, click here.

What are your tips for the best kept Washington, DC secrets?