Washington, D.C.

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Quick Washington, D.C. Trip

A January 2005 trip to Washington, D.C. by tachi

Just OutsideMore Photos

To finalize my visa for our upcoming trip to Turkey, we went to Washington, D.C. with three things on our to-do list: Turkish restaurant, Turkish Embassy, and the Smithsonian. As always, we ended up doing so much more.

  • 5 reviews
  • 2 stories/tips
  • 14 photos

Victoria and Maxwells B&B￿Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Victoria and Maxwells B&B"

http://www.artstudiobandb.com/

At $99 to $150 a night, this is a quirky B&B. Vicki is delightful and takes good care of her guests. The rooms are okay, as the beds are very squeaky and walls are thin. There is a shared bathroom for the top three rooms and one room downstairs that has its own bathroom. Breakfast consists of toast, cereal, and coffee. Vicki made the stay worthwhile with her knowledge of the town, and the location is great. I will try a different B&B on our next trip, as the rooms were not the most comfortable and it was a bit chilly with our one heater.

As an FYI: Children are not welcome. She has a friendly standard poodle. There is one parking spot available and you must reserve it when booking the room for $10 a night.

  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by tachi on January 30, 2005

Victoria and Maxwells B&B￿
1705 Q St. NW Washington, District of Columbia
(202) 483-4077

ZaytinyaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Us at Zatinya
We had an outstanding tapas-style meal. They accented Turkish specialties with Greek touches and a gourmet twist. We loved the ambience and the smooth Turkish music. No one on staff was Turkish, but the staff was pleasant. Their Turkish coffee was okay, but the desserts were divine. I especially loved the berry soup.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by tachi on January 30, 2005

Zaytinya
701 Ninth Street North West Washington, District of Columbia 20001
(202) 638-0800

Levante'sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This is a great Turkish restaurant at the Dupont Circle Metro area. It is open for lunch and dinner. We ate there for both and liked the service better at lunch. The spicy lentil soup is excellent, and we highly recommend it. They have a few Turkish wines. They are a great value for the quality and large portion size. The restaurant is next door to a pool hall, so it is a convenient night out.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by tachi on January 30, 2005

Levante's
1320 19th Street North West Washington, District of Columbia 20036
(202) 293-3244

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture GardenBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Hirshhorn Museum and Sculptured Garden"

Just Outside
The museum is built in a circle. It is easy to explore and can be completely walked in 1.5 hours, giving you plenty of time to take pictures (no flash) and enjoy. The pieces range from beautiful to thought-provoking to "why would someone make that?." Today's exhibit was not my favorite, but they stay with you, as you can't help but remember them.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by tachi on January 30, 2005

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Independence Ave SW & 7th St SW Washington, District of Columbia
(202) 633-1000

Smithsonian Institution: National Museum of the American IndianBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "National Museum of the American Indian"

art exhibit
This new museum is beautiful inside and out. Steam was rising off the outdoor stream as icicles hung from the tribal rocks. Once inside, you are immediately warmed by the woods and coppers. The exhibits are broken into categories. We were there for 1.5 hours and only saw the second-floor displays. I was most impressed by the artwork and the Modern Indians display. It was very humbling for me to visit this museum, as I realized I knew so little about the native tribes. I recognized maybe 10 of the 30 or so tribes described. From the Chicago City Tribe to diminishing Inuits in Alaska, this museum has a message to tell about the strength and courage of a forgotten people. I highly recommend that everyone visit.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by tachi on January 30, 2005

Smithsonian Institution: National Museum of the American Indian
470 Lenfant PLZ SW Washington, District of Columbia 20024
(202) 357-1300

Presidential InaugurationBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Stealth Bomber
We were in D.C. the day before the inauguration. D.C. was transformed into a homeland security experiment. Armed guards were atop every building. Jets flew overhead practicing for the air show, and a Stealth flew directly over us while we were on the downtown Mall near the Hirsch Horn Modern Art Musuem. It was exciting and a bit unnerving to see our capitol so protected. Visiting D.C. during a special event can be trying; plan ahead. Try not to drive, use the Metro, and stay calm if you get stuck in traffic like we did. It took us 4 hours to go 45 miles.

The Turkish EmbassyBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Getting my tourist visa at the Turkish Embassy was a wonderful experience. The embassy is small and everyone, from guards to the teller, was courteous and friendly. After $20 and 24 hours, I had my visa and some great literature to help plan my trip.

About the Writer

tachi
tachi
Charlottesville, Virginia

Get the Word Out

Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.