As a kid growing up rooting for my hometown Redskins (Norm Snead, George Allen's Over the Hill Gang and onto Joe Gibbs and the Glory Days), I never thought I would pass on tickets to a Redskins/Cowboys game (w/parking ,even!), but here I am downtown DC taking in the holiday season. Needing some stays to earn my MegaBonus Cat. 5 certificate and with DC being one of the few Marriott weak spots, I was able to grab several evenings at different properties for less than $85. Two downtown stays at <$200 net, earned me a night at the $250 Renaissance Malmo Sweden for my upcoming cruise (although if I wait long enough, I can just stay home and watch all of jasper's great videos and fake it!). Granted, junior varsity stuff compared to the road warriors 55k points for 30 nights, but we all do what we can to "rage against the machine". Had an excellent meal at Vidalia (even had their fancy schmancy scrapple in honor of all the Musubi fans).
Christmas gift from the daughters who've heard enough about Dad's deals
DC Botanic Gardens
Capitol Christmas Tree
Union Station Entrance
Union Station Train Display
Holiday Market outside American Art Museum - nice artisan gifts
View from Post Office Pavillion tower (an insider secret - halfway between
White House and Capitol, this soon to be Trump Hotel offers one of the best
360 degree views of the city) Here is looking east.
Gingerbread Capitol at the Willard Hotel. 500 lbs of flour, 300 lbs of gingerbread,
200 hours to make.
Washington landmark - Old Ebbitt Grill
National Christmas Tree and Lincoln Memorial from POV Lounge - W Hotel
If I get the energy next year, I'll snag one of those sweet $69 Mayflower pre-paids and do a report on the inside Insiders' DC, interesting places for road warriors who have seen Fonzie's jacket, the Hope Diamond, and the National Mall too many times to count and are looking for something different (we just recently lost the fascinating National Aquarium) like Library of Congress, Folger Shakespeare Library, Supreme Court, Building Museum, Corcoran/Phillips/Renwick Art Galleries, Arboretum, Dumbarton Oaks and these two examples just up the road from the Washington Marriott/Ritz/Renaissance;
Two more area holiday items worthy of mention;
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/activitiesandevents/celebrations/zoolights/ I hit this event 2-3 times a decade and am going next week staying at the nearby Wardman Park Marriott. Lots of fun - zoo in the afternoon, lights at night and a good meal at Ardeo and Bardeo down the street.
http://dctemplelights.lds.org/ This opened in the late 70's and is a wonderful trip for the entire family. This actually has a Marriott connection, in that Mr. Marriott was instrumental in setting this event up from the very beginning. A stay at the nearby Bethesda Marriott makes it an easy trip (and if you have an extra night, you can catch a performance at the Strathmore Music Center http://www.strathmore.org/ The Temple provides enjoyable shows, a relaxing time, virtually everyone there is in a friendly mood, and contemplative quiet for the individual traveler.
Happy Holidays to all Insiders