Monthly Archives: March 2011

National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC

March 29, 2011 – 8:57 pm

The National Museum of the American Indian is the 16th museum of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum’s mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of the diverse native cultures of the Western Hemisphere. The collections contain artifacts from various native cultures having religious and historical significance, as well as items used for every day activities. Current exhibitions include Vantage Point: The Contemporary Native Art Collection and Return to a Native Place: Algonquian Peoples of the Chesapeake. Also, the cafeteria is rumored to be the best of all the museums in the district and also sells a cook book so that the dishes may be recreated at home.

Admission to the museum is free of charge and the building is handicapped accessible. The hours of operation are 10:00am to 5:30pm daily and closes on December 25th. For additional information on group visits and tours please visit the museum’s website.

The museum is located on the National Mall conveniently accessible by the L’Enfant metro station (yellow, green, blue and orange lines). For further assistance planning your trip in DC with metro please visit WMATA’s website.

Enjoy!
Alexis, Innkeeper
American Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Washington DC Restaurants

Bistrot du coin, Washington D.C

March 28, 2011 – 9:10 pm

Couple days ago, I was craving for French food and what a better way to have dinner to Bistro du Coin, one of the best French restaurant in Washington DC. So, I decided to go around 6:00pm because usually around 6:30pm the restaurant is full and the waiting line is pretty long. When you open the door you feel like you have been crossing the Atlantic and you are in a Parisian café, the decor, the ambiance, and the staff welcome you in the most simple and friendly way like it supposed to be in a real Bistrot. I got a table upstairs on the balcony (which was quieter than downstairs), overviewing the main room and the bar and believe me: what a view! It was probably one of the best table I ever had in a restaurant.

The menu was amazing; it gives you a real overview of the French cuisine and makes you discover specialties from all over the country! The café is known for his French Onion Soup, along with his ten varieties of steamed mussels…

I wanted (and I’m sure will too) try everything so I decided to order a little bit of everything. For true taste of France, try one of the pâtés or the duck confit. The snails in garlic butter ($7.95) were a bit light on the garlic but were still very enjoyable and perfect for my appetizer.

In main course I ordered the “Bouche a la reine” (7.95) which is also names Vol au vent is the French for “windblown” to describe its lightness is a small hollow case of puff pastry which was filled with Chicken, veal sweetbreads and mushrooms in cream sauce. It was delicious! To accompany my main course I ordered the French fries which in 2006 were voted best French fries in the USA (it’s what the waiter told me and by the first bite I trusted him).

For dessert, I was too full but next time I will try one (all under $7.00) which include the classics Crème Brulee, apple tart, lemon custard, chocolate mousse, poached pear with ice cream…

The restaurant is open 7 days a week, 364 days a year (only closed on Labor day, the first Monday of September).

Bon appetit! Jonathan
American Guest House Bed and Breakfast
Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations . We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

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Washington DC Activities Washington DC Museums

National Portrait Gallery

March 24, 2011 – 7:25 pm

Welcome to the National Portrait Gallery which through the visual arts, performing arts and new media, portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the American story. Through the visual and performing arts, we celebrate leaders such as George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr., artists such as George Gershwin, activists such as Sequoyah and Rosa Parks…

Do you know the National Portrait Gallery shares with the Smithsonian American Art Museum one of Washington’s oldest public buildings, a National Historic Landmark that was begun in 1836 to house the U.S. Patent Office.

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 11:30am to 7pm. The museum is closed on the 25^th of December.

The museum is conveniently located above the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail station (Red, Yellow and Green lines) at Eighth and F Streets, NW, D.C., 20001. Metro hours, fare information, and maps are available at www.wmata.com. The DC Circulator also serves the museum’ Penn Quarter neighborhood. Hours, fare information and maps are available at www.dccirculator.com.

Enjoy your visit!
Jonathan, Innkeeper

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast
Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations . We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

Washington DC Activities Washington DC News

National Marathon 2011,Washington DC

March 20, 2011 – 8:37 pm

Finally, springs is here and the National Cherry Blossom Festival starts in only 6 days!! A month ago, we informed you that we had a special discount during this event (March 26th to April 15th 2011).

So as you know our nation’s capital is transformed by the blush-pink blooms, with thousands cherry trees blossoming with color near the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial and many performances and events will be held such as the National marathon…

In fact on March 26 many of the streets in DC will be closed from 7:00am to 1:00pm, and you may have also some problem with the transportation. So if you plan to get in the city, you better check the marathon and the Metro rail/bus websites to have more information during this day.

Be safe and enjoy the Cherry Blossom festival ! Jonathan

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast
Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations . We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

Washington DC Public Transportation

MEGABUS

March 18, 2011 – 9:32 pm

Megabus, branded on buses as megabus.com, is a intercity bus services of Coach USA/Coach Canada and DATTCO (under contract) providing discount travel services since 2006.

Megabus service in the United States and Canada is provided primarily from the three hub cities of New York City , Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

Megabus fares start from US$1.00, with a booking fee of US$0.50 on the Internet. Tickets must be purchased in advance via the website or by telephone. Upon purchase, passengers are given a reservation number which they show the bus operator when they board.

All Megabus are equipped with Wi-Fi and 110 V socket.

Enjoy your trip! Jonathan

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations. We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

Washington DC Restaurants

FLIPPIN PIZZA IN DUPONT CIRCLE

March 18, 2011 – 3:36 pm

This is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat, they have pizza by the slice, calzones and pies. We tried the pizza special (2 slices + soda for $6 tax included) and it was delicious! The place is very small but it is stylish, clean and friendly and it is located on Connecticut Avenue near DuPont Circle metro, an easy walk (5 minutes) from the Guest House. Please visit Flippin Pizza’s web site for more information.

Enjoy it!Lucia
American Guest House Bed and Breakfast
Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations . We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

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Washington DC Public Transportation

Transportation Tips for Washington DC Tourists,

March 10, 2011 – 9:57 pm

Washington, DC is an easy city to get around in as a tourist. We have a reliable and clean metro rail and metro bus system. The Washington Metro Area Transportation Authority website provides a wealth of resources for commuters on the go. You will need a farecard to use the metro rail system and exact change in cash to use the metro bus system. The cash metro bus fare is $1.70. The metro rail fares range between $1.60 and $5.00 depending on your destination and the time of day you are traveling. Fare during rush hour is more expensive than off peak hours. Rush hour is from 5:30am -9:30am and 3:30pm and 7:30pm.

The WMATA website has a “trip planner” feature that allows you to input the address or cross streets of your location and final destination and will provide you with the fastest mode of transport. There are choices of metro bus or rail only transport, as well as a combination of both to travel by. The website also has a “next bus” feature which provides you with the next three arrival times of your selected bus from your stop. All stops for each metro bus line are included on this website feature, which makes it convenient to plan your trip. The bus is the most economical way to travel in DC. WMATA also has a mobile site you can use on your smart phone to access the same “trip planner” and “next bus” features. If you do no have a smart phone you may call WMATA’s phone number which is posted on a sign at each bus stop with a stop number to enter when prompted by the automated service. The WMATA website also has the most up to date status for metro rail so that you may be aware of any disruptions.

The DC Circulator bus makes regular circuits between assigned areas in DC. For instance, there is a bus that runs a circuit between George Town and Union Station and another line runs between Adams Morgan and McPherson Square metro station, which is very close to the white house. The circulator costs $1.00 and runs every ten minutes and is a very reliable source of travel.

Happy Riding!
Alexis

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations. We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

Regional News

Welcome to Fairfax county, Virginia!

March 9, 2011 – 8:28 pm

Fairfax County which is bounded on the north and southeast by the Potomac River has always been an historical location. For fact, from their Fairfax County homes at Mount Vernon and Gunston Hall, George Washington and George Mason led the American in the cause of freedom during the Revolutionay war. Located near Washington DC, Fairfax County was also an important region in the Civil War.

Since many years now, Fairfax County draws visitors from around the world and shares the history of his land whether it’s about interest in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, national monuments or even such modern pursuits as shopping and outdoor recreation….

If you plan to visit Faifax County while you are here in Washington D.C, go to visit the Fairfax County website and find interesting information such as transportation, Metro trip planner, list of shopping centers…

Enjoy your visit! Jonathan

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Washington DC Public Transportation

Car Rentals in the DC metro area

March 8, 2011 – 8:57 pm

If you are visiting the DC metro area, the district has countless museums, landmarks and restaurants to visit. There are also great activities just a short drive outside of the district lines that that you may want to explore during your stay. Great Falls National Park is located in Great Falls, VA, about a 30 minute drive outside of Washington, DC proper. The park boasts great hiking trails and views of the falls. It is easy to rent a car at anyone of DC’s transit hubs to enhance your stay in the DC metro area.

Both Ronald Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport have representatives to assist you from the following car rental companies: Alamo, Avis Auto Rental, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National Rent-a-Car, and Thrifty. Please follow the link for Reagan International Airport for more information on speed limits and driving in DC.

If you are traveling by train to DC, you may also rent a car at Union Station. All car rental companies are located on the mezzanine level of the station next to the parking garage. There are representatives from Alamo, Avis, Budget and Hertz.

Drive Safely!
Alexis

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations. We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

Washington DC Public Transportation

Zip Car Rental Service in Washington DC

March 8, 2011 – 8:22 pm

If your travel often requires that you rent a car, you may want to consider joining Zipcar. Zipcar offers affordable hourly and daily rates for car rentals. They provide service in several major cities throughout the U.S. and to colleges and universities.

There are two options for joining. One option requires that you pay an annual fee, and you have the freedom to rent a car as often as you like. The other option does not require an annual fee at sign up, but you must commit to a minimum of $50 worth of monthly use. Hourly rental rates start at $7.43 per and daily rates start at $69.30. Rates vary depending on the plan you sign up for.

The application to join this service is available online. When you are approved you will receive your zipcard by mail within 3-7 business days, or within a day if you pick up your zipcard at a Zipcar office. After you receive your card, you may reserve your car online or over the phone. After you make your reservation, you may pick up your vehicle at the Zipcar site of your choice. There are Zipcar rental sites located at various WMATA metro stations throughout the DC metro area. Cars are unlocked by passing your zipcard over the reader attached to the vehicle’s windshield. Simply return your car to the rental site at your return time and lock the door. Extremely simple and convenient service.

Happy driving!
Alexis

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast

Washington DC Bed and Breakfast accommodations. We are centrally located, 10 minutes walk to DuPont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of White House.

Last updated by admin at March 8, 2011.