A One-day Visit to Washington
The capital of our government and, usually, headline grabbing
shenanigans, this day-long coach trip includes a visit to the
Capitol, a tour of
Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House, historic Georgetown, the
National Air and Space
Museum and the city's other alluring museums on The Mall, Arlington
National Cemetery, the
Jefferson, Washington and Lincoln Memorials, and the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial. Definitely
worth the detour.
Also possible are visits to the FBI, White
House tours, and
screenings of "To Fly" at the Air & Space Museum.
Light lunch at B. Smith's in the gloriously
renovated Union
Station.
Dinner at Baltimore Harbour
Travel time from New York: 4.5 hours
Excursion: 06:00-Midnight
Price: $200 per person
Insider’s Washington:
A Four-Day Stay
in the Nation’s Capital Featuring Politics, Culture and
the Antics of Power
DAY ONE
Airport transfer with guide, Dulles International
Airport.
Dinner at the hotel with guest speaker, a noted journalist
with an
insider’s "Deep Thoat" backgrounder on the latest
goings on in the Capital.
Given recent events, the report would be a mix of juicy gossip and
political happenings.
DAY TWO
A general tour of the city, including the White House,
Pennsylvania Avenue, The
Capitol, with time to spend on The Mall visiting the Air & Space
Museum, see the
spectacular "To Fly on the Imax screen, and other fine
museums.
Lunch at Union Station at stylish B. Smith’s, located
in the station’s
former Presidential Waiting Room (www.bsmith.com),
or at America, with seating overlooking the main hall of the
Station.
Menu (B. Smith’s)
Lobster Club Sandwich
Homemade Chef’s Selection of the Day
Coffee/Tea
Two Glasses of Wine Per Person |
Menu (America)
Tijuana Caesar Salad (Topped with Grilled Chicken Breast, Herbed
Croutons, Shaved
Parmesan Cheese), with Lemon Dressing
or
Bel Air Triple Decker Turkey Club
French Fries, Cole Slaw
and
Two Glasses House Wine
Coffee/Tea |
Twilight tour of the monuments: Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt
Dinner at Sequoia on the Potomac Waterfront. A glass
enclosed restaurant
overlooking the Potomac. Dress code: Casual
Menu (Sequoia) |
*Seafood Chowder
Bisque |
or |
Sequoia Mixed Bean and Grilled
Corn
Salad |
*New York Sirloin Steak
Shallot Cabernet Sauce
Potato Wedges and Roasted Seasonal Vegetables |
or |
Tamarind Lamb Chops
Julienned Oriental Vegetables
Shoestring Potatoes, Tamarind Garlic Sauce |
*Florida Key Lime Pie or
*Virginia Gentleman Whiskey Pecan Pie |
or |
Mousse of Mango and Cassis, Fresh
Raspberry Coulis |
| |
and |
|
Coffee/Tea |
|
Half Bottle of Wine Per
Person |
*"East Coast Menu" representing local
specialties from
Maine to Florida.
Round trip transfer by coach
Note: Those who wish may want to remain in trendy Georgetown
and sample the bars.
DAY THREE
Early afternoon departure for Alexandria, a former fishing
village on the
Potomac. Time to stroll the picturesque streets before boarding a
private, two hour cruise
to Mount Vernon, home of George and Martha Washington. Costumed
guides greet guests for a
private, twilight tour of the home and gardens (www.mountvernon.com).
Dress code: Casual elegant, but group will probably want
to dress up.
Dinner: Period dinner at the historic Mt. Vernon
Inn.
Cocktails by the fire, followed by dinner as George Washington would
have been served.
Menu
One Hour Cocktails and Hors D’Oeuvres
Wild Game Kebabs with Dipping Sauce
Skewered Bourbon Melon Balls with Fresh Mint
Curried Nuts
Crab Puffs
Wild Boar Sate with BBQ Sauce
Dinner
Colonial Peanut and Chestnut Soup
Venison Medallion, Sliced Duck Breast and
Turkey Apple Sausage Patty
Country Whipped Potatoes
Southern Style Red Cabbage
Homemade Breadsw and Colonial Crackers
Caramel Custard with Nuts
Half Bottle Good Quality Wine
Tea/Coffee
Port, Madeira
Gift: At each
place setting, a gift wrapped copy of Letitia Baldrige’s
entertaining guide to good manners. (If group is couples, an
appropriate gift for the
partner.)
Option: A figure dressed as President Washington to
recount the battles
with the British and his narrow victory over King
George.
DAY FOUR
Full American Breakfast at the hotel
Lunch: Old Ebbit Grill
A Washington institution, Old Ebbit Grill is a bustling,
polished wood and brass
affair that caters to the power elite of the Capitol. For some, the
Grill is Washington
incarnate. For us, it’s wonderful service and very good food,
and a great way to bid
farewell to the city (www.oldebbitgrill.com).
Menu
Cocktail on Arrival
Tricolor Salad with Marinated Artichokes, Roasted peppers,
Mozzarella and Garlic Croutons
and
Chicken Breast Stuffed with Prosciutto & Mozzarella,
White Wine Sauce
or
London Broil with Roasted Wild Mushrooms &
Mashed Potatoes
and
Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
Half Bottle House Wine
Coffee/Tea
Note: Restaurant is walking distance from the
Willard.
Tour: Time and weather permitting, stop at Arlington
National Cemetery to visit
John F. Kennedy’s grave and its sweeping views of the city. The
tour requires a walk
up the hill to the gravesite, and the stop takes about one hour.
It’s an excellent
way to fill the group with fresh air and light before the flight
home.
Airport transfer
Transportation: 49 or 53 passenger luxury coach
OPTIONAL EXTRA DAY
Design Your Own Day
Five tours of the city or region, with about 20 guests per
tour and
including:
- Potomac Mills: Discount shopping at one
of America’s most
famous outlet malls. (1 hour from D.C.)
- VIP Museum tours: National Gallery,
Phillips Collection, and
other. Additional docent fees where required
- Baltimore Harbor and Baltimore (1 hour
from D.C.)
- Historic Annapolis, home of the US Naval
Academy (1.5 hours from
D.C.)
- For those particularly interested, Thomas
Jefferson’s, 2.5
hours, and well worth the detour.
Cocktails:
At the Hotel Washington’s rooftop
restaurant, overlooking the
Treasury Department, White House and Pennsylvania Avenue and the
Washington Monument.
One Hour Open Bar
After cocktails, minicoach transfers to restaurants.
Passed Hor d’Oeuvres
Crab Cakes
Cheese Puffs
Roasted Eggplant in Phyllo
Asparagus Tips with Prosciutto
Dinner: A "Steak-Around" at the Capitol’s
Top Steak and American
restaurants
- Morton’s Steak House: D.C. outpost
of the venerable Chicago
beef emporium. Pennsylvania Ave.
- Prime Rib: Art deco stage set favored by
lawyers, lobbyists.
Pennsylvania Avenue
- Kinkead’s: Two tiered and immensely
popular, specializing
in regional American fare. Incredible desserts
- Nora: A converted stable is the setting
for fresh local farm
produce. Dupont Circle
- 1789: Historic townhouse in the heart of
Georgetown.
- Capital Grille: Favorite with
Republicans and fat cats on cell
phones. Capitol Hill
Dress code: Jacket at most restaurants
Transportation: Groups of about 25 for each restaurant, with
dispatch at hotel and
gujide to advance, greet and supervise at each
restaurant. |
