Trip Coach: January 6, 2009

Sean O'Neill: Hello, chatters, and welcome to this week's Trip Coach session!

Today, I'm here to answer your questions about visiting our nation's capital.

I'm a writer who lived in D.C. for nearly a decade until I joined BudgetTravel.com a couple of years ago (where I assign and edit articles as well as oversee our blog This Just In).

I routinely visit D.C. to meet up with my friends who live there, and I've stayed up-to-date. I promise to point you to a variety of the city's options—not just my favorite parts!

Ready for takeoff? Let's go!

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Bernardsville, N.J.: Hey, we are planning a trip to D.C. the last week of March-1st week of April. Three children: a dance loving, constantly texting 13 year old, a sports mad 8 year old and an amimal loving three year old. We enjoy good food and love art museums, and of course, we are on a budget. What do you think? Places to see, to stay, to eat? Thanks!;

Sean O'Neill: Hello Bernardsville, N.J.! So you're bringing the kids to D.C.? That's a terrific idea because most of the attractions are free—offering savings for your family of five. And the last week of March is typically the start of the prettiest time of year to visit this city. You're bound to have a great time in D.C.!

If your animal-loving 3-year old would like to see pandas, head to the National Zoo. In 2007, this free, Smithsonian-operated zoo debuted a new section that's gorgeous and is called Asia Trail, giving the pandas a misty, rocky-and-treed, Asian-inspired place to romp around in. The boy panda is full of energy, despite his name, Tai Shan (which means "peaceful mountain" in Chinese). Lots of other cute animals can be seen there, of course, such as tigers, monkeys, seals, giraffes, and elephants. I recommend going as early as you possibly can corral the kids. The animals are liveliest in the morning.

There's plenty of parking, and the Zoo offers specially designed strollers. If you take the subway system, called the Metro, I would recommend you NOT stop at the Woodley Park/Adams Morgan/National Zoo stop, even though it has National Zoo in its name. Go further along this Red Line train to the Cleveland Park stop because from this station you can walk *downhill* to the Zoo. If you're pushing a stroller, you'll prefer the downhill route! You'll walk through a cute neighborhood and over a pretty bridge at about the same distance as if you had taken the other subway stop. For bonus points in travel savvy, you can take the Woodley Park/Adams Morgan/National Zoo stop when you LEAVE the zoo, because, again, you'll be walking downhill. (Again, this is mainly relevant to you if you're pushing a stroller and dealing with a three-year old.)

Does your 8-year old like dinosaurs? If so, you may want to take them to the free Natural History Museum on the National Mall.

If your 8-year old prefers planes and spacecraft, head to the Air & Space Museum. Be sure to buy them some "astronauts ice cream"—which is freeze dried, and impresses most kids—at the gift shop.

The 13-year old might be the toughest to impress. Maybe you could split up, and one parent could take the 13-year old to the just-opened Newseum (a center dedicated to the media and understanding the Constitution's First Amendment right to a free press). It's located just off the National Mall, roughly across Pennsylvania Avenue from the National Gallery (a free museum that you, as an art lover, ought to see for yourself!) On the plus side, the Newseum has all of the cutting-edge technology for interactive exhibits that your constantly texting child might find engaging. For example, you can pretend to be a newsbroadcaster on a mock set with the latest equipment. On the down side, the place is pricey $20 for adults, $13 for kids.

Where to stay? Families may find good options across the Potomac River in Crystal City, Va. There are several hotels run by trusted national brands (Marriott, etc.) linked together via an *underground mall*. I recommend you get a hotel connected to his underground mall because it has lots of food courts and video game parlors to distract kids on rainy days. Plus, the hotels and the underground mall are linked by the subway system to downtown—you can travel to the National Mall, the park with most of the city's best free museums, within about 20 minutes.

Enjoy your trip!

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Lansing, Mich.: I am staying in D.C. at the Phoenix Park hotel (North Capitol and F street) for this week coincidentally on business. Do you have any recommendations for where we should spend our $64 per day meal per diem? My sister works for the Library of Congress and knows most of the good deals around town (there is a 50 cent per taco Tuesday special that she has recommended), but anywhere else that might make a memorable dinner after a full work day would be appreciated. Thanks Sean! Ryan

Sean O'Neill: Hi Ryan,
Hope your business trip has been going well! $64 per day for meals isn't bad. Because you didn't tell me what type of cuisine you like, I'm going to dish out a menu of options and hope one strikes your fancy.

If it's cheap-and-distinctively-local that you're looking for, get a "half-smoke" at Ben's Chili Bowl, a D.C. institution for 50 years in the city's Adams Morgan neighborhood in its Northeast quadrant on the 1300 block of U Street NW (Northwest). In Ben's version of the D.C. specialty, the half-smoke, you'll enjoy a 1/4lb. half pork and beef smoked sausage on a roll. Order some chili cheese fries and a Coke for the full experience. You can walk off the calories with a stroll along U Street, one of the most vibrant corridors of the city right now, or along the National Mall downtown.

D.C. has one of the largest Ethiopian communities in the U.S., and thus it has some of the nation's best Ethiopian food. Cab it over to Meskerem It has a lively atmosphere inside, and is great for eating in groups of four or more—though you can eat solo, too.

(Ryan, tell your driver to take you to "18th Street in Adams Morgan.")

Or, to eat at the Ethiopian restaurant whose walls are lined with photos of famous political and entertainment celebrities who have dined there, cab it to Georgetown (1201 28th St NW) for Zed's. If you stick to iced tea and skip the booze, you can get out of both places for under $20 for dinner easily. If you do drink alcohol, you may want to try the signature honey wine at either Zed's or Meskerem.

Prefer something more within your comfort zone of American comfort food? Then go to the hopping new restaurant district is around Gallery Place/Chinatown, which you can access easily by subway. Try Matchbox, which serves familiar American staples, from pizza to pasta. Or wander around: You'll find B-B-Q joints and other Southern influence cuisine.

Also in the Gallery Place area, across the street from the Verizon Center sports arena, is Jaleo, a Spanish tapas restaurant. Skip the sangria and order tap water instead, and you can get out for about $25 for dinner. For example, a shared plate of house-made grilled pork sausage with sautéed white beans costs $8.50. Cold dishes are a bit cheaper. (jaleo.com).

If you'd like to try Mediterranean style mezze (small portions of Lebanese- and Greek-influenced foods), go a couple of blocks over (just past the National Portrait Gallery) to Zaytina.

While the two restaurants mentioned above are not "cheap", they offer lots of small dishes, giving you lots of different tastes for your money—and will give you a memorable experience—which I consider bang for the buck.

If you prefer to stay near the area near the Capitol Building, which seems to be the area where you're doing business, go over to the restaurant district on Eighth Street Southeast. Besides fine Irish and Thai restaurants, you'll find Belga Cafe, a classy but affordable Belgian restaurant. Try the french fries with mayonnaise, of course.

Be aware that Georgetown is generally overpriced when it comes to restaurants, although the early bird and late night special at Bistro Francais on M Street is a fantastic prix fixe deal. Get a typical four courses, including wine and dessert, for about $20. Call for details and the latest hours. This French restaurant has all the staples of French cuisine, and has been a long hangout for locals and politicos. (The greater D.C. area has one of the largest French populations in our country, so the food at local French restaurants has to be the best that it can be to satisfy the local demanding appetites.)

Another fine French restaurant is over by the Gallery Place/Verizon Center Metro/Subway stop and is called Bistro D'OC. Again, it has a prix fixe menu that will suit your budget. Call for details—the offer is often for pre-theater crowds only, meaning you'll have to eat on the early side.

Have a great trip! Stay warm! . Have a great trip! Stay warm! ve a great trip! Stay warm!

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Clemson, Tex.: I'm a flight attendant well aware that I will not be able to get a seat on a plane to D.C. Believe it or not, I have NEVER been there. I have two tickets, courtesy of my congressman, to the inauguration. I realize that I am not going to be sitting at arms-length. I will be attending with my very well-traveled son, 15, who is six feet tall and looks 20. I have a couple of leads of free/cheap places to stay with friends, friends of friends, etc. Which direction from D.C. would be best? Will transport be running on 20-21? I MUST be in D.C. at noon Mon. Jan. 20 to pick up my tickets at the Capitol Hill office of my congressman. I need advice big time. I will be driving from SC. Where and when to park? How many people will be sleeping in cars? What to bring and NOT bring? We are prepared for a lot of walking.

Sean O'Neill: Hi Clemson, Tex.: Lucky you! Many people would be jealous that you have tickets to the big event.

But I think something's wrong with the instructions you've been given. The swearing in ceremony starts at noon on Jan. 20, so you can't possibly be picking up your tickets then.

Anwyay: As you probably know as a flight attendant, Southwest flies into Baltimore Washington airport and Dulles Airport, which are both connected by public transportation with downtown. But you won't find Southwest fares on sites like Expedia or Kayak. You'll have to go to Southwest.com to find them.

Don't expect to drive and park downtown—the sheer volume of people will be enormous. Plan to park miles away and walk. The subway system will be overtaxed that day, so unless you get on a rain at one of the originating destinations in the suburbs, you may not get a place to sit or stand.

Another warning: Cell phone service providers say they cannot promise that cell phones will be working on Inauguration Day due to the sheer volume of traffic and security restrictions—so make sure your son sticks by your side. Another tip for the rest of the year: Only Verizon/AT&T cell phones work inside the subway station.

FYI: A ride-sharing service has been launched to match car drivers with prospective passengers to the presidential inauguration in Washington on January 20. Register at obamainaugurationrideshare.com. A minimum $25 deposit is required to post the offer of a ride or to make a request. "A real human" acts as a matchmaker, reviewing the online listing and helping to put riders in touch with drivers.

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Columbus, Ohio: With the new Capitol Visitor Center now open, are tours sponsored by offices of members of Congress still available?