Local Attractions -- with map!

[Birdman]

Don't forget the Antietam National Battlefield. bloodiest day of the war is only 60 miles from IAD and the Hotel . Taking the Back roads there are a lot of battlefields for those that are into the war. real big around here.

 

[PDJetta]

Go see the Udvar Hazy Center. Its the main part of the Smthsonian Air & Space Museum and its about 5 miles from the Hyatt Dulles. You will not be disappointed if you like airplanes and spacecraft.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/UdvarHazy/

That's the Enola Gay. It's there.

And the Space Shuttle Enterprise is there too.

--Nate

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I don't think the space shuttle is the real one... but rather a working model of it. Either way, it's wicked cool. A definite MUST SEE while you're in the area.

 

[TheGrove]

I don't think the space shuttle is the real one... but rather a working model of it. Either way, it's wicked cool. A definite MUST SEE while you're in the area.

If memory serves me the Enterprise was the 1st shuttle built but did not have real engines and other things in it. They used it for aerodynamic testing on the 747 and other functions like that.

Still, it would be cool to see.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

It is very cool.

 

[canast]

Looking for recomendations for a great place to have a Crab dinner. Several years ago the wife and I tried a place in the Arlington area, it was nice but thought that someplace near the water, for a view, would be nice.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I'd recommend something on the Georgetown waterfront. It's expensive, but definitely a nice time. Check out Tony & Joe's at 3000 K St. NW.

http://www.dcseafood.com/taj/index.htm

 

[LiLredTDI]

Looking for recomendations for a great place to have a Crab dinner. Several years ago the wife and I tried a place in the Arlington area, it was nice but thought that someplace near the water, for a view, would be nice.

Feel free to PM me about this. I live near Annapolis and can point you in the directions of REAL Chesapeake Bay Crab hotspots. Theese are the places where they cover the table with paper and bring the steamed crabs to your table and just dump em out. You have to drive to AnneArundle, Calvert, St. Mary's, or Charles County Maryland. The Eastern Shore of Maryland is the very best most authentic place to go. They will all be a 1 to 1 1/2 hour ride from Dulles VA. Be prepared for the cost, one dozen large male crabs can cost 60-75 dollars this is enough to feed one very very hungry person or two light eaters. Traditional sides are potatoes with onions, corn on the cob, french fries, cold beer, beer, and more beer! I am going to give you a small list of some to google that are authentic.............Frank

Abeners Crab House- Annapolis Maryland
Captian Billy's- Charles County Maryland
Stoneys- Solomons Island- Calvert County Maryland
Fishermens Inn- Kent Narrows- Eastern Shore
****BEST****Watermans Inn- Eastern Shore, Rock Hall Maryland

 

[LiLredTDI]

Please do not forget if you are coming to the area Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, have 1000's of very nice places to visit. Battlefields, Muesuems, Caves, Parks, Covered bridges, Waterfalls, Frank Loyd Wright Homes, Naval Academy, Historic Annapolis, Alexandria, Occoquan, Atlantic Beaches, Baltimore, Saint Michaels Maryland etc., etc, etc. Nearly everything is from a 10 minute ride to a 3 hour ride. You could visit the area for 6 months and not see everything. I have lived in the Metro area for 30 years and would be happy to answer any questions if you have specific interests on locating anything as well as advising you of prices, traffic or best days to visit. I myself live in a neighborhood on the Chesapeake Bay and if someone wants to visit me and just fish off my neighborhood pier and have some beers or go to dinner at a authentic Bay place with seafood caught by local watermen PM me......Frank

 

[RC]

The Eastern Shore of Maryland is the very best most authentic place to go.

You betchya!

 

[VeeDubTDI]

As long as you don't mind the 2 hour long drive to and from dinner.

 

[tomo366]

As long as you don't mind the 2 hour long drive to and from dinner.

Thats 2 hours to and 2 hours back.........Minimum! if the traffic isn't bad......

 

[Blue_Hen_TDI]

You betchya!

You ain't lying Ron. Some friends of mine from out of the area were in Bal'mer and invited me to dinner at O'Brycki's in Fells Point. They wanted $75/dozen for jumbos? ***?

No thanks. I'll stick to all-you-can-eat crabs, shrimp, clams, chicken, hushpuppies and corn on the cob for $35 at Old Mill in Delmar.

 

[LiLredTDI]

As long as you don't mind the 2 hour long drive to and from dinner.

That is why I said PM me for best times to travel. The drive from NOVA to Annapolis or the Eastern Shore is 1 hour give or take during light traffic.

There is really no substitute for the REAL Maryland crab feast, the eastern shore is the best most authentic place. For anyone interested in giving this a try, be a not too picky eater. You must break open the shell and sift through the entrails of the crab. Any good resturaunt will provide you with a proper crab knife and hammer to use along with a brief how-to. I hope I did not scare anyone off. There are few foods with the richness of taste and texture of Maryland crabs loaded with Old Bay. If you love social eating with friends in a picnic type of setting on the water the traditional crab feast will not leave you disappointed.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I'll pass on the sea bugs.

 

[RC]

Washed down with a cold pitcher of Natty Bo!

 

[VT_hawkeye]

That is why I said PM me for best times to travel. The drive from NOVA to Annapolis or the Eastern Shore is 1 hour give or take during light traffic.

From the Alexandria waterfront, maybe. From the location of the Fest in Herndon, you might be able to make it to Annapolis in an hour if you drive 20% faster than the locals, see no cops, and hit zero backups. The Shore is at least 15 minutes farther along, again in perfect traffic.

The Fest is on the last vacation weekend of the year. Traffic won't be perfect.

With all due respect, I would not advise out-of-towners coming to the Fest to try to do the Shore this time, unless you want your "authentic" DC experience to be the 5+ mile backups approaching the Bay Bridge. The Fest is just on the wrong side of the area to do the Shore. From Baltimore, your chances would be far better.

But what do I know -- as an ex-Reston resident who would estimate that at least 7500 miles on his TDI's odo are from Sunrise Valley Drive between his old apartment and the Fest location, my lunch plans on Saturday are to hit my favorite Mexitalian joint 3 minutes away from the site. I just don't want people making plans and then getting burned -- we all like quality time with our TDIs, but there are better places to get it than the Route 50 parking lot.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I'm with you, VT. Traffic is gonna be perma-f'ed all weekend... especially on Friday.

 

[berks_tom]

Another nearby attraction is the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax. Take Rt 50 East and hang a left at the light just after crossing over I-66. It's in the NRA building. The only downside is that I think it's only open from 9-5.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Aaah, that's right! I'll have to add that to the map.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Added. Museum hours are as follow...

Sunday through Friday: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturdays: 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
The Museum is closed on major holidays.
Admission is free.

 

[petea4]

Is there a coin-op car wash nearby?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

I added the two closest car washes to the map (I don't know if they're coin-op or machine). There will also be a hose available in the hotel loading dock.

 

[Leo819]

There is a big sailboat regatta out of Annapolis Labor Day weekend. I shall be spectating on Saturday. FYI

 

[VT_hawkeye]

I added the two closest car washes to the map (I don't know if they're coin-op or machine). There will also be a hose available in the hotel loading dock.

"7 Car Wash" definitely isn't coin-op, from the reviews I found, and "suburan" is miscategorized -- it's a body shop.

I do not recall a coin-op car wash anywhere close to the hotel. That part of the suburbs is not coin-op territory -- overpriced, rushed and poorly-done hand-wash places or machines rule that turf. Too many people with too much money and too little time to use a coin-op place.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Boo. Well, I tried. I don't think that there are any coin-ops in the area.