Washington, D.C. Wishlist

It's a snow day here in Portland and not being able to go anywhere for a few days due to icy roads, hail and quite a few inches of fluffy snow has a way of making me think about getting the heck out of here. Don't get me wrong, I love being snowed in, but when it melts and we're only left with the cold, it's not going to be as magical. So, I'm thinking about my next big trip, which is going to be tot he East Coast. We're going to spend two weeks between Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, VA and Washington, D.C. I'm pretty excited, because it's been over 20 years since I've been in Virginia and it's been long overdue to get back. I've never been to D.C. though, and Eric has never been to Virginia, so it will be new for both of us.

I can't wait to take Eric to places I spent my childhood and we're both thrilled to get the chance to visit the White House, since neither of us have done it. This is why on this snowy weekend, where two big occasions were either rescheduled or cancelled due to weather, we're looking at planning what we'll be doing on our trip. I share with you our Washington, D.C. wishlist!

This photo of White House is courtesy of TripAdvisor

You can't really pass up a free tour of the White House, even if you can't bring your camera or lip balm or a pen inside with you or if it is difficult to request. 

This photo of Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool is courtesy of TripAdvisor

I have to pay a visit to the memorial of one of this nation's best presidents. I see that I can also visit the Ford Theater, so that may well be on my list, too.

This photo of Smithsonian Institution Building is courtesy of TripAdvisor

There are free things to do all over D.C., especially on the National Mall. Freebies, and historic ones at that, are kind of hard to pass up.

This photo of United States Botanic Garden is courtesy of TripAdvisor

I'm already going to be at the White House, so the Botanic Garden and all its glory is calling me. Look how gorgeous this picture is!

This photo of International Spy Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Call me a nerd all you want, but ever since I saw Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel go to the Spy Museum, I can think of little else when Washington, D.C. comes up. I mean, spies! Awesome!

This photo of Hard Rock Cafe is courtesy of TripAdvisor

There's not resisting a chance to grab a meal and a t-shirt at a Hard Rock Cafe for me. I don't know what it is, but I love them. I especially enjoy when they have a local special. I always know my meal will be delicious, and I enjoy seeing rarely seen videos and rock memorabilia.

What do you think? Where should I go when I visit our nation's capitol?

Do You Have Vacation Rage?

I can't be the only one who gets what I call "Vacation Rage". One day of my vacation, I find myself cranky and hating my travel companion and myself and maybe even having a good cry over something completely trivial. It could be from lack of sleep, jet lag, or being in a new environment. Generally, you can find me eating chocolate cake and probably buying something I don't need that I will wonder why I bought when I get home. One of the best ways I've found to combat Vacation Rage is to have some "you" time. It can get to be too much traveling closely with someone for a week or more. At home, you can go in another room, but when you're traveling you rarely get that opportunity. My suggestion: rent an apartment, house or condo. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against hotels. I love them and stay in a lot of them. Sometimes, renting a house, apartment or condo is simply more practical. I've come up with my top reasons why I would choose to rent:

• You are spending a week or more in a destination. Prices on vacation rentals are cheaper if you rent by the week. 
• You are traveling as a family or a group. Unlike hotels, vacation rentals are booked per night/week, not by occupants. They don't care if 2 or 10 people stay there (providing you don't trash the place and the rental can accommodate that many people), the rate is the rate. 
• You have more space. Most rentals have separate sleeping, dining and sitting spaces, so even if it's not a big place, you don't have to be right on top of your traveling companion(s). Unless you book a suite in a hotel where you have more room to spread out, you are basically stuck with one room and the bathroom, which is generally tiny. Plus, hotel suites can run twice as much as a vacation rental, and you don't even get as much for your money.

• Cook your own meals in the kitchen provided. Cooking on vacation doesn't always sound like a fun idea, but if you know you don't HAVE to, it becomes less of a chore. It also saves you money, because dining out can cost an arm and a leg. For the price of one meal out at a restaurant, you can make a trip to a local grocer and pick up food for breakfast...for the week. Even if you end up buying several different things (i.e. eggs, oatmeal, cereal, bagels, fruit), you still end up saving a lot. While I''m at the store, I also pick up some sandwich stuff and snacks (if I want something different than what I've brought with me), so we don't have to go out after dinner when we feel like munching on something and also to take with me during a long day out sightseeing. 
• You don't have to clean up after yourself each morning, to make sure all your belongings are out of the way. (For those of you who don't do this, shame on you!) You can wait until the night before you leave when you're packing up to wash dishes and hang up towels. 
• You're less likely to have noisy neighbors and you're guaranteed to not have children running up and down the hallway screaming at the top of their lungs at all hours...unless they're yours.
• You can come and go as you please. Sure, you can do this if you're staying in a hotel, but many hotels lock the doors at a certain time of night, or you have to give your key to them every time you leave (this is common in the UK). 
• Feel like a native. This is one of my favorite feelings. You aren't going back to a hotel, but a home. It's like you're actually living there during your travels, making it easier to feel at home in your new surroundings. 
• If you're renting a car, you almost always get free parking! Many hotels will charge $15+ a day to park in their lot/garage. That's money in your pocket!
• Pack fewer things and use the washing machine in the property if it's provided. I tend to look for only apartments that include one.

Try these Great websites for vacation rental listings:

• VRBO.com - By far the largest vacation rental website on the net, so you may have to do a bit of searching to find a really good deal amongst them. You will get to see many pictures, the location and rates. Then you can email the owner for more information right from their website.
• FlipKey.com - Run by TripAdvisor, this site lists many vacation rentals by owner. You will get detailed information about the property, previous renter reviews and pictures. There is a calendar with available dates and rates. You contact the owner directly by email through the site to ask any questions, request more pictures and to make your reservation.
• ResortQuest.com - You can book a variety of rentals through them, including vacation homes, hotel, condos and resorts. With over 100,000 rentals to choose from in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and now Europe, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs.
• HomeAway.com - Sponsored by companies like Travel + Leisure and Virgin American, you can't go wrong booking with HomeAway. It boasts over 230,000 listings at reasonable costs.
• Airbnb - Rent straight from owners who are looking to make extra money by renting out their extra property or their primary home while they are also traveling. 

What are your favorite things about renting a place to stay on vacation?

Who Would Pack That?

Sometimes you may forget that you can't take certain things in your baggage, or hope to get a little something through security, like a lip gloss or a slightly larger-than-allowed bottle of lotion, but some people just can't help themselves from bringing illegal or just plain weird stuff with them when they travel. No matter what's been taken from you at security or customs, it's probably not as odd as some of these things. 

What's the weirdest or craziest thing you've seen someone try to pass through security?