Best sites of Washington D.C. - Trip Report

Our fourth break while on the East Coast road-trip over the Fall of 2009 was at Washington D.C. for a day. Three days is a minimum to breathe in what DC has to offer. A day only gives a sniff and needless to say, ours was a whirl-wind tour of the major sites.

Finding parking is a trick in itself as there is strict enforcement around the tourist spots – we saw several cars getting towed. For our part, we drove in from Philadelphia and chose to park at the Union Station parking lot (50 Massachusetts Ave) – extremely convenient with rates on par with other downtown areas (Rates - Cars 1 hr - $6; 2 hrs - $9; 3 hrs - $12; 3-4 hrs - $13; 4-5 hrs - $15; 5-12 hrs - $17; 12-24 hrs - $19). Many tours start from Union Station and the tickets can be purchased from the counters at the station.



A number of tour operators serve the area and given the traffic and parking problems, going with one of them definitely has many advantages. The DC metro system is excellent as well. The most popular tour options are:

1. Hop-on Hop-off open-top Double-Decker bus tours by Les Cars Rouge, a European tour operator that pioneered such tours in the early 80’s in European cities: The standard tour marketed in most brochures was a ticket valid for 48-hours (online pricing: Adults - $31, Children - $16). The 24-hour version was priced around 20% cheaper. A combo ticket that includes a cruise on the Potomac and a night-ticket were also available for higher pricing. Counter pricing was slightly higher. Below are some details about the double-decker tours:

• The lower level is Air Conditioned and can be a refuge in inclement weather, but then the view is compromised.
• Stops along Georgetown (Washington’s oldest neighborhood - river cruise access, shopping, and dining) and the National Cathedral.
• Hours of Operation – Service is from 9 AM to 7 PM during the summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day) otherwise till 5 PM.
• The tour extends only as far as the Visitor Center at the Arlington Cemetery. To visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Changing of the Guards) and other sites, the best bet is to also purchase the Arlington Cemetery only Tourmobile tickets.

2. Hop-on Hop-off Tourmobile sightseeing trolleys by Landmark Services, a subsidiary of Universal Studios: This tour is authorized by the National Park Service and has been in operation since 1969. The standard tour is the “American Heritage Tour of Washington DC and Arlington Cemetery” with a one-day or two-day option. Pricing for the one-day option was Adults - $27, Children (3-11) - $13 and for the two day option, it was Adults - $35, Children (3-11) - $17. They also offered an Arlington Cemetery only tour (Adults - $7.50, Children 3-11 - $3.75), a 3.5 hour twilight tour (7 PM) Washington By Night tour (Adults - $30, Children - $15), a 5 hour Mount Vernon tour (Adults - $32, Children - $16), and a 2.5 hour Frederick Douglas tour (Adults - $7, Children - $3.50). Below are some of their noteworthy details:

• They have the only riding tour available for the Arlington National Cemetery. Changing of the Guard’s ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a “not to be missed” event for most people and this tour offers the most convenient way to experience it.
• Tour hours are from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM with the recommendation that customers board their last bus of the day at-least by 3:30 PM. These hours can be too restrictive especially for people holding the one-day ticket option.

3. A/C Coach Tours by Gray Line: These tour offer more of a traditional organized bus tour experience with pick up from select hotels. The most popular is the day tour (8 hours) that include visits to the Capitol Building, White House South Lawn, Smithsonian Museums, and the World War II Memorial. The tour also goes by most other attractions in the area. Pricing is $55 Adults and $30 kids 3-12. They also have a 4-hour version and a very affordable 2-hour version (Adults $22 and Kids $11 with occasional two for one promotions!). Gray Line also offers several other tours that cover the Washington D.C. area and a 20-minute cruise on the Potomac. Below are some of their highlights:

• Traditional organized tour experience as compared to hop-on hop-off.
• Visits to White House South Lawn and Capitol Building included.

4. Old Town Trolley Tours by Historic Tours of America: They offer a two-day (2nd day free promotion) tour that includes hop-on hop-off privileges and offer three different color-coded loops – the orange loop covers all the sites along the national mall (most of the Monuments, Memorials, and Smithsonians), the green loop covers the National Cathedral, Uptown, and Georgetown areas, and the red loop is a shuttle to the Arlington Cemetery. The tour costs $31.50 for Adults and $16.20 for kids 4-12 (online price, counter pricing about 10% higher). Below are some of their specifics:

• Live commentary.
• Stops along Georgetown and the National Cathedral.
• Hours – Buses run from 9 AM to 5:30 PM in the summer months (Daylight savings schedule, otherwise 4:30 PM).
• The tour only operates till the Visitor Center at the Arlington Cemetery. Again, for visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Changing of the Guards) and other sites, the best bet is to also purchase the Arlington Cemetery only Tourmobile tickets.

5. Duck Tours by Historic Tours of America: This is a non-stop 90-minute unique amphibian tour that is geared towards families with little kids. Live entertaining commentary where sometimes facts are improved upon and a delightful river ride not intending to take you anywhere are its highlights. Ticket pricing is $28.80 Adults, $14.40 Kids 4-12 (online price, counter pricing about 10% higher). Below are some notable things about this tour:

• Short 90-minute tour that goes by the major sites and includes a short cruise in the Potomac in the same vehicle.
• Entertaining live commentary.
• The tour departs hourly from Union station but can sell out.

Walking tours and Segway tours are both fairly popular among the healthy adults. We chose the Tourmobile one-day “American Heritage Tour of Washington DC and Arlington Cemetery” as ‘Changing of the Guards’, some Smithsonians and the major national monuments were in our priority list.

Washington D.C. is indeed a frugal traveler’s paradise, for admission fee is nonexistent at practically all of the attractions. What makes it even better is that entrance to the sites are available on a walk-in basis, except for the following:

1. Washington Memorial: Free tickets are distributed for that days visit at the counter at 15th Street and Jefferson Drive starting at 8 AM. They run-out quickly and so remember to be waiting in line well before the opening. Reservation can be done online ($2) in advance.
2. Capitol: The Visitor Center, Exhibition Hall, Gift Shop, and the 530-seat restaurant are open to everyone but a reservation is required for tours of the Capitol. There are several options for a tour and advanced planning is required.
3. White House: Garden tours and White House tours are available but require advance planning. For the garden tours, tickets are distributed on the day of the tour on a first come first serve basis at 8 AM. For the White House tour, request for a reservation needs to be submitted through one’s member of congress, up to six months in advance. The visitor center is open to public at the corner of 15th and E streets 7:30 AM to 4 PM.

The rest of the attractions including the Smithsonians and the sites in Arlington Cemetery are walk-in admission (some sites have security check-points). For our part, we focused on three Smithsonians (National Gallery of Art, Air and Space Museum, and Natural History Museum), Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & Changing of the Guards at the Arlington Cemetery, and the National Postal Museum (building adjacent to the Union Station main entrance building). Overall, the National Postal Museum was the only disappointment as our expectation was set for a huge philatelic display while in reality there was only one gallery with a medium-sized global stamp collection and a smallish sheet collection display of US stamps. The Changing of the Guards ceremony and the Natural History Museum were our favorites. The Air and Space Museum followed closely but the planetarium shows (around $10) were only average at best.


Last Updated: 04/2013.

Best sites of Philadelphia - Trip Report

Our third halt of the East Coast Road Trip in the Fall of 2009 was at Philadelphia. We did consider giving Philly a miss in favor of additional time in the capital provided our cousin and family could join us in DC. Plan B worked better instead and we joined them for the evening in the city of Flourtown near Philadelphia. For visitors on a time crunch, Philadelphia scores as several inspiring attractions exist right around Market Street.

If time is on your side, tours offered by the Philadelphia Trolley Works and Carriage Company are good options. They offer a number of choices and the more popular options are:

1. 24-hour Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour: The double-decker bus or trolley (your choice) tour takes 90-minutes for non hoppers. There are 21 stops starting with the Independence Hall in Market Street and includes most attractions of Philadelphia including Betsy Ross House (where American flag was designed), Chinatown, Eastern State Penitentiary (historic prison operational from 1829 until 1971), Museum of Modern Art, Zoo, and Society Hill (Center City neighborhood that features largest collection of original US 18th and early 19th century architecture). Internet Pricing: Adults - $25, Children (4-12) - $8, Senior - $23. Pricing at the ticket booths and Independence Visitor Center are higher.
2. 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Tour: The same tour as above but valid for 48 hours. Internet Pricing: Adults - $41, Children (4-12) - $16, Senior - $38. Pricing at the ticket booths and Independence Visitor Center are higher.
3. Carriage Tour (Medium – 30-35 minutes): A horse-drawn carriage tour that covers Independence National Historic Park and Society Hill. Pricing is $40, good for four people. There is a $5 discount when purchasing this ticket along with the bus tour tickets.

Another popular option suitable for families with young kids is the 70-minute ducks tour. Though on the expensive side (adults - $26, seniors - $24, kids 3 to 12 - $16) this amphibian tour is unique in that it includes the historic streets of Philadelphia as well as a short cruise in the Delaware!

We parked at the Bourse garage next to the Bourse building in downtown Philadelphia in 4th street and past Market. The covered parking lot is, typical to most US downtown areas, pricey (2-9 hours for $16.25) but with prime location. The historic Bourse Building adjacent to the garage is impressive with its dramatic skylight dome and pilaster columns. This is listed in the national register of historic places as the nation’s first commodity exchange (completed 1895) – currently it functions as a retail commercial complex complete with a food court and 50-odd businesses. We recommend the mouth-watering version of the famous Philly Cheesesteak at the Grand Olde Cheesesteak counter.

The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are the top attractions of Philadelphia and admission to both are free. Liberty Bell is located at 6th and Market. There was practically no wait at the Liberty Bell – the open design of the Museum and the Liberty Bell display works well allowing the populace to set their pace without feeling rushed. The Liberty Bell is managed by the National Parks Service and their representatives on the premise are extremely friendly and helpful. Every so often, one parks personnel at the Bell’s display location gives a short lecture enlightening the visitors on the history of the Bell. The Visitor Center across the street sports a gift shop and is also the place to purchase tickets to area attractions. The Independence Hall is situated in the middle of a block of buildings called the Independence Square (few blocks from the visitor center) which include the Congress Hall, Old City Hall, Philosophical Hall, and the Independence Hall. Access to all the Halls except the Independence Hall is available on a walk-in basis. The Old City Hall and the Philosophical Hall tours are self guided. Congress Hall offers a guided tour and a 15-minute presentation, again very informative – the building hosts important documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Articles of Confederation, and the Anti Slavery Record. For Independence Hall, no tickets are required if visiting between January 1st and March 1st. Between March 1st and December 31st you have two options:

• Get a reservation for a timed and dated ticket ($1.50 per person), or
• Try for a walk-up ticket at Independence Visitor Center. They sell-out quickly and being the early bird has its returns (booth opens at 8:30 AM).

The guided tour with a park ranger takes around 30 minutes. The highlight is of course the room where the declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.

Last Updated: 02/2011.

Best sites of Manhattan & Statue of Liberty - Trip Report

The second stop of our East Coast Trip was at Staten Island. The drive from Niagara Falls to Staten Island in New York took upwards of nine hours even though the distance was only four hundred and some odd miles. A series of lane closures that resulted in single-lane traffic slowed us down – though not bumper to bumper the speedometer never moved past 45 miles per hour.

The free Staten Island Ferry from St. George Ferry Terminal to Whitehall Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan makes getting to Manhattan a breeze. Parking was available for $6 near the terminal private lot (Staten Island Yankees Ballpark lot) – parking entrances are to the left of the terminal – there is a shuttle back to the terminal (less than half a mile) but it was not reliable. The unattended municipal lots at the terminal and on Hyatt Street while a little cheaper involves purchasing NYC parking cards and/or feeding the meters. The ferry is regarded the best value for money for New York tourists and we concur – the terminals and the ferry are state of the art and the views simply outstanding (Statue of Liberty, skyscrapers of Manhattan, etc.). It operates year round 24 hours a day, with frequencies varying between 15 minutes to an hour – travel time is around 25 minutes. Both terminals had extensive renovations done in the 2005-2010 timeframe and it showed – the glass and steel Whitehall terminal was especially impressive and the $200M renovation included several green design decisions and providing a natural setting – rooftop solar panels provide part of the electricity, warming the floor using hydronic radiant floors (water from a boiler is passed through tubing underneath the terrazzo flooring), and natural lighting from the glass design make for a unique yet functional structure.

Next to the Whitehall terminal building is the historical Battery Park – 25 acres of greenery pampered by the Ocean on one side and by the skyscrapers of Manhattan on the other side. Located a short walk away across the Battery Park are the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ticket counters (Statue Cruises, LLC – authorized by the National Park Service). Three types of tickets can be purchased online ($12 adults, $10 seniors, $ 5 kids 4-12, audio tour option additional) - they were all the same price but availability varies as follows:

1. Crown Ticket: This is the superlative of the choices - it allows priority entry to the security screening facility, access to the Pedestal/Museum at the Statue of Liberty, and access to the Crown. Access to the crown was closed following September 11 and reopened July 4, 2009. This crown access is allowed in groups of 10 at a time and hence limited numbers of tickets are available any given day. As such, they need to be reserved online three or more months in advance. Crown access was set to be available for another couple of years after which an extended closure for renovation is planned.
2. Pedestal/Museum Ticket: This allows priority entry to the security screening facility and access to the Pedestal/Museum, but NOT to the crown. These tickets can be reserved online usually a week or so earlier.
3. Grounds Only Ticket or a 3-day Flex Pass Grounds Only Ticket: The Grounds Only Ticket lets you ride the boat to the islands and allows for walking around it. It is issued for a particular day and time and allows priority entry at the security screening facility if reserved in advance. The 3-day Flex Pass Grounds Only Ticket is issued for a particular day but allows the flexibility to go at any time in the next 3-days starting that day. The other Flex Ticket does not allow for priority entry at the security screening facility. Security screening can add upwards of an hour at peak times.

Then there is the option of going directly to the ticket counter and purchasing what is available for that day. Waiting in line is the order of the day for this category - first there is the line for the tickets followed by the security screening facility entrance line (much longer usually). Unfortunately, we were in this situation for reasons beyond control – after about 20 minutes in the tickets line we purchased the Grounds Only Tickets and the Security line took another hour.The trip itself was great and as our cousins accompanied us in New York time was not lost in any way, although access to the pedestal and crown would have made the experience even more so for all of us. All told, out of the five hours we spent around two hours at the Liberty Island and skipped Ellis Island. Our first trip to the Statue of Liberty was 12 years earlier and it was indeed a wonderful experience getting to the crown with hundreds of others from all walks of life and that too from all over the world.

Grayline and CitySights are the two major hop-on hop-off tour operators in Manhattan. We chose the one by Grayline (Red Double Decker Open Roof Bus) for they were the first tour operators we ran into from Battery Park. Different tour options are available and we took the all encompassing All Loops Tour valid for 48 hours ($54 Adults, $44 Children 3-11). Looking back, given our limited time we would have been better off with the Downtown Loop Tour valid for 24 hours ($44 Adults, $34 Children 3-11) which does not include the Uptown Loop as the tours operate from 8 AM to 6 PM.

The hop-on hop-off tours are a great value if two full days are at your disposal to spend in Manhattan – for $54 one gets to experience Manhattan without having to worry about transportation, arguably the hardest part. Live commentary is part of the deal – the quality though varies by personnel, but to be fair they provide good information. The bus has 24 stops on the downtown loop and another 21 stops in the uptown loop. The route goes in front of the major landmarks with couple of exceptions – the route only crosses the streets to Ground Zero site and Wall Street but doesn’t go through them hence plan ahead on the stops to hop off. It was a truly memorable tour as we got to see: a) United Nations Building, b) Rockefeller Center, c) Times Square, d) Empire State Building, e) Madison Square Garden, and f) Central Park. Time Square lived up to its reputation as “out of this world” and the lit buildings and the crowds combined to provide a unique visual experience – the movies and pictures that attempt to capture the spirit of Time Square fall way too short compared to the real thing…

Last Updated: 02/2011.

Niagara Falls, NY Trip Report

We embarked on an 8-day/7-night trip to the East Coast mid-July 2009. Unlike the week-long Eastern Canadian road-trip we did the previous year, this time around the trip was more detail oriented as we had company. Grand parents and a great aunt and uncle added to the merriment. The flight tickets from Oakland to Buffalo with Southwest came to around $195 per person each way – Southwest’s “Wanna Getaway” fares varied between $109 and $189 (plus around $34 in taxes and fees) but given our inflexibility in flight schedule this was the best we could net.

Getting good accommodation on the American side of the falls for a reasonable price for one night is an exercise in futility. Our group was a party of eight and reserving a suite was not easy. The imposing Seneca gambling resort is the only newer hotel in the area. If gambling is in the plans (even slot machines) then Seneca Niagara is the best option. The rooms are nice and the pricing especially the week-nights are pretty good – they are the only game in town and hence payouts and service are just average. Some hotels have a two-night minimum stay restriction in place which they were not inclined to waive in favor of a larger group size. Most of the hotels, even the well-known brands, are located in really old buildings and are saddled with age-related problems. Our reservation was at the Crowne Plaza – the location was ideal (few blocks away from the falls), but everything else was below par -

• The elevators and the lobby area were constantly jam-packed with teenagers and luggage (as one of the few available options, this is a popular choice for youth soccer and other teams),
• The suite itself fit six people with two of us having to use portable beds (subject to availability),
• The almost $600 per night tab was lofty for our frugal standards.

In fact, if there is no visa problems (US citizens need to show passport, others need visa) in getting across the border, our overwhelming recommendation would be to find accommodation on the Canadian side even though there are interesting attractions on the US side.

A quick run-down on the naming of the three different falls for the novice:

• What the world identifies as the Niagara Falls is the Horse-Shoe Falls (aka the Canadian Falls) and it carries more than 90% of the water that cascades down into the gorge. The brink measures at 2500 feet and sits about 170 feet high.
• The American Falls that carries less than 10% of the water sits 180 feet high, and the brink measures around 1200 feet.
• The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest with brink measurement under 60 feet.

The view of the waterfall from land is undeniably better on the Canadian side, but there are a few things that make a trip to the American side worthwhile. We visited the Observation Tower, Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, and the Niagara Falls State Park areas. Here is a description of the attractions:

1. Observation Tower: It is a platform that extends over the Niagara Gorge and provides a great view of the falls. Granted this view is not comparable to the one from the Canadian side its beauty is that both the Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls, the two narrower falls on the American side can be observed. Admission to the observation tower is a dollar from April through October and free the rest of the time – the Maid-of-the-Mist boat tour (a must in our opinion), includes in its price the admission to the Observation Tower.
2. Cave of the Winds: This tour, located on Goat Island, takes one down to the Gorge. The entire-tour is open May through October and the Gorge-only tour is available in April. A 175-foot elevator gets the visitors to the permanent deck located about 75 feet from the base of the Bridal Veil Falls. The walkway that leads up to the Hurricane Deck, the proximity of which is 20-feet close to the Bridal Veil falls, is reassembled every year in April to avoid damage to the deck due to inclement winter weather. The deck is aptly named for it does simulate tropical storm conditions. This unique experience lets one appreciate the wonders of nature in all its triumphant glory - in our opinion a far better value for money compared to the ‘Journey Behind the Falls’ attraction on the Canadian side as the Hurricane deck gets you closer to the falls. Admission is $11 for adults and $8 for kids over 5 and includes the souvenir yellow poncho and sandals.
3. Maid of the Mist: This world renowned boat-tour takes tourists to the front of the falls. The tour is offered both from the Canadian side and the US side April through October and is priced reasonably at $13.50 for adult and $7.85 for kids over 5 (the US side pricing includes admission to the Observation Tower, Canadian side pricing is slightly higher).
4. Niagara Falls State Park: The most underrated attraction on the US side is the Niagara Falls State Park area around the falls (see the green area in the map). The all-day hop-on/off trolley service that covers the 3-mile loop is again affordable at $2 per adult, $1 for kids 6-12, and free for under 6 (Service Hours: 9AM-10PM, subject to change). The service starts from Prospect Point conveniently located very near the Visitor center. If time and spirit allows, walking the scenic park is a great alternative - compared to the Canadian side, the park area is far less crowded and one gets to appreciate the beauty of the place – American Rapids Bridge, the scenic walk by the side of the rapids in Goat Island, the Terrapin point with one of the best views of the Bridal Veil Falls, and the Three-Sisters Island all make the experience memorable and will be cherished for years. And the icing is, the entire experience comes free and at one’s pace…
5. Others: There is an IMAX 40-minute movie offered at the lower level of the visitor center on a 45-foot screen about Niagara Falls Explorers, Settlers, and Dare Devils. It is $11 for Adults and $7.50 for kids between 6 and 12. For visitors interested in geology, this is a great option, otherwise it can be given a miss.The place is located on Robert Moses Parkway at the tip of Bath Avenue. It also has the Trailhead center which is the starting point for hikes – the trails vary in difficulty and can take anywhere between one and three hours.

If the plan includes all six major attractions on the American side (Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Scenic Trolley, Adventure Theater, Discovery Center, and the Aquarium), taking advantage of the discount using the Discover Pass is recommended. But, keep in mind that only the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds involve the Falls per se...

Last Updated: 02/2011.