DC to Boston 13 day road trip with 2 toddlers

Hi, I%26#39;m trying to plan a summer holiday for my family, and am overwhelmed by the possibilities! I%26#39;d really appreciate any advice on itinerary or places to stay. (I%26#39;m posting this in a number of forums)

We%26#39;re travelling with our 2 small sons - eldest will be 3 by then and the younger just 18 months. They%26#39;re both pretty well travelled, but we will be looking to stay in apartments/houses or suites as previous experience has proved staying in a regular hotel room is not really a holiday!

I%26#39;m pretty fixed on the idea of flying into Dulles and out of Boston - but what to so in between is the confusing factor. So far I%26#39;m considering Shenandoah, Lancaster PA, Baltimore, Hyannis, Boston - but am tempted by lots of other places, especially upstate New York.

We live practically on the Atlantic coast here in N Ireland, so a seaside holiday isn%26#39;t essential, but we do want at least part of our trip to be restful, by the pool type thing. We%26#39;ve been to the Rockies and enjoy the mountains , opportunities for walking/ bike hire without being too sporty (hard with 2 small kids). I%26#39;m interested in history, politics, literature - husband is more scientifically minded, and the kids are obviously a bit young for too much sightseeing.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

DC to Boston 13 day road trip with 2 toddlers

Is DC on your list? Obviously lots to see and do in DC - that may be a separate posting in itself.

If you aren%26#39;t doing DC then i would suggest that you head straight to Shenandoah Natl park. The Park runs north and south. Head to the southern entrance and make your way north. I recommend trying to reserve a ';suite'; at Big Meadows lodge. I have a 3 and 5 year old and we have been making annual trips there for 3 years now. The suites are basically a bedroom connected to a living room with a fire place. The living room gives you that extra room that you need with little ones. There is also, as the name implies, a big meadow that is great for the little ones to roam around in. There are lots of deer running around, and you may even see a black bear. The next day continue to drive north until you reach the northern entrance at Front Royal. From there you could head to Baltimore - about 2 hours.

If Baltimore is your next destination, i would avoid taking 66 to the 495 (the capital beltway). Another option is more rural and would take you past Harpers Ferry National Park, which is a quaint little town on the confluence of 2 rivers. You could spend a couple of hours to an entire day walking around.

Baltimore is a great ';weekend'; town. For the kids, try the National Acquarium, and the Maryland Science center. These are both located at the inner harbor, and are within walking distance of each other.

hope this helps, let me know if you have additional questions.

DC to Boston 13 day road trip with 2 toddlers

Thanks, that%26#39;s helpful - I had %26#39;Shenandoah%26#39; as a vague idea but don%26#39;t know much about the area and haven%26#39;t as much time to research as I%26#39;d normally like. We%26#39;re thinking of spending 3 nights in DC before heading really starting our road trip (so we%26#39;ve really got 10 days to fill).

Would you suggest having more time in Maryland/Virginia or CT/RI coast? Coming from UK/Ireland I seem to have heard of more of the towns there, but I don%26#39;t want to just go for the obvious and miss out on hidden gems!

do you like cities or outdoors?

Definitely prefer outdoors - we like cities in small doses, and without small children!

Hello! If you like the outdoors, I would definately recommend the Shenendoah area. There%26#39;s a lot of hiking to do there, plus the river rafting. The rapids aren%26#39;t big so it%26#39;s pretty safe, though I%26#39;m not sure if it is for such young kids. You can also do tubing (just floating down a very calm part of the river in an inner tube). The water level is low most of the time, about knee high.

Also, if you get a chance, you might like to check out Assateague Island. It%26#39;s not too far from Ocean City, Maryland, but it%26#39;s considered in Virginia. The neat thing there are the ';wild horses'; which really aren%26#39;t that wild since they will walk right up to you. You%26#39;re not supposed to touch or feed them, though. But they are wild because no one keeps them. Read more about it here:

www.nps.gov/asis/naturescience/horses.htm

If you like history, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is not far from the DC/MD area. And it%26#39;s very pretty out there and they do this ';living history'; reenactment where people dress up like they did in the past. You can talk to them and they%26#39;ll tell you about the history, etc. Fun for the kids. More info here: http://www.gettysburg.com/

Baltimore is a nice one-day trip. I would not go to the aquarium though, because it is very expensive and, honestly, I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s quite worthwhile. Send me a msg if you%26#39;d like more info on Baltimore. I live right outside the city. Annapolis is much prettier, in my opinion, than Baltimore.

I%26#39;d try to also hit Philadelphia. Lots of history there. Big city, but lots to see. Independence Hall, Liberty Bell. The old neighborhoods are fun.

Hope this helps some!

Thanks for all the advice! I%26#39;m kind of more confused than ever - because it seems there%26#39;s so much great stuff to do without going to Boston/CT/RI.

Maybe we should stick to DC, PA, MD, Virginia and leave New England for next year!

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best central point between Annapolis and Washington DC?

Our family (three separate families totaling 13) will be traveling to Annapolis on July 25th for a wedding, and would like to find a central location in which to stay to visit Annapolis (2 days) as well as Washington DC (preferebly near a metro line). Children are mostly tweens/teens and one six year old. We would like to rent a suitable house/apartment or condo. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

best central point between Annapolis and Washington DC?

I think we need more info. You will be staying/visiting Annapolis for two days, and then DC? Any more nights involved? How much of DC do you expect to see? Although this may not be responsive to your question, the short answer is that there really isn%26#39;t a good ';central point'; let alone one with access to metro. The only thing that comes to mind is Elkridge/Annapolis Junction which would put you near the marc train line to DC, and within a 1/2 hour%26#39;s drive of Annapolis, but really isn%26#39;t all that convenient for either location. I would definitely think about staying in Annapolis for the two-days, and tack on another night in DC on your way home.

best central point between Annapolis and Washington DC?

Yes Creekdweller is on point here. Many questions that need answering. But here goes some general information. Since Annapolis is a tourist destination, it has quite a bit of inventory for renting homes/condos to visitors. See www.stayannapolis.com or www.vrbo.com

In addition, Annapolis is a very close to DC, approx. 30 miles or less depending on where in Annapolis your are coming from. In between Annapolis and DC you have mostly suburbs that really have no draw and don%26#39;t really offer any advantages to staying there (including fewer hotels and probably no rentals.)

Also, many residential rentals, involve longer stays, and that applies most anywhere, so you may not have the option of just renting for two nights and moving on. Some rentals might be more flexible in this economy, but it%26#39;s a gamble.

The Marc Line (local rail transportation headquartered in Baltimore) does run trains to Union Station in DC but these trains ONLY run on weekdays. So if you plan on going to DC M-F, your best bet is to stay in Annapolis and drive to the BWI airport/rail station and take the train in. You pay for garage parking (but you can most always find a space). There are two other stations, one in Odenton the other in Bowie that would give you a shorter ride to DC, but they are major commuter stops so parking can usually only be found in satellite lots which can be quite a hike from the train platform. Trains on work days especially in the morning and evening rush are plentiful which gives you a lot of options as to when to leave and return. There are express commuters as well which can save some time as well.

From BWI to Union is about 25 minutes via rail. You can also take Amtrak from BWI but these trains originate from much further destinations (Boston, New York)so they can run late. Trains do run on weekends but service is limited and expensive.

The closest Metro station is just on the outskirts of DC. It is a huge commuter stop and not the safest. It is a shame that Annapolis does not have a direct line to DC, but it is what it is.

I would not consider driving in daily to DC trying to park, because it can be an unpredictable nightmare, unless of course, you are staying right in the capital.

I have stayed in annapolis and then driven to the metro station in New Carrollton, which is about a 25-30 minute ride from annapolis and taken the metro into washington from there. Very easy to do.

There is a town called Bowie, which is on Highway 50 (the highway that connects DC %26amp; Annapolis. There are a number of reasonably priced hotels and restaurants in Bowie. It%26#39;s about 15 minutes from the end of the DC subway line (New Carrollton), about 20 minutes from Annapolis, and about 25 minutes from the BWI airport.

web cams

any new web cams in OC?

The Harborwatch web cam is back up and running.

web cams

not knowing which cams you are familiar with, here is a link to the ones I know of:

http://octhebeach.com/events/beachcam.html

purnellproperties.com/spinnaker/webcam.php

web cams

thanks,I did not have the spinaker hotel cam

This is my favorite OC webcam site:

http://www.ococean.com/webcam.html

It%26#39;s nice to have so many different OC webcams all on one site.

hi I love www.oceancitycam.com

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Homewood Suites or Hampton Inn?

We will be going to DC for spring break in a few weeks and are still checking out hotels. I can%26#39;t find any reviews on either of these hotels in Silver Spring. Can anyone recommend one over the other? Although we are driving, we are planning on using the Metro to travel into the city. Are they located close to a station?

Thanks for your help

Homewood Suites or Hampton Inn?

I believe they are sharing the same building at 8728 Colesville Rd. It is brand new (which may account for the lack of reviews).

All I can speak to is the location, which is very good so far as accessiblity to the Metro (easy 0.4 mile walk) and the amenities in the revitalized Silver Spring.

Cost of a cab from Baltimore Penn Station

What can I expect to pay for a cab from Baltimore Penn Station to the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront? Anyone know anything about the area? (Is it safe to walk around?) Thanks.

Cost of a cab from Baltimore Penn Station

The basic meter fare will be $10 assuming traffic is moving.

Coming from a big city, I probably don%26#39;t have to mention that no place is guaranteed to be 100% safe and you need to exercise big-city smarts wherever you go. That having been said--yes, it%26#39;s a safe area in which to walk around.

Not sure what to do, hotel advice greatly appreciated

I currently have Sheraton Inner Harbor hotel booked with my spg points for cash %26amp; points. I%26#39;ve found some not so great reviews here.

The other choices I have are

Sheraton Baltimore Washington Airport Hotel

Four Points by Sheraton BWI Airport

I also have Hilton points %26amp; have the following options

Hampton Inn BWI

Hampton Inn Glen Burnie

Hilton Pikesville

We are staying in DC from June 6-12 then planning to spend the day %26amp; night in Baltimore before we fly out on the 13th.

No clue what we have plnanned to do in Baltimore other than the Aquarium right now. I planned to rent a car in DC to get to Baltimore but not sure if I want/should keep it over night. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Not sure what to do, hotel advice greatly appreciated

You can find bad reviews of any hotel anywhere. It%26#39;s a one night stay, stick with what you have. It%26#39;s close to the aquarium and anything else you may decide to do in the Inner Harbor area, no use in dealing with coming in from suburbia or ';commuting'; from the BWI area for such a short trip.

Don%26#39;t rent a car just to get from Washington to Baltimore. Use the MARC train to get there on the 12th and just grab a taxi to get to the airport on the 13th.

If you take the Camden line on MARC you can walk from the Camden Station in Baltimore to your hotel.

Not sure what to do, hotel advice greatly appreciated

Agree with Irishman. The hotel is in a convenient area and you can find plenty to do within walking distance of your hotel- Aquarium, Science Center, Fells Point and Fort McHenry[ short water taxi ride],Little Italy, B+O Railroad Museum, Sports Legends and Entertainment Museum are a few suggestions. The good thing is the Inner Harbor Visitors Center is just 2 blocks from your hotel.

Thanks for the info. I%26#39;m worried about having to carry our luggage on the train that is why I planned on renting a car. What is the difference in the Marc Train than metro? I know it only runs on weekdays which is not that big of an issue since I%26#39;ll need to get there on Friday.

';I%26#39;m worried about having to carry our luggage on the train that is why I planned on renting a car.';

Don%26#39;t be. Your luggage will fit on the train.

';What is the difference in the Marc Train than metro?';

The Metro is Washington DC%26#39;s subway system, it doesn%26#39;t go to (or near) Baltimore. The MARC train is a train, commuter train, that runs mainly between Baltimore and Washington.

wmata.com for Metro

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/ for MARC

Thanks for the info. I%26#39;ve never done the marc train or any train other than once in NYC with a friend so excuse my ignorance.

If I%26#39;m looking at the information correct, the marc train only goes from DC at 8:05 or earlier %26amp; then not again until after 4 p.m.

Is there something I%26#39;m missing or is this accurate?

Greetings, Agrigar! I%26#39;m no Marc Train expert, but I%26#39;ve ridden it a few times. You are correct that the Camden line only runs those limited hours, but there is another one, the Penn line, that keeps a better schedule. Unfortunately, I don%26#39;t think that the Penn Line goes to the downtown inner harbor area station - it goes to Penn Station. If it was me, I%26#39;d probably rent the darned car. Depending on how many of you there are, it might actually be cheaper to rent and park a car than buy the train tickets and take the taxi to the airport. JMO - however, I will openly admit I dislike the whole concept of train travel and hoisting luggage around on someone else%26#39;s schedule. So take that advice with a grain of salt, and this reply will give your post a bump until the Train gurus get up! Enjoy your stay - and yes, the Sheraton is just fine.

Sorry IrishFan- typo with your name!

';If I%26#39;m looking at the information correct, the marc train only goes from DC at 8:05 or earlier %26amp; then not again until after 4 p.m.';

I knew the Camden line trains were limited during the day but had no idea the last morning run to Baltimore was at 8:05...that%26#39;s not going to work for you, I guess...

But the Penn Line has much more frequent service, difference being the Penn Line terminates at Baltimore Penn station and not Baltimore Camden. Camden is a short walk from your hotel, a Penn station arrival would require either a light rail trip to the Inner Harbor or a taxi. I%26#39;d recommend the taxi, unlikely to cost more than $10-$12.

No matter what you do, train or rental car, there%26#39;s going to be plenty of opportunity to hoist luggage. :)

You%26#39;d have to get a rental car in DC, either going out to the airport or finding a location in town. And when you return the car at BWI you have to go to the central car rental facility and get on a bus to the terminal. And of course you%26#39;ll pay $22 for parking your car at the hotel.

Now that may work. Thanks for the info that really helps. I was looking at that list %26amp; wasn%26#39;t sure if I was looking at it correct.

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El Capitan

Check out this website and scroll down to El Capitan. There is a virtual tour of one of their units. Looks pretty decent.........but it is a different realtor than the one you%26#39;re dealing with. But I think you can get a fair idea of the unit.

www.coldwellbankerbudchurch.com/rental.cfm

Beach Realty

Can anyone tell me anything about Beach Realty? We rented the El Capitan and would like to make sure they are good to deal with. So far in talking to them there, they seem very good. Thank you for any advice.

Beach Realty

Hmm...if you%26#39;ve already rented, you may be locked in unless you pay a penalty to cancel. We looked at two units for sale in that building last spring and noted that one was pretty nice, but the other was a real dump with old furniture and marginal carpet. It really boils down to the quality of the owners and especially their cleaning crew. All the rental company does is process the payments and make sure a cleaning is scheduled after each ';turnover';.

We use private cleaners at our North OC condo and would not have it any other way. We owned another unit at 12th and the Boardwalk several years ago and had big problems with the cleaners the realtor hired - they stole videotapes and even our phone/answering machine!

El Capitan is older and showing its age, but the location is very good. The steps within each condo are a real pain; if you have older relatives coming with you, they will have problems (but the building does have an elevator). The balconies are a nice size. Make sure that the pictures of the unit (if you have seen any) are up to date! The building is 35 years old and some units have original kitchens and even furniture!

I%26#39;m not trying to scare you, just there is a lot of crap out there in the rental market. Many owners don%26#39;t realize that improving baths, kitchens and furnishings regularly means happier tenants!

Beach Realty

Check out this website and scroll down to El Capitan. There is a virtual tour of one of their units. Looks pretty decent.........but it is a different realtor than the one you%26#39;re dealing with. But I think you can get a fair idea of the unit.

www.coldwellbankerbudchurch.com/rental.cfm

Baltimore Aquarium question

We will be going to the aquarium this month and was wondering if they have a coat check. I know they store strollers but I won%26#39;t have one this time. Thanks in advance!

Baltimore Aquarium question

Yes they do.

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Hotel Recommendation Needed in Bethesda and Rockville Area

My family is going to visit Washington DC the last weekend of March. We are looking for a decent hotel in Bethesda and Rockville area. We prefer a hotel that is close to restaurants (not bars) and has easy access to highways. Close to metro is preferred but not a must since we will rent a car. Our budget is around $100 per night. The hotel is better to be family friendly since we%26#39;ll travel with our 2-year-old son.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!

Hotel Recommendation Needed in Bethesda and Rockville Area

Both the Legacy and the Hilton in Rockville are around $100 that weekend. They are located across the street from one another along Rockville Pike, a busy commercial strip loaded with all sorts of restaurants and retail.

The Hilton is directly behind the Twinbrook Metro station. The Legacy is across the Pike from the Hilton. From the hotels, it%26#39;s about 1.5 miles to I-270 and about 3 miles to I-495 (the Beltway).

I can only vouch for the location of the hotels, having never stayed. Check the reviews here on TA.

Planning a quick trip for family of 5

I am planning a quick two night weekday trip for a family of five, kids ages 15,13 %26amp; 8. I am looking for a hotel with space for us in one room and also economical. So far I am considring Castle In The Sand, Holiday Inn Express or Quality Inn. I was looking at Days Inn but after reading the horrible reviews I have decided against it. I am also considering Comfort Inn Suites but see that it is not even close to the beach. How important is it that we stay within walking distance to the beach? I have given up the idea of staying in a room with an ocean front when I see that it may cost an extra $30-40 per night for the view.

Holiday Inn Express looks to be about a 1.5 blocks away from the beach and across what looks to be a busy street according to Google Earth. It is also the best bargin for near the ocean and has good reviews but if I am staying that close I want to walk to the beach. Is that possible from this hotel?

What are transportation options to the boardwalk if we stay at a hotel that is farther away? How is parking there? Would it even be worth an effort to go there when we are only staying for two nights? I see there is an amusment park but once again we are on a budget so is it worth the money for a family of 5? What are some other things to do on the boardwalk for families with middle aged children?

I hope I haven%26#39;t covered too many questions in one post. Any tips for families of 5 would be appreciated.

Planning a quick trip for family of 5

Check out the Dunes Motel. It is on 28th (?) St at the end of the Boardwalk. Not real fancy, but nice, clean and reasonable AND oceanfront. And all of their poolside rooms were remodeled last year. It is right next door to its sister hotel the Dunes Manor Hotel. That one is more expensive and upscale. Since the Dunes Motel is at the end of the boardwalk you are adjacent to the tram station which runs daily in the summer. It costs a couple dollars to ride round trip and it runs the length of the boards. Your kids would be safe to ride it alone.

There are lots of restaurants closeby and amusements. http://www.ocdunes.com/

The HI Express is at the upper end of Ocean City and not close to the Boardwalk. Plus, you have to cross Coastal Highway (8 lanes) to get to the beach. That%26#39;s the main highway through OC and very dangerous. It is bayside and there is an Olive Tree restaurant next to it, along with a few other restaurants. Castle in the Sand is on the ocean, but I don%26#39;t have any experience with them. Here%26#39;s a link to their webcam.. surfcam.castleinthesand.com/appletvid.html…

There are public busses that run the entire length of OC so transportation is never a problem. I think it%26#39;s still $2.00, maybe $3 for a ride all day pass.

You can drive to the Boardwalk. There is a lot of parking available, mostly metered and you pay at stations rather than the meters. Or you can park in the inlet for a fee. If you don%26#39;t mind parking a few blocks off the boards, there is unmetered parking on some of the back streets.

The inlet end of the Boardwalk is where the majority of the amusements are. You can walk all through there for free, but rides aren%26#39;t free. You can pay per ride, or buy tickets for multiple rides. Lots of games of chance too. The boardwalk is a definite must see and do if you%26#39;re in OC. BUT don%26#39;t start at 28th ST. and walk down! It%26#39;s 3 miles long! The upper end of the boards is all condos and nothing to look at. The shops start somewhere around 15th st or later. Park somewhere between 12th and 5th if you want to window shop or park at the inlet if you only want to do the amusements. Mini Golf is all over OC. You can hardly pass a corner without one. In the morning you can rent bikes and ride the boards, or if your kids have rollerblades, they can use them on the Boardwalk till around 10am. There%26#39;s an outlet center there to shop for the girls, and if the guys are into cars, there%26#39;s a car museum on rte 50 that%26#39;s worth the time. (and it%26#39;s right across the street from the outlets).

I hopeI answered some of your questions. Feel free to ask some more.

Planning a quick trip for family of 5

Not sure when you are going but I would check craigslist, I always find nice condo%26#39;s that the acutal owner rents for a affordable price and you get a lot of space.

But she only wants it for two days. Don%26#39;t know of any condos that are rented out for two days. But I don%26#39;t know everything.

The best compromise of location, ocean view, and price where we have stayed is The Flamingo Motel at 30th-31st St. They have indoor/outdoor pools, and suites that sleep 5. Try to get a south facing unit as they have nice ocean views from the balcony. Don%26#39;t bother with an east facing unit as there is a condo building in the way. You are a few blocks above the north end of the BDWK and right across Coastal Hwy. from Jolly Roger water/amusement park (open Mem Day to Labor Day). We have 15, 13, and 11 year olds and they love the water park. You really want to stay east of Coastal Hwy...that%26#39;s the ';busy street'; to which you refer. It%26#39;s a 6-lane road that gets crazy in peak season.

The above poster has a great idea about renting a private condo (we own a 3BR in OC) but most owners want three night minimums, and won%26#39;t rent less than a full week between May and October. DON%26#39;T go the first two weeks of June; you will be surrounded everywhere by beer-swilling 18 year old HS Senior grads (';June Bugs';) in every motel in OC.

Thank you so much for all the information. WOW!

By the way we are going in July...peak season. No choice about it as that is the only time my husband could get off work.

The waterpark at Jolly Rogers is great. To save money off regular admission the kids could get a half day pass and still get to enjoy the park. I would stay at least Ocean Block which means that you will not have to cross Coastal Highway(very busy). Of the hotels mentioned I like the Dunes for the location and they keep the hotel in good condition. Castle In The Sand is nice because they have an outdoor beach area to get food, listen to music and play vollyball. The only thing about Castle is the rooms can be a bit outdated. I personally would not stay as far north as The Holiday Inn Express b/c you will spend a good bit of time on the bus riding down to the areas you will want to be and with only 2 days I would stay South. Good Luck. PS Which Quality Inn?

I am looking at Quality Inn at 33rd Street. It has pretty good reviews. So now I have it narrowed down to Quality Inn and Castle in the Sand. I had originally planned on going to Virginia Beach but find that Ocean City is a little less expensive. This is also an extension of a Washington DC vacation and Ocean City looks to be a closer although no direct route. I actually have a hotel room booked at Quality Inn in Virginia Beach, however I was only able to get a smoking room (yuck). I am probably going to cancel it. Castle in the Sands will save me a whopping $10 but looks way nicer. The Quality Inn in Ocean City is about $40 less. I know it isn%26#39;t much savings but the atmosphere of Ocean City is starting to appeal to me.

FYI if you are driving, Route 50 goes from Washington D.C. directly to Ocean City. Not sure how long that takes. Maybe 3 hours???

Don%26#39;t forget that tolls for The Bay Bridge Tunnel that you will now be avoiding by staying in OC verses Virginia Beach. I think it is like $15 each way - so you just saved yourself another $30!

Hotel Monte Carlo, Tidelands or Park Place are hotels that cater to your needs. The hotels (The Sand, Holiday Inn Express or Quality Inn)you mention in the starter thread cost the same if not more for those night in July.

The ones I mention are 5th street and under and walking distance to the main area on the boards and do not have to cross any street to get to the beach. You could stay at either hotel and never need your car the rest of your stay. The bus service runs 24/7 and is only $2 bucks for all day use. All 3 hotel have pools and Park Place/Tidelands have on-site resturants.

Your kids ages 15,13 %26amp; 8 will want to hit the boards as much as possible and being that close will be a beniefit to you.

There is plenty to do in OC, shops, food, arcades and Jolly Rodgers amusements will keep you busy and you%26#39;ll go home wishing you had another day.

Here is a link to help you navigate around OC

ocean-city.com

Anymore question please fill free to ask.

posters for sale

Discount bus locations

I%26#39;m trying to take a bus between NY and Baltimore, and I%26#39;m not going to have a car at either end. So I%26#39;m trying to puzzle out some of the locations involved on the Baltimore end. Can you folks help? I%26#39;m going to be standing waiting for a bus at 8 PM, so I want to make sure I%26#39;m not on a blasted-out block of West Baltimore or something.

* 5501 O%26#39;Donnell - appears to be a %26#39;travel plaza,%26#39; but how do I get to it with public transit?

* 1701 Cherry Hill Rd - is this the Cherry Hill light rail station?

* White Marsh Park %26amp; Ride - this seems an hour away from the city by transit! Really?

Which, if any, of these locations is easy to get to via public transit at night? I%26#39;m trying to avoid taking Greyhound - they have old, smelly buses, and the other bus services have much newer buses, Wi-Fi, movies and such.

Thanks.

Discount bus locations

white marsh is in a suburb about 15 minutes north of baltimore city.

O%26#39;Donnell Street station may be your best bet out of the three. is in the city outskirts... a few minutes outside of canton, it%26#39;s not in the heart of the city so you wouldn%26#39;t want to walk from there- it%26#39;s a trucker stop off of 95 with a mcDonalds, hotel and a restaurant. Not sure about the cab situation when you get there, but I%26#39;m sure you could call one from the hotel lobby and wait there.

Cherry Hill isn%26#39;t the safest area.

Discount bus locations

I will not have a car, or access to a car. Can you frame these in terms of public transportation? Thanks.

Cherry Hill is at the Light Rail station and therefore would provide the easiest access of the three to downtown Baltimore (if that%26#39;s your ultimate destination).

It%26#39;s not the greatest area, but I%26#39;m assuming there will be other passengers waiting as well. There%26#39;s always strength in numbers.

once you get to baltimore, where are ultimately trying to get to?

I%26#39;ll be in downtown Baltimore. Without a car.

Hausner's

When I was a little girl we went to a famous restaurant in Baltimore called Hausner%26#39;s. I suppose it%26#39;s gone now? I just remember the artwork. Can%26#39;t find it on the internet.

Hausner's

Closed in 1999...

Hausner's

If you took German in high school your teacher may have plotted a field trip their for lunch. But that was years, and years, ago.

though the restaurant is gone, it DOES live on on the internet!

try googling it again...only add a 2nd s..

Haussner%26#39;s

What a great bar and restaurant but it must be long gone, for the last time I was there was 1965. What a shame, it was a great old restaurant and now all those painting are just memories, glories of the past.

I, too went to Haussner%26#39;s as a child. Loved their rye rolls and great art work.

I went there as a young boy. At the time, I didn%26#39;t realize how lucky I was and how delicious the seafood was. I grew up in Baltimore. I still remember all the artwork and the ladies bringing your meal up to your table on a cart. The rolls and deserts were delicious. I%26#39;m so sorry that it%26#39;s gone. We went back when I was an adult and got a menu before they closed. I still have it. What a selection of food. They just don%26#39;t have restaurants like that any more . . . do they??

Yes, I have a Haussner%26#39;s menu in my collection too - what a selection of dishes they had. I remember when they closed it and auctioned off all the beautiful romantic-style paintings and art that covered every room in the place. I seem to remember hearing the site is now used as a cooking school ?

Which airport to hire a car from

We%26#39;re travelling up the E coast in April. We%26#39;re flying into Newark and then down to Savannah (3 nights), train or hire car to Charleston (4 nights), train to Williamsburg (3 nights), train to Washington (5 nights), hire car to Gettysburg (2 nights) Lancaster (2 nights) and Philadelphia (3 nights), train to New York (6 nights) and then back to the UK. Pity the GBP has lost a lot against the dollar though!!!

All accommodation/travel arrangements are in place bar one. I still don%26#39;t want to hire a car from Washington city centre but still can%26#39;t decide between Dulles or BWI. Prices are the same so that%26#39;s not an issue so can I please have the pros and cons between the two.

Many thanks

Which airport to hire a car from

You left out an airport that may be the best answer--Reagan National (code DCA), which is right across the river from downtown Washington (if that%26#39;s where you%26#39;re staying while there). This would be the most convenient airport rental location.

Not sure why you don%26#39;t want to hire a car from the city center. I have heard that rentals from agencies at Union Station can be less expensive, and airport rentals often have extra surcharges tacked on. In addition. you will face some time and some cost to get you out to Dulles or BWI you may not have factored.

If, however, your choices are limited to renting from Dulles or BWI, you definitely want to rent from BWI. There are more inexpensive transportation options to get there from downtown Washington vs. Dulles (numerous threads on the subject, just visit the Washington, DC forum and type ';BWI'; in the search box).

And, more importantly, while BWI is not exactly along the way from Washington to Gettysburg, it%26#39;s much less out of your way than Dulles would be.

Which airport to hire a car from

Mainly because:

1. I%26#39;ve never driven in the USA.

2. I%26#39;ll be driving on ';the wrong side of the road';

3. I%26#39;m not used to automatics - I%26#39;ve only ever driven one of them for a short period of time.

4. Thought the roads might be quieter starting from outside the city centre.

Understood. Then I would look to rent from Reagan National. It is all highway from there to Gettysburg. (George Washington Parkway-Interstate 495-Interstate 270-U.S. 15)

Much quicker, easier and less expensive to get to Reagan via public transport as well (Metrorail from city center) vs. the other two airports. And you won%26#39;t be going out of your way to get the car.

I have to disagree with tubman. I think BWI is your better bet for travelling to Gettysburg. It is easily accessible via rail (check the MARC schedules coming out of Union Station at www.mtamaryland.com for cheap travel; otherwise Amtrak will work.) Driving from there to Gettysburg is easier -- or at least, more well-marked. I find Washington to be very confusing in terms of signage. If you end up in the wrong lane, you take a scenic tour of Virginia. Lastly, the traffic along the route from Reagan (DCA) tends to be much worse, both in terms of congestion and aggressive drivers.

Tubman and I agree about one thing: avoid Dulles.

We can certainly agree to disagree.

The OP should note that travel time is about the same to Gettysburg from both airports.

From Marshall/BWI: http://tinyurl.com/ase383

From Reagan/DCA: http://tinyurl.com/da78cg

There are no fewer twists and turns in making the drive from BWI as there are from DCA. Traffic is not inherently worse from DCA as it is from BWI, and the OP could have no traffic to contend with from either depending on day of week/time of day.

Whatever the OP%26#39;s choice, I would suggest renting a car equipped with GPS regardless.

From BWI, the last 30 miles of the trip is largely two-lane rural highways running through small towns with a fair number of traffic lights; you encounter no (zero) traffic lights for nearly the entire ride from DCA on multi-lane highways running 55-65 mph.

But the biggest differential is that the OP is starting out from downtown Washington, a quick subway ride to DCA on trains running every five minutes for no more than $1.65 pp directly from downtown.

Getting out to BWI means first getting to Union Station for a train scheduled to leave perhaps once an hour for a ride that will take about an hour, factoring in a shuttle bus. At a cost of at least $7.35 pp, possibly up to $20 pp if he needs to do this with Amtrak on a weekend. (And if he%26#39;s doing this on a weekend, traffic DEFINITELY won%26#39;t be an issue).

The overall, door-to-door trip to Gettysburg from downtown Washington will be at least an hour more if you rent from BWI than renting from DCA--that%26#39;s something the OP can safely bet on. If it%26#39;s worth the extra transfers, time and expense to the OP to get out to BWI for what may or may not be an easier ride for the driving portion of the trip, then by all means go with BWI.

I would propose one more option for the OP: Look to rent a car from a suburban Maryland agency located near the Red Line of the Metrorail (e.g. Rockville).

With that, you will avoid any hypothetical congestion or confusing turns closer to Washington the previous poster alluded to, while keeping you along the same general direct routing from Washington-Gettysburg.

Thanks guys - interesting to see the pros and cons between BWI and Reagan airports.

As suggested I did look at the option of hiring from Rockville but it was double the price of starting from Reagan so we%26#39;ve opted for that and have also opted for a satnav as well.

The Burgundy Inn on 13th

Does anyone know anything about the condition of the rooms at the Burgundy Inn on 13th St? Thinking of staying there, website looks nice but not sure about it. My husband and friends are planning a long weekend in August for a wedding, the reception is at Phillips on 13th so we would like to stay in that area. Any suggestions?

The Burgundy Inn on 13th

Not the Hilton but not a roach motel either. Has a pool, very small but if your at the beach you don%26#39;t need the pool. It is basically a cheaper place to stay and if you don%26#39;t plan being there much except to chrash then its okay. I stayed there with friends during a guys guys get-away place at the beach and it was fine for us.

The Burgundy Inn on 13th

We stayed there a few years ago for a quick 4 day WE, because there was no other place available for 4 days over Labor day. It does sit next to gas station so the front view is not great. The little poole area is fairly nice. It is one of the older facilities in OC though they did do a little updating. We had a 1BR apt. The furniture was a little worn and when you walked across the living room there seemed to be a hole in the floor that they covered with the carpeting. The BR was a little rough also. The TV was a 13 inch. I don%26#39;t think it was not the cleanest place, but we never saw any bugs. We have laughed about that place ever since. We went to spend time on the beach,and we knew it was not a luxury hotel, so it served our purposes and the price was right. I guess it will depend on what you can tolerate. Also- it is centrally located so you can easily walk to boardwalk .

Did you stay there? I booked the 3 bedroom because it has all the amenities we want and the location. I see bad reviews for the smaller rooms but we got the 3 bedroom. Do you know anything? How do I get the people that answered you?

Don%26#39;t expect the Hilton and you%26#39;ll be fine.

Could you elaborate?

I have never posted anything on here before. I was trying to figure out how to get a hold of people that have. How do I do that? How did you answer me? What room did you stay in? I stayed at the apts. at the majestic and the commander and they were just ok but we were happpy with them. The majestic only had 2 air conditionrs so our room was hot. The commander was cute but only 2 bedrooms.

Is this how I got yu? I don%26#39;t understand how to get back to all of the reviews I was reading. Can you Help? If I can even find you again.

jfajfkfkjjg

saidiePA,

You do realize all these ';Burgundy Inn'; posts you are dredging up are nearly 3 years old? You will probably have a difficult time contacting the original contributors to these threads.

With that being said, if you click on the username another screen pops up and you can send private messages that way.

saidi

You seem to need answers about the Burgandy Inn. It is not a Hilton or Holiday Inn. Its located about 2 blocks off the boardwalk, so crossing traffic to get to the boards and beach is a must. The location is not bad, close to Anthony%26#39;s and English for lunch and breakfeast. Its been some years since last stayed there but the rooms back then are basic.(It does say newly remodeled) Decent size, with a small pool. I would recommend to young single people who are out and about most of the day. I would not recommend to familys or older people. (to close to traffic and too far from beach) Any other questions please ask.

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Pet Friendly House Rental Ocean City MD

HELP!!! I%26#39;ve been looking for a new place to rent in OCM where I can bring my 2 Golden Retrievers. I%26#39;ve been renting in OCM for 9 years but need a new place to stay in 2009. Does anyone know of any home rentals?

Pet Friendly House Rental Ocean City MD

I am pretty sure that all of the major rental companies have a no pet policy. I would try vrbo.com, they have some pet freindly rentals. Good luck and I hope you and your Goldens find a great vacation spot.

Pet Friendly House Rental Ocean City MD

I appreciate your response! Thank you. I will be checking it out.

i hope you find something that works for you in OC, but if you can%26#39;t, you might consider dewey beach instead. looks like it has a lot more dog-friendly rentals than OC does...dewey is an incredibly dog-friendly town %26amp; still close enough to OC to drive down to a favorite restaurant or whatever, if you%26#39;d want. just as suggestion, if you%26#39;re a real OC addict, you probably won%26#39;t want to - people do have definite preferences as to which town they like best!

but i know you%26#39;d enjoy the morning %26amp; evening ';dog fests'; on the beach...the minute the lifeguards toot their whistles at 5 pm, people with dogs emerge %26amp; head for the beach, it%26#39;s kinda funny really.

WOW! That sounds really awesome and definately something to consider. Although we always go to OC and really love it, I guess my husband and I will be doing some research on Dewey this weekend. We usually just drive through. I appreciate your response.

In a similar situation. Getting a puppy in the spring. Want to bring him/her with us on vacation. Found plenty of pet friendly rentals w/ reasonable rates in Chincoteague then found out NO DOGS in VA part of Asseteague! MD end of the island allows dogs in certain areas, but hardly ANY nearby rentals are pet friendly.........go figure!?!?!

I%26#39;ll look into Dewey Beach as well, but daughter really wanted to see the ponies!

crazymom, you can drive to the maryland part of assateague pretty easily for a day trip from dewey %26amp; your daughter can see the ponies! you%26#39;ll have to go to the national seashore section, not the state park.

re: dog friendly rentals

a lot of property owners who own dogs themselves don%26#39;t allow renters to take them. i think a large part of it is because they have no way of knowing what flea control the renters%26#39; dogs are on.

we don%26#39;t rent our place at all, but we did let a guy who worked with my husband use it once, %26amp; take his dog. we asked about whether the dog was on frontline or anything...he said he%26#39;d give him a flea bath before going. mighta killed any fleas he had BEFOREhand...but didn%26#39;t help with the fleas he encountered AT the beach...

next time we went down, the minute we walked into the house, we were wearing solid black socks LOL

oh, and ace%26amp;deuce....

dewey ';requires'; a dog license, which can be gotten at the little town hall for $5, good for the life of the dog. you just need proof of vaccinations, takes 5 minutes. IF you go...i%26#39;d advise getting them, for $5 each...i myself have never been asked, but IF you would be, the fine%26#39;s hefty.

when that law was passed the whole POINT of it was to ';educate'; people about cleaning up after their dogs...so they could hand out a little list of rules.

they actually have free ';poop bags'; available on every dune crossing.

a dear friend of mine is very involved with the politics in dewey %26amp; she told a prospective candidate for office...';you%26#39;d better be in favor of allowing dogs on the beach, or you%26#39;ll NEVER get elected in this town!'; LOL

%26amp; the neighboring city of rehoboth is full of dogs, too, though in season they%26#39;re not allowed on the beach or boardwalk at all, you%26#39;ll see them on the streets all the time.

Ocean City (and MD in general IMO) are NOT very dog friendly, especially with big dogs.

I researched every hotel and condo in OC and only found about 10 that would accomodate a large dog.

As far as Assateague, camping is the only lodging. Dogs are allowed to camp in the national park, but not the state side.

Thank you everyone for the advice and suggestions. Lie I said, this will be out 10th year coming to OCM. We know the routine - dogs are licensed annualy here in PA, all vaccines are up to date, flea and tick treatments -of course! (ticks are our biggest concern here). We are big on pooper scooping and bring our own bags when we take the dogs anywhere. It%26#39;s a shame that more people are not dog friendly in Ocean City. It%26#39;s very family oriented... and for us, family includes the Goldens! If anyone out there knows of a house rental, we would still like to hear about it. I appreciate everyone that has responded so far.

DREAMING OF SUMMER IN OCM....

I understand the flea thing as I%26#39;ve been on the other end of it.......we walked into a rental condo once and I%26#39;m not exaggerating when I say that within seconds it looked like someone threw coffee grinds at our legs! We all jumped on tables and chairs! Funny now, but not at the time! Come to find out 2 weeks earlier someone had had a kitten there. Then it was empty for 2 weeks enough time for a huge population to grow.....and very hungry since the place was empty!!!

We actually have found success with ';Natural Defense';, an all natural flea/tick control. Had to switch to using this when one of our cats was fighting cancer. We found it as effective as Advantage which we had been using........and I am super-sensitive to fleas (they love me!)

channel

Hotel advice while visiting NIH

My daughter needs to do some research at the NIH library for a few days and so will be flying from CA in a couple weeks. She wants to use the metro to get from the hotel to the library. Any ideas where she can stay that is safe, easily accesible to the metro and on a student budget? Nothing fancy, just clean and safe. Thanks.

Hotel advice while visiting NIH

What is her actual student budget and dates she%26#39;ll be coming? A hotel that%26#39;s an easy walk to a Metro stop in Bethesda or Rockville may well be outside of her budget.

If she%26#39;s willing to consider a hotel with its own shuttle bus or along a local bus route to a Metro station, there are plenty of possibilities towards the lower end of the budget scale.

More info please?

Hotel advice while visiting NIH

She%26#39;s arriving Sunday March 22 and leaving that Thurs. Something under $200 would be best. It looks like the metro doesn%26#39;t go directly to NIH anyway. Is there a hotel along a busline that goes to NIH from Silver Spring or Wheaton or elsewhere that%26#39;s not too far? Thanks for your input : )

For a hotel walking distance to a Red Line station, the only one I%26#39;m seeing in your price range is the Rockville Hilton at $199, located directly next to the Twinbrook station (ten minute ride to NIH).

There is direct Metrobus service from downtown Silver Spring to NIH (J1/J2 buses) for a 25-minute trip to NIH. The Hilton there has an advance-payment special of $149 and the Crowne Plaza is $172. The other recommendable hotel in downtown Silver Spring (Courtyard) is %26gt;$200. Stay away from the Comfort Inn, Travelodge and Days Inn.

An answer to a question you didn%26#39;t ask: She will find a lot to do in her downtime (if she has any) without a car so far as shopping, restaurants of all cuisines in every price range, and entertainment within the immediate vicinity of the Rockville Hilton and the downtown Silver Spring hotels (but the edge definitely goes to Rockville on this one).

There are quite a few clean %26amp; safe places in the $100 range in the Rockville/Gaithersburg area that aren%26#39;t near the Metro, but they may offer a free shuttle service. The downside for the substantial savings here is a) additional time for not only the shuttle, but a longer Metro ride as well, and b) while these hotels are located in safe office-park environments, there are few if any amenities in the immediate vicinity for somebody who doesn%26#39;t have a car.

Incidentally, the Metro does go to NIH. The Medical Center stop is two blocks from the NIH Library.

thanks for your suggestions. I will pass on the info.

aquarium question

My parents are visiting at the end of March and they want to go to the aquarium. My dad says that you can reserve a time so that you do not have to wait online. We%26#39;d rather not b/c we don%26#39;t know their exact schedule yet - so I was wondering if anyone knows how busy the aquarium is likely to be on a Wednesday afternoon in March?? Would reservations be necessary or would it be possible to get right in?

thanks!

aquarium question

Do you really live right here in Odenton? Why not pick up the phone and ask them, it won%26#39;t even be a long distance call...

(410) 576-3800

aquarium question

I can%26#39;t believe that there will be long lines on a Wed in March - you should be fine.

My hubby works next door to the aquarium, he said there are never lines during the day in the winter. You should be fine.

Even if you have a reserved time, you still might have to wait in line to get in. You should be fine in the middle of the afternoon in March.

Itinerary help please!

Hi, I posted last week and got lots of great advice about what to do...so much so that I%26#39;ve changed our plans(we were going to fly into DC and out of Boston).

I%26#39;d really appreciate any comments on the following itinerary for our family (me, husband, 2 sons - 3 and 1) holiday - including driving routes, choice of towns, activities, accommodation.

27th June - arrive DC - stay somewhere like Embassy suites or an apartment from Vrbo

1st July leave DC driving down through Shenandoah NP to a cabin - most likely outside the NP - possibly Lydia Mountain in Stanardsville VA.

3rd July drive down to Williamsburg - no thoughts yet about where to stay

5th July - drive to a beach location - possibly Lewes DE. I%26#39;m really open to any beach town in DE, MD or even NC; but I don%26#39;t want to have a huge drive back up to DC at the end of our (hopefully) relaxing holiday

12th July - drive back to DC for our flight back to UK

Thanks!

Itinerary help please!

The July 5th part of the trip - at the beach - may be a problem. July 4th - Independence day - is a huge holiday for the US, and this is one of the busiest weekends at the beach. It may be difficult to find a place that will rent for only a day or two, and the rates will probably be at their peak.

Not sure what goes on at Williamsburg for the 4th of July, but given it%26#39;s historical significance, it may be fun to experience.

SNP - any particular reason you wouldn%26#39;t stay in the park? (i know the in park options are limited, i%26#39;m just curious)

Itinerary help please!

Many people will have off July 3rd. Traffic on the way to any beach location will be terrible. Maybe you want to avoid the Bay Bridge and check out Virginia Beach. If you decide to come to the Eastern Shore, I would suggest Ocean City or maybe even Rehobeth. Reservations will be essential at either resort.

Thanks for the advice.

I checked out the %26#39;in park%26#39; options for Shenandoah, and as you say they%26#39;re a bit limited. The cabins (which we%26#39;d prefer to a hotel type room) are either basic camping style or quite expensive. If anyone has any specific suggestions though I%26#39;m happy to look at other options. The Lydia mountain place gets good reviews and is v reasonable ($135-185 ish for a 2 bedroom cabin with hot tub)

We%26#39;re planning to stay in Lewes/Bethany Beach/ Reheboth for a week and have found a few places on VRBO we%26#39;re checking out - it%26#39;s hard to choose!

Don%26#39;t know if you posted your requests/interests in the Delaware or Virginia forums, but stongly urge you to do so if you have not. These folks can give you great advice.

Lewes DE is charming, but Rehoboth DE is just as nice and is just minutes from Lewes. Shopping is outstanding if you are into oodles of outlets and there is no sales tax on clothing, shoes, bags, etc. in Delaware. Rehoboth and Lewes also have very quaint shops and boutiques. Rehoboth will also have a much larger selection of vrbo%26#39;s and other lodging options. Other posters are on target with traveling on July 3rd. Not only is this a Friday in the summer (gasp! always traffic jams) but it will be a holiday for most workers since July 4th falls on a Saturday. If you are traveling from the mountains to Williamsburg VA, probably not as much of a head-ache, but any attempts to drive on I-95 will be a nightmare. Please plan accordingly. We are boaters, so the only traffic we get around July 4th are ducks, geese and sea gulls. We are never on the roads!

Roadtrips, Weekenders, Day Trips

Hi,

I will be in Baltimore for about 3.5 months from april to august. I know that Philadelphia, New York , Atlantic City, Anapolis are all nearby and worth a visit.

Does anybody have any other suggestions of cities or places to go?

Thanks!

Karen

Roadtrips, Weekenders, Day Trips

Washington, D.C. would be a no-brainer (only an hour away).

Heading east, Ocean City, Md. or the beaches in Delaware would be closer than Atlantic City. It%26#39;s a different type of environment, all depends on what you%26#39;re looking for in a beach. Some very nice rural areas along the way on the eastern shore of Maryland.

Heading an hour+ west, there are the scenic mountains of Maryland and West Virginia, some historic Civil War-era areas (e.g. Antietam, Harpers Ferry).

These are just a few suggestions. What in particular are you looking for?

Roadtrips, Weekenders, Day Trips

St. Michaels and Oxford on Maryland%26#39;s Eastern Shore would be nice 2 day trip- about a 2 hours from Baltimore. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware also nice beach town [preferable to Ocean City, Md - my opinion !]- would go for at least 3 days [ also about 2 1/2 hrs from Balto. Berkely Springs, West VA[about 90 min drive] is a a good 2 day trip- quaint little town but has Coolfont Resort which can be expensive but has mineral baths, spa treatments, great food etc. Even if you just stay in downtown Berkley Springs instead there are great restaurants, art galleries, Roman mineral baths etc. Deep Creek, MD is another nice summer destination- swimming, hiking, etc- check out their website. Afternoon trip to Main St in Ellicott City, MD- historic town about 20 min from the city- restaurants, antique shops, small speciality shops, etc. Wineries- most with free tastings- Linganore, Elk Run, Boordy- google Maryland wineries for full list. Hope this helps

Shenandoah National Park is about 2 hours away and is a great weekend get-away. Big Meadows is a great place to stay in the park.

Harper%26#39;s Ferry is a great day trip. It has a nice little civil war era town, and lots of hiking and biking options.

Washington DC is within an hour%26#39;s drive and many of the sights - museums, national zoo - are free.

All of the suggestions above are excellent... If you go to skyline drive, definitely stay here. visitshenandoah.com/lodging-food/skyland-res…

it%26#39;s nothing fancy, but the views are unbelievable.

About 90 minutes north on I83 is Lancaster, Amish country and Hershey Park. Hershey is an amusement park with all types of rides. Hershey and Lancaster are close to eachother so you could do a long weekend and spend a day in each place. Each takes all of one day at least. You would have to go to the Hershey park website to see when the park opens for 2009 season.

There is also the town of Havre De Grace, it has a small mainstreet but they have alot of festivals in the spring and summer. All the previous suggestions made were my top picks. Maryland has lots of nice state parks too. Susquehanna for one, all are great places for long walks and a picnic, some you can fish.

MD calender of events and attractions info here

www.mdisfun.org. If it makes it easier these I would not miss:

Long weekend - Ocean City, Rehobeth, St Micheals, Harpers Ferry, Annapolis, Lancaster\Hershey. They run tubing trips on the river in Harpers Ferry.

Day Trips- Ellicott City, Eastern Shore. Boordy vineyard has outdoor concerts on Saturday nights in the summer. Great way to spend a summer evening when you want to stay close to home.

Take a look at the mass transit sites for both MD and DC. Granted, the hours are kind of limited between DC %26amp; MD, but I think its pretty cool you can ride a train from Baltimore to DC for $7 and spend a day wandering around. And take more trains to other places across the Capitol!

This is a very good tourism site for Virginia. I have been trying to get here myself. Beautiful state.

http://www.virginia.org/

Great suggestions above. Also if you like history, Williamsburg VA is about 3 hours or so and worth the trip.

Is the Job Fair this Weekend?

I should go look it up but you all are so fast to respond that I think this may be quicker. I%26#39;m not looking for a job but since I%26#39;ll be up this weekend, I may swing by the fair to see who%26#39;s hiring and how much they offer. Just in case :-)

Thanks!

Is the Job Fair this Weekend?

Yep.

http://jobfair.oceancity.org/

Is the Job Fair this Weekend?

Excellent, thanks!

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database

Visitors, If you post, please check back

This is such a great forum and many knowledgable foks are always on hand to help answer travelers%26#39; questions. For those who are inquiring about Maryland hotels, restaurants, activities etc. it would be oh so helpful if you could be more specific in your requests, or at least check on your original post to see if people have questions. Ocassionally, the inquiries are too generic so one may not get as many responses as he/she would like or expect, and as a result it may be overshadowed by the more active posts.

Think about it this way, if a long lost relative was coming for a first time visit and you were hosting them at your home, wouldn%26#39;t it be helpful to know, taste/food preferences, activity level, interests (hiking vs. museums), etc? And if they wanted to stay in a hotel, (how kind of them!) wouldn%26#39;t it be important to know what kind of services/location they prefer and how much they are willing to pay for their lodging?

Anyway, just a little reminder. Also, after your visit, don%26#39;t forget to post your trip update. It%26#39;s always good to hear about visitors%26#39; experiences, and also helps the members who provide suggestions know if what they recommended was worthwhile. Happy travels.

Visitors, If you post, please check back

I%26#39;d like to encourage visitors to write and post reviews of hotels and restaurants. When I am visiting a new city, that is the section of TripAdvisor I utilize. I%26#39;m trying to write reviews after I return from a trip, forward them to my friends and to TA. My next goal is to write reviews after visiting my favorite Baltimore restaurants.

Visitors, If you post, please check back

Excellent point. I like to do the same. I also frequent many restaurants in the area, and like to post those as well.

Oxon hill

I am a teacher planning a school trip to washington dc, i found a hotel in Oxon Hill very inexpensive, can someone tell me about the area Please.

Oxon hill

There%26#39;s a reason it%26#39;s cheap! Oxon Hill is not a good area for a tourist to stay in.

Oxon hill

Stay away from Oxon Hill...

UNLESS you are staying at the new National Harbor complex which has a Gaylord Hotel and a Hampton Inn (Hampton opened April 3, 2008) so far as part of the hotel offerings.

Which still doesn%26#39;t make it a very convenient location for touring Washington DC...

Actually downtown via 295/395 was only 15 minutes without traffic. I timed it. I can tell you they have HEAVY security around here. I was surprised since it is just two hotels opened and a big construction area for the rest of the project but after reading some posts on here about Oxon Hill, I guess I see where the security is needed. I didn%26#39;t feel anywhere near afraid though whether daylight or night as plenty of security was present in vehicles and on foot.

Can someone tell me how far the Gaylord/Hampton Inn is from a metro station? TIA

It is five miles from the King Street (Alexandria, VA) station and about the same to the Branch Avenue stop.

But if you%26#39;re asking in the hopes of finding inexpensive public transportation to/from those hotels, it might as well be 500 miles since AFAIK it%26#39;s nonexistent.

The only way to get there is with your own car, taxi, water taxi from old town Alexandria, or the hotel%26#39;s own $huttle or car $ervices.

There is a new metrobus route a few times per hour, from National Harbour to the Southern Avenue metrorail station (whose parking spaces, like all stations, fill up quite early on weekday mornings). Details are at http://www.wmata.com . That said, you may feel uneasy with the class of people you see on and around the train in the southeast part of D.C. I grew up and lived in Oxon Hill for much of my life.

what street to stay on

Hi we will be traveling to Ocean city the first of June. We were wondering where to stay and what street to stay on. We are looking for something low key, quiet, and clean. I keep hearing to stay away from anything above 60th street for street noise and traffic. Any ideas we were looking at somehting on 41st and then something up at 121st. Hope someone may be able to give us a few ideas and thank you so much for your help !!!!!!

what street to stay on

Avoid 28th st and below. 121st is a nice area. 94th st is nice as well. If you really want something quiet, but still close to the action, you may want to look at the 140th bayside area.

what street to stay on

I would personally say go for the one on 121st street but it depends on the actual condo/hotel you are referring to. And it also depends on bayside verses oceanside (is one on the bay and one on the ocean) and what you plan to do - are you going to venture to the boardwalk frequently? Do you have specific buildings/hotels you are looking at, if so, maybe that will help out.

It all depends on what your needs are and what you like or interested in doing. As for what end is quiter is BS, all of OC is busy and has traffic.

If you stay above 80th street then I guess you never leave your condo and venture out to the beach/boardwalk, if its so quiter at that end.

I%26#39;m not saying a condo or very nice hotel is not good at that end but all of OC is busy during the summer.

OC has shops/food/amusement up and down Coastal hwy, so your never too far away from any activities.

I personal like to be near the boardwalk, its nice to walk to the beach, shops and amusements and never need your car again till you leave.

Here are a few links to help you navigate your condo/hotel search:

ocean-city.com

oceancity.com

the ones we were looking at was The Versailles 121 st.and Silver Moon 127st. condos. We also thought about the Sandpointe on 41st. We like oceanfront with a direct ocean view no obstuctions. And family oriented. Low crowds. Thanks for all the info from you all. It%26#39;s been great.

My family has been going to OC for well over 20 years. We always stay between 130 - 143 street- ocean side. It is somewhat quiet and definitely family oriented. There is plenty to do and places to eat all within walking distance. We usually travel down to the board walk once during our week long stay.

You will find there%26#39;s a lot less traffic noise and congestion along Coastal Highway in the higher-numbered blocks than in the lower-numbered blocks in season.

Why? There%26#39;s not as much reason for those in the low-numbered streets to simply cruise the high-numbered streets looking for things to do, so traffic thins out the further north you go. Most of the amenities in Ocean City tend to repeat themselves along the nearly 10-mile strip. You can easily find a gas station, miniature golf course, grocery store, plenty of restaurants and a Sunsations within a mile (~17 blocks) of wherever you are.

But the major attractions that *don%26#39;t* fall into this one-mile-of-wherever-you-are category are all situated towards the southern end (the 30s and below)--the Boardwalk, amusement parks, a high concentration of bars.

Incidentally, you may find your strategy for a low-key, quiet environment thwarted at times by vacationing high-school seniors, a.k.a. ';June Bugs,'; regardless of where you wind up staying. Not enough to keep me away, but YMMV.

Have heard that the Silver Moon and Sandpointe are nice. I always stay around 31st st., but have considered staying at the Sandpointe in the past. It%26#39;s a great location with a nice beach area. It is a great location were you can walk anywhere and can leave your car parked all week. We aren%26#39;t big boardwalk people and love sitting out on the balcony watching the waves and enjoying the ocean sounds at night. Either way, it sounds like you are on the right track to having a relaxing and enjoyable OC experience. Enjoy!

Isn%26#39;t that Senior Week?? Good luck!

Since you are going the first week of June, I would reccommend staying up in the northern part, above 90th street.This is known as the highrise section. Most of the condos there are famiy oriented, and do not let groups of kids rent, plus most of the kids dont want to be that far up. Which condo you pick is another thing altogether. It would depend on how many of you there are, and what ammenities you want.If you go up past 120th, you are now in the low rise condo section. Then it would depend on if you want oceanblock or ocean view. I myself prefer the highrise section condo%26#39;s, I like ocean front or view, and the ease of right out the door and onto the beach. I also like to walk right acroos the street to do my food shopping. The beach can get a little crowded right in front, but I have never felt packed in, have always had room to spread out.

Silver Moon is a great, unique styled building (30 units) It%26#39;s an oceanfront hideaway and shielded from the noises on Coastal Highway. Units in the building rent FAST so if you have your eye on one, I wouldn%26#39;t waste time. We own in the building and our %26#39;June%26#39; was completely booked over a month ago. Sounds just like what you%26#39;re looking for.

bethany rehobeth or ocean city

I need some help! We usually travel to Jersey shore and we are looking for a change. Which place has the nicest beach for a few days. We are coming from a few days in DC and want to spend a few days on shore.

any help would be great.

bethany rehobeth or ocean city

Both are nice and about the same when you compare the beaches(sand/water temp). The difference are the activities/shops/amusements etc, etc. Bethany is more low key, mostly condos a few shops and so forth.

As for Ocean City it packed with activites that cater to all ages. It depends on what you like or dislike. If your looking for packed ideas for each day than OC is the place and of course if not then Bethany could be the right spot.

bethany rehobeth or ocean city

the beaches themselves are pretty much the same.

i have to admit that the beach in rehoboth (%26amp; dewey, just to the south of it) aren%26#39;t great for swimming right now, due to the beach replenishment a couple years ago, which caused a bad shore break %26amp; a lot of stones right in the surf zone; not to mention a steep dropoff only a couple feet from shore. but the beach itself is lovely.

the towns are quite different.

rehoboth is the more sophisticated %26amp; upscale, as far as shops %26amp; restaurants go. also smaller %26amp; more intimate. also, more of a ';gay-friendly'; town...part of the reason it%26#39;s more sophisticated. IMO, best shopping on the MD/DE coast is in downtown rehoboth.

bethany%26#39;s very quiet. don%26#39;t know much about it, but it%26#39;s definitely the quietest of the 3.

ocean city%26#39;s more of a circus. very busy, a bigger boardwalk with more amusements, more rides, more tacky t-shirt shops, %26amp; more drunken college kids. but still a huge ';family'; destination.

I agree with the above. It really depends on who you are traveling with, what ages and what you like to do. I think with smaller children you might like the Deleware beaches better. Older kids and couples Ocean City has more activities and the bus is available all day for $2 - park your car and take the bus.

Either way both have a lot to offer.

Since you have a few days, why not check them all out...it%26#39;s not even an hour from any one to another.

That way you know for your next visit which one you prefer.

I%26#39;d also visit Lewes, just a few miles north of Rehoboth...not an ocean resort town, but they do have a beach, + a scenic harbor with dockside restaurants and a quaint but lively downtown shopping/dining district. Very New England-ish. Yet another choice.

thanks for the input. What%26#39;s up with the rocks in the water and bad breaks? Can kids boogie board safely or wave jump safely?

The kids can boogie board at OC for sure.

Try North Ocean City or Fenwick Island. The beach is less crowded and really nice, no shore breaks or drop offs. Usually good boogie boarding but each day the surf is different. The bayside park is nice for kids too.

if boogie-boarding %26amp; wave jumping for kids is your main concern, i have to admit that, AT THIS POINT, you%26#39;re probably better off in OC or fenwick.

much as i love dewey/rehoboth (we have a little place there)...i have to say that since the beach replenishment a few years ago, it%26#39;s been terrible for that. there are still lots of little kids in the water, %26amp; most of them are fine. but it stinks for boogie-boarding....%26amp; i know that when OUR ';kids'; are down with the grandkids, they tend to drive for the day to one of the state parks for boarding of any kind...%26amp; so do our neighbors, who have kids of the same age (young teenagers who like to skim-board).

they have some plan to ';fix'; this problem in the near future, by importing soft sand to fill up the surf zone...but i%26#39;m not sure when that%26#39;s going to happen. i%26#39;d read it would be this winter, but i have the impression it%26#39;s been put off, sorry to say.

if i%26#39;m wrong, i hope someone will chime in %26amp; say so, because i%26#39;m really hoping i am! i%26#39;d LOVE to see it fixed by next summer!

I am just seeing this now, so it miught be late. But usually rent in Deleware, love the beaches. and we are this time thinking of maybe trying the jersey shore beaches, as to see what they are like, and maybe I little closer to home. What can you tell me about the jersey shore beaches. We would rent on the oceanfront, a house or cottage or something, angefrat@stny.rr.com

Light Rail - Overnight Parking?

Driving down to Baltimore from Harrisburg, PA for a quick overnight trip on a budget. Got a room for $65 at the Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards. Unfortunately the parking is $24 a day at the hotel. Was wondering if it would be feasible to park at one of the light rail stations (Hunt Valley, Timonium, etc) for one night. We would be driving in on Friday midday and leaving Saturday afternoon. It would save us about 18 bucks in parking. I%26#39;ve used the light rail on multiple occasions for day trips, but never overnight. If that doesn%26#39;t work, does anyone have other suggestions for saving money on the parking? Thanks.

Light Rail - Overnight Parking?

I read in the York paper today that the Rabbit Transit is offering a new bus service to the light rail station in Timonium. You can park at the Emigsville lot (they said to notify them if you plan an extended trip) and take the bus down to Timonium. You can check their website for more information. Hope this helps! I thought it was a neat new service.

Light Rail - Overnight Parking?

That%26#39;s a very interesting idea, thanks! A friend of minw who lives in the Baltimore area mentioned that his car broke down ina light rail lot and sat there for several days, so I%26#39;m going to assume my car will be ok. Anyone have a suggestion on best Park n Ride? I%26#39;ve used Hunt Valley in the past

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Shoreline Properties?

Has anyone out there ever rented a vacation property from Shoreline Properties in Ocean City? I have rented from Caldwell Banker and Resort Rentals in previous years. Just wondered if anyone could give me some info on Shoreline.

Fran

Shoreline Properties?

We rented from them just once in 15 years and only because they had the unit we were interested in. All the other years we used Holiday Real Estate, and occasionally Coldwell Banker. They%26#39;re pretty much all the same.

Shoreline Properties?

We have used Shoreline several times and had no probems.

My family used Shoreline exclusively for several years. They had no problems -- including one really late check-in.

The only reason we got away from using them is that the other realtors had websites that offered more pictures and information.

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Baltimore, Hyatt hotel, to do

I am going to a convention 3/9/09 staying at the Hyatt in Baltimore at the harbour. There will be little time to do much after the convention convenes in the evening, however I must see some of the sights that are close by the hotel. Any ideas? Is it safe to walk about alone in the evening? Thanks

Baltimore, Hyatt hotel, to do

Just like any city, it%26#39;s always important to be aware of your surroundings, but with that said, you%26#39;re directly across from the harbor, which is super touristy/safe. lots of restaurants, shopping, attractions - have fun!

Baltimore, Hyatt hotel, to do

if you will be with some others, you may want to grab a cab and head to federal hill for a drink and dinner.

another ';eating %26amp; drinking'; option is Brewer%26#39;s Art, which is a micro brewery on Charles St. They have delicious beers - try the Resurection ale.

You can safely walk 4 blocks south on Light Street and be in Federal Hill (which I also recommend) I also think walking to the Inner Harbor East area and Little Italy is safe and about 6 blocks. If you take a cab for dinner, try Fells Point. Most museums close before dinner. The aquarium is open till 8 on Fridays and if your a morning person you could try walking over to Federal Hill for a beautiful view of the Harbor before the convention.

The best thing to do is get a water taxi ticket. Then you can safely travel between the Inner Harbor, Federal Hill, Fells Point, Canton, etc without having to walk between neighborhoods at night. (I%26#39;d recommend exploring Federal Hill and Fells Point in particular.) This is the safest way to do it. I would NOT walk up to Brewer%26#39;s Art (this is in the Mt Vernon Neighborhood) from the Inner Harbor at night- take a cab!

Federal Hill info:

http://www.historicfederalhill.org/www

Fells Point info:

http://www.fellspoint.us/

Weekend trip March 14-15

Myself and a few girlfriends are going to Lutherville, MD on the 14th to attend a book signing. We want to spend the day in Baltimore to explore. My friend wants to go to the Blue Moon Cafe. What would be the best place to park near there so that we can just explore by foot? Anything near there to walk to and see?

Is it a city that is fairly easy to drive in? I was through Baltimore once about 5 years ago but was only passing through.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Weekend trip March 14-15

blue moon is great, just get there early to beat the rush, there%26#39;s always a wait. It is located in fells point, which is a cute historic area with cobblestone streets, shops, and restaurants.

One note about the weekend in question: it is the unofficial St. Pattys celebration and you may encounter some green crowds. Street parking might be tricky, but there are a few garages in Fells so you should be okay.

Weekend trip March 14-15

';One note about the weekend in question: it is the unofficial St. Pattys celebration and you may encounter some green crowds.';

Not to mention some closed streets if the visit is on March 15th, as the parade is that day.

(This is not ';St Patty%26#39;s'; Day, as ';Patty'; is short for Patricia and her feast day is August 9th lol. ';Paddy%26#39;s Day';, ';St Pat%26#39;s Day'; or Saint Patrick%26#39;s Day'; but never ';Patty';.) :)

You can park anywhere around Blue Moon on the street. If you park in the heart of FP, you have to pay for street parking. You will probably have more luck finding a spot on the east side of Blue Moon or the further away you are from Broadway in either direction. Blue Moon is in Fells point and you will have no problem getting around by foot. Blue Moon is only about 3 blocks from Fells point wharf. What time are you getting there ? It makes a difference, earlier the better. I believe there is a new parking garage there west of Broadway.

There is lots to do in this area, it%26#39;s called Fells Point. It%26#39;s a historic seaport and has lots of restaraunts, bars, shops, walk along the harbor. It is fun and popular Baltimore hotspot and party spot.

Baltimore is easy to drive in if you know your way around. Stay on the main thoroughfares and you should be fine. Would not hurt to have a Garmin type device. But if you are coming from Lutherville its very easy to get in to where you want to be. you would take I83 into the city,it dead ends where you want to turn to go left and takes you right into Fells Point where the BMC is. Very easy, only 2 turns. Just make sure you know how to get out of there ahead of time, which would be on Eastern Ave to President and that gets you back onto I83. Or the same way you came in. There are some roads that are one way that I do not rememeber. Eastern Ave is not one way and a sure way out.

We will have a Garmin (I don%26#39;t leave home without it, lol) I just got a good deal on a hotel. We are staying now in the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor At Camden Yards.

Coming from home my first stop is going to be Lutherville then we will check in to the hotel, grab lunch, and then we are wanting to go see the grave site of Edgar Allen Poe. Probably spend the remainder of the evening exploring for a bit..

On Sunday We are wanting to wake up early as possible to head out to the Blue Moon, walk around the harbor for a bit, then get back to watch the parade.

I see that it starts at 2....how long does it generally take from start to finish? I assume we would be watching it somewhere near Pratt St as that is close to the hotel.

Since we need to be home by midnight if possible we would need to leave by at least 4PM.

Does this informal itinerary seem okay?

Thanks so far for everyones input. I appreciate it!

Poe%26#39;s grave is usually open from dawn to dusk. His grave is at the entrance of the cemetery. If the gates are locked you can still see the monument.

Be sure and visit his original grave in the rear of the graveyard. Simply follow the brick walkway and it will take you right to it.

a tip- the parking garage on Caroline St. in Fells Point is $3 on the weekends.

Ocean city or Virginia Beach?

We are looking to go to the beach next summer with 2 other families. Each family has 3 children under the age of 8. Which area would be better for us to visit. We are comming from Ohio. We are looking to get one big house or Condo. Any input Would be Great. We would also like to have a pool or pool access. Has any one been to both places?

Thanks Jaymi

Ocean city or Virginia Beach?

I%26#39;ve been to OC countless times but to Va. Beach only once. Hands down it%26#39;s OC, especially for children. Va. beach is a nice area but they don%26#39;t have the boardwalk, rides, mini golf.... that OC has. Do a search on the forum, I recall this being discussed recently.

Ocean city or Virginia Beach?

yes this topic has been discusssed numerous times. A forum search will result in many responses. Here is part of a post I made earlier on the Subject:

OC is a small laid back Island(well almost)town with a great famlily oriented atmosphere. There are fun amusements, a great real boards boardwalk and fantastic Maryland crabs and outlet shopping. The beach is pristine with big waves and is always peaceful and relaxing.

VB is part of the large metropolitan area of Hampton Roads including Newport News and Norfolk as well as numerous army and naval bases. So there for you have rush hours and hustle and bustle. But as well as the oceanfront you can also see a play or go to the opera. Or visit one of the many many museums throughout the area. The boardwalk(concrete) is peaceful and a great place to people watch or for an evening stroll. It is sooo pretty lit up at night.

I usually go to Ocean city for a few years in a row and then to VB for a few years. As far as the kids, I agree with Crabby that there are more children oriented activities in Ocean City.

Thanks, for the info. We will have to talk it over.

Have you looked into the Outer Banks? They have AMAZING ocean front houses. Absolutely beautiful.

I am interested to know what you%26#39;ve decided. We are in the SAME situation right now! Planning our 2009 summer vacation %26amp; we typically go to VB. We LOVE VB however, with finances being tight, we are considering OC, MD. I have never been but it is about 6 hours closer than VB (we are from upstate NY). We always found something to do in VB. We have an RV and stay about 2 miles from the beach. Our camp site is right in the flight path of the F-18%26#39;s and we love watching them fly in and out. We usually took a day trip to Busch Gardens but basically went to beach everyday. The beach is clean and totally family orientated. The shops are great and they have a no swearing policy, which is a relief as we have children.

We vacationed on the Jersey shore a couple of years ago and I swaer I won%26#39;t go back. Did not care for the beaches although I heard they were great, we stayed in Sea Isle City. It is just so much better in VB but am curious if we will be happy in OC.

Ocean City isn%26#39;t exactly RV friendly. You%26#39;d have to park it in a camp ground outside the city limits and there is no public transportation.

Chamber of Commerce doesn%26#39;t really care for folks who bring their rooms with them .In fact,during the season you can%26#39;t even park an RV on the city street.

I think both have their perks and I haven%26#39;t been to VB myself I do want to go some day because it does sound nice. OC is more convienent to me because its closer and has a wide range of activities to do that cater to all ages. From put-put, arcades, boardwalk to home town taversn to Jamica style theme resort at Seacrets.

If your on a tight budget this year, Ocean City will do you fine and I think you%26#39;ll find yourself wanting to go back in the years to come.

Links to help find your lodging

ocean-city.com

oceancity.com

Actually one of the families that we were going to go with is having an early summer baby and My Dh just changed jobs so we are not going to go this year. My kida are little 6, 5, 3, and 1 so we have plenty of time to make the trip. My girls really wanted to see a beach so we may just go up to Lake Erie, (we live in Ohio) and be able to do this easily in just a weekend. SOMEDAY we will make it over there with the kids. I have been to Hilton Head and that was ';Nice';. My Husband and my beach vacations are usually In Mexico. and that is VERY nice!!

BWI to Pier 5 Hotel

We%26#39;re flying into BWI in March--how do we get to the Pier 5 Hotel without a car??

BWI to Pier 5 Hotel

Taxi?

BWI to Pier 5 Hotel

If you google ';transportation from bwi'; you will get results for many various methods of tranportation from BWI. Sedan, limo, van shuttle. I would do this rather taking a taxi it will probably cost the same..and is a better ';experience'; than taxi. There is also the Light Rail but it%26#39;s about a 10 minute walk to the hotel. It is very close easy to walk this and a nice scenic walk through the Harbo place area. I dont know how much luggage you have, but you can actually take the light rail from BWI that drops you off at Camden Yards then take a cab to Pier 5 if you dont want to drag luggage around through the city. It is less than a mile cab ride. This will be the least expensive option, less than $10.

visitingdc.com/airport/bwi-airport-transport鈥?/a>

Thanks--you%26#39;ve been super helpful!

Do you have to use a quilt in the cot bed

Deal offered at Embers Buffet

Just wanted to pass on that Embers is for a time offering the all you can eat buffet for $19.99. I think that price is about a $10 discount. I have not been in years but we may go next weekend to enjoy some crablegs at a great price.

Deal offered at Embers Buffet

Wow! I just checked their website and it looks like they may even continue it into summer! That%26#39;s good business and a good deal! We usually support the Bonfire, but for doing such a generous thing like that, we will definitely be going to support Embers! Thanks for the heads up.

Deal offered at Embers Buffet

Thanks for the heads up! We are Bonfire patrons as well (see my review) but for 20 bucks we%26#39;ll give Embers a shot. We will be in town this coming weekend, so I%26#39;m sure that Sat. night will be the night. Then I%26#39;ll have to post a review next weekend.

Embers is actually pretty good. A nice selection of fresh fish and specialty seafood dishes. That would be a nice savings if they keep the same sale price during the summer.

We will also be in town this weekend.....thanks for the heads up - we will give it a try

The Bonfire and Embers are both owned by the same individual, who also has an interest in Candy Kitchen (they used to give you a piece of fudge with the bill - not sure if they still do that)

For $20, probably worth the trip.

Philadelphia to BWI

Hello all,

I%26#39;m flying out of BWI instead of my normal Philadelphia airport (Baltimore had way cheaper deals for some reason... =) ) My flight leaves at 6am and I am coming from the Philly suburbs. My mapquest says a little under 3 hours (taking 202 and then I-95) I wasn%26#39;t worried about traffic around 1 am but someone has made me paranoid; do you think leaving at 12:30 would give me sufficient time? That%26#39;d have me arriving around 3:30 or so... I want to say the airport won%26#39;t be busy then, but I%26#39;m not sure.

Philadelphia to BWI

AFAIK, I don%26#39;t think any of the check-in counters open until 4:30 a.m., so I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll accomplish anything arriving at BWI at 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. Check with your specific airline on the time their humans actually arrive for work, it could be as late as 5:00.

And even if their counter opens at 4:30, I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll have an issue arriving at 5 a.m. for a 6 a.m. flight.

I%26#39;d leave at 1:15--you should make the trip in a bit less than 3 hours, even if you%26#39;re just slightly leadfooted (i.e. 5 mph over speed limit) and that will leave you a LOT of wiggle room in the very unlikely event of a major slowdown along the way.

Philadelphia to BWI

Wow, that didn%26#39;t occur to me at all! Now that I think about it that makes sense though; I had an early flight out of CA and the counters didn%26#39;t open until around 4 or so as well. Thank you so much for your answer!

It sounds like you%26#39;re building in enough time - just be aware that BWI has LOT of flights departing early in the morning, some before 6:00 a.m.

The security lines can be surprisingly long at 5:00 and 5:15 in the morning, so no dawdling. :)

i live in the norther Balt subburbs and flew out of Philly in Jan. (sunday evening) I made the trip in about 90 minutes. I live about 30 minutes from BWI, so i would put your trip at around 2 hours, depending on which side of Philly you live.

You could also look into a sleep and fly option at BWI area hotel. At some hotels, you can pay for the hotel and parking / shuttle to the airport is free. Depending on how long your trip it is, the cost of parking in a lot is almost as much as the hotel.

We live 25 minutes from BWI but still do the sleep and fly for early flights if we are going on a longer trip. It is usually stress free.

I have taken many early flights out of BWI and the counters open somewhere around 4:30 - 5am . There usually several flights leaving first thing but it has never been very crowded at the counter especially since many airlines have you using the kiosk.

I agree that if you have a line it will be at security.

Leaving at 1:15 should give you plenty of time especially that early.

Enjoy your trip.

A previous poster brought up a good point on parking. The airport has long term (and short) parking. You may be able to get a better rate at one of the third party providers. I%26#39;ve used Fast Park and like their service. There are others around to. If you don%26#39;t have GPS, you may want to ';Mapquest'; it.

Also note that the airport has a special rate of $9 in their daily parking garage fairly close to the terminal with a coupon thru 6/30. The off-site lots are about $7 if you find their coupons online. I can recommend Pre-Flight if you want to go this route.

bwiairport.com/en/…parkhappy

http://www.preflightparking.com/BWI.aspx

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