Travel Tips

OK, so now that I am not pounding up and down the highway, I may want to travel again. I have learned a few tricks along the way like always carrying things like rolls of Smartees or individually wrapped Mints, Life Savers, and hard candy in my pocket (with backup supplies in my bag.) If the weather allows, bars of chocolate can also be used but be careful with them since heat, cold, and crushing can make these far less desirable.

It's amazing how much that small gesture  accompanied by a smile and a "Have a Good Day"will net you in terms of attitude and assistance (with all non tipped employees). Befriend your hotel staff, they can help you a lot in your stay. Ask them if there are places that deliver food or are nearby to sit down and what their favorite is. Ask them if there are great stores or attractions nearby. They may know far more than the hotel has in their display of neighborhood pizza places and tourist traps.

I don't advocate handing out candy with tipped employees since they may misunderstand and think you will cheap out on their tip. You can however add candy to their generous tip at the end but it does not have the same effect as the smile and attitude shift you will see when you come into your hotel every evening and do it. It works when you are not traveling too. Try it at the dry cleaners, grocery, and hair salon.

I have been traveling with my own food and drinks so long, it will seem strange to leave the house without it. I usually have clementines and a bag of prepared, carrots, pepper strips, and radishes. I often have a cooler with leftovers and a few sodas and waters. I always have microwave popcorn, paper plates, napkins and plastic cutlery in a zip lock. Another essential is a huge microwave safe cup that lives in my big bag and a tiny dish soap in my toiletry bag. With all of this my diet has improved greatly over fast food and TV dinners.

I never drink hotel water since it is probably softened (yes even the cold water). In my car I carry a six or twelve pack of water unless it is very hot. It really doesn't freeze unless it is very, very cold and you don't drive your car with the heat on very often. BTW Target sells 12 packs of small water bottles for about $2 which I have paid for one single bottle in a vending machine at the hotel.

Even a short trip to the office or shopping means I have a cold bottle of water in a koozie designed for water bottles or a thermal bottle of water, juice or tea. I usually have cookies and salty snacks in the car because I drive over 750 miles a week but since that mileage is changing dramatically, my opinion on this may take a radical change too.

I am always looking for more ideas so I thought I would share these:

8 items to pack
http://www.budgettravel.com/slideshow/8-items-you-never-packbut-should,7820/

Watch Out for these scams
http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/10-popular-travel-scams-around-the-world,7623/

Phrases that can save
http://www.budgettravel.com/feature/budget-travel-advice-12-phrases-that-mean-big-travel-savings,12866/

I have my own packing list modified over the years
http://fun-on-the-web.blogspot.com/2008/05/fun-on-web-january-2-2008.html

This creates one based on your answers to questions
http://upl.codeq.info/

This does too but requests you log in
http://www.packwhiz.com/

More nifty packing lists

http://www.johnnyjet.com/travel-resources/customizable-packing-checklist-for-women/
http://herpackinglist.com/2011/12/ultimate-female-travel-packing-lists/
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/travel/packing-list
http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/family-packing-list/art/
http://www.onebag.com/checklist.html

Things we did in DC

Crystal City Marriott was a beautiful hotel with an easy
access to the subway through an underground shopping
mall. We had a great suite with with a view of the city.
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/WASCC



The Metro and Union Station were quite the experience.
This is again something I am not well acquainted with
but I can see it's advantages.

The Oceanaire was pricey but oh so good. Obviously we
had seafood but it was very late so we were ravenous!
http://www.oceanaireseafoodroom.com/washingtondc.html
(dinner on Saturday)

Paolos was interesting, very informal with open air dining
indoors. Something I am quite sure I'll never get used to
coming from Wisconsin. The windows were thrown wide
open so that people next to them could literally look down
to see sidewalk. The food was yummy, service was great,
and I'm sure that a few cocktails didn't hurt.
http://www.paolosristorante.com/locations/georgetown.aspx
(dinner on Sunday)

The MALL had a great view but aside from that is just an
open green space between various tourist buildings. I guess
I didn't know what to expect but it wasn't this laid back park


The Trolley was my favorite since you could get on or get off
at various stops and there was a running travelogue while we
were riding along that showed us the various sites that were
all lit up at night. We started in daylinght touring past the
Supreme Court and various Smithsonian Buildings on the way
to the FDR Gardens which were gorgeous and full of bronze
sculpture and waterfalls over rocks. By this time the sun was
setting so things were lighting up. (Lincolns tomb, the Capitol,
FDR Gardens, Viet Nam Wall, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
and the National Museum of the American Indian .

Smithsonian Castle
This is where to go for information on all the exhibits at the
Smithsonian. There is even a diorama with "you are here".

Game Exhibit at the Sackler Gallery
Dan might have enjoyed this the most and even got to sit and
play a game of "Go". I spent more time in the other galleries
while he made friends (of course).

Hirshorn sculpture garden
We visited this during the day and I enjoyed it tremendously.
It is right in the thick of things as you go from one Museum to
the other. We got a chance to sit a minute and then I got up
and went once around the garden to oogle.

National Museum of the American Indian

This is a don't miss attraction!

National Museum American Indian on the National Mall -
located at Fourth Street & Independence Ave., S.W.
(the entrance is on Third Street)
Washington, DC 20560 Phone: 202-633-1000
Call for tickets or arrive early and take your chances.

With its central location on the National Mall between the
Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum and the U.S.
Capitol Building, it is easily accessed from the L’Enfant
Plaza Metro Station by all lines except Red.

The museum opened to the public on September 21, 2004.

This museum had so many fascinating exhibits its hard to
know where to start. The building itself is outstanding in its
design with the stone exterior seeming to wave in the wind.
The architects, project designers, and construction crews
were chosen from varied Indian tribes and 500 tribes were
consulted during the planning phases. The building is open
in the center and has huge stairways which wind around
that vast open space. For more details on the building itself:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=dc&second=building&third=architect


Starting at the top floor we stopped for a short film in the
360 degree Lelawi Theater. The film is displayed on four
screens in the center, as well as the domed ceiling, and
what appeared to be a rock in the middle of the floor was
changed from rock to running stream and then to a blazing
fire. Scenes blending one to another accompanied by the
Native American music, prepare you for your trek through
the museum and its vast and varying cultures. A number
of niches were prepared in the walls and down in the center
for beautiful displays of beadwork, quillwork, and other items.

On the 3rd floor we saw facinating montages that depicted
countless tribes in their past and present. There was an area
that showed layers of identity. For American Indians, who
you are, what you think, how you dress, where you fit in,
and both how you see yourself in the world and how the
world sees you is shaped by language, social and political
consciousness, location, community membership, customs,
and beliefs.

The second floor has a huge shop full of Native American
items from food to books, clothing to jewelry. We spent
quite a bit of time browsing in the shop. There appears to
be quite a bit of empty space ready for more exhibits on
this floor.

On the first floor may well be one of the best food options
in the whole Smithsonian complex in the Mitsitam Café
(mit-seh-TOM) meaning “let’s eat” with its tradional and
native foods. Unfortunately we weren't hungry at that time
but we looked at the menu which seemed well priced and
offered all levels from snacks to a full meal of salmon or
buffalo. Certainly later when we ended up eating Subway
in another museum we wished for the offerings we had
passed on earlier in the day.
http://www.nmai.si.edu/

Many of the teaching guides are available as PDF's here:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=education&second=pub#familyguide

Many exhibitions are available online as well:
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=exhibitions&second=online