15

I used Priceline and got a special advertised rate $99 night at the Marriott Renaissance Dupont Circle in October. Its is normally $299.

Sorry to say I dont even know what city the Canadian seat of power is, muchless what it looks like or why any tourist would bother even going there from the USA.

Now the Forbidden City in Beijing or the Vatican, thats another story. Why even make the comparison?

16

I have lived in the DC area for many years and I actually pretty much defy anyone to say they have seen everything worth seeing in DC. By the time you have made your way very far down the list there is a new exhibit somewhere that you need to go back to.

Of the very many things I have seen in DC, for me personally, the inside of the White House is not even in the top 10. It's interesting, it's cool, but not all that. You are correct it is for security reasons and anyone who doesn't understand why the US is a bit paranoid about security has no understanding of world events of the last 10 years.

There is an unbelievable amount of things to see and do in DC, many of which are free. I can easily give you a list of free things in DC that would keep you very busy for at least a week (and probably much more). What extra you spend on lodging can be more than compensated for by what you will not have to pay to see. That said, $100 deals or close to that for a decent hotel room in the DC area tend to be pretty easy to come by.

If you want some ideas of things to see and do let us know your interest and I am sure we can help out.

17

Paranoid is never worthwhile. An improved standard of security is. And an improved standard of security might include making sure secret service agents aren't screwing hookers rather than what might happen if someone looks inside the White House. IMO.

18

About 30 years ago, I arrived in DC on one of the two days a year that the White House gardens were open to the public. We just showed up, waited in a short line, and as soon as they had 20 or so people (I forget how many), we were given an escorted tour of the building and then were turned loose in the garden to admire the tulips in bloom and listen to a military band playing on the balcony.

They still do it, but now it's a tour of the gardens, not "walk around on your own," and the building is not included. You need tickets, which you get on the day of the tour, first come, first served. Two days in April & two in October.

I see from the NPS web site that "he White House Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation. A temporary visitor center is located near the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, just west of the intersection of 15th and E streets, NW."

19

#17

Screwing hookers in Colombia is about as unusual as going to a soccer game, what does that have to do with anything? It is a scandal yes, and its not what SS or any Govt employee should be doing, but come on, the SS detail goes around the world every year, many of the countries, prostitution is legal. Big deal.

I agree with Stan, DC has so many darn museums, you would need more than 2 weeks alone. Just the National Archives and the Portrait Gallery are an entire day alone each. I have been to DC so many times over the years, and didn't even try to see the WH. I did attempt it last month, as my wife was just sworn in, and I know our congressman personally and he got us on the tour, but then a meeting came up and we had to cancel, at first my wife was bummed as she had never been to DC, but once we got there, she was so impressed with everything else to do, and pooped, it was not even a issue, as she said, I have 40 years to go inside, and she hates Obama anyway...haha

20

It compromises security and leaves the agents open to coercion and could weaken security irrelevant of the legality in a particular country. That should be obvious.

21

Yes, but the security issues for the USA are vast and worldwide, there is always going to be something like the Colombia scandal at some point, its was not the intentions nor the protocol to have agents bringing girls back to their hotel rooms, and the policy for SS agents has been altered and adjusted accordingly. End of story.

22

Not sure what vastness and wideness have to do with anything. And I would argue that one of the reasons for the rules being introduced was because of the security aspect which would make it different to going to a soccer.

23

Thanks a lot Mark for the suggestion of the Carlyle suites. I appreciate all of your ideas. It's been a draining business, as I live in Northern Sask. and it's been difficult to figure out what to do with our car, once we get to Minot ND. There is no bus that one can take to Minot from Sask.. We are in the boonies out here. Our whole city only has 12 people, would you believe. It's worst that Ortos in China, a city build for 1,000,000 people but practically empty. I finally found out that I can leave my car at the airport in Minot for $40 a week. I wouldn't leave it at the Amtrak station there as there is no real security, being that it is totally unmonitored. I have had to get these arrangments done quickly as I need to finalize the 15 day unlimited travel passes.
My favorite trip was to Louisiana in 2007. We travelled down through North Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, and so forth, staying at the various state parks, and camping. It was so relaxing. There's nothing like camping next to the Missouri River, knowing that Lewis and Clarke had passed by there about 1803 on their way to the Pacific. Our tent was like 20 feet from the Missouri at the Cross Ranch State Park there. I loved the presentations by the teacher intrepreters at the state parks. I will always remember our teacher interpreter telling us that mountain lions kill more Canadians in B.C. than any other place. The guy in front of me said, ''That's good, let them eat the Canadians". One young fellow had asked what would happen if you fell down out of a tree and landed on a mountain lion. It was a priceless experience to be in those state parks.
So thanks to my brother Americans for your kindly efforts on my behalf. Bzookaz, it was a fine gesture on your part to say, "I stand corrected". We should all have that attitude.

24

Brian,

As I said, I have spent a lot of years around DC and would be more than happy to give some ideas if you let us know you major interests. I can't be a lot of help on hotels since living in this area we don't stay in hotels here much. I do know that if you use some of the discount hotel sites that you can often get really good prices on some of the downtown hotels. If you get one and you are not sure about the neighborhood, just let us know.