Traveling to Maryland & D.C. Tips & Advice?

Forget everything I just wrote. There is an indoor Karting track in Columbia, MD.

http://www.autobahnspeed.com/locations/baltimore-bwi-md-indoor-go-karts/

Apexcarver wrote: I work in DC He isnt kidding about metro sucking right now http://www.wmata.com/rail/safetrack.cfm (things got bad enough that they are doing rolling shutdowns for maintenance) Honestly, if you are going to be doing stuff in DC/VA, fly into Dulles ( Bus to metro from Dulles ). DCA/Reagan is another option, is small, but has direct metro access in southern DC. That being said, you can get to all of them, but watch out for the metro troubles. As far as places to eat, I havent ventured too much, but would recommend Momofuku if you are into ramen and modern asian stuff, they are right near the mall and while a hair on the pricey side, are just plain that good. It is a bit food-adventure-y though.

Don't get the milkshake. Tastes like it's made with sour milk. Never going back for that at least.

Thanks everyone for the tips and advice, we got back home yesterday afternoon. We were gone Sunday to Sunday, and had a great time. The wedding was nice, D.C. was fun, and we both enjoyed ourselves. It was HOT though, it was actually cooler back home in AR almost the entire time we were in D.C.

We didn't get to do everything that we wanted. SWMBO's work obligation in the middle of the afternoon for our first 4 days really limited what we could do on those days, but we still managed to hit all the highlights.

We wound up not eating out as frequently, just did room service one night, and ate at the hotel restaurant (21st Amendment) another night.

We did eat at Oceanaier Seafood Room one night, it was okay. I got the Chef's Special scallops, they were good, but nothing spectacular. We split a side of lobster mac and cheese, probably the best iteration I've had of that particular side.

We ate at Founding Farmers another night, I'll say the manager was nice, but I'd have a hard time recommending it, maybe it was just an off night.

We were patrons of a few of the Smithsonian cafes, not my first choice but convenient, and while extremely overpriced, not terrible food.

Vie De France was a little bakery across the street from our Hotel, we found ourselves there for breakfast several mornings.

We made a lap of the Mall, that's quite a hike, several Smithsonians, Native American, Air & Space, American History, Portrait Gallery, and Natural History, a night tour of the Mall, Jefferson Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, including Changing of the Guard, JFK's flame, and Lee's house, and we walked in front of the White House and Capitol for pictures, but didn't actually tour either.

Travel was pretty easy, we flew into BWI, took Amtrak (which was late going and coming) to D.C., got a week long metro pass, and rode the metro or taxis to get around. The metro construction was noticeable, but only a slight hindrance once, we're not used to how it's "supposed to be" though, so we didn't have an issue. Amtrak back to BWI, airport shuttle to rental car lot, got a '16 Malibu and drove it to the wedding venue and back to BWI the next morning.

While in Maryland on Saturday we ate a late lunch at Callahan's in Fredrick, based on the local hotel staff's recommendation. Easily the best crab cakes I've ever had, the cream of crab and Maryland crab soups were both delicious (I preferred the cream of crab), and the imperial mushroom caps we had as an appetizer were awesome as well. I think our best meal was in Maryland.

All in all a very memorable trip, and we're already working on our plan of attack for our next visit, SWMBO has promised no work obligations interfering with vacation on our next visit.

bigdaddylee82 wrote: While in Maryland on Saturday we ate a late lunch at Callahan's in Fredrick, based on the local hotel staff's recommendation. Easily the best crab cakes I've ever had, the cream of crab and Maryland crab soups were both delicious (I preferred the cream of crab), and the imperial mushroom caps we had as an appetizer were awesome as well. I think our best meal was in Maryland.

If I had known you were coming to Frederick and you had the time I could have given you a tour of the city/area. Lots of history around here. RE the food: Callahan's is good but is just one of many good restaurants in town. Frederick is where the people from DC come to eat.

In reply to Hal:

Frederick really does have amazing food, one of the many things i miss about living in Frederick.

In reply to Hal:

Yeah I was confused earlier, I was going off of what SWMBO had told me and was under the impression we'd be in Springfield MD. However, the wedding was at Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery in Thurmont, most of the wedding attendees, including us stayed at the Hampton Inn in Frederick.

We weren't in Frederick long, our train out of D.C. was late, we had to reschedule our rental car reservation and didn't get our car until noon, we drove the hour+ from BWI to Frederick, got checked in at the hotel, had a late lunch, then both of us took a much needed nap before the wedding. We left around 7:30 the next morning, so our stay in Frederick was brief but pleasant.

Hal wrote: Frederick is where the people from DC come to eat.

What? No, sorry, but you are mistaken. Frederick may have great food, but people aren't leaving DC to come up there just for the food.

Bigdaddylee, I'm sorry you missed out on the good eats in DC. Next time, venture up 14th st and around U st, around China Town/convention center area, and a number of other places. Wish I would have made better recommendations sooner.

bigdaddylee82 wrote: All in all a very memorable trip, and we're already working on our plan of attack for our next visit, SWMBO has promised no work obligations interfering with vacation on our next visit.

Terrific! It's nice to hear about a trip that went well.

HA! was in Frederick autocrossing on Saturday.

Frederick does have good food. I like JoJo's downtown quite a bit. Ward X distilling also just opened, but they dont have aged product yet (no food, just whiskey) .

bigdaddylee82 wrote: However, the wedding was at Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery in Thurmont, most of the wedding attendees, including us stayed at the Hampton Inn in Frederick.

I taught school in Thurmont for 25 years. If it was the Hampton Inn and Suites on the north side of town, you were only 4 blocks from my house.

Hal wrote:

bigdaddylee82 wrote: However, the wedding was at Springfield Manor Winery & Distillery in Thurmont, most of the wedding attendees, including us stayed at the Hampton Inn in Frederick.

I taught school in Thurmont for 25 years. If it was the Hampton Inn and Suites on the north side of town, you were only 4 blocks from my house.

It was on Opossum Pike, or something similar. I recall chuckling at the Opossum something vet clink on the same street, as though they only treat opossums. Now that's a niche market.

Opossumtown Pike. The history of the name I've never been able to dig up.

Got a Kindle to read ebooks on? If so: The Opossumtown Pike Ebook

bigdaddylee82 wrote: It was on Opossum Pike, or something similar. I recall chuckling at the Opossum something vet clink on the same street, as though they only treat opossums. Now that's a niche market.

Yep, you were about 4 blocks from my house.

To Foxtrapper: I have lived in Frederick since 1966 and have never found out how Opossumtown Pike got its name. Wife's family has been here since the late 1800's and none of them knew either. There is no area along the length of the road that has ever been called Opossumtown.