Teacher Trekker

College Park, Maryland to Georgetown, Washington D.C.

Rather than go to the highway, it was actually easier from where we were to take local streets into Washington D.C. Basically we took US -1 South to P Street past DuPont Circle. The neighborhoods changed significantly as we got closer to the center of the nation’s capital. The periphery was poor, rundown and dilapidated filled with liquor stores and pawn shops. But it felt as if the hipsters meshed the gap between the poorer and richer areas as they have done for the last decade in parts of New York City. As you got closer to the city center, the neighborhoods began to improve. P Street from Logan Circle to DuPont Circle and into Georgetown is a far cry from the edges of city limits. Everything is upscale, from the hotels to the boutiques, but that is for another article. A half an hour later we were pulling up to our hotel in the heart of Georgetown in order to check in and continue the adventure.

---

Hotel Review

We checked in at the Georgetown Inn. If I was traveling alone I would not have stayed in Georgetown, since most hotels are very expensive in the area. Cheaper rooms can be found along the outer periphery of the city. However, the hotel was my father’s call. He wanted to be close and comfortable, and I was not complaining. Many website reviews list the hotel anywhere from a 4 to 4.5 star hotel. In many ways I can agree, and this is why: in terms of location, it was a 5. The hotel was centrally located to many major tourist attractions and is located in one of the most upscale neighborhoods in the nation’s capitol. The hotel accommodations were around a 3.5 to a 4. The bed and pillows were extremely comfortable, and for the few hours I utilized it, I slept like a rock. Everything else in the room was very standard.

In terms of negatives, I thought that the hallways could have been cleaner and less cluttered with cleaning lady carts and laundry bins. Perhaps we just checked in as they were wrapping up their duties. Another thing that could have been improved was the showers. The knobs were very temperamental, and the water collected in the basin as if there was a clogged drain despite no visible blockages.

Overall, I thought the price was fair compared to other hotels in Georgetown, but if price is your number one concern, you can get a better deal somewhere else. At the same time, you are really paying for the location and traveling to the nearby attractions will be much easier from this central location than hotels on the edge of city limits.

Travel Tip

Always remember the cost of transportation whether it is cabs, public transportation or car parking needs to be added to the cost of your hotel. If you get $100 room that will result in $50 worth of transportation fees per person, then 2 travelers will spend $200. There might be a better hotel that costs $200 where you can walk to the attractions you want to visit. Personally, if that were the case, I would spend the extra money on the hotel room. It will be of a higher quality, and you will be more centrally located during your trip.

---

Planning & Time Management

Due to the limited amount of time we had in Washington DC, it was necessary to make a plan with my father to best utilize the time. It was just after 2 p.m. and the Change Agent Network fundraiser at the residency of the Ambassador of Liberia to the United States was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., but we were not committed to showing up right on time. The event was running until 9 p.m., so it wasn’t a problem to show up fashionably late.

Additionally, there was a national march/rally on the National Mall and outside the Capitol Building protesting the Eric Garner decision and the unfair treatment of African Americans by police officers. I figured the rally would hinder my ability to see the monuments and memorials around the National Mall, so we planned to visit those attractions on Sunday morning before the drive back to New York.

Since I had a few hours to spare, I decided to wander around Georgetown for a few hours. My father was tired from the drive south and chose to not accompany me. He wanted to rest and relax in the hotel room prior to getting ready for the fundraiser. I picked up an attractions map in the hotel lobby while we were checking in. Once in the room I created a quick walking tour. With my map in hand, I grabbed my room key and headed out as my father dozed off.

---

Walking Tour

I left the Georgetown Inn and walked up Wisconsin Ave towards O Street, where I made a left to walk towards the Georgetown University campus. On O Street was St. John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Parish. The church was founded in 1796, opened in 1804 and consecrated on 1809. It was designed by William Thornton, the architect of the nation’s capitol. Additionally, President Thomas Jefferson was a contributor, and Francis Scott Key was also a benefactor. Much of the building remains in its original form including the church’s foundations, walls, roof, and bell tower.

---

Afterwards, I proceeded to walk down O Street until I made my way to the Georgetown University main (undergraduate and medical school) campus. Often referred to as “the Hilltop” the campus, it sits on an elevated plot of land above the Potomac River with a view of Virginia. As I walked through the intersection of 37th and O Streets NW, I passed “the Healy Gates”. The buildings were designed in the style of Gothic and Georgian brick architecture. For example, Healy Hall, which stands directly behind the main gates, was designed by Paul J. Pelz in the Neo-Medieval style. It was constructed between 1877 and 1879. Today the site is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In front of Healy Hall is a large lawn that is crossed by a number of walking paths that center around the John Carroll statue. The campus also contains a number of fountains, a cemetery, and fauna gardens that only enhance the beauty of the historic architecture and natural surroundings on campus.

---

After leaving campus I made my way to Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Its founder was Archbishop John Carroll who was the first Catholic bishop in America and also a cousin of Charles Carroll who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The church was established in 1787 by Jesuits and construction was completed in 1794. It is the oldest Roman Catholic house of worship in both Georgetown and Washington, D.C.. Due to a lack of space, the original building was vacated and now serves as the Chapel of St. Ignatius. A new church building was constructed in 1829 at 1301 36th Street NW. During the American Civil War, the church was used as a hospital to treat injured soldiers following the Second Battle of Bull Run in 1862. Almost 100 years later, President John F. Kennedy and his family attended services at Holy Trinity Church. This is commemorated by a plaque in front of the church building.

---

Next I made my way to Francis Scott Key Park at the corner of Key Bridge and M Street. In the early 1600’s the area was inhabited by members of the Algonquian, Nacostine, Nacotchatank, Piscatoway and Patawomeke tribes, but in 1634 it became part of the Maryland colony. Eventually, the area became part of the Georgetown area, and homes were built in the area once belonging to Key himself. By the end of the 1800’s the previously existing homes were replaced by small shops and businesses. Around 1923, all of the buildings were demolished when Key Bridge was built. Many years later The Francis Scott Key Foundation created and built the Star Spangled Banner Monument. It was presented as a gift to the United States from the American people on September 14, 1993.

Located at an extremely busy intersection, the park is lost next to the sea of cars, honking horns and exhaust fumes crossing the Key Bridge every day. There is a bust of Francis Scott Key and placards that explain the history of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” To be honest it does not seem like the place to sit down and relax. Joggers were passing through the park and commuters were using it as a walking path to avoid automobile traffic. Next to the park is the equally unimpressive Francis Scott Key Bridge, that crosses the Potomac River connecting the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia, and Georgetown. It was completed in 1923 and stands as Washington’s oldest bridge across the Potomac River. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Personally, both of these locations are not must see locations, but if you are in the area or passing by you might as well take a short break and read the placards. There are many nicer locations within walking distance that are much less noisy and a better option for sitting outside and enjoying your lunch.

---

Shopping Spree

After spending a few minutes in the park, I made my way down M Street and back towards my hotel. Along the way I made a few more stops. I actually needed to do some shopping and stopped in a few stores. Georgetown has a plethora of stores for anyone interested in shopping. They range from high end boutiques & designer name brands outlet stores to random pop up stores and souvenir shops.

It was the Christmas shopping season and many stores had great sales. It’s actually the only reason I purchased anything. The North Face store had nothing of interest, but I did find much needed new jeans from the Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch. With sales of 25-50% off, how could I say no. I wanted to stop and grab a burger at Good Stuff Eatery, which was opened by Spike Mendelsohn, a former Top Chef contestant, but time did not allow for it. Another good place to eat if you’re in the area is Clyde’s which is a saloon located on M Street and serves quality bar food. Finally, I stopped at the Crossfit Georgetown store to grab some shirts that were 50 % off. Following my exploration around Georgetown and my mini shopping spree, I made my way back to the hotel to get ready for the Change Agent Network fundraiser event later that evening. I wish I had more time to wander around Georgetown and take in more historical sites, while avoiding all of the tempting stores that would tempt me to spend my money. There is always next time, and since it is only 4 hours from New York City, it allows me the opportunity for future weekend trips to Washington D.C.

---

Georgetown After Hours

Following our time at the CAN Fundraiser event at the residency of the Liberian Ambassador to the United States we took a cab back towards our hotel. Before retiring for the evening we stopped at Martin’s Tavern. It was just around 11 p.m. and a table just freed up for us. Located across the street from the Georgetown Inn sat this historic bar and restaurant. I took photos of the historical information that accompanied the menus at each table. Although we did not sit at a table pivotal to American political history you could feel the presence of greatness inside the wooden tavern. The place was packed with patrons from all walks of life. We ordered a few appetizers that were quite good. The crab cakes were some of the best I’ve had in an area known for quality crab cakes. After we finished our meal we made our way back to the hotel to get some rest for the next day’s monument hunt.