Georgetown

The perfect combination of historic and modern, there's plenty to do and see in this picturesque neighborhood: http://bit.ly/1thqQGz

11 Beer Gardens to Try in Washington, DC This Fall

Raise a glass to Oktoberfest and take in autumn vibes at these brew-centric locales.

DC’s booming food and drinks scene is helping propel a buzzworthy beer community. During the fall, open-air beer gardens offer suds, snacks and convivial settings for downing a cold one al fresco – the perfect way to celebrate Oktoberfest.

https://washington.org/visit-dc/beer-gardens-washington-dc

10 Ways to Make the Most of Fall in Washington, DC

Whether you’re an urban explorer or fall fashionista, there’s so much to do when autumn hits the District.

While spring and summer get much of the glory in Washington, DC, as the leaves turn shades of auburn and red the nation’s capital remains buzzing with so many sights to see and things to do. From witnessing the fall foliage on the National Mall to exploring lesser-known gems like the National Arboretum, getting spooked at the zoo and so much more, here’s how to make the most of fall in Washington, DC.

Guide to the Washington Nationals

Head to Nationals Park to experience one of baseball’s most exciting teams.

This summer, get an exclusive discount on the hottest ticket in town! Check out nationals.com/vip and enter promo code "VISITDC" to get a special deal on Nationals tickets.

History

After a 33-year absence, Major League Baseball in Washington was revived with the arrival of the Nationals in 2005. The Nats played their first three seasons at RFK Stadium before moving into Nationals Park, a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in Southeast DC, in 2008.

The team, constructed by Mike Rizzo, president of baseball operations & general manager, built a strong core of young talent, including first-round draft picks Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon. By 2012, the franchise had secured its first division championship. It was the first time the District had experienced postseason baseball since the 1933 Washington Senators advanced to the World Series.

After securing another division title in 2014, the Nationals continue to pursue a World Series title with new manager Dusty Baker, three-time NL Manager of the Year.

Experience

Nationals Park is located in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, one of the District's fastest-growing areas. Easily accessible from the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro stop, the Capitol Riverfront provides many options for before and after the game. Yards Park and Canal Park are both outdoor destinations, and each is within walking distance of the Navy Yard stop.

Nats Park is full of family-friendly promotions: Score free food with a kids Family Fun Pack, run the bases or score autographs on Sundays and savor $1 hot dog games

When it comes to food, the stadium is one-of-a-kind. Enjoy a legendary chili dog from Ben’s Chili Bowl, a Washington institution or watch the game comfortably from the Red Porch Restaurant, a full-service restaurant within the stadium. On the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk, fans can dine at Shake Shack, Blue Smoke Barbeque, El Verano Taqueria and Box Frites.

Don’t forget to catch the GEICO Presidents Race, which takes place during the fourth inning of every game, featuring oversized likenesses of “George” Washington, "Tom" Jefferson, “Abe” Lincoln, “Teddy” Roosevelt and “Bill” Taft. They are joined by Screech the Eagle, waving the Nationals Curly W flag after victories in an epic display of Natitude.

Nationals Park is also the first major professional stadium to be LEED Silver Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, using numerous sustainable elements to provide the most environmentally conscious experience.

Tickets & Schedule

Nationals’ games are a hot ticket in DC. Tickets for individual games can be found on nationals.com. Numerous packages are also available, and make sure to check the site and the team's Twitter feed for special in-season promotions. View the full 2016 schedule to find the games that suit you best.

8 Things to See & Do In Virginia

Dive into history, culture and nature with the diverse offerings of nearby Virginia.

With its unusual blend of city and countryside, Virginia offers attractions for any visitor. Think shopping for fashionistas at Tysons Corner, exploring colonial history in Old Town Alexandria or tasting wine in nearby Loudoun County.

1. See planes, rockets and spaceships at the Udvar-Hazy Center

Part of the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, this jumbo collection of all sorts of flying machines and gear fills two enormous hangars with crafts like the space shuttle Voyager and a Concorde jet, as well as oddities like a flying car. Add an IMAX theater, an observation deck and flight simulators, and it’s no surprise that, along with its sister museum on the Mall, this place draws 8 million visitors annually.

2. Wander among mountains and streams at Shenandoah National Park

On 200,000 mountainous acres located just 75 miles from DC, this natural treasure boasts recreation like hiking, guided horseback rides and overnight stays in camps, cabins and lodges, to go along with its streams and majestic tree-lined forests. Expect rocky trails, misty mountain views and wildlife encounters.

3. Go underground at Luray Caverns

Ten-story high underground caverns, delicate stalagmites and an unusual “organ” made of rock formations lure visitors to this series of caves 90 minutes west of DC. There’s also an on-site antique car, a carriage museum, a green maze and a rope course, making the Caverns very family-friendly.

4. Bargain shop ‘til you drop at Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets

Just outside of downtown Leesburg, find 110 bargain-priced stores in an open-air shopping center. Name brand outlets for brands including J. Crew, Kate Spade, Coach, Restoration Hardware, Le Creuset, Saks Off Fifth and Barneys offer merch for 25 to 65 percent off retail. There’s also an on-site food court.

5. Visit the former home of George Washington

Mount Vernon, the Potomac River-side home of the first U.S. president, now welcomes visitors with tours, historic reenactors and a working farm. Allow several hours to take everything in, including the colorfully furnished late 18th-century main house, manicured gardens, outbuildings like a kitchen and blacksmith shop and an impressive museum about Washington’s life and times, where you can gaze at artifacts like his inaugural shoe buckles and false teeth.

6. Try red, white and pink vino at Loudoun County wineries

Dozens of wineries cluster in the rolling hills of Loudoun County, making a wine-tasting crawl an easy afternoon excursion, especially since many vintners offer tours and scenic digs with decks or outdoor seats. The region is known for a spicy white wine called Viognier, as well as peppery Cabernet Franc. Visit Loudoun offers information and suggestions for touring on your own, but you can also hire a driver or tour guide through an outfit like Reston Limousine.

7. Catch an outdoor concert at Jiffy Lube Live or Wolf Trap

In summer months, locals BYOP (bring their own picnics) to grassy, scenic outdoor concert arenas in suburban Virginia. Wolf Trap, the only national park for the performing arts, hosts folk, rock and symphonic acts in a wood-covered auditorium with a sloping lawn just outside Vienna. Jiffy Lube Live offers 25,000 pavilion and lawn seats for nostalgic and current popular acts.

8. Dive into colonial history and contemporary shopping in Old Town Alexandria

Redbrick sidewalks, 18th and 19th-century townhomes and vintage taverns give Old Town Alexandria a quaint, throwback feel and a history buff appeal. But it’s also a haven for shoppers and diners, thanks to indie shops and restaurants along King Street and streets close to the Potomac River. Top tourist draws include the Torpedo Factory, a World War II munitions plant-turned-arts center with studios and galleries and Christ Church, a circa-1773 house of worship that counted Robert E. Lee and George Washington among its parishioners.

Check out other ideas on what to do in Old Town Alexandria or see what else there is to do in Virginia.

DC Neighborhoods: Foggy Bottom

Culture vultures, diplomats and outdoor enthusiasts dig this riverside neighborhood best known for holding the Kennedy Center and the State Department.

Stretching from the Potomac River to the western edge of Georgetown, Foggy Bottom takes its name from the fog that naturally lingers here. It’s marked by big-name cultural and diplomatic edifices as well as the southern end of Rock Creek Park. It’s bordered by the West End, a hotel- and restaurant-rich zone next to Georgetown.

The biggest draw for tourists and residents? The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Potomac River-side performing arts center is a living memorial dedicated to President John F. Kennedy, known for his promotion of culture. World-class music, dance and drama performances take place here nearly every day of the year on nine stages. The Millennium Stage hosts free shows nightly at 6 p.m., too.

Other landmarks include The U.S. Department of State, where the art- and antique-loaded Diplomatic Reception rooms can be toured by appointment. Look for Chippendale furniture and rare landscape paintings. The IMF and World Bank make their homes here too, and lend an international vibe to the whole zone. The Watergate building, site of the 1972 Democratic National Committee break-in that ignited a scandal, still holds apartments and a recently rehabbed hotel with a fab rooftop bar.

Blue Duck Tavern

Foggy Bottom also holds the southernmost end of Rock Creek Park, DC’s 2,100 acre greenspace. Pick up biking and running trails near the Kennedy Center for riverside views and nature-viewing ops.

Restaurants and bars thrive here, too, many serving George Washington University, where the urban campus takes up several blocks. Try Tonic at Quigley’s Pharmacy for brews and tater tots with the undergrads or Founding Farmers restaurant for hearty farm-to-plate fare in a mod, buzzy space. In the West End, upmarket restaurants include The Blue Duck Tavern for elegant seasonal American fare like local oysters, wood-fired vegetables and duck.

More on Foggy Bottom

A gourmet meal, a critically acclaimed performance and so much more. That’s what you’ll find in Foggy Bottom. Enjoy fresh farm-to-table food and then catch the latest show at the Kennedy Center. Click below to learn more about what to do Foggy Bottom.

>> Explore Foggy Bottom

Start making your Labor Day weekend plans!

Celebrate summer’s last big weekend with music, food, outdoor activities and baseball.

Come to Washington, DC and your summer is guaranteed to end with a bang!

>>18 Ways to Celebrate Labor Day Weekend in Washington, DC

A world of knowledge awaits you at DC's Smithsonian museums!

Check them out this summer.

Collectively called the Smithsonian Institution, this world-renowned museum and research complex in the District consists of 17 museums, galleries and a zoo.

Explore and learn about everything from the origins of man and the future of flight to the history of art across multiple continents with nearly 140 million objects, works of art and specimens to discover. The Smithsonian’s collection of knowledge centers serve as a treasure chest for visitors and a guide to the most fascinating aspects of our world. And the best part: You won’t have to pay a penny to experience it as admission is free at every location.

https://washington.org/smithsonian-institution-museums

Rooftop Bars & Restaurants

It's the perfect time to sip on beverages and nosh on bites at these DC rooftops.

Summertime is the right time to head out on the town, find the nearest rooftop bar and order up your favorite cocktail or draft beer. Feel the breeze and ease back at these District locales, who have set up shop up top for your warm weather pleasure.

Check out these 11 Rooftop Bars & Restaurants to Try This Summer in Washington, DC

20+ Things to Do This June in Washington, DC

Summertime is the right time for revelry in the nation’s capital.

See all the great events this month in the district...CLICK HERE>>>

DC Sightseeing Tour Information

The Lobby Gift Shop is the perfect place to get information and make arrangements for sightseeing tours provided by Greyline and Old Town Trolley tours.

For more information call the Hotel Front Desk: (202) 628-8140

Hotel Harrington's Lobby Gift Shop

Hours of operation: 7:00am to 11:00pm, 7 days per week. Located on the lobby level near the front desk. A complete stock of items to fill your every need from personal items you may have left behind, to additional rolls of film, to souvenirs for you, and for gifts for those you left back home.

Group Rates and Information

The Hotel Harrington welcomes groups from all over the country and from around the world. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, marching bands, senior citizens' clubs and school and college sponsored tours — groups large and small from every continent find our superb location, our varied room selection, and our built-in amenities just a perfect match for their visit to our Nation's Capitol.

Plus, we are well suited to cater to your specific needs: Based upon availability, we can reserve for your use our hospitality room (maximum capacity is 50 people) for your group events, pizza parties, box lunches and, of course, wholesome and attractively priced meals with fast service in our buffet style restaurant.

We offer very attractive rate packages for qualifying groups. A minimum of (10) rooms is required under a single reservation to qualify for these special rates.

Group Rates (per room)	Sleeps	2015
Your Choice: 1 Double Bed or 2 Twin Beds	1-2	$145
2 Double Beds	2-4	$155
Individual bed for each occupant	3	$165
Individual bed for each occupant	4	$175
Bed arrangement varies	5	$165
Bed arrangement varies	6	$175
* Prices do NOT include tax

Click to Use the XE.com Currency Converter

The number of rooms available for group use is limited. Please make your reservations for large groups as early as possible.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the complexity of booking reservations for group functions, we ask that you call us directly for further information rather than trying to use our website's e-mail system. For highly personalized service in planning your next trip to Washington, DC, please call 1-888-424-8532 and ask for Judy Marschke. Her many years of experience in working with groups at the Hotel Harrington will assure you a worry-free trip from beginning to end.

Summer Vacay in DC!

It's never to early to start planning your Summer Vacation to Washington DC! Check out the amazing discounted rates at the Hotel Harrington >>http://ow.ly/4mRSDk

Ollie's Trolley

Ollie's Trolley inside the Harrington Hotel in Washington, DC serves up lump meat crab cakes with seasoned fries. Made fresh daily. Sooo good, stop by and try it out. Http://olliestrolleydc.com

We appreciate your business!

This couple has been coming to the Hotel Harrington over 25 years.
We appreciate your loyalty and your business.

Thanks to the Reigate group who has been staying at Hotel Harrington the last 6 years!
We appreciate your business.

Karen comes every year for Endometriosis awareness, this year she brought Becky Pratt-Boenitsch with her.
Thanks for being a loyal customer we appreciate you!

3rd time for this group from Wrecsam - Wales,
we appreciate your business!

Standard Queen $169.00 + tax

Standard Queen $169.00 + tax book today at http://www.hotel-harrington.com
Posted by Hotel-Harrington on Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Cherry Blossom Festival Guide: The Cherry Blossoms

The "peak bloom" is the magical moment visitors want to be on hand for during the cherry blossom season. The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70 percent of the trees surrounding the Tidal Basin have opened their buds, creating an unforgettable sea of pink and white. The National Park Service is responsible for measuring the growth of the buds of the trees, and each year. the service gives a peak bloom prediction. On average, the peak bloom is on April 4, but that date changes year to year. For instance, 2012’s peak bloom occurred on March 20 due to unseasonably warm weather and then on April 10 in 2014 due to a cold winter.

The blooming period, when 20 percent of the blossoms are open before the petals and leaves fall, can last up to 14 days, depending on weather conditions. "Forecasting peak bloom is almost impossible more than 10 days in advance," according to the National Park Service. Follow along on NPS's Bloom Schedule for the latest bloom predictions.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Guide: The Celebration

Nothing signifies the arrival of spring in the District quite like the blooming of the cherry blossoms, an event that has spawned a three-week festival celebrating the occasion. More than 1.5 million visitors descend upon Washington, DC each year to admire the 3,000-plus trees. The festival, full of events that honor both the American and Japanese cultures, represents a close bond forged between the United States and Japan that began with Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki’s gift of the trees back in 1912.

The 2016 National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place from March 20 through April 17.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Guide: The Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival isn't just a celebration of the blossoms—it's a three-week-long cultural festival held all over the city. Get things started on March 18 at the Pink Tie Party—a fundraiser featuring cocktails (with accompanying attire), cuisine, live music and dancing. The Opening Ceremony, a free event held on March 26 at the Warner Theatre, includes traditional and contemporary performances from American and Japanese artists. Other popular events include the Blossom Kite Festival (TBD), Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival (TBD) and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade presented by Events DC (April 16), which is followed by the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival. For a full list of featured events, click here.