Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008 - (Page 6)

information to get you started in pLanning your VaCation to Washington, dC visitor serviCes WAshington, dC Convention & toUrisM CorporAtion dC ChAMBer oF CoMMerCe visitor inForMAtion Center • 901 7th St. NW, 4th Fl., Washington, DC 20001 (202) 789-7000 or (800) 635-MEET Fax: (202) 789-7037 visitor inquiries: 1-800-422-8644 or washington.org Metro: Gallery Pl-Chinatown Make the DC information center your first stop when you arrive. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20004 (866) DCISFUN (324-7386) Located in the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center. dcchamber.org Summer Hours: March 15 – Labor Day, M-F: 8:30am - 5:30pm, Sat: 9am - 4pm, Fall/Winter Hours: M-F: 9am 4:30pm. Metro: Federal Triangle Smithsonian Access Brochure – A free guide that provides an overview of accessibility features, parking entrances, interpreters and special tours at the Smithsonian museums. Available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and from AOL (keyword: Smithsonian). For copies call (202) 357-2700 (voice) or (202) 357-1729 (TTY); info@si.edu. Also available online at si.edu/opa/ accessibility. Washington, DC does not recognize outof-state handicapped tags for free parking in front of meters. For information about parking please call the DC Department of Motor Vehicles at (202) 727-5000 or visit dmv.washingtondc.gov. • internAtionAl trAvelers Washington, DC is more than just the nation’s capital – it is also home to more than 150 embassies, chancelleries and diplomatic residencies where colors, cultures and languages mix like nowhere else. The following sections contain some tips and information to make international visitors feel more at home. popUlAtion The population is approximately 572,000 in Washington, DC proper and 5.4 million for the entire metro area. sAles tAx • Washington, DC: Sales tax is 5.75%. Hotel tax is 14.5%. Food and beverage tax is 10%. Maryland: Sales tax is 5%. Hotel tax varies by county with most averaging between 5% and 8%. Virginia: Sales tax is 4.5%. Hotel tax varies by county with most averaging between 9.5% and 10%. CliMAte • pAssport reqUireMents • Experience the glory of all four seasons here in Washington, DC. Warm weather usually prevails from April until as late as October. Winters are short here, with more rain than snow. Monthly high and low average temperatures are as follows (Fahrenheit/Celsius): Month January February March April May June July August September October November December High (F/C) 44/5 46/8 54/12 66/19 76/25 83/29 87/31 85/30 79/26 68/20 57/14 46/8 Low (F/C) 30/-1 29/-1 36/2 46/8 56/14 65/19 69/20 68/20 61/16 50/10 39/4 32/0 • disABled trAvelers Washington, DC is one of the most accessible cities in the world for physically challenged visitors. Following are a few resources: • City Scooter Tours – ScootAround offers scooter and wheelchair rentals daily, weekly or longer (serving DC and 500 North American locations). Call our 24-hour toll-free line (888) 441-7575 for a free estimate! Tour the DC sites on a comfortable mobility scooter with City Scooter Tours. Visit us online at www.scootaround.com or www.cityscootertours.com DisabilityGuide.org – The DisabilityGuide.org is the premier source of disability-related information in the Washington, DC area. Detailed accessibility information for all attractions, restaurants and bars. Call (301) 528-8664 for more information or to order a copy of the guide. Metro System Guide – A free guide providing information on Metro’s bus and rail system for the elderly and physically disabled. For copies call (202) 637-7000 or visit wmata.com. Senior Citizens Counsel and Delivery Service – Custom-made group tour packages for senior citizens. Handicapped equipment and wheelchair accessible vehicles available for mobility by the day, week and month. (202) 678-2800. ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable. International visitors who need a visa to travel to the US must apply for one at an American embassy or consulate. For more information visit www.travel.state.gov. • eMBAssies Many embassies offer guided tours with prior notification. Embassy phone numbers are available by calling directory assistance at (202) 555-1212. A comprehensive listing of embassies is also available online at embassy.org. • MUltilingUAl serviCes pArking Parking is restricted during rush hours and some weekend hours (Check posted hours on street signs). If your vehicle is towed Friday after 7 pm or any time on the weekends you will not be able to retrieve it until Monday after 9 am. For details contact the DC Department of Motor Vehicles 301 C Street NW Washington, DC 20001, call (202) 727-5000 or visit dmv.washingtondc.gov. Official Visitors Guide • The White House, Kennedy Center, Library of Congress and other attractions offer brochures in several languages. The Smithsonian Institution provides multilingual information at the visitors center in the Castle Building. Travelers Aid provides language interpretation services at its international arrivals desk at Dulles International Airport. For details call (703) 572-2536 or travelersaid.org. tipping • Tipping is voluntary; gratuities are not automatically added to the bill except in some cases for large groups. Tipping guidelines: servers – 15%, for outstanding service - 20%; taxi drivers – 15%; doormen, skycaps and porters - $1 per bag. eleCtriCity The electricity used in Washington, DC is standard electricity, which is 110 volts. European appliances brought here will require a voltage transformer. 6 http://www.si.edu/opa/accessibility http://www.si.edu/opa/accessibility http://www.washington.org http://www.dcchamber.org http://dmv.washingtondc.gov http://www.travel.state.gov http://www.scootaround.com http://www.embassy.org http://www.cityscootertours.com http://www.DisabilityGuide.org http://www.DisabilityGuide.org http://www.travelersaid.org http://www.wmata.com http://www.dmv.washingtondc.gov

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008

Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008 Welcome Contents Take Me Out to the Ballgame Vistor 411 Springtime Blooms with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Calendar of Events Transportation Getting Here Regularly Scheduled Tours Neighborhoods See & Do Smithsonian New at the Smithsonian Attractions Sports & Recreation Performing Arts Restaurants & Nightlife Restaurants Official Dining Guide Like a Local Nightlife DC Shopping: District by District Shopping, Health & Beauty Shopping Health & Beauty Accommodations DC Accommodations B&Bs Exploring International DC Fun in the Sun: Dive in to a Hotel Pool Maryland Accommodations Virginia Accommodations

Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.