Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2009 - (Page 6) Visitor serVices destinAtion dc 901 7th St. NW, 4th Fl., Washington, DC 20001 (202) 789-7000 or (800) 635-MEET Fax: (202) 789-7037 Visitor Inquiries: (800) 422-8644 or washington.org Metro: Gallery Pl-Chinatown dc chAMber oF coMMerce Visitor inForMAtion center 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 • DisabilityGuide.org – 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. • 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. AdditionAl resources ADAMS MORGAN PARTNERSHIP (202) 997-0783 adamsmorganonline.org Centered on 18th Street and Columbia Road, NW, Adams Morgan is synonymous with entertainment, especially late-night. Ethnic restaurants, nightclubs and bars line the two streets and fill with diverse and excitable crowds most nights of the week. During the day, activities are more subdued as shoppers browse independent bookshops, music stores and boutiques while gazing at murals that adorn many of the buildings’ facades. The recent history of Adams Morgan is one of immigration, and vibrant Latin and African communities lend an international flavor to this eclectic neighborhood. CAPITOL HILL ASSOCIATION OF MERCHANTS & PROFESSIONALS (CHAMPS) (202) 547-7788 champsdc.org CHAMPS is an organization of business and community leaders dedicated to building a strong economic environment on Capitol Hill. CHAMPS produces the Capitol Hill Map – a visitor’s guide to the Mall and Capitol Hill. Please call for your free maps (there is a charge for shipping). CULTURAL TOURISM DC (202) 661-7581 • culturaltourismdc.org • Discover a different Washington. Our website isyour gateway to Washington’s historic neighborhoods where museums, historic houses, parks and gardens, art galleries, theaters, guided tours,and self-guided walking trails await you. Metro: Metro Center. DOWNTOWN DC BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (202) 638-3232 • downtowndc.org • Downtown SAM teams are dressed in bright red uniforms and stroll the streets to provide assistance to downtown DC visitors. The SAM teams are part of the Downtown DC Business Improvement District – making downtown cleaner, safer and friendlier. GEORGETOWN BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION (202) 944-5295 georgetown.bz A non-profit membership organization comprised of approximately 300 businesses and professionals. Through newsletters, networking events, and community partnerships, the GBAPA fosters a thriving business community and attracts new businesses to Georgetown. GEORGETOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (202) 298-9222 georgetowndc.com The Georgetown BID, a small non-profit organization located in the heart of Georgetown, Washington, DC, is responsible for the marketing, safety, transportation and aesthetics of the Georgetown neighborhood. GOLDEN TRIANGLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (202) 463-3400 • gtbid.com • The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) is a 38-block special services district in Washington, DC. Uniformed ambassadors provide hospitality and maintenance functions. The BID is beautified by a series of improvements and special events. PENNSYLVANIA QUARTER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION Many presidential inaugural parades as well as protests have taken place along Pennsylvania Ave. North of the avenue lies a revitalized downtown community of eclectic art galleries, numerous new restaurants and engaging attractions including the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, National Building Museum, US Naval Memorial, Ford’s Theatre, International Spy Museum, and the Shakespeare Theatre. PoPulAtion The population is approximately 572,000 in Washington, DC proper and 5.4 million for the entire metro area. cliMAte 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 high (F/c) low (F/c) internAtionAl trAVelers January February March April May June July August September October November December 44/5 46/8 54/12 66/19 76/25 83/29 87/31 85/30 79/26 68/20 57/14 46/8 30/-1 29/-1 36/2 46/8 56/14 65/19 69/20 68/20 61/16 50/10 39/4 32/0 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. PAssPort requireMents • 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. 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. eMbAssies 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%. 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 disAbled trAVelers 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. 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 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. Thank You To Our Signature Partners: Guest Services American Express http://www.DisabilityGuide.org http://www.DisabilityGuide.org http://www.adamsmorganonline.org http://www.washington.org http://www.wmata.com http://www.dcchamber.org http://www.champsdc.org http://www.si.edu/opa/accessibility http://www.culturaltourismdc.org http://dmv.washingtondc.gov http://www.downtowndc.org http://www.georgetown.bz http://www.georgetowndc.com http://www.travel.state.gov http://dmv.washingtondc.gov http://dmv.washingtondc.gov http://www.embassy.org http://www.gtbid.com http://www.travelersaid.org http://www.scootaround.com http://www.cityscootertours.com
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