The Georgetown village is widely known for its historic charm and European feel. We invite you to explore the diverse activities that Georgetown and Washington, D.C. have to offer. Stroll the C & O Canal, shop our historic cobblestone streets and dine on our beautiful waterfront. Within easy reach of the hotel are the monuments and museums of the nations capital city, to include The White House, The Smithsonian Institution, The National Mall and The Capitol.
Whether you are a tourist visiting for the first time or a seasoned resident, the Ladies and Gentleman of The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C. are pleased to assist you in planning your next visit to nation's capital and Georgetown.
There are 3 airports that are accessible to The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown:
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Dulles International Airport
Baltimore Washington International Airport
Metrorail and Metrobus provide the safest, cleanest and most efficient way of getting around Washington, DC and the metropolitan suburbs. Five rail lines and an extensive bus system connect the District with the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Train lines are named for colors: Red, yellow, blue, green, and orange. Station entrances are marked by brown pylons, capped with the letter “M” and colored stripes indicate which lines are available. Route maps are posted at each station and inside each subway car.
Metrorail opens 5:30 am weekdays and 7 am on weekends. It closes at midnight Sunday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday nights, it stays open until 3 am. Each train displays the name of its farthest destination. Base subway fare is $1.35 and increases during rush hour and for longer trips. Rail farecards can be purchased at vending machines located inside the stations. Farecards are inserted into the turnstile gates to enter and exit subway platforms. The fare is automatically deducted each time you exit a station. To continue your trip by Metrobus, obtain a transfer at your originating station before boarding the train. Buses travel to Georgetown and other areas not serviced by the subway.
The Washington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins play at the beautiful FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. http://www.redskins.com/
The Washington Wizards The NBA Washington Wizards play from November through April at the Verizon Center. www.washingtonwizards.com
The Washington MysticsThe Washington Mystics are a WNBA team that plays at the Verizon Center. http://www.washingtonmystics.com/
There is a definite security presence in Washington, D.C., which is comforting to most visitors and worth the occasional slight inconvenience. Most tourist attractions have airport style security screening and many items are prohibited. A general guide to avoiding security delays includes:
March
Washington, DC's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade has been celebrating our Irish residents since 1971. The parade has become so popular it has been dubbed "The Nation's St. Patrick's Day Parade." The parade has grown over the years to become a full-scale Parade with Marching Bands, Pipe Bands, our Nation's Military, Police, and Fire Departments as well as Floats, Novelty Groups and those marchers wearing green. The parade is complimentary with Grand Stand tickets available for $5.00. www.dcstpatsparade.com
Mid-March – Mid-April
Washington, DC's annual National Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration of the coming of spring and commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees given to the U.S. by Tokyo mayor, Yukio Ozaki in 1912. The two-week festival includes many cultural, sporting and culinary events. Lavish floats, gigantic helium balloons, exciting international performance groups and marching bands join in the celebration. Immediately following the Parade is the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival presented by the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC presenting over 80 organizations highlighting Japanese performances, arts, crafts and food. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
April
Presented by DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Major Filmfest DC sponsors include: The Mayor's Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, The National Endowment for the Arts and METRO. For 12 days each April, filmgoers take a cinematic journey around the world, without ever leaving the nation's capital. The Washington, DC International Film Festival brings outstanding world cinema right to Washington, DC with more than 100 features, documentaries, short films and special programs.www.filmfestdc.org
This annual tradition dates back to President Rutherford B. Hayes who officially opened the White House grounds to local children for egg rolling on Easter Monday in 1878 Easter Egg Roll activities begin on the Ellipse with food and entertainment. Children of all ages are welcome to attend, as long as there is at least one child seven years old or under and no more than two adults per group. Children of all ages can enjoy the reading corners, egg coloring, art activities, face painting, music, magicians, and other activities. Requires a ticket to attend.www.whitehouse.gov/easter/ or call (202) 456-7041
July
Initiated in 1967, The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a national, even international, celebration of contemporary living traditions. The Festival typically includes daily and evening programs of music, song, dance, celebratory performance, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling, illustrations of workers' culture, and narrative sessions for discussing cultural issues. The Festival encourages visitors to participate - to learn, sing, dance, eat traditional foods, and converse with people presented in the Festival program.
Over the years, it has brought more than 16,000 musicians, artists, performers, craftspeople, workers, cooks, storytellers and others to the National Mall to demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and aesthetics that embody the creative vitality of community-based traditions. To date the Festival has featured exemplary tradition bearers from 54 nations, every region of the United States, scores of ethnic communities, more than 100 American Indian groups, and some 50 occupations. Festivals typically include international, regional/state, occupational, and thematic programs.
July 4th
Celebrate the nation's birthday in the nation's capital. Don't miss the parade, with more then 100 marching units stepping out at noon along Constitution Avenue. When that's over, popular music groups entertain from mid-afternoon until the fireworks. The National Symphony Orchestra, with guest stars and soloists, performs at 8 pm. The fireworks show begins around 9:20 pm over the Washington Monument grounds.