3 states in one day
August 30, 2008
A short walk to the left of L'enfant plaza hotel.
Arrived to the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel around 4 PM due to the 3 hour time difference. The hotel face is under minor construction so it dampered the first impression slightly. When you walk inside you get an old world feel by the decor. Reminded me of how I imagine walking into the Titanic might have felt like. (Slight exaggeration). Not the most fancy lobby, but it was quaint. Including a gaudy shop that appears they do not approve anything for sale unless it is hit with the bedazzler, beads, or sequence. There is also a regular gift shop in the lobby. I was very happy to see a Starbucks station near the cafe. You can bet that was my first stop the following morning. The hotel is on the North side of Washington near the Potomac River. There are not a lot of restaurants near by, but I am literally one block down from all the museums on Independence Avenue.
I was starving, so walked left out of the hotel down to a Seafood Market. It was smelly and did not have anywhere to sit if you bought their cooked seafood, but if you walk a short ways to the left there was a really good all-you-can-eat seafood buffet called Phillip's Flagship. $29.99 per person, but pretty damn good. I love, loVE, LOVE to eat!
So, my first night, I spent some time with my family at the hotel pub. It wasn't very crowded around 10pm, but come 11-midnight, the place was filled with returning tourists for a late night drink and meal.
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L'Enfant Plaza Hotel
The hotel was within 1 block to National Mall where all of the museums are. If you walk to the right you'll see the capitol and you even have a view of the tip of the Washington Monument when standing in front of the hotel.
The metro is conveniently located right below the hotel. To get to many of the local sites only costed $1.35 one way. Or you could opt to buy the $7.50 all day pass and ride unlimited. And if you purchase tickets for the double decker bus, it stops right in front of the hotel starting at 10 AM running every 30 minutes.
The hotel has a pool and fitness center. I felt the fitness center closed early. The hotel is also pet friendly; however, I did not see anyone with a dog. They have an open park area on the 12th floor for walking your pet.
The only downside I found to staying at L'Enfant is that the nightlife and surroundings are not catering to tourists. The hotel is situated on the business side of the tourist attractions. Being there is not a huge tourist base during the week, the few restaurants and stores that are located below the hotel (did not find this until the last day) close rather early. There is Froggy Brew Pub downstairs, a small bar that also serves burgers, salads, and appetizers. They stay open late for returning tourists, but other than that you'll have to venture out to the other side of town for restaurants and nightlife.
The room was decent, but a little smaller than some rooms I've stayed at. The bed was very comfortable, or I was super tired from all the walking, but I did sleep very well.
There was always a taxi waiting in the front driveway. Getting around was easy, but in the future, I'll probably opt to stay in Georgetown or on the opposite side of National Mall.
L'Enfant was a little cheaper than other hotels though, so for economical purposes, this place was not bad at all.
The metro is conveniently located right below the hotel. To get to many of the local sites only costed $1.35 one way. Or you could opt to buy the $7.50 all day pass and ride unlimited. And if you purchase tickets for the double decker bus, it stops right in front of the hotel starting at 10 AM running every 30 minutes.
The hotel has a pool and fitness center. I felt the fitness center closed early. The hotel is also pet friendly; however, I did not see anyone with a dog. They have an open park area on the 12th floor for walking your pet.
The only downside I found to staying at L'Enfant is that the nightlife and surroundings are not catering to tourists. The hotel is situated on the business side of the tourist attractions. Being there is not a huge tourist base during the week, the few restaurants and stores that are located below the hotel (did not find this until the last day) close rather early. There is Froggy Brew Pub downstairs, a small bar that also serves burgers, salads, and appetizers. They stay open late for returning tourists, but other than that you'll have to venture out to the other side of town for restaurants and nightlife.
The room was decent, but a little smaller than some rooms I've stayed at. The bed was very comfortable, or I was super tired from all the walking, but I did sleep very well.
There was always a taxi waiting in the front driveway. Getting around was easy, but in the future, I'll probably opt to stay in Georgetown or on the opposite side of National Mall.
L'Enfant was a little cheaper than other hotels though, so for economical purposes, this place was not bad at all.
In front of the hotel.
View from the room.
Lobby
All-You-Can-Eat Seafood!
I wouldn't automatically associate Washington D.C. and seafood, but I stumbled upon an All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Buffet. I was in heaven.
When you first walk in there is a large winding staircase going up to the second floor. The location is nice as the restaurant is open to the Potomac River. You have the choice to enjoy your meal out on the open deck or indoors, but even indoors you get the open air feel as the restaurant is not closed off to the outdoors by windows. You get that open southern style porch feeling. Casual style dining, but very quaint atmosphere.
The menu consists of endless crab legs, steamed clams, fried shrimp, prawns, calamari, crunchy corn on the cobb, fried chicken, crispy french fries, pasta, and muscles. Of course there was plenty of ice cold beer! Be sure to order the 20 ounce beer so you get the free souvenir glass. I ate here at around 6PM so the dinner crowd was not yet at its peak. We were able to avoid lines and people rushing for the mounds of crab legs. Weekends cost a little more than weeknights at $29.99 per person. A little pricey considering I usually can't eat my money's worth, but I think the restaurant lost money tonight. The dessert spread was satisfying as well with carrot cake, chocolate cake, a refreshing lemon cake, funnel cake, brownies, pecan pie, and apple cobbler. (I almost sounded like Bubba Gump, but with cake.)
Right next door to Phillip's Flagship is an awesome outdoor seafood market reminiscent of what you might find at Seattle's famous fish market (minus throwing of the fish). The parking by the market was horrendous, but Phillip's Flagship has a parking structure conveniently located across the street.
Good first meal on my Washington trip.
When you first walk in there is a large winding staircase going up to the second floor. The location is nice as the restaurant is open to the Potomac River. You have the choice to enjoy your meal out on the open deck or indoors, but even indoors you get the open air feel as the restaurant is not closed off to the outdoors by windows. You get that open southern style porch feeling. Casual style dining, but very quaint atmosphere.
The menu consists of endless crab legs, steamed clams, fried shrimp, prawns, calamari, crunchy corn on the cobb, fried chicken, crispy french fries, pasta, and muscles. Of course there was plenty of ice cold beer! Be sure to order the 20 ounce beer so you get the free souvenir glass. I ate here at around 6PM so the dinner crowd was not yet at its peak. We were able to avoid lines and people rushing for the mounds of crab legs. Weekends cost a little more than weeknights at $29.99 per person. A little pricey considering I usually can't eat my money's worth, but I think the restaurant lost money tonight. The dessert spread was satisfying as well with carrot cake, chocolate cake, a refreshing lemon cake, funnel cake, brownies, pecan pie, and apple cobbler. (I almost sounded like Bubba Gump, but with cake.)
Right next door to Phillip's Flagship is an awesome outdoor seafood market reminiscent of what you might find at Seattle's famous fish market (minus throwing of the fish). The parking by the market was horrendous, but Phillip's Flagship has a parking structure conveniently located across the street.
Good first meal on my Washington trip.
