washington dc visitors center 30 traveling with a bab y, an easy-to-fold umbrella stroller will be the most practical piece of equ

Purchased by the Joie de Vivre hotel chain and completely r emodeled in 2007, the 73 hotel boasts vibrant, inviting Ar t Deco decor reminiscent of the glamorous 1920s and 30s. Guest rooms, with playful gr een walls accented b y luscious washington dc visitors center slate-gray taffeta curtains, ar e not especially large in this 1911 building. B athrooms also completely lack counter space. But the bold interior design, F rette linens, bathrobes, very friendly staff, flatscreen TVs, and other per ks make up for the small- to moderately siz ed rooms. The hotel has 14 junior washington dc visitors center suites, really just somewhat larger rooms with a king-size bed and a pullout sleeper sofa. Rates for these ar e usually in the high $200s, while two-r oom suites can go for mor e than $400. R ooms with two double beds ar e usually just under $200. Because it s a business-oriented hotel, you ll find the best deals on weekends, where prices can be slashed up to 40%.

30 traveling with a bab y, an easy-to-fold umbrella stroller will be the most practical piece of equipment. I f y ou can manage with a baby front pack or backpack, y ou ll be ev en better off. Toddlers ar e another issue. Since you really washington dc visitors center will need a stroller at some point during a walk, y ou ll hav e to practice r eleasing the closur e and folding the str oller while holding the child at the same time. This is ev en mor e fun if y ou have mor e than one small child to deal with.

IT ALIAN This r enowned Tuscan-Italian r estaurant defines what s incredible about the city s neighborhood eats. Every day chef/co-owner Craig Stoll, one of Food & Wine s Best New Chefs a few years back, whips up a new menu of delectable, ultra-fresh fare. Diners trek in from all over the city for it, even though there s absolutely nowhere to park. (Take a cab.) The Niman Ranch flat-iron steak with french fries is a standard, but a more seasonal option might be winter gnocchi with squash and chestnuts or lamb with polenta and sw eet peas. Don t fail to order the buttermilk panna cotta for dessert. The yellow walls, close-together tables, and hip young clientele give this place an adult energy, so I suggest it for a night when y ou have a babysitter. An added plus is its proximity to many hopping Mission bars: If you do have a sitter, you can enjoy an hour or two out on the town after dinner.

80 left over for luggage. I n addition, the junior suites, which are really one big r oom, combine a king-size bed and a queen-size pullout sofa bed. Some of the junior suites also have bigger bathrooms with even more counter space. The ex ercise r oom is spacious and w ell-equipped, and the business center has fr ee high-speed wireless Internet access, as do all the guest r ooms. The lobby serves complimentary coffee in the morning and lemonade and cookies in the afternoon. Although the on-site restaurant, Cortez, is excellent, it s not ideal for a family meal.