Okay. We've got our hotels narrowed down to a choice of two:
1. Sleep Inn & Suites, Laurel MD. Advantages are that it's the less expensive of the two hotels, is brand new as of 2010, and is slightly closer (roughly 15 miles from DC). Disadvantages are that it's next to a race track and that it seems more geared towards Baltimore than DC.
2. Country Inn & Suites, Manassas VA. Advantages of this hotel are that it's pretty close to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, it's a suite rather than a standard hotel room, and it's in VA. Disadvantages are that it's further from DC (35 miles) and more expensive.
The price difference is really the least of the issues; we're primarily concerned with the area around the hotel and the difficulty of getting into DC. We're arriving Sunday evening and leaving Saturday morning, and planning on at least three, possibly four days out of the week in DC. Getting into (and out of) DC is another significant concern - if the traffic pattern is such that the 15 miles into Laurel MD takes an hour and a half, whereas the 35 miles from Manassas only takes 45 minutes, then the difference in distance isn't an issue.
Another question, of course, is how does this affect a NoVA/SoMD blog meet one night? I know I've got friends in MD as well as VA, some I've met and some I am hoping to meet. Getting out for a dinner/evening of adult beverages is a possibility; an entire day at the range not so much. The two locations don't appear to be much more than an hour apart, so that shouldn't make too much difference in any meeting up with folks.
Basically, I want to make sure we're not looking at a questionable area and/or one that's going to be difficult to get to DC from every day. The bulk of our time is going to be spent in DC in the museums and monuments and such, so the hotel is really a secondary consideration; however as always, safety and convenience are important. I'd hate to have to spend evenings in the hotel room with the couch up against the door in the wrong area; I'd also hate to spend two hours in traffic in and out of DC each day. If both hotels are in a good locations that don't take forever to get into DC, then it comes down to personal preference (and we all like the suite I think...)
To my MD/VA peeps: Which of these two hotels would be your choice?
That is all.
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39 comments:
HOV lanes matter in the time difference. Additionally, MD gun laws are almost as strict as MA is (although not as strict as DC).
yeah, keep in mind you can't carry in Maryland (no reciprocation whatsoever).
I haven't lived up there in over 10 years, so I can't comment on traffic. But Manassas is closer to the NRA museum.
I stayed a total of four weeks in a Country Inn & Suites in Chattanooga when I was there for a couple training courses. Excellent hotel with an awesome breakfast buffet that was included with the room.
I've been away from DC too long to comment on the traffic.
Is either hotel on the Metro line? That'd heavily influence my decision. You can get a weekly Metro pass for a lot less than you'll spend on gas. And it'll take a lot less time.
Neither hotel is near a Metro line. The Laurel location is going to have horrific traffic into DC from 7am-9:30am. Unfortunately the Manassas location is not going to be much better. At all times except rush hour(s)traffic to and from Manassas will be lighter.
Neither MD nor VA will accept a MA CCW, and of course DC does not allow ANY guns (there are exceptions but unless you are wealthy, famous AND politically connected forget it.) VA has open carry in non-posted areas, though not in most public buildings. In MD do not transport guns unless disassembled with ammunition in seperate locked compartment! (unless you have a 2A lawyer on speed dial and lots of time to deal with police.)
From Manassas to DC is an easier drive, and as someone else posted the NRA National HQ is nearby. Which of course means the National Firearms Museum! http://www.nramuseum.com/
They also have a 50 yard indoor range where you can fire any rifle or pistol up through.50 caliber.
Manassas is a much nicer area than Laurel Md.
Neither one.
There's definitely no Metro in Manassas and I think there's none in Laurel (I could be wrong).
Manassas is far away, I used to live right outside. You're looking at at least an hour to get into DC.
With no traffic.
It could be anywhere from 1-3 hours each way depending on when you're going and you don't want to drive into DC. They have a habit of ticketing and/or towing out of state cars parked legally.
They have cameras writing tickets wherever you go.
You could take the VRE, but that's at least an hour, has only "rush hour" hours and I think it's kind of expensive.
Or you drive and you have to pay to park, that's expensive and driving in this area is rage-inducing.
The operative word is "Stupidity". You can't imagine. It'll make you nostalgic for 5pm Boston on a Friday evening.
When I lived there it found it was worth it to leave my house at 4:15am to get to work by 5 to avoid traffic. I would then leave around 2 or so to avoid afternoon rush hour.
But you never know, there could be a huge traffic jam at any time in the day or night for no reason you can find.
Sometimes because everybody has to come to a complete stop because they've never seen a cop writing a ticket before.
Laurel is in MD, I try to avoid unfree states.
I don't know anything about Laurel in terms of what it's like. (see previous statement). But if you have to drive, you're screwed, blued and, well, you're already tattooed.
Manassas does have my favorite gun store (VA Arms) with the best consignment rack I've ever seen and another really good one (Guns and Ammo Warehouse).
Seriously, you're looking at 2 hours at least of your day taken in just trying to get there and your rage-o-meter will be pegged the whole drive.
It's not like Boston, it's a lot of the stupidest drivers you can imagine.
Stupidity. Seriously. When people come I'll tell them the operative word is "stupidity", they'll ask "Why?" in 10 minutes or less I'll hear, "Oh".
+1 to manassas. And, as long as you're there, stop at the NRA HQ. The range is busy of a weekend, but quite a treat. I did a mini-review of it based on my turkey weekend visit. I want to make it to the museum one of these days.
The route to DC is simpler from Manassas as well - you're right on I-66 and that dumps you into tourist-town, DC. The Laurel MD hotel may be 15 miles from the DC line, but it's approaching from the north, which is a much nastier route traffic-wise and road-wise.
Google says it's actually shorter, travel-time wise (41 minutes vs 33 minutes) from Manassas to the Mall vs Laurel to the Mall, without traffic. In traffic, Laurel seem to have the advantage, but I'm not sure I believe it. BW Parkway to US-50 can be murderously bad outside of rush hour, I can't imagine that route inside rush hour being better that I-66.
1. Carrying isn't going to be an issue.
2. According to the MD hotel's website, the hotel is 0.3 miles from a MARC train station. This goes into DC (Washington Union Station) from what I can tell - it looks like the commuter rail in eastern MA.
3. MD hotel is significantly cheaper and also closer to home.
We're leaning towards the Laurel, MD hotel - but still up for a NoVA meeting if there is one... :)
MARC is commuter rail, not subway - you would have to change systems at Union Station and then subway lines at Metro Center to get to the Smithsonian station. Bit of a hike inside Union Station.
However, if the junior G-Men and G-Women can hack a 0.3 m walk, that's a better choice. Parking in DC is only marginally better than other urban areas, and the Mall area is not replete with it.
Jay, if you have not yet booked the room, it is worth your time to do a cross-check of hotel locations to the nearest METRO stop. I would suggest something near the Orange Line (see http://wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm). If you are staying within a few miles of the station, parking and then taking the train into DC is easiest, albeit crowded during rush hour. It is far better than braving DC traffic, even if you do have a parking spot in-town.
Like Veeshir, I avoid unfree states whenever possible, so consider my bias. Finally, if we are going to do a blog-dinner, there are restaurants that are friendly to Open Carry, which is an option still available to you here. Just no drinking while carrying...
Call me if you want to talk further.
Um... When are you coming??? Either one of your suggestions has pluses and minuses, so it's really up to your patience (or lack of) for driving in the DC Metro Area. Agree with Newbius!
OldNFO, We'll be down April 17th through the 23rd.
If we were to get together Thursday night (April 21st), we could celebrate my 40th birthday...
The trek from Manassas to DC is going to be awful. (I'm not sure the MD one would be any better, however.)
Your best bet might be to drive to the Vienna Metro station (orange line) that takes you right to the Smithsonian stop. (Or L'Enfant, depending on the museum)
However, it's not going to be fun. But, the Manassas hotel will be closer to the NRA museum and range (definitely worth a stop) and the Udvar-Hazy center (also a must-see).
I know the one in Manassas. It is about 15 mins from the Vienna Metro when it's not Rush hour. 30-45 mins during rush hour using the HOV lane.
It is really close to the Air and Space Museum. It is right next to the College and the National Battlefield Park. There is a 15 theater multiplex a 10 min walk from there.
Very safe location. Nice Hotel. Been there for breakfast.
I live less than 10 mins from there.
"2. Country Inn & Suites, Manassas VA."
Manassas, as in First and Second Battle of? A Civil War battlefield seems worth a stop -- it ain't Gettysburg, but it's a significant battle. Er, battles.
I know nothing about the VA hotel's area. But I do know a thing or two about the Laurel location.
Laurel is an odd town that has parts of it living in 3 different counties (Prince George: A bad place, Anne Arrundel: a not bad place, and Howard: one of the richest county's in America).
The Laurel hotel is a reasonable and fairly safe choice. That said I would not allow small children or small adult women to wander unescorted in the dark areas around it.
Note that at the intersection of north 2nd and center is a mobile home park. That's not a deal killer, since some are very nice, but just be aware that it can attract a certain crowd. Also two the south on North 2nd st we start getting into sketchy areas.
For instance the 5 Guys resturant at 15102 Baltimore Avenue marks the northern line of an area that I have no problems being in by day, and I will go with my sister at night, but my sister does _not_ go into the area south of that alone at night.
Check out this site:
http://spotcrime.com/
put in the city of Laurel, MD.
Again: I would not be worried about bringing your family to the hotel in MD.
But:
I would not send an unescorted child to get a soda, visit the ice machine, or go to the pool alone.
-- SID
I travel a lot. Been to both. Va is much nicer. Way safer. Wife can wander alone at night kinda safe.
A couple more things to think about:
Yes, the MARC is commuter. It's heavily geared towards getting people to and from work.
I don't know how your family feels about mornings, but if you miss the 8:46, you are driving into DC that day so plan on being up and at em early to allow for time to get to the station.
don't plan on doing anything to late in DC, the last MARC train back to laurel is at 7:30, this means you are not going to stay for a late dinner in DC and still catch the train home.
If you do want to stay late you will need to drive to the Greenbelt Metro Rail station. It's about 9 miles from the MD hotel, but not to bad.
Also: In the time frame in question it may rain, so you may need to drive to the station. Just be aware of that.
-- SID
MARC being a commuter line it doesn't run on weekends :( It's great when it does run but if you want to use it to go to DC on the weekend you (and I :() are out of luck. +1 for finding a place near a metro stop. You could jsut go from laurel to one of the nearby metro stops and use that. I usually visit my DC friends by driving to the Silver Spring Metro and taking that in.
If there's a meetup in MD or DC I'd love to come.
And as for my choice it'd be laurel so I don't have to deal with as much DC traffic trying to get down to Manassas.
My wife, a native of Baltimore that used to work in Laurel, said the Laurel hotel would be the preferable option. She suggested driving from the hotel to the New Carrolton metro station, you can take the subway in from there directly to the DC mall stop.
I put in a vote for Laurel, MD as well. Forget the MARC, drive to the DC Metro station and use that for the majority of your traveling around DC. Take a day-trip to Air and Space at Dulles, and catch the NRA Museum as well.
Forget carrying in/around DC and MD.
Also, you are very close to the NSA National Crypto Museum. Dunno anything about that stuff...
And better, Laurel puts you in close proximity to Baltimore's Aquarium.
Would love to get together at either site, tho they are a longish drive from Southern MD.
I have worked sales territories around both Laurel and Manassas, and have stayed in the motel in Manassas (very nice). All that people have said about each is true, especially about traffic. I would go with Laurel (by a narrow margin) due to the relative proximity of the Metro station (don't try the MARC train). Traffic along US Rte 1 (main north-south road through Laurel) is nearly always bad, but does move. Northern VA can be anywhere from OK to totally not moving. I would also enjoy the opportunity to meet you if possible (I'm in Baltimore).
Oh, and I know a back-road path to the Greenbelt Metro station that avoids the Rte 1 traffic, if that ends up being your choice.
If that's it, pick the one closest to the Marc or VRE.
If they're about the same, I'd take VA. But it's more of a philosophical choice. I prefer free states.
VA is in the lawsuit against Obamacare, I'm pretty sure MD isn't.
As for a meetup, it's the same either way, it's as easy to go one way on the Beltway as the other.
There is another Air and Space Museum out near Dulles Airport, they have an SR-71 and they might have an IMAX theater too.If it's nice, you could picnic or something at Manassas Battlefield (Bull Run).
I would say Laurel is going to be a bit better. Despite Manassas' proximity to Udvar-Hazy, the traffic will be brutal towards Vienna to reach the closest Metro into DC. No real way around it. You have a few more better traffic options in Laurel heading for the New Carrollton Metro on the other end of the Orange Line and head into DC that way.
I live in MD and hate the state too. We have our stupid restrictions but have a little more firearm freedom in the ownership department. I don't go to prison for owning a 30 round magazine or need a license to possess.
If you're after range time, either the 17th or the 23rd if you can swing it I would be happy to get you down to Quantico. I can get you on the Marine Corps ranges as my guest and let you get in some distance work up to 1000 yards. Definitely an option to shoot over 200 yards at a minimum even if only Range 1 is open. I can supply the firearms and ammo.
I can also arrange a day during the week to be a tour guide if you so desire.
It's probably too late for this, but I would have suggested checking around the Springfield, VA area. Metro lines that take about ten minutes to the middle of DC and several large chain motels have locations there.
Little known Borepatch trivia is that I used to live in Laurel. I used to go into DC all the time.
If the hotel is by the racetrack, you're hard by the Baltimore Washington Parkway (MD-295). That's a straight shot to RFK Stadium (probably not there any more), but you pick up East Capitol St there which land you bang at the Capitol bldg. Yes, the traffic will stink, but should be not too bad by 10 AM or so.
"Not too bad" may be equivalent to "not too bad on I-93 South" ...
Commuter rail ood chowwill be a big, big win. Straight to Union Station, then you pick up the Orange Line Metro. If you're going to the Capitol building, National Gallery, or even the Air and Space Museum, you could probably hoof it if the weather is good.
While you're in Laurel, make sure to eat at Red, Hot, and Blue BBQ on Main St. Good chow, decent prices.
Also, visit the National Cryptologic Museum over at NSA. I used to work on the Cray Supercomputer on display there. Make sure to get an NSA coffee cup at the gift store.
The International Spy Museum is wicked cool, but you'll have to pay to get in. There's a James Bond car on display, but the whole place is great fun. Maybe more for you and The Boy than Mrs. G and Babygirl G.
Oh, for a creepy experience, go to the Laurel Mall on Rt 1. I used to shop there a lot, back in the 80s. Now almost all (i.e. all but 2 or 3) stores are closed. It's like a Neutron Bomb went off - the Mall is there, but the stores and people are gone. #1 Son and I spent quite some time there in awe. It looks like a set for Left 4 Dead.
If it's not too late, look at the Comfort Inn on Van Dorn in Alexandria. They have a shuttle to (and from!) the Metro station.
Copied all Jay, I'll see if I can get a day or two off...
I know this is kind of "out there", but my wife and I stayed at the youth hostel right in the heart of DC. As I recall it wasn't far from K Street and basically in walking distance to everything.
At the time it was less than $20 per night per person and family friendly. We had a private room with bath. They even had parking for those that needed it (we didn't have a car, as we traveled the US by Greyhound).
Hostelling is a different way to experience travel, but we found it to be an awesome way to meet people.
I used to live right close to the Laurel hotel - with apologies for the lack of political correctness, there are a lot of unemployed men of color in that part of PG county Maryland, that are vocal about their resentment of families of palor. Really, all of the route 1 motels are not nice. No good eating in that area. I don't know when the picture on the website was taken, but they did a lot of retouching to make it look that nice.
I'd say it is a 'probably ok' area. You can walk from there to the Laurel train station (which is NOT the metro system, but Amtrack trains do run into DC and Baltimore). You can drive to the Greenbelt metro station from there, but it isn't a nice a drive as you would think.
The Motel 6 in Laurel is nice (and safer).
If you type Bowie, MD into yahoo maps - the Hampton Inn, the Marriott, Rip's, Comfort Inn - all fine.
I've been to Manassass but can't say anything about that particular hotel. The area is nice and upscale. Driving in on 66 is miserable for commuters, but if you just acknowledge that it'll take longer than it should (think stop and go traffic), it is tolerable.
You found a hotel in Laurel that doesn't charge by the hour?
Don't stay at that hotel in Laurel, Jay.
Here is a tip for a hotel anywhere in the good ol' U.S. of A. "Close to the Horsetrack!" means don't take your family there.
If I had been away from DC for a long time, and was taking my young family back to the old stomping ground for the tourist thing, I'd get a Hotel within 2 blocks of a Metro station. Period. I'd spend an extra 100 a night for the covenience. I'd probably end up in Bethesda or Crystal City or Pentagon City, in this case.
I second Veeshir's comment about the stupid drivers and the rage-o-meter. All of the folks recommending a place near a metro stop are spot on, cool stuff to see here but not the traffic.
Yeah, BobH, I've stayed in that one and it was pretty nice. Cost was ~$90.00/night IIRC, and that was in 2008.
emdfl
Laurel MD is a good place, you're also close to Ft Meade which has a nice museum, and like you pointed out you'd be close to the MARC, it's not a bad ride into DC and you would't have to drive. Not sure on the timing but you have an open invite for dinner passing through (we're north of Baltimore)
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