Tourism Thread on the Government Shutdown (Washington: hotel, home, unemployed)

[bUU]

Here's a link to the political/current events-related commentary thread on the Government Shutdown:

//www.city-data.com/forum/washi...shut-down.html
__________________

I have some questions about the impact of the shutdown on tourism. Of course, all the government-run museums are closed right now. I know that there are private and foundation-run museums that are open, but we're aiming specifically at the following sites, which I believe are mostly closed:

• Mt. Vernon [OPEN DURING SHUTDOWN]
• Holocaust Museum [CLOSED DURING SHUTDOWN]
• Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, FDR Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial [CLOSED DURING SHUTDOWN]
• National Museum of the American Indian and Air and Space Museum [CLOSED DURING SHUTDOWN]

My question is to long-time residents of DC and others who may have been in a position to recall: Based on past experience, how long after the shutdown ends would these site return to full operational status?

[Mahatma X]

I'm too young to remember the 1995-96 shutdown, I was just in 1st grade back then, but there are still plenty of places tourists and visitors can go to during the shutdown. Here are some:

1. Check out the neighborhoods and what they have to offer.
-U street NW
-Dupont Circle
-Adams Morgan
-Georgetown
-Columbia Heights
-H street NE
-Mt. Pleasant
-Barracks Row/Eastern Market
-Penn Quarter
-Old Town Alexandria
-National Harbor

2. Check out shopping areas/malls
-Georgetown (Metrobus routes 31, 32, 36, 38B, D6, and the Circulator serves G-town)
-Pentagon City (Pentagon City on the blue/yellow line)
-Wheaton Plaza (Wheaton station on the Red line, home to the longest escalator in the country)
-Tyson's Corner (Metrobus route 28A from West Falls Church)
-Friendship Heights (Red line to Friendship Heights)

3. Check out entertainment venues:
-Dave and Busters at White Flint Mall (Red line to White Flint then transfer to Ride On bus #46 southbound towards Medical Center, or it can be walked.)
-Check a football game at FedEx field (Blue line to Morgan Blvd then walk to stadium)
-Hockey and Basketballs games at the Verizon Center, or catch a concert. (Red/Green/Yellow line to Gallery Place)
-Maryland Live Casino at Arundel Mills Outlet Mall (Drive or take MARC train to BWI and transfer to MTA bus #17 (also Medieval Times is here as well)

4. Visit Baltimore (Only an hour ride on the MARC train from Union Station, or drive)

[DistrictSonic]

Originally Posted by bUU

Here's a link to the political/current events-related commentary thread on the Government Shutdown:

//www.city-data.com/forum/washi...shut-down.html
__________________

I have some questions about the impact of the shutdown on tourism. Of course, all the government-run museums are closed right now. I know that there are private and foundation-run museums that are open, but we're aiming specifically at the following sites, which I believe are mostly closed:

• Mt. Vernon [OPEN DURING SHUTDOWN]
• Holocaust Museum [CLOSED DURING SHUTDOWN]
• Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, FDR Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial [CLOSED DURING SHUTDOWN]
• National Museum of the American Indian and Air and Space Museum [CLOSED DURING SHUTDOWN]

My question is to long-time residents of DC and others who may have been in a position to recall: Based on past experience, how long after the shutdown ends would these site return to full operational status?

It would only take a few days. Special exhibits may be delayed, but otherwise to get back up and running is usually not an extended task.

[bUU]

@Mahatma X We have no airline tickets or hotel reservations, and so if we cannot visit what we want to visit, there's no issue just delaying our visit until a better time, but that's for the recommendation of other things to see and do regardless.

@DistrictSonic So projecting that out a bit, if a deal is struck as late as Wednesday morning, we're probably okay for Saturday?

[Mahatma X]

Oh I thought you guys were already here.

[pgm123]

Originally Posted by bUU

@Mahatma X We have no airline tickets or hotel reservations, and so if we cannot visit what we want to visit, there's no issue just delaying our visit until a better time, but that's for the recommendation of other things to see and do regardless.

@DistrictSonic So projecting that out a bit, if a deal is struck as late as Wednesday morning, we're probably okay for Saturday?

My understanding is that they'll essentially be up and running the next day. Obviously there may be a few kinks to work out as employees have essentially been unemployed for a week or so, but that shouldn't be that bad.

[bUU]

That's encouraging, though we, ourselves, cannot make the decision that late: Unfortunately, if we need to cancel (for next week) we need to do it tomorrow morning, so my spouse doesn't get charged for vacation time regardless of whether we go on vacation or not.