View Full Version : IAD for 8 hours!
Troy Tempest
18-06-2004, 03:03
Managed to get stuck with a eight hour layover in Washington Dulles.[msnsad]
Anyone here know if there's anything we can do for that amount of time?
The previous five visits to Dulles have only been an hour or so and so we havn't looked too hard at the amenities there.
Thanks
Cruella DeVilla
18-06-2004, 03:08
SLEEP!
CVD
Troy Tempest
18-06-2004, 03:18
If only!
Trouble is its an early flight (09:00) and by the end of the day the rugrats will be killing each other!
get the wife drunk, get the kids to sleep . have a beer yourself then spend 8 hours reading through this forum
tempus fugit!!:D:D:D
trev
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
18-06-2004, 03:30
There is a nice TGI Friday's restaurant airside in the main terminal that we have used to while away a couple of hours when we have stopped over there before. You get a great view of the aircraft which keeps the children occupied for a while too [msnwink]
Why not plan a trip round the Whitehouse or bus tour of Washington or something like that. Make the stopover part of your holiday. That's what I would do.
Absolutley, I agree with Carla. Washington is a great place to visit, so clean and everything free to go into. I don't know if it was this forum or the other but somebody said there was a part of the Air and Space museum opened at Dulles and you can get a bus to it from the airport. Now that is worth visiting. I'll see if I can find more info.
Jacqui
I live in Northern VA (right outside DC) and my husband works five minutes from Dulles airport. I WOULD NOT NOT NOT try to go into DC for a day from there and see the DC sites! You could end up in a big traffic situation and not get back to Dulles, and traffic is notorious on that route. The toll road is ok, but it is the rest of the route that could get very messy and is unpredictable. And if this is anytime in the near future, the weather is awful now- HOT HOT and humid- not good for a quick jaunt around DC outdoors during a layover- you'll sweat like crazy.
Here's what I would do. If you at Dulles during the day, there is the new Smithsonian aircraft museum 10 mintues from the airport and it is supposed to be fantastic. It is huge and houses many aircraft. A concord is there, the Enola Gay is there, etc. Great for both kids and adults. Have heard nothing but specatcular reviews. Catch a cab over there for a half day, as long as you don't have to take all your luggage w/you. The only gripe I've heard is that it is $10 to park, but you won't have that problem. I'll find out the exact name of that museum for you and will repost it.
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
18-06-2004, 19:03
The museum is called Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center - I've been dying to find an excuse to go - might have to stop over in Dulles next time we come [msnwink]
Cruella DeVilla
19-06-2004, 01:05
Apparently the War Memorial is impressive, I have not seen it but hubby has.
CDV
Troy Tempest
19-06-2004, 12:44
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.
The Smithsonian museum looks favourite,
http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/
although a drunken sightseeing trip around DC finishing with a meal at TGI's to watch my plane take off sounds pretty good to me!!
Neil
caseyd is absolutley right. DC is too far for the time you have - we have done the trip several times.
tony
There's a really nice shopping mall at Tysons Corner I think it about 20 minutes from Dulles.
Yes, Tysons shopping is another very good option. You could do that safely at mid-day. You take a cab down the toll road (pretty safe for traffic)and onto the 495 beltway (that goes around D.C) for about two miles. As long as you give yourslef enough time to get back to Dulles (plan for potentail that you coudl have a bit of traffic in that 495 stretch before getting on the toll road) you could do that. It is the nicest shopping in the DC area. Lots of mid-scale and upscale shops and department stores and specialty stores. I don't know if you'd have to call a cab to get you back to airport or if there are cabs there- there are a few hotels around there so I imagine you'd get a can quickly if you call.
Nostromo
20-06-2004, 16:06
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Troy Tempest
Managed to get stuck with a eight hour layover in Washington Dulles.[msnsad]
Anyone here know if there's anything we can do for that amount of time?
[/quote]
I feel sorry for you. Dulles is sure Dull(e)sville. [:o)][:o)]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Troy Tempest
Managed to get stuck with a eight hour layover in Washington Dulles.[msnsad]
Anyone here know if there's anything we can do for that amount of time?
[/quote]
I feel sorry for you. Dulles is sure Dull(e)sville. [:o)][:o)]
[/quote]
Only the airport itself is once you get out (which is the general idea) it's beautiful!!
Get to Tysons Corner it's fab!!