I don’t know about everyone at Georgetown, but apparently the majority of us are type-A personalities?as evidenced by the chain-smoking, coffee guzzling, stressed-out zombies huddled in hooded sweatshirts, death-gripping their cell phones, outside of Lauinger Library every night. Walking by and catching snippets of their conversations?”I have a 20-page paper that’s due at 10 a.m. tomorrow and I’ve only typed my name and inserted the page numbers”?stresses me out.
In conjunction with our type-A personalities comes our freakish attempts at organization?and with that comes list making. Personally, I make lists for everything, especially to-do lists in class when things get a little boring (sorry professors, that’s only every once in a while). I’ll admit that I even refer to older to-do lists in my updated to-do lists. Psychotic, you may say. Motivational, I say.
And to be motivational, here’s a short and easy to to-do list of interesting day trips from D.C., perfect now that it’s been over a month since school started, and midterms have come and gone?for those who have been lucky enough to get some over with?or are still up-and-coming.
This list goes out to the seniors who are about to turn 22 and are getting a little bored with the same old Georgetown parties or binges down at the bars on M Street, to the adventurous first-year students who need to get away from Lauinger and their cell-sized dorm rooms and to everyone in between. Don’t think you can’t tear yourself away from this windy Hilltop that you love so much? Just try one of these great day trips from Georgetown.
Annapolis, Md.
Just a 45-minute drive northeast of D.C., the lure of the cadets of the Naval Academy alone are worth the car trip to Annapolis, Maryland’s historic capital city. And even if cadets don’t strike your fancy, there really is something of interest for everyone in this quaint little city that juts out onto the Severn River.
For football fans?and tailgating fans, since Homecoming seems to indicate that Georgetown kids tend to enjoy tailgating more than actually watching the game?the Naval Academy plays its home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The games are really quite a scene, with the Plebes (first-year cadets) racing down to the field at the whim of the upper classmen.
Meanwhile, for those military history buffs (those who will drive hours to witness and/or perform in a good battle re-enactment), head over for a tour of the immaculately kept 338-acre Naval Academy campus, located right along the river. Joke about your heinous ID picture (which you need to get on campus) with the marines stationed at the front gate. They’ll really love you if you bring them a bottle of Gatorade. Walk through the Naval museum and gift shop, where you can pick up a “BEAT ARMY” sweatshirt or a pair of those much-needed Navy shorts so you pretend you’re in ROTC back at campus. Plus, at noon every day the cadets perform their own version of the changing of the guard, lining up in formation. But don’t try to cross the line and join in or you may find yourself tossed out the front gates by those same marines you were supposed to joke with back at the entrance.
For you athletic, outdoorsy, boat-loving folks, Annapolis is located along a beautiful river and is home to thousands of gorgeous, immaculately kept sailboats, yachts, motorboats and ferries. You can take a boat tour from City Dock, or even charter a boat for an entire day.
Or, you can just wander around the downtown area, up and down Main Street, by City Dock and throughout the surrounding streets. There are amazingly restored houses, widely known as architectural gems from the Colonial period. There are funky artisan shops such as Karma Creations, bookstores (including one where the swimsuit models from the Chesapeake Bay calendar were signing their fold-outs) and fun clothing stores like the Pink Lily Pad.
Lastly, you cannot leave Annapolis without eating. If you just want a snack, pop into The General Store on Main Street, where they pound out homemade fudge by the hour. You can choose from the more traditional flavors, such as chocolate and pecan, or be more adventurous and go for peanut butter or raspberry-vanilla. If you don’t like fudge, do not despair?they also bake the freshest, gooiest cookies I have ever tasted, and even dip them in chocolate by request.
And, if you’re walking down along City Dock on a hot day (or really any day for that matter) stop by Roma d’Italia for the best Italian gelato outside of Italy. You can choose from any Italian flavors, including stracciatella, nocciola and fragola. The gelato even comes in real Italian color-coded cups with an accompanying mini spoon-spatula thing.
Meanwhile, if your stomach’s growling and you’re on the hunt for a real meal, you’ve got your pick of the gamut?from typical Irish pub-grub (including infamous Maryland crab cakes) to nouveau bistro fare or unbelievable Japanese fusion cuisine. Mosey along Main Street, up to West Street or down along the docks and piers. Across from City Dock is The Market House, Annapolis’ version of a food court?serving anything your heart desires and perfect on a student’s budget.
For a sit-down meal and great pub grub head to Griffens. I recommend the bistro burger that comes topped with brie cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions. My crab cake obsessed parents would not stop raving about their crab cake sandwiches.
Joss Caf? and Sushi Bar, meanwhile, may have the freshest sushi in all of Maryland. If you’re in an adventurous mood, try a Joss, Joss’s version of Italian Carpaccio. with slices of albacore tuna substituted for the raw beef fillet. The tuna is so tender it almost melts in your mouth.
For more information, maps and directions visit www.surfannapolis.com or www.annapolis.com
Great Falls, Va.
Open year-round and situated just 14 miles from D.C. straight out along the “Patowmack Canal” (also known as the “Tow Path” to runners) is Great Falls Park, 800 acres of luscious forests and the amazing Great Falls waterfall. The park may not have shops or great restaurants, but it does offer 15 acres of hiking trails, numerous bike paths and horseback riding trails.
Once you arrive at the park, the overlook for the falls is just a short walk along the canal and through some gorgeous fall foliage. There are ranger-led programs every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and at select times during the week. Grills are located throughout the park, so head up with some friends, check out the Great Falls (or if you’re daring enough, kayak through the falls), go for a hike and have a barbecue.
To reach the Falls, just drive straight out on MacArthur Boulevard about 15 miles, or bike along the canal. But remember “picking wildflowers, hunting, injuring or capturing wildlife and destroying or removing trees, rocks and ruins are prohibited!”
See www.nps.gov/gwmp/grfa for directions, special programs, and hiking maps. Call 703-285-2966 for more information.
Old Town (Alexandria), Va.
You may need a car to visit Annapolis or Great Falls, but there is absolutely no excuse for not visiting Old Town Alexandria. Just hop on the Blue Line Metro towards Franconia-Springfield and take it to the King Street stop. Walk directly down King Street towards the water and you’ve arrived in one of the greatest villages the D.C. metro area has to offer. Better yet, hop on your bike and head out towards National Airport. Go past the airport and you’ll hit Old Town about five miles out of D.C.
During the day, stroll down King Street toward the waterfront and stop in for some good sales at the Gap and Banana Republic outlets. Play at Imaginarium: World of Toys (be careful not to draw attention to yourself or you may get kicked out), and buy some crazy jewelry at the Silver Parrot Jewelry store. When you reach the waterfront, poke around the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and listen to Jamey Turner, one of only a few professional glass players in the world.
If you get hungry for a snack, roast some s’mores at Cosi on King Street or cozy up at the Firehook Bakery (right off of King Street on South Union Street). If you do grab one of those ridiculous cookies at Firehook, make sure you walk farther down Union Street for a little shopping at the year-round Christmas shop. Grandma always needs a great Christmas ornament for her birthday in July. Even farther down the street is a fabulous teapot and teacup shop. You can buy teapots and cups in every shape and size.
Post-shopping, stick around to watch the sunset down at the dock, and then head up to splash around in the fountain in front of Alexandria City Hall. After a good dip in the fountain, head down to the Visitors Center on King Street and Fairfax Avenue and sign on for the hour-long Lantern Light Ghost Tour which ends at the local graveyard. Your cute, little-old lady guides may even scare you more than The Exorcist.
After a good fright, I recommend the Fish Market Restaurant for a great cup of clam chowder or the fresh fish of the day. Their 20-ounce beers are served in massive goblet cups the size of the pumpkin that should have scared you earlier on the ghost tour?drink up. But save room for dessert next door at Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor. The chocolate chip cookie dough was great?and their servings are much more generous than Ben and Jerry’s.
And you can be sure I’ll be in Old Town on Saturday, Dec. 7 for the Annual Scottish Christmas Walk, complete with bagpipers, men in kilts and lots and lots of dogs: Scotties, Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds, to name a few.
