Page 209 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  207

Responsible Tourism
a few dollars off the regular
price) to those aged 60 or over. Washington, DC is increasingly
Most private museums offer a aware of environmental issues.
senior’s discount similar to the Visitors can be assured that
student discount. most public organizations
The American Association of and many restaurants recycle
Retired Persons is open to the their trash and, in 2009, the city
International Student Identity Card, over­50s. Members qualify for enacted a law charging 5 cents
offering discounts on museum entry fees discounts of 5–30 percent on for every plastic and paper bag
tours, hotels, and travel. given at grocery stores.
Local and organic produce
Student Travelers Disabled Travelers
are widely available, especially
Students from abroad should Almost all public buildings in at weekend markets such as the
purchase an International Washington, including most Eastern Market (7am–6pm Sat,
Student Identity Card (ISIC) hotels and restaurants, are 9am–5pm Sun) and the Dupont
before traveling to Washington, required to be wheelchair Circle Farmers’ Market (8:30am–
despite many sights having free accessible. Streets have curb cuts 1pm; Jan–Mar: 10am–1pm). The
entry. Paying museums such as and there are elevators at all mother of the organic food
the Phillips Collection give a $2 Metro stations. The exceptions movement in the eastern USA
discount on their regular are historic areas like George­ is Restaurant Nora (see p190).
admission. The ISIC handbook town, where cobble stone streets Many hotel chains touting
lists places and services in the and 18th­century buildings make their green credentials are
US that offer discounts to card using a wheelchair problematic. represented in DC, including
holders, including museums, For general advice, contact the Fairmont Hotels (see p178),
accommodations, and theaters. Society for Accessible Travel cited as the best hotel chain
The Student Advantage card is and Hospitality. by treehugger.com.
available to all American college
undergraduates and offers a Gay and Lesbian Travelers
range of discounts. In 2009, Washington, DC passed
a gay marriage act – at the time,
one of the few states to do so.
Senior Travelers
Now, as the result of a Supreme
Senior citizens are eligible for Court ruling in 2015, gay marriage
certain discounts with the is legal across the country. The
appropriate proof of age. Amtrak city’s gay scene centers around
gives a discount of 15 percent Dupont Circle and 17th, 14th,
for persons over 62 on most and P Streets. The Human Rights
trains (not valid for business or Campaign Headquarters
first class). Many movie theaters is home to the national
give reduced admission (usually organization for gay rights. Local produce on sale at the Eastern Market
DIRECTORY
Embassies New Zealand Tourist Tel 888­687­2277.
37 Observatory Circle, NW. Information ∑ aarp.org
Australia Tel (202) 328­4800.
1601 Massachusetts Destination DC Disabled
∑ nzembassy.com/usa Fourth Floor, 901 7th
Ave, NW. Map 2 F2. Street, NW. Map 4 C2. Travelers
Tel (202) 797­3000. United Kingdom Tel (202) 789­7000. Society for Accessible
∑ usa.embassy.gov.au 3100 Massachusetts Ave, ∑ washington.org Travel and Hospitality
NW. Tel (202) 588­6500.
Canada ∑ britainusa.com Student Travelers Tel (212) 447­7284.
501 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. ∑ sath.org
Map 4 D3. Travel Safety ISIC Gay and Lesbian
∑ isic.org
Tel (202) 682­1740. Advice Travelers
∑ canadainternational. Student Advantage
gc.ca/washington Australia ∑ studentadvantage. Human Rights
com
∑ dfat.gov.au Campaign
Ireland ∑ smartraveller.gov.au Headquarters
2234 Massachusetts Ave, Senior Travelers 1640 Rhode Island Ave,
NW. Map 3 A1. United Kingdom American Association NW.
∑ gov.uk/foreign- Tel (202) 628­4160.
Tel (202) 462­3939. for Retired Persons
∑ irelandemb.org travel-advice 601 E St, NW. Map 4 D3. ∑ hrc.org

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