Mandarin Oriental in DC?

[parndt]

This will probably come up empty but here goes. Family has booked Mandarin Oriental for a week this summer. Can anyone give us "insider" hints on the property?
Have a 15 yr old daughter. Plan to show 15 yr old daughter the sites of Nation's Capital but not fry her on history.

[nono]

Well, I'd prep your teen to expect it to be nothing like WDW. The spa isn't available, due to being underage. There is a pool area, which is well done for a city hotel pool, but it's not like it is Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach.

Basically, DC hotels as a whole are so "not resort" I'd want to make that clear in her head in advance. However, I think having the Mandarin Oriental as a place to come home to at the end of the day out-and-about is about the best thing in the world. There's a sense of propriety and calm that pervades their city hotels. It may really appeal to her as she's on the edge of being grown up. Have fun!

[BLTby40]

I'd budget some time with your daughter to go over the Georgetown area by cab to shop and people watch. The campus is great but the area in Georgetown has great stores. Clydes is a great place to have a semi-fancy burger or crab cake and get a feel for DC. Georgetown cupcake is easy to find and they have a reality show so your daughter may recognize some people.

The Kennedy Center for Performing arts also has a free performance every day. I think it is at 6, and you can go on the roof patio to see the whole city. Take the metro to Foggy Bottom and there is a shuttle to the Kennedy Center.

National Geographic at 17th & M has 2 buildings you can walk through and there is always some kind of free exhibit there (Tigers, Vietnam-something). I used to work there and it is a pretty impressive space (also good shopping in this area-a few blocks north is Dupont Circle and there is a great coffee shop/bookstore called Kramer Books.)

Lots of free stuff to do that would give your teen a feel for DC w/o feeling like a 24/7 field trip.

The Disney similarity is the walking. Comfy shoes are needed or cab fare. Keep in mind, cabs go by zones, not meters, so it is hard to tell what you will pay. Also, they can pick up another passenger if they are going your way, so that is STRANGE for new visitors. Be prepared.