What's the DC area like?

[Chillo 2]

This will be my first Otakon in DC and I don't know what to expect. I grew up around Baltimore so when the con was there I knew all the places not to go after hours, good places to eat, etc. 

Anybody have any tips for navigating the area? (both on foot and by car)

[Clutch 64]

I am not from that area and only do shopping during the day. Never had any problems walking down from the convention center towards Chinatown. Highly recommend getting one of the folding maps they sell in one of the drug stores (maybe Wallgreens?). They have indicators for the train stops on those maps too. A decent compass is not a bad idea, either.

Have been going to DC since Otakon moved there and only found the 2nd Dunkin Donuts this year. When waiting to check out from Otakon 2022, I noticed some courtesy printouts of the local restaurant locations at the Concierge desk. Will have to check for that at arrival next year. There is a Giant grocery store a few blocks from the convention which gets visited a few times over the weekend. That is all by foot travel.

Never driven a car in D.C., but imagine parking will be difficult and expensive. When Otakon was in Baltimore, we would park the car in the hotel lot for the entire weekend. Driving in an unfamiliar town is always stressful, and I try to avoid doing that when possible.

[Chillo 2]

On 10/28/2022 at 7:13 PM, Clutch said:

I am not from that area and only do shopping during the day. Never had any problems walking down from the convention center towards Chinatown. Highly recommend getting one of the folding maps they sell in one of the drug stores (maybe Wallgreens?). They have indicators for the train stops on those maps too. A decent compass is not a bad idea, either.

Have been going to DC since Otakon moved there and only found the 2nd Dunkin Donuts this year. When waiting to check out from Otakon 2022, I noticed some courtesy printouts of the local restaurant locations at the Concierge desk. Will have to check for that at arrival next year. There is a Giant grocery store a few blocks from the convention which gets visited a few times over the weekend. That is all by foot travel.

Never driven a car in D.C., but imagine parking will be difficult and expensive. When Otakon was in Baltimore, we would park the car in the hotel lot for the entire weekend. Driving in an unfamiliar town is always stressful, and I try to avoid doing that when possible.

Yea, I'm kinda nervous about driving down there. I think I might try and take a drive before the convention just to get a feel for the area. Thanks for the tip on the maps and food stops! I'll definitely check em out!

[Daniel Perales 95]

On 10/28/2022 at 7:13 PM, Clutch said:

Never driven a car in D.C., but imagine parking will be difficult and expensive. When Otakon was in Baltimore, we would park the car in the hotel lot for the entire weekend. Driving in an unfamiliar town is always stressful, and I try to avoid doing that when possible.

As much as I like to drive, I decided to take the bus when both Katsucon and Otakon first moved to D.C, and later to train, when I saw just how hard and expensive it would be to bring my car over.