I am going to be staying at Hilton Washington in October and will have four days to shop and site see while my daughter attends a conference. Does anyone know of any fun fabric stores in the area?

Oh, yes--I can tell you where they ALL are-and I have been to every one. First tell me whether or not you will have a car to get around or whether you are depending on the Metro. It will make a difference in where I tell you to shop.

G-Street Fabrics in Rockville, MD is great. Very expensive though.

Unfortunately, shopping in D.C. is very expensive. (10 percent sales tax) and Rockville is exceedingly costly.

Driving around D.C. and Rockville is rough too. I woudn't recommend shopping in quilt stores in Rockville or D.C.

Sightseeing in D.C. is great; shopping isn't. It's just obnoxiously expensive.

I think I am going to be taking public transportation. The hotel charges $23 per day to park plus the rental. I am going as luggage for daughter as her company is paying for the room and her airfare. I will sneak in on a few of the group tours and maybe some of the meals but I will have sometime by myself and thought I would check out some fun shops. I just have to pay my airfair and some meals and extras. Sure is nice having successful kids and they still like to take me along. LOL

Oooh, lucky you, sounds fab. I went to DC years ago, had such a good time going to all the museums, but I guess you'll be busy in the fabric stores? :)
When I was there I was backpacking and had very little money and as far as I remember found it easy to get around on public transport.
I can highly recommend the New England Clam Chowder at the Center Cafe at Union Station!

There is a textile museum a short walking distance from the Metro (I think that's the name of the public transportation.) and in 2004 they accepted donations as admittance. They also had a nice selection of books and fabric art in the gift shop. I went in October of 2004 andwas very grateful for the air-conditioned retreat.

Have a wonderful time!

Piecefully yours,
Kay Susan

Lucky you...... i can't wait to hear all about it..... can't help on the shops.... sorry

The museums are the best! If you have never been to the Smithsonnian, it is a must-see. Check out their websites and see whay exhibits are showing. There are several buildings acattered around. The art museums are fun, too.

I definitily plan on going to the museums. When I was 13 I spent a month in the DC area, that was was 57 years ago :roll: My parents was there on business and my brother and I were waiting to go on a tour of the White House, when a kindly old gentleman came up to us and introduced himself as Col Payton and asked us if we had ever been to Washington DC before. We told him "no" and he said he would be very honored to take us places where very few tourists had been. He gave us a business card and asked us to meet him the next day at the corner we were standing on if our parents would let us go with him. My parents called him that night and my mother dropped us off the next day and we had the most wonderful 4 days of seeing the sites. One day we got to sit in the Vice President's chair at his desk and it was still warm from when he had been sitting in it. We also rode in elevators with Senators and other important people. It was so unreal. I don't think in this day and age it would be a good idea for kids to be treated to a tour like we had.
It seemed every place we went someone rrecognised our guide and they would chat for a few minutes and he would introduce us as his new friends. Most of the tour places we got in free or through a private door.
I know this trip will be quite different but looking forward to it.

We were good friends with the White House Photographer in the mid-70's - during the time Ford was president. We got to go in parts of the White House most people can't. I got to sit in a new chair that had recently been made for Gerald Ford. And....my 3 year old son ran under the ropes outside the Oval Office and two armed guards pointed their guns at him and he just kept running around the desk. We tried to coax my son out, but he was having too much fun. Bill the photographer had to talk the guards into putting their guns down. My son finally came out on his own - it was scary!!! Gerald Ford was not in the White House that day.

:D Enjoy enjoy enjoy...and have a wonderful trip...Lucky you....You will always see and find new things......and sometimes you will find things you won't get in other places......So HAVE FUN !!! :mrgreen:

BArb,

There are a number of shops surrounding DC but you would need a car for most of them. I think the musuem that was mentioned was the DAR (Daughter's of the American Revolution) musuem. The hotel people should be able to give you directions. You might call them while you are in town and find out just when they are open and if they have any quilts on display. They have a marvelous collection of Baltimore Alblum Quilts but they don't display many at one time. You might be able to arrange a private showing if you call ahead.
Enjoy your stay.

Thanks, I will put that on my list of places to go. My mother told me the last time I was up visiting that I could become a member of the DAR. She never joined, might look into it.