National Geographic Weekend Warrior Travel Package
Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol

Welcome to the Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol! We offer the ideal location for travelers coming to Washington, DC. We are conveniently located one block from the National Air & Space Museum, the most visited museum in the world. Walk to Washington area attractions including the White House...

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Photo by Wang Da Gang, courtesy National Geographic Museum
Soldiers. Charioteers. Archers. Musicians. Generals. Acrobats. Nearly 2,000 years ago, thousands of life-size clay figures were buried in massive underground pits to accompany China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, into the afterlife. Their discovery outside the city of Xi'an in 1974 is one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

Now, you can stand face-to-face with these terra cotta warriors. In November 2009, National Geographic Museum will host Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, an exhibition featuring treasures from the tomb complex including 15 life-size figures, weapons, armor, coins, and more. Don't miss this chance to see the largest collection of significant artifacts from China ever to travel to the United States.

Exhibition will be open from November 19, 2009 – March 31, 2010.

Blackout Dates: November 19, 20,21, 22, 26, 27 and February 6th.

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Admission price includes the show, dinner and two rounds of select beverages. Seating at the Castles is limited and reservations are strongly recommended.

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General admission to Madame Tussauds Washington DC and exhibits!

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Access to the International Spy Museum Permanent Exhibitions.

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These Safaris actually start 30 minutes before sunset and last 2.5 hours.

Washington DC’s National Mall is the showcase of the nation’s capital, home to its most famous and historic monuments. One of the best ways to see it is through the viewfinder of your own tripod-mounted camera at twilight and at night, guided by a professional architectural photographer.

After giving you an orientation on the basic techniques of nighttime photography, Washington Photo Safari director E. David Luria will take you to the most photogenic areas of the National Mall. Your Safari begins at the new World War II Memorial, with its beautifully illuminated ornate fountains and columns framing the nearby spotlit Washington Monument in that "magic hour" of deep-blue twilight. Then you walk along the famous Reflecting Pool on your way to the poignant Vietnam Womens Memorial, the powerful Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the extraordinary Korean War Memorial with its illuminated, fear-filled faces of men in combat, and then to the awesome Lincoln Memorial with its majestic statue of President Lincoln. We end up at the whimsical and brightly illuminated Albert Einstein Memorial at 22nd St and Constitution Ave NW.

At each location on this 2.5 hour Safari, Mr. Luria reviews white balance settings for digital cameras and filter usage for film cameras in nighttime shooting, how to shoot at night WITHOUT using a flash, and how to achieve interesting composition with close-up detail that truly brings out the meaning of each memorial and statue. This Safari will help you achieve really beautiful, postcard-quality images of the nation's capital.

Meet at entrance to World War II Memorial on 17th St NW between Const. Ave and Independence Ave.

Offered every Friday in spring and fall 2009.

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