Capital Region USA hosted dinner & networking at Pink Restaurant, 34 William Street, Dublin 2 on Thursday, 21 March 2025.
At the event was a delegation from Destination DC, Maryland Office of Tourism and Virginia is for Lovers for dinner last night which included:
- Connie Spindler, Maryland Office of Tourism Development – www.visitmaryland.org
- Jennifer Sigal, Visit Loudoun County (VA) – www.visitloudoun.org
- Jake Wynn, Visit Frederick (MD) – www.visitfrederick.org
- Tracey Johnson, Visit Baltimore (MD) – www.baltimore.org
- Holly Williamson, Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum – www.airandspace.si.edu
The Capital Region in the United States consists of Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. The Smithsonian museums and monuments of Washinton DC alone would entice me back but there is plenty more in this region to appeal to wanderlust urges. A tempting American road trip across the Capital Region would cross beaches, cities and mountains. US National Parks beckon to be biked, hiked and explored including the famed Appalachian Trail in Virginia.
Capital Region – 100+ State Parks
The Capital Region boasts more than 100 US state parks, ideal for a camping holiday in a less soggy climate than Ireland (flashbacks to 2-man tents in a boggy field in the West of Ireland still make me shudder). If, like me, you like a solid roof over your head, there are plenty of hotels catering for visitors and offering a base to explore the region. For more unusual stays, check out Capital Region USA’s abundance of information on Luxurious Yurts in Maryland, Virginia’s Mountaintop Cabins with a Private Chef or a personal tree house in Primland in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
History of the Capital Region
Beyond the geography, is a landscape steeped in centuries of history, including from the American Civil War. If outdoor adventure or civil war reenactments don’t whet your appetite, wander the wine vineyards and taste the offering grown in the rich soil. The vineyards hint at the mild, warm climate which is ideal for a leisurely vacation as they say on that side of the pond.
Free & Almost Free Things to Do
If private chefs are not in the budget, the region has an abundance of activities that are free to do and enjoy with a sample here – 15 free things to do for visitors to the Capital Region plus 100 Free (& Almost Free) Things to Do in Washington, DC alone, there are plenty more budget-friendly activities to enhance your next American holiday.
Getting There
There are direct flights from Dublin to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) with United Airlines and Aer Lingus. Washington Dulles International Airport is the international and domestic gateway airport to Washington, DC and the greater Capital Region. Washington Dulles is connected to the Capital Region via a dedicated roadway and features a new Metrorail train station. The Silver Line train station at the airport provides fast and frequent service connecting Washington Dulles to the Capital Region. Not only is the Capital Region’s Metro system one of the most expansive in the country, but it’s also one of the most affordable. The maximum one-way fare is $6.75 between any two points on the system on weekdays and $2.25 on nights and weekends. Silver Line trains operate approximately every 8-10 minutes during peak times, and allow for single train convenience to local corporations, high-end retail, as well as direct access into the heart of Washington DC in less than 50 minutes.
