Day Trip to DC: Segway Tour & Webb Telescope

[Jimmy Snyder]

I took a day trip to DC today. I had two purposes in mind. I wanted to see the mockup of the Webb telescope outside the Air and Space Museum and I wanted to take the Segway for a spin. It turns out that the telescope was only in DC for a short time and has long since gone, I know not where. But the Segway was great. For $45 you get a 1 hour tour of the city. I feel that I got my money's worth though I wouldn't pay 45 cents for the tour, It gives you a chance to get used to the Segway. And now that I have done so, I will probably never again as I cannot imagine what purpose I would put it to. There is an overlap in the distances that I am used to walking and those I am used to biking and so there is no interval in which the $5000 Segway would be the right choice for me.

By the way, they got the helicopter off the Washington Monument.

 

[Evo]

What's the Segway? I plan to return to Dc for the Museums, is it a shuttle from hotels. to restaurants. There are some awesome restaurants within close walking distance from the Smithsonian.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

What's the Segway? ... is it a shuttle from hotels. to restaurants.

No, it's a thingamabob. www.segway.com

There are some awesome restaurants within close walking distance from the Smithsonian.

That there are.

 

[robphy]

http://www.segway.com/][/PLAIN]
http://www.segway.com/
http://www.segway.com/img/content/models/x2.jpg


http://www.citysegwaytours.com/

A few years back, I did the tour in New Orleans.

 

[Cyrus]

You picked a nice time to visit. The weather has been aces.

 

[asd1249jf]

I actually saw cops on segways coupe of days ago.. going down the street in New York...

 

[Chi Meson]

"[PLAIN

 

[Astronuc]

Unfortunately, the Webb telescope model had a limited display during May 9-12 this year in front of the Air and Space Museum. It's apparently making a tour.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Webb_Slinger_Heads_To_Washington_999.html

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/webb_slinger.html (same article in spacedaily)

It should be out and about periodically. Apparently it was in Dublin (Ireland) in June 2007.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2007/dublin_webb.html

http://jwst.gsfc.nasa.gov/

A good place to stay in Washington DC is the Hotel Washington - http://www.hotelwashington.com/ - if one doesn't have a friend with whom one can stay. It very near the White House and Mall.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

You picked a nice time to visit. The weather has been aces.

The weather was aces. It was a Sunday, so you would think the place might be crowded, but I only encountered a very few opportunities to run anyone down. Perhaps they were all in church. Praying.

Unfortunately, the Webb telescope model had a limited display during May 9-12 this year in front of the Air and Space Museum. It's apparently making a tour.

Thanks for those links. Those photos are the first ones that I have seen. Up til now I just saw cartoony images. When I asked at the Air and Space museum, the lady behind the counter started looking up the tour schedule on the web (more Webb on the web, haha) but I foolishly told her not to as I could do it myself. Unfortunately I have not found a schedule. I did send an e-mail to the manager of media relations at Northrop Grumman.

A good place to stay in Washington DC is the Hotel Washington.

I haven't stayed over in Washington in quite a while. When I was single, I used to stay at the Harrington Hotel which is practically on the mall. They used to have a really good buffet style cafeteria, but that was 30 years ago. It's gone now.

 

[Astronuc]

You might also send an email to NASA PR, or Goddard PR.

I have some contacts at Goddard I could ask.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Ah, the memories. This is way off topic, but then it's my topic. During the cherry blossom festival, I invited a pretty young thing to accompany me to Washington. Two roundtrip tickets from Philly and a night at the Harrington. Cherry blossoms and museums. A pleasant time was had by all. I recommend it.

 

[zoobyshoe]

"[PLAIN

They need to install seats on these things.

 

[Cyrus]

The weather was aces. It was a Sunday, so you would think the place might be crowded, but I only encountered a very few opportunities to run anyone down. Perhaps they were all in church. Praying.

Probably hung over from saturday

 

[Mk]

"[PLAIN

They need to install seats on these things.

Hm, found some sketches of a hypothesized futurific personal mobility device based on the Segway idea:
http://www.hoveround.com/images/photo_scooter_rotator.gif

 

[robphy]

http://www.segseat.com/SideBright2.jpg
http://www.segseat.com/

 

[zoobyshoe]

http://www.segseat.com/SideBright2.jpg
http://www.segseat.com/

That's the ticket! However, it shouldn't cost $449.00 for the seat, (unless it's for the military).