A cultured Capitol
Flights from Thunder Bay to Washington, DC gets you up close and political with the centre of American politics.
While Washington, DC is most famous for landmarks like the White House, United States Capitol, and Lincoln Memorial, this cultured capital city has so much more to offer. When you’re looking for things to do in Washington, DC, venture beyond Capitol Hill to see a city where art and nature are thriving.
Washington, DC’s monuments are as varied as the presidents they honour, from the towering 555 foot (and 5 inch) Washington Monument, to the engraved walls and waterfalls of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Whether you’re looking out over the city from 500 feet up or petting the bronze likeness of Franklin D. Roosevelt's dog, Fala, these monuments are an interactive way to get to know Washington, DC’s history.
Even when the cherry blossoms aren’t in season, the lush green of Theodore Roosevelt Island is always blooming. Throughout Washington, DC, parklands make the city as scenic as its historic. The United States Botanic Garden and the United States National Arboretum add green to the land of red, white, and blue.
Culture meets nature at the Hirshhorn Museum’s outdoor sculpture garden. Indoors, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, fill its space with works from America’s own artists. Art from all over the world comes to Washington, DC in the National Gallery of Art, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting on display in all of the Americas.
The art of disguising faces is just one of the concerns of the International Spy Museum. Intelligence operations are revealed from the usual shroud of secrecy at this interactive museum. America’s not-so-secret history is on display at the National Museum of American History. Get to know America, from colony to global power, before going back to Thunder Bay.
Woodley Park
Washington, DC’s wild side
Leave the Hill behind to see Washington, DC’s leafy Woodley Park neighbourhood.
Washington’s wild side is on display at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Over 2000 animals from 400 species call this zoo home, including the zoo’s biggest attraction, the giant pandas.
Take a walk in the woods in Woodley Park’s Rock Creek Park. Stroll the park’s 51 kilometres / 32 miles of trail through dense brush, past picnic areas, the nature centre, and tennis courts. Pass over the titular rocky creek on the picturesque bridges that punctuate the waterway. With its fairytale-like appearance, the stone Boulder Bridge is a favourite for photographers in the park.
After a hard hike in the park, the nearby Omni Shoreham Spa can soothe your wearied soles. Relax in this luxurious spa and unwind during your busy trip from Thunder Bay.
Once you’ve treated yourself at the Omni Shoreham, you may feel as glamorous as one of Woodley Park’s most famous pieces of street art. The Marilyn Monroe mural at the intersection of Connecticut and Calvert depicts the larger than life screen star smiling down at the traffic below.
At Woodley Park’s Uptown Theatre, the golden era of the silver screen lives on. This Art Deco movie theatre dates back to 1936, though it mostly shows recent releases on its 70 by 40-foot screen.
When the curtain closes, open your palate to the varied plates of Woodley Park’s restaurants. Finish your day in Woodley Park with American fare for dinner, before heading to bed to rest up for the next day on your trip from Thunder Bay.
Georgetown
Historically chic
Head north of Washington, DC’s Foggy Bottom to the shops and historic stops of Georgetown.
Georgetown was founded as a port community when it began in 1751. Today, the Chesapeake,Ohio Canal and the Potomac River are no longer known as shipping routes, but as scenic backdrops for walking trails. Rent a kayak to reenact Georgetown’s seafaring past with a paddle along the C and O Canal.
The past is still standing on the shores of Georgetown. One of the oldest neighbourhoods in Washington, DC, Georgetown has historic houses down every street. John Adams was in office when the Federal style furniture of the Dumbarton House was last in fashion, but a tour through this perfectly preserved home is sure to enchant, whatever your taste.
The Old Stone House stands as solid as the day it was made, 250 years ago. Visit this house while you’re on M Street to see Washington, DC’s oldest standing private residence. Open to the public, the Old Stone House invites you to walk through Washington, DC’s past.
Once you’ve left the old behind, take M Street to Washington DC’s best shopping. Upscale retail stores share the street with renowned boutiques. Pick up a fashionable souvenir (or two) to bring back with you to Thunder Bay.
How to get to Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)
Porter’s check-in desk is located in departures, near security checkpoint A.
Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) is about 5 km / 3 mi from downtown Thunder Bay.
Transportation to Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)
Please allow sufficient time to drop off your car rental before your departing flight.
Taxis from downtown cost about $30 CAD. Car service costs about $85 CAD.
Several hotels offer complimentary shuttle bus service to the airport.
Take the Thunder Bay Transit 3 Memorial / Airport bus to the airport stop. The fare is $2.65 CAD.
Thunder Bay International Airport Parking
Driving to Thunder Bay International Airport? The airport provides 100 short term spaces at $3.25 per hour and 50 cents for each additional 10 minutes, and 400 long term spaces at $14 per day or $98 per week.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Landing in Dulles
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about 44 km / 28 mi from downtown Washington, DC.
Washington Dulles International Airport Transportation to Downtown
Uber and Lyft are available at Washington Dulles International Airport. Exit on the arrivals level where all ride-sharing vehicles meet travellers.
Car rental car services are available at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Take the shuttle bus from doors 2, 4, or 6 of the baggage claim area of the main terminal to get to the rental lot area.
Taxis to downtown cost about $55 USD. Car service costs about $80 USD.
The Silver Line Express shuttle bus provides service from the airport to Wiehle Avenue Metrorail Station, on the Metro Silver Line. The fare is $5 USD.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Flights may be operated by Porter Airlines (Canada) Ltd or Porter Airlines Inc.
