Ina's property was a great home base for a DC family vacation. My husband and I were traveling with our four children and my mother--an unwieldy group of seven ranging in age from 7 to 70. Since we were traveling with a group of people with a wide range of needs, I wanted to highlight the benefits of Ina's place from several points of view.
Great for limited mobility--so long as one can climb some stairs
First, although my mother can manage some stair climbing, she cannot walk distances longer than about a city block. This often makes her feel "left out." Ina's property, though certainly involving some stairs, offered Mother easy street access for Uber pickups and restaurants within her walking range. We enjoyed burgers and beer (for the adults) at the quirky Saloon, legendary chili burgers at Ben's, and Ethiopian food just across the street. Back at the property, Mother was able to stay in the bedroom on the common level offering her easy access to the family space as well as a bathroom with shower allowing easy walk-in access (no bathtub to step over). While it is true that the property is not wheelchair accessible, we found it very workable for a person with limited mobility.
Kid-friendly location and property
Next, I wanted to point out elements of the Ina's property and the neighborhood that made it great for children. Our twins are seven, then we have a nine-year-old and a fourteen-year-old. The children enjoyed using the bedroom with two beds and spent one night downstairs on the couches without opening up the hide-a-bed. The children also liked the look of the outdoor space, but preferred to be inside near the big window looking out over the street. There was plenty of space and we were thankful for Ina's thoughtful inclusion of plenty of towels and washcloths. We happened to be at the property on 7/11 and the children were pleased to see that the 7-Eleven on the corner was giving out free slurpees. Visible from the property is a Menchie's Frozen Yogurt and while there one evening we were joined by a group of nine-year-olds carrying their stuffed animals celebrating a child's birthday with a slumber party. My oldest son and my husband were pleased to find the bankstands so accessible and rented bikes to ride over to Meridian Hill Park.
Full kitchen and access to groceries
I was pleased to find a fully appointed kitchen with all necessary pans and utensils to allow me to cook breakfast each morning. Items already available in the cupboards made it easy for us to make ourselves at home--baking sheets, spatulas, hot pads--were available. Trader Joe's is very close and in a pinch Rite Aid is even closer.
Ina was very hospitable to us and we very much enjoyed our stay at her property on U Street.