Feb 5: Ducks Road Trip to Washington, DC

Like many people, I have a “bucket list” of places I want to visit before I well, kick the bucket. One of my list items include visiting all the NHL cities. This year I’m able to check off 3 cities with Washington, DC as this month’s trip, followed in March with the New York Islanders, and the New Jersey Devils, which I have been to, but not for a Devils/ Ducks game.

The Washington trip was a last minute trip put together by the Ducks “Road Crew”. The Ducks arrange for our hotel, transportation to/from the hotel to the arena(s), our game tickets, and some meals. Going on a “Road Crew” trip is not the cheapest package, but, they offer things only a fan attending the Road Trip can have access to. For instance, when we went to St. Louis / Chicago last year, we had a meet n greet with Saku Koivu, Andrew Cogliano, and our radio guy Steve Carroll.

Our itinerary for this trip

There were 30 Ducks fans attending this trip, and we were flying in from all over Southern California. Eight of us were on the same flight, so we decided to share a shuttle from Dulles to downtown DC, and, of course pose for a “Let’s Go Ducks” photo.

By the time we reached our hotel, the sun had gone down and we had about half an hour to unwind in our room before heading to a restaurant called RFD for a Ducks Watch Party, as the team was playing in Nashville.

Our hotel: The Hilton Garden Inn, downtown DC

Road Trip swag: A fleece jacket, and an external USB power recharger

Located in the Chinatown district: RFD

Chowing down on bar food and drinks, watching the Ducks/ Nashville game

Bar food, courtesy of the Ducks Road Crew

In between intermissions, the Road Crew staff held trivia contests and a door prize / raffle drawing. Prizes include signed pucks and a jersey signed by ANY current Duck player on the trip.