This was the first year we decided to travel for our birthdays rather than buy gifts for each other. The gift is planning the respective trip for each other and focusing on time spent together rather than spending money on material things. Nick is somewhat of a history buff, so my thoughts went straight to D.C. or Boston. I chose D.C. this time, but Boston is definitely at the top of our list. For once, I was the one who had already seen many of the sights (on a high school trip), so I felt pretty good about planning this one since there is SO much to see in D.C. We stayed at Hotel Harrington, which was a solid 2-3 out of 5 stars (it’s pretty outdated, overpriced, and parking isn’t included), and we walked everywhere (“it’s only a few blocks” – LOL). We saw most of the main attractions, but there is still so much more to see. So, we’ll definitely be back!
What We Did
The National Mall: A plethora of history and gorgeous architecture. And, everything we saw was free!
Lincoln Memorial & Reflecting Pool: All of the memorials in D.C. are freakin’ awesome, but this is one of my favorites. Abe looks so collected, but there’s a sense of aching responsibility and duty in his presence. Oh, and we saw two grown men recreate the scene from Forrest Gump in the reflecting pool – full jump and run into the pool. So, that was a hilarious highlight.
WWII, Marine Corps (Iwo Jima), Vietnam Veterans, and Korean Veterans War memorials: All of these are incredibly powerful reminders of the sacrifices made by the courageous people who have defended and preserved freedom for future generations. Such memorials are places we try to visit at least once a year to reflect upon history and hope for a time when conflict can be resolved peacefully.
Jefferson Memorial: I love this memorial. Not because of its classic beauty both inside and out, but because of the sobering and insightful inscriptions on the walls - quotes from one of our greatest founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. My personal favorite:
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors" (Excerpted from a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816).
Washington Monument: As one of the most iconic obelisks in the world, we were certainly not disappointed. We visited during the day, but it is also lit up at night. It’s a profound focal point for the entire National Mall. Get your illusion-esque picture touching the top from afar, but be sure to check it out up close, too!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: This memorial didn’t exist yet the two previous times I had visited D.C. It’s a shame it took so long to come into existence. But no matter how long it took, it is still a powerful space to be visited by all.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial: This place is a really cool maze with a few interesting elements within. Be sure to spot FDR’s wheels.
The White House: Well, we took a few snaps from the fence. Oh, hey, Obama! It was still really cool to see where the President and his family live. Maybe someday we’ll take a tour of the interior.
United States Capitol: At the time, the place was very much under renovation. It was still nice to see where Congress “does their thing,” and where the bills hang out on the steps…
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: We could have spent a lot more time here, but we were pressed for time. One of the main highlights was seeing the space shuttles and famous airplanes, so as you can imagine, the place is gigantic! It was one of my favorite museums to visit so far. If you like science, space, and/or large aircraft, this is the place for you.
U.S. National Archives: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights (collectively known as The Charters of Freedom)? Sign me up! We waited in line for quite a while, but it was well worth it. Being able to see the rhetoric written hundreds of years ago to shape our country with the hopes of building a better world was impactful.
Smithsonian Arts and Industries Museum: The building was built in the late 1800s, making it the second oldest building in D.C. It once housed its own exhibits, then served as a staging location for other museums. Now, it only hosts occasional events, so we simply walked around the vast halls and rooms to take it in. The cool part for Nick was walking through the halls of a once nationally famous place to see and learn things people couldn’t imagine. A time even before radio!
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: All of the museums are special and unique, but this one has the spectacular added benefit of housing geologic specimens (moon rock, Hope Diamond, etc.). In our typical fashion, we only had a short amount of time to explore but were able to catch a glimpse of almost everything!
Food
POV: We tried to go here, but there’s a strict dress code. Given we were dressed for a full day of walking The Mall, we were okay with taking our business elsewhere. Next time we will be better prepared since the view of The White House from here is pretty great.
Jaleo: I THINK this was the place, and I remember the food being really really good!
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