Scott had not visited D.C. since the requisite family vacation there as a child over thirty years ago and, although I had been there more recently as an adult, I was more than happy to go back. To any person who falls into either of those categories and, more importantly, to anyone who has never been there, I say get to or get back to D.C. as soon as possible, because the city really is the jewel of our nation (notwithstanding the crime rate, throngs of tourists and the Obama administration). Go now, go again in a couple of years, and even return a few years after that, because it would be nearly impossible to run out of wonderfully fun or fascinating things to do there.
Even better, D.C. is truly a paradise for those of us who travel on a budget. In terms of transportation once there, the city's Metro system is user-friendly and will take you nearly anywhere you need to go for a couple of bucks. Scott and I even opted to use an easy combination of Metro bus and train rides to get from the Baltimore airport to our hotel at Dupont Circle. It took no longer than a cab ride would have, and cost about twelve dollars (versus the seventy bucks we would have paid to travel by taxi).
In terms of accommodations, Washington is chock full of choices. Unless there is a presidential inauguration about to happen or several huge conventions all occurring the same week, a little time spent checking prices online in advance is likely to yield a lodging option that will suit any budget. Our hotel reservations were made at the last minute and, while it was far from the cheapest choice, we opted for the Hotel Topaz. This place, for which we paid a very reasonable $139 per night, is a fabulous boutique-style hotel located a convenient three blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro stop. Our king room was gigantic (more of a suite than a room), the decor was super cool, and the staff was awesome.
There was also a terrific lounge on site that served great food and drinks.
Additional pluses at the Hotel Topaz were the free WiFi (technically, only free for members of Kimpton Hotels' points program, which took me about a minute to register for online), the honor bar refrigerator in the room (in which, contrary to many hotels, the staff encouraged us to stash our own cold drinks we brought in), a ten dollar credit for anything used from the honor bar (also a points program benefit), and we liked the fact that the hotel wholeheartedly welcomes gays and pets (although we were traveling with neither on this trip).
As to what to see and do in D.C., the list is essentially endless. Scott and I enjoyed a very long walk through the District on our first full day there, during which we checked out the White House, the Capitol, the United States Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.
As to what to see and do in D.C., the list is essentially endless. Scott and I enjoyed a very long walk through the District on our first full day there, during which we checked out the White House, the Capitol, the United States Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.
Following that, we strolled down the Mall past the collection of Smithsonian museums, and then did a grand tour of the monuments and memorials, starting along the edge of the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument...
then walking on to the Jefferson Memorial...
Unlike the Vietnam Wall, where the list of names is believed to now be complete, much of the space on the wall of the police memorial is blank, in recognition of the fact that the "war" it memorializes is ongoing, and that names of the brave soldiers that die in this battle will be added every year, forever.
We finished our day with a visit to the National Air and Space Museum, which was very cool. (I'm speaking not only figuratively but literally, because at that point we were definitely ready for some air conditioning.) While this museum is starting to seem a tad bit dated, we still loved walking around and looking at the planes and other exhibits that represent the amazing history of flight and space travel in our country.
and then on to the one honoring FDR (and Eleanor).
We ended our national monument tour at the Vietnam Wall, with its sleek black granite highlighting the horribly long list of those who gave their lives in that tragic war. Even more touching were the items left by visitors along the front of the wall, which the National Park Service collects each day, and then catalogues and stores off site.
After a quick break for a hotdog lunch from a street vendor and then a short rest back at the hotel, we hopped on the Metro for a stop at Judiciary Square, to visit the Peace Officers Memorial. Perhaps it's because Scott and I have both had lifelong careers in law enforcement, but I actually found this to be the most heart wrenching and awe inspiring stop of the day. Set in a lovely tree-lined plaza, guarded by statues of lions on each corner, the police memorial contains the names of the thousands of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, including several from our home county in Ohio.
From there, we walked past the World War II and Korean War memorials, and continued to the Lincoln Memorial (with its great view down the the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument).
We ended our national monument tour at the Vietnam Wall, with its sleek black granite highlighting the horribly long list of those who gave their lives in that tragic war. Even more touching were the items left by visitors along the front of the wall, which the National Park Service collects each day, and then catalogues and stores off site.
After a quick break for a hotdog lunch from a street vendor and then a short rest back at the hotel, we hopped on the Metro for a stop at Judiciary Square, to visit the Peace Officers Memorial. Perhaps it's because Scott and I have both had lifelong careers in law enforcement, but I actually found this to be the most heart wrenching and awe inspiring stop of the day. Set in a lovely tree-lined plaza, guarded by statues of lions on each corner, the police memorial contains the names of the thousands of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, including several from our home county in Ohio.
Unlike the Vietnam Wall, where the list of names is believed to now be complete, much of the space on the wall of the police memorial is blank, in recognition of the fact that the "war" it memorializes is ongoing, and that names of the brave soldiers that die in this battle will be added every year, forever.
We finished our day with a visit to the National Air and Space Museum, which was very cool. (I'm speaking not only figuratively but literally, because at that point we were definitely ready for some air conditioning.) While this museum is starting to seem a tad bit dated, we still loved walking around and looking at the planes and other exhibits that represent the amazing history of flight and space travel in our country.
The following day, we started out with a trip to another very sobering place, Arlington National Cemetery, but we are very glad we did. Most people are familiar, through photographs or television, with images of that resting ground's white markers dotting its rolling green hills, but seeing those acres and acres of graves in person was certainly something else completely.
While there, we also saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, which was a very unique and touching military ceremony.
After we left Arlington, a quick Metro ride took us back to D.C., where Scott indulged me by spending a little time at the Hirshhorn Museum, one of the Smithsonian fine art galleries, which showcases modern and contemporary art.
Like many people, I have had far too little firsthand exposure to art in my lifetime, and it was extremely enjoyable to walk through the museum and view works by artists that, prior to that, I had only read about. While I was a little annoyed that they have a Picasso that was not on display, the museum was still fantastic. Some highlights were an entire room featuring Alexander Calder mobiles...
an exhibit of Willem de Kooning's famous abstract paintings of women...
a couple of Warhol prints (Andy still totally rocks!) ...
and an Edward Hopper painting that, in person, made me truly realize why the style is called Realism.
We lunched on giant hot pretzels in the Hirshhorn's breezy outdoor space around a spectacular fountain, and then decided to ride the Metro to Friendship Heights, right on the border of D.C. and Maryland, for a little window shopping. That area gives retail therapy a whole new meaning, with every conceivable famous name department and specialty store located a stone's throw from the subway stop.
an exhibit of Willem de Kooning's famous abstract paintings of women...
a couple of Warhol prints (Andy still totally rocks!) ...
and an Edward Hopper painting that, in person, made me truly realize why the style is called Realism.
We lunched on giant hot pretzels in the Hirshhorn's breezy outdoor space around a spectacular fountain, and then decided to ride the Metro to Friendship Heights, right on the border of D.C. and Maryland, for a little window shopping. That area gives retail therapy a whole new meaning, with every conceivable famous name department and specialty store located a stone's throw from the subway stop.
After cruising around Saks, Neiman Marcus, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn and a couple more favorites, we stopped a great little sidewalk cafe, shaded by trees and ivy-covered brick walls, where we had drinks and people-watched before heading back to the heart of D.C..
We ended our day with a few more cold beers at a Dupont Circle pub with an outdoor patio, played a couple of games of pool, and then staggered back to the hotel (staggering not so much from the cocktails as from the miles that we had walked in two days). Exhausted, we splurged on burgers from room service at the hotel, and then slept like babies.
On Sunday morning, we buzzed back to the Baltimore airport and, following the quick flight to Dayton, were home in Lima by noon. Looking back on that weekend as I type this, I am struck by how much we managed to see and do in D.C. in just two days. Amazing as it may sound, our time there was not hurried in the least - to the contrary, we explored D.C. at a relaxed pace and it was completely enjoyable (except, perhaps, for the large blisters that developed on the bottom of my feet).
Returning to the topic of cost, I would be remiss if I failed to point out that every single attraction we took in, including museums, was absolutely free. While the wide range of food choices in Washington runs the gamut from cheap to outrageously expensive, our two street vendor lunches cost us a total of ten bucks (including drinks), and a restaurant dinner for two at night ran about forty bucks each night, including tip (less than the two of us would drop for dinner at our local Applebee's, assuming we could bring ourselves to pay to eat there). Each Metro trip cost around two dollars a person and, as already noted, the lodging was exceptional for what we paid.
We ended our day with a few more cold beers at a Dupont Circle pub with an outdoor patio, played a couple of games of pool, and then staggered back to the hotel (staggering not so much from the cocktails as from the miles that we had walked in two days). Exhausted, we splurged on burgers from room service at the hotel, and then slept like babies.
On Sunday morning, we buzzed back to the Baltimore airport and, following the quick flight to Dayton, were home in Lima by noon. Looking back on that weekend as I type this, I am struck by how much we managed to see and do in D.C. in just two days. Amazing as it may sound, our time there was not hurried in the least - to the contrary, we explored D.C. at a relaxed pace and it was completely enjoyable (except, perhaps, for the large blisters that developed on the bottom of my feet).
Returning to the topic of cost, I would be remiss if I failed to point out that every single attraction we took in, including museums, was absolutely free. While the wide range of food choices in Washington runs the gamut from cheap to outrageously expensive, our two street vendor lunches cost us a total of ten bucks (including drinks), and a restaurant dinner for two at night ran about forty bucks each night, including tip (less than the two of us would drop for dinner at our local Applebee's, assuming we could bring ourselves to pay to eat there). Each Metro trip cost around two dollars a person and, as already noted, the lodging was exceptional for what we paid.
For all of these reasons, and because the features I have mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the city's attractions, Washington D.C. deserves to be high up on anyone's list of places to visit in the very near future, even if one has been there before. We're already planning our next visit.
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