Smithsonian - Washington DC

Most of the Smithsonian Museums are along the National Mall, in between the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. There are many Smithsonian Museums in DC, and you would need about 3 days to get through them all. Before we left for DC, we decided we would go to the one that appealed to us both, which was the Air and Space Museum.

When we walked in, my gaze was immediately brought to the ceiling. All throughout the museum, airplanes both designed from the past and present were hanging from the ceiling, as if they were flying through the air. There were many rooms throughout the museum with different air and space subjects contained in them. We went into rooms dedicated to Amelia Earhart, the Wright Bros., the Solar System, the Space Shuttle launches, meteorology, and WWI and WWI aircraft. There was so much cool stuff to see, but my favorite exhibit was probably the simulated weather board.

The Air and Space Museum was very educational, and they had many hand-on exhibits for children, too! I can't speak for other Smithsonians, though, because the Air and Space Museum was the only one we made time to visit.

Whether it's the Air and Space Museum, or any other Smithsonian along the National Mall, I think any of these museums are worth a visit!

Tips on the Smithsonians:
-Take your time when visiting. There is a lot to see!
-Make a choice of one or two Smithsonians to see when you are there. If you try and see all of them, you might not have enough time to see the other sights DC has to offer.

Arlington National Cemetery - Arlington, VA

How do I even begin to describe to you my humbling visit to Arlington National Cemetery? This visit will forever be etched in my mind as one of the most memorable places I have been.

It was raining the day we decided to visit Arlington National Cemetery, which made our visit even more sombering. Being it was raining, we took a tour bus through the 200 acres cemetery. The tour bus stopped by General Lee's House, and the Kennedy gravesites close by, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where the Changing of the Guards take place every half hour, and a final stop where the name is slipping my mind at the moment. As we continued along the pathways, the guide told of who was resting where, what sites were new, and who got the privilege of being burried here.

We stopped off the bus at the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to witness the Changing of the Guards. The Changing of the Guards occur just beyond the Memorial Amphitheater where many services occur throughout the year to honor all service men and women who keep our country free. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24/7, 365 days a year, regardless of weather, and the Changing of the Guard occurs every half hour. This process is just surreal. A guard is standing at the Tomb, when another soldier walks down a path to the edge of the area where the Tomb is. He is met by the current guard, and they march side by side to the front of the Tomb. They do some choreographed steps and gun movements, and the retired guard walks off, leaving the Tomb to the new guard.

I can write it all I want, but it is nothing like being there, nothing at all! Although we were soaking to the bone, I wouldn't have missed it for the world! The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier's Changing of the Guards is an event you will not want to miss!

Tips on Arlington National Cemetery:
-The cemetery is about a 15-20 minute walk from the nearest metro station, so be prepared to walk a little ways.
-When you get to the cemetery, go to the visitor's center and decide if you want to walk the grounds, or take a bus tour.
-I personally would recommend the bus tour. It goes quicker than if you walk, the guides are very informative, and they don't let you miss anything important.

Lafayette Park - Washington DC

Lafayette Park is just north of the White House. Walking back to our metro station, we walked through Lafayette Park, taking in the beauty of its many water fountains, paths, and viewing benches. We were probably the only one's in the park! If we were dropped in the middle of it, we would have no idea that we were in the Nation's capitol city.

The first night my fiance and I were there, we were too exhausted to sit in the park for long, but we decided to come back another night and take a romantic stroll through the park with ice cream. So after a Saturday night eating at the Capital Grille on PA Ave. right inbetween the Capitol Building and White House, we tried finding an ice cream parlor near the park, but to our dismay, there was no ice cream. We didn't let that damper our spirits, so we walked through the park anyway. As we came to the fountain we had sat in front of the first night, my fiance proposed! There was no other place more romantic than in a gorgeous park in the heart of DC! Of course I said yes, and the rest is history!

The White House - Washington DC

The White House has been the home to every U.S. President since John Adams. Built in 1800, the White House stood for 12 years before being set ablaze during the war of 1812. President James Monroe moved in while reconstruction began almost immediately. New porticos were added on the Northern and Southern sides, making the House distict, and eventually a world-wide icon. The White House is where all the action happens on Capitol Hill. This is where every bill is signed, all the Presidential Addresses are held, and not to mention the countless televised interviews. This is one of the most famous homes on the planet!

The White House really is a sight to see. Even though you can't get very close, the opportunity to see the White House in its grand stature is still worth a visit. I really wanted to see the White House at night, so that's what we did on our first night there. About 100 other tourists had the same idea. Just standing there looking at it made me feel important. Somewhere in there was the First Family. What a lucky bunch!

If you plan ahead, you can get a tour of the White House. You have to call your Congressional Representatives at least 2 months in advance to ask permission, and you have to pass a background check. If you make it through, you're in! I wanted so badly to take a tour of the White House, but I hadn't planned ahead. It would have been great to write about that, but when I go to DC a second time, I will arrange a White House Tour!

Lincoln Memorial - Washington DC

To get to the Lincoln Memorial on foot, there is a path between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial that I would recommend. While you are walking towards the Memorial, the gigantic Reflection Pool is on the right, and ballfienlds are on your left. If you are lucky, you may see a baseball game or soccer match in progress. The path is a fantastic way to shade yourself from the summer sun for a while, and you can really catch a glimpse of the DC citizens going about their routine by running, biking, and playing.

The Lincoln Memorial is just plain huge! This monument appears as a Greek Doric temple, and situated inside in the middle of the 36 pillars is a seated statue of President Lincoln. The statue of Lincoln is 170 tons and stands 30 feet high. On both sides of the wall are 2 of Lincoln's most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address, and Lincoln's second inaugural address. Lincoln sits forward, with his gaze facing straight toward the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument.  

There have been many events at the Memorial, including Martin Luther King Jr's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Other events at the Memorial include the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (part of the American Civil Rights Movement), Nixon's march against the Vietnam War, and the Rockettes kicked their legs down the Memorial's steps after President Bush was inaugurated in 2001.

Old Post Office Pavillion - Washington DC

The Old Post Office Pavillion is located on Pennsylvania Ave. and has been refurbished to fit today's modern era. Inside you can cure your appetite at many different restaurants, stop in and browse its unique shops, and head to the top of the clock tower for the best sights of DC!

This Clock Tower Tour is free and it has easier access than the Washington Monument. And, from experience, I think it has the best views of DC, better than the monument because you can SEE the monument from the Old Post Office Pavillion! You can also see the White House, the Capitol Building, the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorial, and even the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery! When you get to the top, like other observation decks, there are plaques describing what you see when you are looking in a specific direction.

The DC sights look much different from the top, and I would suggest anyone to take the time to head up! The views will not disappoint!

Tips on the Old Post Office Pavillion:

-The Clock Tower is a tight squeeze and there are a lot of tourists up there at once, so be patient.

-The elevator to the top is an open, indoor elevator, so if you are afraid of heights, turn the other way, because you won't want to miss what's at the top!

Washington Monument - Washington DC

When I turned my back on the Capitol Building, there it was at the end of the National Mall, the Washington Monument! Standing taller than any other structure in DC, the monument was so regal looking, playing the guard to the city! In fact the Monument is the world's tallest stone structure, and tallest obleisk, standing at over 555 feet! Although there are taller monuments, they are neither all stone or true obleisks.

As we walked up to the Monument, the sight kept getting better and better! Looks can be deceiving because it got more massive than I expected as we got closer! It was beautiful! Some of you many not know that the color changed about half way up the monument. This was due to a lack of money, and also the Civil War. When they resumed construction, they couldn't find the original stones, so they had to settle with a slight change. Personally, I think it adds character, and it will give visitors a story to tell.

If you are looking for a great vantage point of the city, you can go up to the top of the Washington Monument! Tickets are available for purchase only the day you are planning on going to the top, but you want to be sure to buy your tickets early in the morning because when they reach capacity for the day, they stop selling tickets. Though these tickets are free they are usually sold out by late morning. There is another high vantage point of the city in the Old Post Office Pavillion, and these tickets are easier to come by.

Tips on the Wasington Monument:
-The Washington Monument isn't ever too crowded with tourists. Being this structure is outdoors, it is a "come as you will" structure, so people are scattered.