TRAVEL DIARIES: WASHINGTON, DC
We just got back from our nation’s capitol and it was an amazing experience! So much to do and see we made an hour-by-hour schedule (give us a break, it was our first time there!). Luckily we had our Thirteen.02 watches to make sure not a second was wasted.We arrived Thursday evening and took it easy with pizza at Union Market and a stroll by the White House and National Tree. The Lincoln Memorial at nighttime is STUNNING!
On Friday we did the grand tour of the national mall and saw all the memorials and sights, then went on to the Natural History Museum (the dinosaur exhibit was our favorite part!) We ended the evening at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, a walk through the downtown holiday market and cocktails at a cozy bar called The Gibson.
Saturday included more historical highlights including Arlington National Cemetery, the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Capitol and our absolute favorite, the Library of Congress (LOC). The LOC was one of the first buildings to ever have electricity! We even got to look into the gorgeous reading room; most people can only see the reading room observation deck. It was a privilege to be in the company of so many books and be able to view Thomas Jefferson’s personal collections.
We’ve always held a fascination for the Watergate Scandal and, All the President’s Men; so a visit to the Watergate complex was a must! We trekked there after a delicious brunch at Founding Farmers; the red velvet pancakes are delicious! Gearing up for a big day in Virginia on Sunday, we opted to stay in and drink hot chocolate and watch Love Actually.
Sunday morning we hopped in a rental car and headed to Virginia. First stop, Manassas National Battlefield Park. Manassas is Civil War battlefield and it is where the Battle of Bull Run took place. After walking a short hike, we headed to Mount Vernon, which was the home of George Washington. The estate is HUGE! We could have spent several more hours there. We toured his house and visited the gardens and Washington’s final resting place. The house also features gorgeous views of the Potomac River. Fun fact, Mount Vernon is open every day of the year. After learning everything is to know about our first president, we headed to the charming town of Alexandria and explored more local history.
Are you looking to travel to DC? Make sure you visit some of our favorite spots! We can’t wait to plan our next trip!Save