1. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS - We stopped here on the way because our friends told us the traffic wouldn't be as bad. It was our first museum, had convenient parking and was a great kick-off to our time in DC. We spent about 2 hours here, but felt like we were rushing through to see it all, so you might want to plan a little more time here than we did.
2. MUSEUMS IN DOWNTOWN DC - We visited the Museum of American History and the Holocaust Museum, which were both really interesting. We stepped into a few other museums too, but I can't even remember which ones they were. Honestly, DC is full of museums and it can be a little overwhelming. Plus, after a few hours, our feet and lower backs were killing us. I would suggest choosing one museum per day for your time in DC. You won't get to them all, but that's ok, you can come back, right?
3. WASHINGTON MONUMENT - This was closed so we didn't get to walk up inside, but it was still neat to walk up to it and see how big it is in person!
4. US BOTANIC GARDEN - This garden has plants from all over the world and from every climate. You can walk through the various rooms and greenhouses, as you circle around and see it all. There are also benches so that you can sit and relax, with the trickling water in the background. It's a peaceful stop after walking around in the heat all day!
5. THE CAPITOL - We actually got a private tour through The Capitol and it was so cool! We were able to see the different rooms that were used in the past and those that are used today. And since we were on a private tour, we got to ride a train and metro that were underground between our Senator's office and The Capitol. Plus, we got to sit in on some meeting going on in the Senate Gallery and meet our own Senator Tim Scott! We saw tons of the Senators walking around and riding the train and metro as they all headed to vote. Call ahead and schedule your capital tour. It was worth it!
6. YOUR SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN - If you can, try to meet your Senator and Congressman. It wasn't so much about meeting the actual person, but about seeing the offices and learning more about how it all works. Since I grew up overseas, I missed out on learning a lot about our government while in high school. So, during our time in DC, I was asking Ironman a lot of questions. He would laugh and answer me, saying I'm so cute. I gotta impress my man somehow...
7. ARLINGTON CEMETARY - This cemetery is much bigger than you'd expect. Make time to walk around, read the names on the headstones, watch the changing of the guard, etc. It's a neat place to go and doesn't feel as busy, loud and hurried as the rest of downtown DC.
8. THE KENNEDY CENTER - We went to see "The King and I" and it was excellent. Great dancing, acting and singing. The building was beautiful and had a great view over the Potomac. You definitely should get tickets to see something here while you are in town.
9. THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL - It actually wasn't as big as I had imagined it would be, but it was still amazing. Ironman just read Killing Lincoln before we came on this trip and told me, while standing there in front of the statue, that Lincoln is his favorite president. It was interesting to listen to him and made me admire him even more that he cares about history and learning from the wisdom of men before him.
10. THE WHITE HOUSE - And lastly, you've got to see The White House. You can't get very close because of the layers of fence and gates and grass, but it was beautiful. I can't imagine living there and would love to be able to see the inside one day.
The great thing about DC is that almost everything is free. Our friends live close to the Metro, so we could grab an Uber to the station, then ride the metro to anywhere we wanted. It was so convenient. Then, once we were downtown, all the museums and monuments were free. We really only ended up spending money on transportation and food. Just make sure you wear some comfortable shoes. Get downtown, find a map and then walk all over the place. You'll love it!
Since being home, one thing that's been fun is that we started watching "Madame Secretary" on Netflix. It all takes on such a new meaning now that I know where things are around DC and can recognize buildings in the show. Traveling really is more than just fun vacations. You meet new people, catch up with old friends, see family, learn, get inspired with new ideas and understand places so much better. I believe that it makes us much more grounded and confident people.
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