This is a continuation of our one week whirlwind trip to the USA in October 2023. From Philadelphia, we hopped once again on MegaBus for a couple of hours’ ride to Washington DC. Our agenda to DC is two-fold: Firstly, during our first trip there in 2014, we were only able to drive around the city and did not have the chance to enter any of the museums or historical landmarks. This trip would be our first chance to get to properly visit some of the famous tourist spots (well, whatever we could cover in this short stay). Secondly, we wanted to visit relatives at Virginia, as it had been almost a decade now since we saw them.
We arrived at Union Station in the early afternoon and took a Lyft to where we would be staying for the next two nights: the Washington Plaza Hotel. I was so happy we were allowed to check in early, which meant we had more time to relax before heading out for a sunset stroll. Our room had a nice view of the pool and the Thomas Circle Park. I liked our hotel as the room was clean, comfortable and spacious. Jetlag kicked in big time and we managed to get at least an hour’s snooze. An hour before sundown and much refreshed, we excitedly headed out to see where our feet could bring us on our first night in DC.
Our first stop was The White House, which was less than a mile away from our hotel so we reached it quite quickly. It was not as crowded as it was the last time we went there, so taking photos this time was much easier.
We then quicky navigated to our next destination: The Washington Monument. D wanted to see it during sunset, and we made it just in time. It was our first time to see it up close, because in 2014 we only saw it from afar.
Shortly after we walked alongside the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as we headed to the Lincoln Memorial. The grand statue of Abraham Lincoln was spectacular and awe-inspiring, so going up the stairs was well worth it. The crowd, though, was overwhelming so D and I did not spend a long time in the Lincoln Memorial. As we headed out, we appreciated the night time view of the monuments. We enjoyed our quiet walk through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Constitution Gardens afterwards. By this time our feet were tired so we decided to have dinner and called it a night.
The next morning after breakfast at the hotel, D and I walked to the United States Capitol. We booked our timed visit to the US Capitol prior to our trip to DC and I was very much looking forward to it. I did not realize it was far, because looking at the maps it looked pretty close to our hotel. D and I walked almost an hour! Luckily we reached it in time for our timed visit. During the tour, we started with a video about the US Capitol’s history, followed by a guided tour where our guide walked us to the dome. He also showed paintings and statues that were given by each state. The paintings were beautiful, and our guide said that if we wanted to see more, we should consider visiting the National Gallery of Art. It did not take me a lot of convincing, and I quickly made plans to do so.
Our next timed visit was at the Library of Congress, which was next door. I was amazed by the architecture of the Library of Congress. Our visit here, just as with all the places we would visit on that day, was free. The guides here were quite helpful and knowledgeable.
En route to the National Gallery of Art, D and I passed by the United States Botanic Garden. This green oasis was refreshing to the eyes. I liked seeing different flora sections: like those that grow in hot and dry places, or those that grow in the tropical climate.
We headed to the art haven that was the National Gallery of Art. The museum was big, and in my opinion it would take at least three hours to explore its vast collection. Because we had limited time, we only got to explore some exhibits, with me spending the longest time at the Impressionist art galleries. I was just mesmerized by the artpieces I saw here, and wished I could stay longer. Nevertheless, in that short visit I got my fill of some of the works of my favorite artists. There was a shop and restaurant at the basement connecting the east and west wings, and that’s where D and I grabbed a quick bite.
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The National Gallery of Art has a Sculpture Garden next to it, an outdoor extension of the museum. What caught my interest most here was the Smithsonian Witness Elm. I read that the tree was witness to momentous historical events as it had been there for hundreds of years.
Our last museum destination for that day was the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. This was another museum I could have spent hours in, as it has several interesting exhibits. My favorites here were the African elephant exhibit at the first floor and the ancient Egypt exhibit at the second floor. Although our visit here was short, it was quite educational.
Later that day, D and I met relatives and drove off to Virginia. It was great to see them after many years, and we enjoyed catching up over dinner. I’d say our second day in DC was probably the highlight of our US trip: we started off with a good workout and enriched minds from the places we visited, and we capped the day with happy hearts spending time and building memories with loved ones. We plan on going back, and spending a much longer time at Washington DC next time we’re at the US east coast.
Living Free and Making a Difference 