Vacation Bullet Points: Part I, Washington D.C.

Last night, after a long 11-hour drive, we finally arrived home from what we referred to as our Vacation in Three Parts -- Washington DC, New York City, and North East, Maryland. (BTW, I did not type that incorrectly. The town is called North East. Two words.) It was one of my favorite vacations because it involved so many things I love: museums, tours, live theater, history, monuments, and historic homes. I also got the best of both worlds by first traveling with my gal pals, then continuing the journey with my guys. And now, a vacation recap in bullet points ...

 

Part I: Washington DC

Thursday, June 28 - Sunday, July 1

 

Thursday

• flew from Columbia, SC to Washington DC
• took an Uber to hotel, checked in
• purchased metro passes and took train to Union Station
• walked to the mall (took first of what would be a million photos of the Capitol)
• National Gallery of Art (East and West Building)
• nighttime trolley tour from Union Station
• lunch: BIG BUNS Damn Good Burgers + Beer
• dinner: Union Station

 

When I posted this on Facebook everyone thought

I traveled by private jet. Ha!

National Gallery of Art

Ginevra de' Benci, Leonardo da Vinci

Joe and I just finished watching Picasso

on the National Geographic channel, so I was

thrilled to see The Tragedy by Pablo Picasso.

Andy Warhol photo effect of an Andy Warhol.

My travel pals: Gayle, Julie, and my sister, Laura

The Jefferson Memorial

View of The Jefferson Memorial from across

the Tidal Basin

 

 

Friday

• private tour of  US Capitol (arranged through Congressman Rick Allen's office)
• Library of Congress
• Supreme Court
• National Archives
• Old Town Alexandria
• lunch: cafeteria at the Capitol
• dinner: Landini Brothers, Old Town Alexandria

 

The Library of Congress

 

The Library of Congress, main hall

Gorgeous architecture in The Library of Congress

Top of the stairway to the Reading Room

                                       The Library of Congress and The National Archives

featured special exhibits on Alexander Hamilton's papers.

The Supreme Court

The National Archives

Outside the Library of Congress

 

Saturday

• Arlington National Cemetery
• Mount Vernon
• National Harbor
• lunch: Mount Vernon Inn
• Dinner: Mexican Restaurant

Arlington National Cemetery

Since it was soooo hot we decided to take the

trolley tour of the cemetery. 

Tomb of JFK

Lunch at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon was a definite highlight.

View from the tunnel leading to the main house.

View from the back yard.

Fife & Drum demonstration

Between Arlington and Mount Vernon we did

lot of perspiring sweating.

Frozen margarita after a day of near 100 degree temps

 

 

Sunday

• Hamilton at the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts (the highlight of our trip)
• nighttime hike of monuments
• breakfast: hotel dining room
• dinner: Bangkok Bistro

 

THIS is what we were waiting for.

After walking around as sweaty tourists,

it was nice to have a chance to dress up.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Entrance hallway

Special exhibit of Hamilton's papers

"Best of wives and best of women."

Alexander Hamilton, in a letter to his wife, Eliza

On our last night we decided to walk and see the monuments

illuminated at night. We started at 10 p.m. and didn't get home

until well after midnight. It was hauntingly beautiful, and one

of my favorite memories of our trip.