Archive for the ‘Tourism’ Category
Michelle Obama Donates Inaugural Gown
‘Michelle Obama Donates Inaugural Gown’courtesy of ‘tbridge’
In a ceremony in the NMAH’s Flag Hall this morning, First Lady Michelle Obama donated her Jason Wu-designed chiffon and Swarovski crystal gown to the Smithsonian as part of their new “A First Lady’s Debut” Exhibit that opens tomorrow. Featuring gowns from the last 50 years of Inaugurations, [...]
Curling Expo At Hilton Garden Inn All Weekend
‘Dave Levy Curls’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’
The drama of Curling is gripping the nation, as it is wont to do during the Winter Olympics. Some clever minds over at the Hilton Garden Inn in McPherson Square saw the opportunity to tap into the adopted cult sports quadrennial success around the games and throw some support towards USA [...]
Gone Hunting (for Photos)
Students at work in Adams Morgan by Corinne Whiting
When you think DC, you don’t typically think “safari.” (Heck, with Tai Shan leaving us yesterday, now even the National Zoo seems far less exotic to explore.) But thanks to local photographer-entrepreneur E. David Luria, locals and visitors alike get the chance to go on a [...]
Tourism: Catoctin Mountain Park
‘Catoctin Mountain Park-5′
courtesy of ‘TrailVoice’
Nestled an approximate 90 minute, northwesterly drive from DC, Catoctin Mountain Park located just outside of Thurmont, MD, is a great spot for a day trip or the perfect location for a weekend getaway from the district’s hubbub.
I’ve long had Catoctin on my radar since moving the DC, in fact visiting [...]
Ice Ice Baby
ICE! penguins by Corinne Whiting
I’ll be the first to admit that planned communities and “town center” mini-metropolises aren’t really my thing. I find them rather soulless and frankly a little creepy, so I tend to steer clear. But on a recent snowy Saturday, I was lured over to Maryland’s National Harbor—that relatively new complex of [...]
Tourism: Union Station
‘Color Photo – Arriving at Union Station’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’
Despite the history, the sculptures, the uniqueness, it’s still kind of hard to wax poetic about Union Station. You see, when Union Station was built, residents lauded the civic project for finally bringing an impressive and worthy gateway for visitors into the nation’s capital. But today, people [...]
Tourism: The Newseum
Last Saturday, my wife and I decided to take some family members out to the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue. It was the first time I’d been able to visit the place since a pre-pre-pre-opening tour I’d had back in 2006 (when there were practically no displays in place, just the news van and the Checkpoint [...]
More »Mystery Mansion in Dupont: The Heurich House
‘Hidden Bronze Lion’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’
Tucked away in plain view, the Heurich House is the most intact late-Victorian home in the country. Right in the middle of the action in Dupont Circle – on a corner you have probably walked by at least a dozen times – you are absolutely transported back in time – easily [...]
National Geographic Museum: Terra Cotta Warriors
‘Terracotta-29′
courtesy of ‘akiwitz’
You’ve probably heard of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi’s terra cotta warriors, the thousands of life-sized statues buried with him in his tomb, intended to escort the Emperor to the afterlife. Discovered in 1974, they were one of the biggest archeological finds of the 20th century.
They’re making their last US appearance right here in DC, [...]
Tourism: George Washington Masonic Memorial
‘Egyptian Floor of the Masonic Temple’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’
While this enormous Masonic temple in Alexandria is visible from all over the city, I finally found my way there this past weekend to explore its inner secrets – and I was impressed. While I know in reality that the mysteries revolving around Freemasonry are highly dramatized, the [...]
The City’s Biggest Chairs
‘72145-05Crop’
courtesy of ‘furcafe’
Did you know that what was once the world’s tallest (yes, the WORLD’S TALLEST) chair sits in Anacostia? And, is it just a strange coincidence that another large (green) chair gets all of the attention in Georgetown? (Do other American cities have multitudes of tall, oversized chairs?) What about Abraham Lincoln’s chair, located [...]
Tourism: Changing of the Guard, Tomb of the Unknowns
‘Changing of the Guard, Heel Clicking’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’
“There goes another tourist,” you’re thinking to yourself when you watch someone (anyone) descend onto the metro platform at Arlington Cemetery’s metro stop. It’s a blatant giveaway to your status in this town. Only a backpack-and-water-bottle sporting family of four gets off here! But it was a risk [...]
We Love Arts: Festival Fever!
Bagpipers at the Virginia Scottish Games and Festival by Corinne Whiting
Considering the headlines that dominate news pages these days, who could blame us for craving a bit of escapism? Luckily, an avalanche of September festivals offers ample excuses to wear kooky costumes or to (attempt to) speak in charming accents, to relive the past or [...]
Six Flags and Summertime Sounds
A staple of summer here is Six Flags America. And one of the park’s big summertime draws is its Starburst Summer Concert Series – free with park admission or a 2009 Play Pass.
Julia over at Six Flags gave me a great heads-up on this year’s lineup and I thought I’d share with everyone else. (And [...]
Tourism: Hillwood Museum and Gardens
‘Hillwood Museum’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’
Hidden up in Van Ness, Hillwood Museum and Gardens is a few acres of green, colorful, luxe heaven. The tagline for the museum is “where fabulous lives” and I think that is the best possible way to sum up the place.
You drive up to the gates (yes, it is gated, they also [...]
Tourism: National Zoo
Pandamania! by flickr user needlessspaces
The National Zoo was the second major DC tourism spot that I hit after I moved here. The first was the Washington Monument. Our Zoo is great – it’s my second favorite zoo I’ve ever been to (second only to the zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. No I’m not joking, that zoo [...]
Tourism: Ford’s Theatre
It seemed eerie and yet fitting that as I was rushing to get to Ford’s Theatre I was delayed by a major traffic jam as the President was attending an event downtown. People were lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the man who counts Lincoln as a guide, and I was on the [...]
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