Archive for the ‘Tourism’ Category

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 [...]

White House Cans Air Force One Aide

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 [...]

Tourism: Torpedo Factory

‘Torpedo Factory Artist’s Faces’
courtesy of ‘nicmcc’
Generally, I am delighted by repurposed old buildings, especially when their new use is wildly unrelated to what the builders had in mind (see: The Surratt House, now a Wok and Roll; The Pension Building, now the National Building Museum, etc). My all-time favorite of these is probably The Torpedo [...]

Getaways: Artists Inn Residence

Sigh. Stupid economic apocalypse. I really wanted to get away for my birthday this year. Rough times on all fronts. Originally I had some fantasy about skipping town to Barcelona or Marseilles. But, no such luck. So, I settled for a staycation and escaped for the night to exotic Dupont Circle. The bed and breakfast [...]

Tourism: Ice Skating

‘Skating Together’
courtesy of ‘Karon’
There are few outdoor activities I enjoy when the weather gets this cold. Skiing and ice skating are about the only two that I daydream fondly about. So just in case this week’s iceageddon didn’t take you down, and you’re itching for more (or you want to tackle the ice with proper [...]

Tourism: Mount Vernon Trail

I am the proud owner of a Suede by Giant Coasting bike (pictured above, sitting along the trail). It’s delicious. It’s Carolina blue (yay!), and has a pretty little wicker basket on the front, and a tiny bell on the handles so I don’t have to yell “on your left!” constantly. Coasting bikes have automatic [...]

Tourism: Fells Point

Fells Point, photo by rjohnson
If you take a 42 mile northeast jaunt up the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, you’ll find yourself walking through the historic Baltimore neighborhood of Fells Point. A home to Frederick Douglass and drinking spot for Edgar Allen Poe, the area was established in 1730 by William Fell, and bore the names “Fell’s Prospect,” [...]

Tourism: United States Botanic Gardens

So the doldrums have hit. It’s cold. You’ve got on your scarf, your hat, your gloves, and soon we’ll upgrade and add in some ear muffs and your heaviest coat. It’s the perfect time to plan your winter escape to the United States Botanic Gardens. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (including holidays and weekends!) [...]