March, 2016
Within 2 hours of leaving Detroit we landed at Reagan National Airport for a visit over Easter weekend in March, 2015. The airport to downtown is easily accessible using the metro and is the most cost-effective way to get downtown. Navigating the metro is easy and convenient in the USA’s capital which also saves money on not needing a car for this trip.
As we left the Metro at our stop, we walked a short distance to our hotel, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, with our carry-ons, because that is how we roll. This hotel was in an ideal location – walking distance to the metro, the Mall and Capital Hill. It was later in the evening when we arrived and I remember saying to D – I would love to see the Cherry Blossoms while we are here, and to my surprise we walked by a tree in bloom and I smiled. As I would discover the next day, it was actually the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in DC! What an epic treat, bringing in 1.5 million visitors every year. If you can coordinate your trip in late March and early April, don’t miss this festival. The trees were a gift from Japan to the USA in 1912 and the blossoming is marked by a celebration that includes concerts, food trucks, cherry blossom beer, fireworks and blooming trees full of blossoms. Such a beautiful sight and the smells just make you pause and linger for a while.
Here are a few things I recommend checking out while in town:
The National Mall – A very famous part of the city where you will find monuments and museums stretching from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial. Make your way walking along this area checking out the history starting at Capitol Hill. All memorials are outdoors and free to visit, but wear running shoes or comfortable shoes, as the Mall is longer than you think. You will want to ensure you see the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, National World War II Memorial and The Washington Monument. On your way to the National Mall from the hotel, you will want to stop by the National Japanese American Memorial – a small space engulfed by Cherry Blossom trees.
National Cherry Blossom Festival – This is a celebration running from March 20 to April 10th. If you can coordinate your trip during this time you will enjoy this spring celebration. With music, food trucks, vendors, shopping, and Cherry Blossom Beer with Cherry Blossoms in full bloom surrounding the Tidal Basin – you can find something for everyone.
Tour the Tidal Basin – Due to the timing of the festival this area was busier than normal, but worth a walk around to explore where the Basin is lined with Cherry Blossoms. We actually rented a paddleboat and spent part of the day touring around the water to explore, get away from the crowds, enjoy the sunshine and take in the blossoms from a different vantage point.
Smithsonian Museums – Since you likely already toured the National Mall you will find various museums lining the outer parts of the Mall between the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. The majority of these museums are free, but you can get a discount if you are active or retired Military or Law Enforcement, for the museums that have a fee. You could spend an entire day museum-hopping and this is a perfect way to spend a better part of a day if the weather isn’t cooperating. My recommendations include the National Air and Space Museum, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the International Spy Museum. If you enjoy art, spend some time exploring the National Gallery of Art which has an East wing, featuring more modern work, and a west wing featuring more of the older collections.
Catch a Hockey Game – If you are sports fan, maybe you can catch the Capitals in town and watch a game one night. We opted for that and even scored a private box to view the game! A night more for D than me, but it’s all about balance. Prior to the game we grabbed some food at the City Tap Kitchen & Craft House – craft beer and food, a perfect pairing for us.
Visit Arlington National Cemetery – Why not hop on the metro and head to neighbouring Virginia to visit the Arlington National Cemetery? It is known as one of the most prestigious cemeteries with over 400,000 fallen soldiers and veterans buried here since the Civil War. It holds up to 30 funeral services a day – a sobering thought for just one cemetery. I didn’t know what to anticipate, but as solemn as the experience was, it was also filled with beauty, peace and tranquility.
A few noteworthy sites include the Kennedy Grave sites where you’ll find the site of JFK, the iconic eternal flame that burns as a symbol of hope and the site of Jacqueline Kennedy, his wife.
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, you will find a white marble sarcophagus containing unidentified soldiers from both world wars and the Korean war. This tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by meticulously elite members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry. In full uniform, he or she will march 21 steps, swivel to face the tomb for 21 seconds, click their heels, shift the rifle to the other shoulder, then pace another 21 steps away from the tomb. This routine is repeated every day with precision. The 21 steps and seconds are a tribute to the 21-gun salute – the highest honour in the military reserved for Presidents and foreign dignitaries. D coordinated this trip to ensure we were able to watch the Changing of the Guard, which takes place every hour on the hour from October 1 to March 31 and every half hour from April 1 to September 30. It was spectacular to witness in person – a quiet, moving ceremony of respect – a cadenced dance performed with razor-sharp perfection.
Finally, before departing we headed to Section 60 of the cemetery commonly known as the ‘saddest acre in America’ and one of the most sacred. The final resting place for young men and women who died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was overwhelmed by the profound loss, reading the tombstones, pictures and memories and paused with such heartbreak, as I had an intimate glimpse of family members grieving, honouring and remembering their loved ones. This was a memory that would be etched in my heart and soul for years to come.
