Maryland Sheep & Wool was fun, it’s true, but the thing I was most excited about doing on this trip was seeing the nation’s capital for the first time. Yes indeed, I have never been to DC and I’ve wanted to go since I was a little girl. Let me say right up front: I was not disappointed! I saw everything I wanted to see in the short amount of time we had and it was just enough to wet my appetite for a return trip.
Hillary is an excellent hostess and tour guide. She arranged tickets for us on a Tourmobile that allowed us to hit all the hot spots in just one day.
The Capital. Apparently I am more patriotic than I ever realized because I got goosebumps when we pulled up in front. Either that or I’m just a dork. The senate was in session while we were there (you can tell because there’s an American flag flying over the senate building) and we saw a cat on a leash – how funny is that?
We toured the Botanical Gardens. I took lots and lots of pictures there. Lots.
The Lincoln Memorial is truly impressive. The view of the reflecting pool with the Washington Monument is gorgeous. And the statue of Lincoln is truly awe inspiring. I actually had tears in my eyes when I looked up at him. I told you I was a dork.
We also saw:
The Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial, and The White House. That was just Friday!
On Sunday we went back and visited the Jefferson Memorial.
While not as moving as the Lincoln Memorial it’s still pretty impressive in its own right.
We also visited the FDR Memorial. This one wasn’t on my list but Hillary kept telling me I’d love it and she was right. It really tells his story and it’s very well done.
I took loads and loads of photos – I’ve got enough Eye Candy Friday content for a long time to come. If you’re interested you can see them all on my flickr page.
All too soon it was time for me to head home. It was a whirlwind tour, it’s true, but it was really beautiful and I’m so glad I went. Thanks again, Hillary and family for hosting me. In the words of The Terminator, I’ll be back.
DC has so much to explore. You could spend a week on the Smithsonian museums alone. You definitely need to go back.
Of course you’re a dork. That’s why I love you.
Funny, I have been there, and I didn’t think to put it on my list of places to go back to. Make it #11.
What Mel said. I was lucky to have lived close enough for a couple years that I got to visit DC a number of times. And there’s still so much I haven’t seen, like the Cherry Blossom Festival. And Smithsonian is amazing! So is the National Zoo. I’m glad you got to go, even if it was a quickie.
I spent 10 days in DC and it wasn’t enough time to see every thing. It’s an amazing place. The Korean War Memorial was stunning, don’t you think?
Great job of photo taking!!
Looks and sounds like a great trip. I have yet to visit there but someday I hope to go and take the kids.
Beautiful pictures. I have never been to DC either, but I hope to someday.
joe and i went a couple of years ago in freakin’ july. it was a bazillion degrees. the vietnam memorial gets me every time i see it. and i really enjoyed the smithsonian. i got to see archie’s chair 😉
Isn’t it AWESOME?! I love it…you really should go during Christmas!
I love Washington. The FDR memorial is AWESOME and I can’t get enough of the Smithsonian.
I love Washington DC. We went last summer for a few days and we were very sad to leave. Honestly, we sat down once at home and seriously considered moving there. We loved the people, the city, the history, the culture, the sights…. oh, even now I am missing it! We are definitely going again soon! (Perhaps a pre-Christmas trip for PC and I).
The National Zoo (and the National Cathedral) are must sees. We loved georgetown and dupont circle, but we stayed in Woodley Park. 🙂
Before I went to D.C., I never realized how close everything is to the White House. We only had three hours to look around, so we stayed on the National Mall, but we saw a lot in a short time.
Very cool – I have yet to be there as well, which horrifies my poor history-buff husband. I tell him he can take me there anytime.
I haven’t been to D.C. since just before our son was born; I’d love the chance to go again and do all the tourist-y things. Looks like a great time!
Not a dork. My parents moved there 20 years ago so we’re regulars in DC but I never get tired of visiting the national landmarks, Smithsonian musuems, the zoo & eating out at great ethnic restaurants not found around here.We took an inside tour of the capitol just a couple of years ago and found it very moving. (or maybe I’m a dork, too?). Its just different than all the other US cities. Plus weatherwise, could it have been any nicer? All that and wool, too.
I haven’t been to DC since my kids were little. I’m ashamed to say that in all the years we’ve been visiting our youngest in Baltimore, we have never gone down to Washington to do the tourist thing. That will go on the To Do List after seeing your photos!
I’m so glad to hear you’re a dork.
😉
I ADORE DC. And I love taking the tour and no matter how often I go, I still get goosebumps and tears come to my eyes. I am however something of a Jeffersonian, so his memorial is more “inspiring” to me!
I LOVE that you saw the orange kitty on a leash – that’s so funny after our conversation last week about Mason!
You took some amazing photos, too!
(((hugs)))
(just another knitting dork!)
We’re all dorks. Knitting dorks, right? heh I cry during parades so I’m sure I’d be a mess in DC. How beautiful and special and fun! Thanks for sharing all the photos – I’ll keep out of your flickr photos so I won’t spoil the ECF’s. 🙂
DC really is an amazing town. You could totally spend a week there and not see everything you want to see. I get teary just thinking about it, but mostly because my grandmother is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. I was lucky enough to get into LC on one trip there. Absolutely amazing for this library dork. 😉
Amazing pics of the monuments. I lived in DC for 15 years, and I love the way you collected the different areas of each monument together in tiny mosiacs. Glad you had fun.
It is an amazing place. We visited my uncle there every Feb. vacation when I was a kid. There is so much to see and do. I remember having the goosebump thing even as a kid. You must go back.
We live in an amazing country. We have a motorhome and are taking our 5 kids there this summer. Your photo tour got me really excited! I can’t wait! I’m the teary, goosebump type too. Dorks, unite!
I am so glad you got to DC – it’s a beautiful city.
I am so envious! I haven’t been to D.C. since I was a kid (long before the Vietnam memorial), and I would just love to go back again.
It was great fun being dorks in DC together. How funny that I posted a picture from our visit to the FDR today too but mine has an enhancement.
Lovely pictures! I love Washington, D.C. When our daughter was checking out William and Mary we stopped in D.C. on the way back home and visited several memorials. My favorite was the newly opened WWII memorial. Very stirring.
Well, if you’re a dork – then so am I! I get very emotional seeing the sites in Washington, DC!
Even though I sometimes get disquested with the political “BS” – seeing the spirit of our country reflected in the buildings and sights of DC really remind me of how fortunate I am to have been born and live in this country.
It has been about 12 years since I was in DC – but, I’m thinking a few days there are in order again!! Especially now that I can take the train!!!!
Wow, you saw so much! I’ve never been to DC and really want to go sometime. Your photos are all great! Was the waterfall with a monument? It was really pretty.
Wow, you certainly did cram a lot into a couple of days! I’ve never been; I really must fix that.
it looks like you had a great time in my hometown! i often take for granted the fact that i live so close to so many amazing sights and monuments. come back again soon!
I’ve never been to DC – I suspect that, with all my conflicting feelings about this country, it would turn me into a blubbering mess. Talk about dorky.
I’m glad you had a good time – the pictures are wonderful.
Yowza! Your camera got a good workout!
Carole, I am a certified Dork and I love Washington D.C. I experienced many of the same emotions as you when seeing some of the sights for the first time. Another incredible site is the Holocaust Museum. Very difficult to process, but worthwhile nonetheless.
Dork away! It looks like a fabulous trip and your photos are amazing! I have never been and would love to go some day; I think that even as a Canadian there is something quite captivating about Washington. You go Arnold!
Patriotic dork? ;^)
Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
I think visiting DC as an adult has a greater impact on you than visiting it as a child. When I went the last time I was able to walk around and look at monuments, etc., and there was just…something…about all of it that made me feel insanely proud to be a citizen of this country. I disagree with so much of what we and our government do in our country and in the world, and yet going to DC really drives home the message that this is MY country, and I have a responsibility to be a good citizen.
And it’s all just a little overwhelming, isn’t it? Especially the walk to the Lincoln Memorial, because, dude – it’s a LONG, LONG, walk.
And then there’s the eery quiet and solemnity of the Vietnam Memorial…like I said – it’s all just a little overwhelming.
I’m glad you went, and I’m glad you had such a good trip.
I love DC – I cry at everything so I guess that makes me a dork as well.
Both of my kids went to college in DC so I’ve had many opportunities to visit and never tire of it. Although I often return to visit favorite places, I never fail to find something new there that inspires.
IMHO, I think the world could use more dorks.
I especially appreciate the photos of the memorials — thank you!
I love D.C. We went as an anniversary trip, and loved it so much that we vowed we’d go back someday. The tears in my eyes came at the Vietnam Wall, and at the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier – the respect accorded to the fallen was tremendous.
a dork you are not. I cry at parades, war movies, goose bumps during the national anthem and so on. If you are a dork, then so am I. Have a great day. sandy
Not dorky at all.
I get teary eyed whenever I hear the National Anthem. Always have, hopefully always will.
And DC is fabulous. I think it could find the smallest fragment of patriotism there is in a person, and I’m sure you have more than a fragment.
Hopefully you can catch the museums next time on an unusually quiet day.
Glad you had a good trip.
I’m so glad you guys were able to squeeze in FDR. That’s my favorite memorial — and one of my favorite spots — in D.C.
And if you ever get back to town in one of our rare snow storms, make sure you brave the weather to go back to the Korean Memorial. The soldiers dusted with snow just breaks your heart.
You saw so many things in your short time here! I am so glad that you and Hillary saw all of them! you have been to some places that I have never been – and I live here! 🙂
Yes yes! return trip!
Wow! What an amazing visit (and such nice photos). I was only in DC once — for a VERY short time and with husband & 3 kids. We did okay, considering, but I’d sure love to go back someday.
I think you got some lovely photos of Washington. And I did the exact same thing when I was there – walked around all misty-eyed.. especially at the Lincoln Memorial. I guess I must be a bit of a dork too. (smile)
You *did* have a great host. You’re not a dork … it’s cool to be so excited about America’s history.
You’re a total dork – that’s why we get along so well. ;o)
btw, that’s a HUGE cat!
i love washington too; and it’s been too long since i visited.
i love washington too; and it’s been too long since i visited. we also have great art museums there.
There is something about being in DC that just excites you and interests you in history. Its a wonderful place. I just spent 3 weeks there, taking care of new grandson. I loaded him up in stroller and off we went each day so as to see as much as I could.