We spent the better part of three days in D.C. and didn't even touch on all there is to see.
The Capitol Building.
If you've never been to the nation's capitol, go. If you have kids, take them. If you have none, take someone else's kids. There is so much knowledge and history and grandeur and learning to be had—for free—that D.C. should not be missed.
B at the Washington Monument.
Blading in front of Lincoln Memorial.
We blazed through the Natural History and Air and Space Museum (both of the notorious Smithsonian variety), checked out the monuments along the mall, including the newest (and our favorite), the monument to Franklin D. Roosevelt. We got to see the Capitol Rotunda right before it closed for the day. We toured the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. We bladed along the whole length of the mall, watched a U.S. copter land on the White House lawn, found the best sandwich shop in the universe.
Aryn in front of Billy's House.
Me and Abe.
In our three days, we just whetted our taste buds on all we wanted to see. In our short time, though, we discovered a few things:
- The shop at the corner of the White House, Cosi, makes the BEST bread in the world
- You don't have to wait in line to see the Capitol Building, you can take the entrance at the building on the corner of Delaware and Independance, take the elevator to the basement, board an underground trolley which runs to the basement of the Capitol, then take the elevator up into the Capitol and explore at will (this is all legal and true)
- You need at least a week to explore what D.C. has to offer in the way of museums, federal buildings (including the Bureau of Engraving where they design and print money), monuments, and public resources
- The sidewalks are terrible for rollerblading, like tiny pebbles super-glued to rough pavement—but the street surfaces are wonderful
- The enforcement-type folks are very friendly, to skaters and inquirers alike
- The Metro public transportation system ROCKS...it's clean, fast, quiet and convenient
Brant in the Metro.
- You shouldn't wear spandex pants, cowboy boots, and a blong wig in front of the White House or you'll be frisked in the middle of the street (see photo below)
What not to do.
- The capitol of our country is truly a place where the public is invited to learn about the government, past and present, and to discover the history of this great nation
AK with the reflection.
In front of the Capitol, looking out over Penn Ave.
Lincoln Memorial from a distance.
We moved on a bit reluctantly, but pressed for time and eager to get out to Hatteras. On Thursday morning we're hooking up with Ken from the Extreme Travel Network in Fredricksburg, Virginia. Then we're hoping to find and capture (at least for a moment) our friend J-Dog who just moved to Richmond for med school. Then it's on to the coast of Virginia and down towards Hatteras....a watersports mecca. Hurricane Debby has decided to chill, so although we're hoping to catch some wind and swell from her near visit, we can proceed safely back out to the ocean, which is always calling us back.
