Join me on a journey to the nation’s capital! I had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. in the spring of my senior year of high school with my grandpa, aunt, our foreign exchange student from Sweden! At the time, I was ready to head to college in the fall to study Social Sciences Education. Therefore, exploring Washington D.C. and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was extremely fulfilling and enlightening as a history buff.
While in D.C., we spent most of our time exploring The National Mall, which is the stretch of land that contains the Lincoln Memorial, The White House, The Washington Monument, The Capitol Building, and several Smithsonian Museums. I highly recommend the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History! The lawn specifically leading up and around the Washington Monument is adorned with an abundance of cherry blossom trees, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century as a token of friendship with Japan. One of my favorite memories from this vacation is sitting on the lawn and eating lunch surrounded by these cherry blossom trees, which were perfectly in bloom at the time of my vacation in the spring.
Arlington Cemetery and The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, specifically the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, was one of the most unique experiences I have ever been a part of. The prestige and precision in which these soldiers carry themselves is extraordinary. We also ventured north to Gettysburg for a day where we ventured around the Gettysburg National Military Park.
I mention all these unique things I’ve experienced in different states over the years in my other blog posts, but touring the Pentagon has to be the most unique things I have ever got to do! The Pentagon is open to the public, but as you can probably imagine, there is an extensive registration process and security policy. Entering the Pentagon is rather daunting, as the security is somewhat intimidating. I don’t know what I expected the Pentagon to look like inside, but I was surprised to see the number of shops inside, ranging from chocolate shops to clothing stores. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to tour the headquarters for the US Department of Defense.
One of the best experiences for sightseeing is the night-time trolley tour of Washington D.C. As part of this tour, you stop at all the iconic landmarks, such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, the Supreme Court Building, and the World War 2 Memorial just to name a few. There is something about seeing these landmarks at night lit up with lights; it changes the entire experience for the better.
Anyone who has an affinity for history or even just an interest in seeing the inner-workings of America’s capital should consider visiting Washington D.C.
