After a long dry spell, I finally took my epic East Coast trip. I traveled throughout the northeastern United States for three weeks seeing the historic and cultural centers and points in between. Because I took nearly 2,000 photos, I am splitting up my trip into 11 separate posts. If you are brave enough, please visit them all; they will be worth it. This first post focuses on the Monuments in Washington, D.C.
Flying to the East Coast from California is a chore. It is a long flight that often leaves early in the morning and arrives late at night, plus the joys of jet lag. I began my journey in Washington, D.C. which involved arriving at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This airport is small with limited flights, but it is right next to the city with excellent subway connections. One of the advantages is the River Visual Approach where the jet flies low into the District and buzzes by the iconic monuments. The above video is a good overview of this unique approach.
Washington Union Station
Many people now arrive in Washington using a train. High speed trains shuttle people in and out of the District through Union Station. The station was not named after the Union Army or even in honor of various labor unions. Instead, the station was built to replace three other stations to "unify" the operations under one spectacular roof. From here you can still head to Chicago, New York, and Atlanta. The station was done is an impressive classic style with lots of arches and marble making the interior and exterior worthy of its placement in our capitol city.
Eternal Flame at JFK Grave
Washington is home to many monuments to our military and various wars. It is home to Arlington National Cemetery which is a somber and solemn reminder of those who died in service to our country. It is a very nice tribute with rolling green hills reminding those that life endures. The cemetery is also home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor those who gave their lives without any record. The military still works to identify the remains of all soldiers and recently returned a soldier's remains to his family after working hard to identify them.
Interior of the Lincoln Memorial
Washington is home to many memorials to historic presidents and various important people critical to the development of the United States. The iconic Lincoln sits in the middle of the National Mall and is open 24/7 for visitors. I took a night tour of the monuments to avoid the oppressive heat and humidity and enjoyed seeing them all lit up at night with a good narrative. The tour included the FDR, Martin Luther King Jr., Iwo Jima, and Lincoln Memorial. I highly recommend using the tours to save your feet and time during your trip!
Washington Memorial
Of course, the Washington Memorial stands above all other memorials in the District and is somewhat convenient as a landmark when navigating the city. It is very tall and is accessible to visitors brave enough to stand in line and wait for the stairs or elevators. From the outside, it is probably more impressive and always worth a stop.
Various Neighborhood Memorials
There are literally dozens of monuments in the District, so you may be overwhelmed or intrigued based on your preferences. Many of them are accidental finds as you are walking between destinations. I recommend enjoying them all, especially through the many walking or night tours. Most museums close around 5:00 pm, so night tours of these monuments are a great way to leverage your precious vacation time. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.
No comments:
Post a Comment