There is actually a lot of culture in Washington, D.C. The city is constantly changing with new faces arriving from all of the United States ebbing and flowing with the various political tides. Being the nation's capitol also affords a lot of prestige in placing special cultural opportunities in one place for the enjoyment of those in power and those who elected them into power as well. This post focuses on the various museums and culture centers of the District.
Indirect Selfie at the National Air & Space Museum
Most people know about the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. It is actually a collection of 19 museums and a zoo in the District and would probably take about two weeks just to see all of them. Visitors typically stick to the popular ones located on the National Mall including the Air & Space Museum, Natural History Museum, and American History Museum. Others including the Museum of the American Indian and Portrait Gallery are also impressive and less crowded. Even though they are free, be prepared for lines and security during peak times. All of them are excellent including many artifacts from our nation's history and culture enhancing your visit.
Interior of the United States Holocaust Museum
Beyond the Smithsonian, there are many other excellent museums in the District. I was fortunate to visit several including the United States Holocaust Museum. This is not a fun place, nor a place to take a lot of pictures given the content, but it is an important and eye opening experience not only of the horrific events of the past, but a reminder of how to prevent these events from happening again. The museum is free, however you must have a timed ticket which may incur a small fee.
Statue of JFK inside the Kennedy Center
For real culture, head over to the Kennedy Center. This ornate and stylish performing arts complex was built to honor JFK and his push for more culture in the District. It is now home to several theaters for symphonies, plays, musicals, and more experimental dance and arts on a continuous basis. Many nations have donated special art displays in the center in honor of JFK. It is worth a visit for a free tour or a special event.
Portrait Gallery Interior
While other cities have more history or culture, Washington D.C. has an extensive combination of many excellent options for everyone. Most museums are free, making them very accessible, with most within walking distance of each other. Be careful in the hot summer as those close museums will seem miles away as the mercury rises! Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.
Street near US Capitol
Kennedy Center Interior
Music Theatre at Kennedy Center with Pipe Organ
Russian Room at Kennedy Center
Potomac River
United States Holocaust Museum Exterior
Museum of American History Exterior
History of Credit Cards in Money Exhibit
History of American Transportation
Exhibit on the Danish People who rescued many Jews
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.
On an abnormally cool June weekend, I decided to spend some time in and near Auburn, California. Auburn was selected as the County Seat for Placer County long ago after an election in which more people voted yes than actually lived in the county! Although the cities near Sacramento are now much bigger, Auburn remains the main location for county government and an interesting gold country city to visit.
Main Entrance to County Courthouse
Every Saturday morning, the Placer County Museum has a walking tour of Old Town Auburn. After a quick stop at the popular Farmers Market next door, I joined the large group to learn about the history of the town. You may recognize the courthouse as it is very visible from Interstate 80. It was not the original courthouse as the first several burned down due to fire. Who would guess buildings made of wood would catch fire with people using fireplaces and candles? This version used bricks and stone from local quarries to avoid that pesky problem. And yes, it is still a fully functioning courthouse.
Old Town Auburn
The docents of the museum host an informative and entertaining walk around the courthouse and old town area. Both are immediately off the freeway with lots of parking. The free one hour tour includes history of the region and ends on the main street for a convenient lunch. Auburn is similar to other gold country towns with lots of hills and old buildings for a quaint, if not exhausting, stroll through the streets. Old Town Auburn also has several restaurants and bars, the latter are still on the premises of historic saloons.
The main reason for my trip to the area was to go hiking in the Hidden Falls Regional Park. I have been hiking here since they first opened the park several years ago. The park has really evolved into a fine regional destination with a nice variety of hiking trails for exploring the area. Mild weather attracted large crowds, but there always seems to be a place to stop and enjoy nature with hawks floating above and goats being used for weed control. The falls are always a treat and are especially fun with recent average rainfall. This place is highly recommended.
Out of Bounds Brewery in Placer County
A good hike deserves a good beer, and Placer County is now home to several excellent breweries. Auburn has Knee Deep and Auburn Ale House. South Placer has Out of Bounds, Dragas, and Monk's Cellar. Out in the farm country lies the amazing GoatHouse with lots of goats as one would expect. There are some wineries in the area too, but I have not been too impressed with their quality. Plus, kicking back a Cabernet after a three hour dusty hike just does not feel right.
Hiking Trail at Hidden Falls Regional Park
If you enjoy the outdoors and history, or just a good beer, Auburn and Placer County are a great destination or a perfect stopover between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.
