I’ll be building this page over time so expect changes as I explore DC over the next year or two.
I’ve lived and worked in the Washington Area for around 50 years. I find it to be a marvelous city with a little something for everyone. In the spring, you haven’t lived until you’ve walked around the Tidal Basin and viewed the cherry blossoms. It’s a right of spring in the area that everyone looks forward to; however, the crowds are rather astounding. This year, I planned to be down at the Tidal Basin early, or so I thought. I left in the dark at around 6:20 AM and found the parking lot near the Jefferson Memorial already half filled. After paying for the privilege to park, I marched to the Tidal Basin and was greeted by 100’s of other photographers.
As I walked around the Tidal Basin that morning, I was taken by the tranquility of the scene. The majesty of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument and Martin Luther King Memorial were heightened by the surrounding cherry blossoms. I’ll have to do the walk again during the summer to capture the greenery when it emerges later on. There were a number of couples at the Tidal Basin, having their pictures captured for their posterity.
Clare and I visited the National Arboretum in early June. We enjoyed walking around one of the gardens but were absolutely captivated by the Asia Bonsai exhibit and spent most of our time there. I’d highly recommend a visit to this national treasure that is somewhat off the beaten path on New York Avenue. Don’t miss the Capitol columns. There is a lot more to see but that was all the time we had that day.
Summers in DC are often hot and sweltering so trips to natural oasis are often craved by city dwellers, Clare and I among them. We’ve visited Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in the past by were looking for an escape for a morning in June so off we went. There is an interesting history about the development of the gardens beginning in the 1880’s which began as the Shaw Gardens. Helen Shaw Fowler fought for the preservation of the gardens in the 1930’s and eventually won approval from Congress to purchase 8 acres to be added to Anacostia Park. The gardens are an absolute delight to walk around to see water lilies, flowers, assorted insects and birds. I wanted to take the path down to the Anacostia River with the chance to see wild turkeys but Clare coundn’t be convinced as the Park Service had issued warnings about the aggressiveness of the wild birds. I guess I’ll have to do this one solo at some point. The National Park Service employees are extremely friendly and helpful and are commended for their hard work in keeping the grounds in such good condition.
Marc's Travels 