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Travel As the Cherry Blossoms Bloom
Travel As the Cherry Blossoms Bloom
| As the Cherry Blossoms Bloom |
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| Written by MaryAnn Milano | |||
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Visiting Washington, D.C. in springtime provides the only opportunity to view the famous cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin in their full, regal, pastel pink and white blooms. Besides the gorgeous explosion of color from the blossoms, visitors are treated to a virtual limitless assortment of activities and sights that could take weeks to explore. However, a focused itinerary can help condense this gracious city’s attractions, even with children in tow.  The heart of Washington, D.C. is a beautiful and relatively manageable geography where using foot power or the Metro Rail System will get you to where you want to be. Even novice travelers will find it easy to get around using benchmarks of the Capitol and the Washington Monument looming into view from different vantage points. Give your kids and family the gift of history and a fun first hand lesson in civics by visiting the many monuments, memorials, and museums in our Capital city. Before you begin your itinerary, you need to decide on a place to stay. Some family-friendly hotels include The Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown. This hotel is in close proximity to the Red and Blue Line Metro station. It is also within walking distance of Georgetown, noted for its shopping, antiques, and great nightlife. The atrium offers a fantastic complimentary breakfast, the restaurant discounts meals for hotel guests and has a special $4.95 kids menu, or you can make use of the kitchenette in your suite. Kids love the indoor pool and game room. Another great kid-friendly hotel is the Hilton Washington. The large heated outdoor pool, three tennis courts, and goodie bag at check-in will make for some very happy kids. Another similar style hotel is the Holiday Inn on the Hill. Free parking and free breakfast are part of a reasonable rate package. They have an outdoor pool, Nintendo on the TV, a “kids under 12 eat free” policy in their restaurant, and soap bubbles are offered to the younger kids upon arrival. The overall charm of Washington lies in the fact that it lacks behemoth concrete buildings. Skyscrapers are forbidden so that the sun shines everywhere. Washington, D.C. is a city of gardens, filled with green spaces and public parks. Sightseeing is easy. There are guided walking and bus tours available to help you capture the city. Old Town Trolleys run every 20 minutes, allowing you to board them at any of their stops throughout the capital. Do not visit Washington, D.C. without a visit to the Lincoln Memorial. The somber view from the steps of the memorial situates well-loved President Lincoln majestically upon his throne. One has the sense that Lincoln will somehow rise off his chair to impart his words of wisdom to his visitors. Many of the memorials and historic buildings are free, but one that may help inspire a love of reading in your children is The Library of Congress. It is the world’s largest library, with over 128 million items on 530 miles of shelves, located throughout the library’s three buildings. The Thomas Jefferson Building is the most ornate of the three, fashioned in the Italian Renaissance-style. Fifty-two sculptures and painters worked for 8 years on its interior.  Floor mosaics of Italian marble glimmer beneath your feet, storied paintings rise above you on the overhead vaults, and there are more than 100 murals and ornamental garlands. Forty-two granite sculptures exist on the building’s exterior. Upon entering the Great Room and Main Reading Room, exquisite marble greets you, with a huge soaring 160-ft dome in the Main Reading Room. The White House is not to be missed. The history that exists within its walls tells the story of American democracy. Every desk, every sterling tea service, every silver platter, every painting and floor covering is linked to past and present Presidents. The East Room, the Vermeil Room, the small drawing room known as the Green Room, the State Dining Room, and the Blue and Red Rooms are usually open to the public. Within these rooms are decorative art and furnishings from various empires, such as the Queen Anne and Federal periods. Cut glass chandeliers sparkle overhead, Turkish carpets and elaborate plasterwork can be seen throughout. The Washington Monument is the world’s tallest masonry structure. Take the 70-second ride to the pinnacle and be rewarded by an incredible panorama across the D.C. area, Maryland and Virginia. You will be soaring 500 ft. above the ground as you take in the breathtaking views. If you like your feet firmly planted on the ground, stay below and see the exhibit in the base. Many attractions in Washington, D.C. are kid welcoming, but none are as much fun for kids as a visit to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It produces the most paper money in the world. Kids enjoy watching the sheets of money roll off the presses to be cut, sorted, and stacked as the bills they wish they could receive as their allowance. The FBI building, our country’s department of crime prevention, will fascinate children and adults alike. The tour takes in historical exhibits about famous cases the FBI has solved, an introduction to laboratory work, including DNA analysis of hair fibers and blood samples, fingerprint matching and live ammunition firearms demonstrations, followed by a question and answer session. The museums in our nation’s capital are quite diverse with something for everyone. The Smithsonian Museums entertain and educate millions of children every year. The National Museum of Natural History houses the dinosaur exhibit and insect zoo. There are hands-on history and science rooms in the Museum of American History. The IMAX films delight visitors at the National Air and Space Museum. There is an International Spy Museum where kids can test their observation skills, don a disguise or take on a spy cover. Interactive displays and exhibits relating the past, present and future of the art of espionage can be found within its walls. The Capitol Building on Capitol Hill is the center of government, but the area surrounding it includes charming residential blocks lined with Victorian row houses and a terrific assortment of restaurants, bars, and shops. You can also find the Botanic Garden in the area of Capitol Hill. Start your exploration of the area at the Union Station and step into the National Postal Museum, if you so desire. All this walking and touring is bound to work up an appetite. The restaurants in the D.C. area range from signature names to national chains. In the Capitol Hill vicinity, dining at the royal blue Bennett Dining Room may help you catch a glimpse of some senators and representatives. Although the surroundings of the restaurant are opulent, the prices are reasonable. If it is lunch you desire, delicious salads, entrées and sandwiches are bargains here. Exploring restaurants outside of Capitol Hill is not a difficult task. Simply use the Metro to take you to convenient and inexpensive lunch spots. A favorite is the Dirksen Senate Office Building South Buffet Room, an establishment to satisfy all ages in this all-you-can-eat buffet. You will dine with white linen covered tablecloths and floral centerpieces while indulging in a hot entrée, a fruit and salad bar, and sundae dessert bar for very reasonable prices and discounts for children under 10. Adams Morgan, a tiny but popular neighborhood chock-full of restaurants, cafés, clubs, and shops is a mecca for young people and artistic types. Adults can enjoy the clubs and cafés at night while kids and families enjoy the shops and ambience in the daytime. The Caravan Grill in Adams Morgan is a great Persian restaurant to try. The neighborhood harbors unusual shopping treasures, and the excursion will satisfy everyone in the family. There is much more to do in Washington, D.C. If you arrange your itinerary with care using some of the suggestions here, you will be sure to cover history, architectural and natural beauty, educational museums, great restaurants, and trendy shopping while giving your family a break from the routine. Enjoy!
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