Discovering Washington, DC

June 12, 2016

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by Danny de la Cruz[/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]Nothing felt more appropriate than to share a recent visit to Washington, DC during this month’s theme and because of the upcoming 4th of July holiday. I love DC for it’s really a walking town and you can spend days just exploring one museum after another. Though I’ve been to DC before, this recent getaway was a chance to explore some other sights and museums which had always been on my “wish list” and just never had a chance to do before given time constraints or other reasons.

On this trip, number one on my DC “wish list” was to see the National Museum of American History since it was under renovation during my first visit to the city many years ago and it did not disappoint.

Home base during this trip was at the beautiful Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, centrally located to everything. It’s just a few blocks from the White House and only 1.5 miles from the National Mall.

Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square

It’s easy to get distracted in DC because there are just so many historical things to see and for someone who loves architecture and history, my eyes were all over the place. But, I was on a mission and the American History museum was calling. Here are just a few of the images I captured.

Do you recognize these famous chairs from TV?

Love Kermit from my childhood days!

Some of the exhibits made you pause and remember moments in history that we should never forget, but learn from as we move forward.

Do you know who wore this ensemble for the presidential inaugural ball?

As a foodie, it was fantastic to see the recreated kitchen of Julia Child.

I will never forget watching the great Muhammad Ali during his boxing matches during my childhood.

There is just so much to see in the American History Museum but it was time to move on. On the way to other sites of exploration, we stumbled across the National Archives Building and I’m so glad that we did. Though you can’t take photographs inside, it’s a must on any visit to DC to see first hand the Charters of Freedom: Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights.

After exploring the Archives Building, the plan was to visit the Martin Luther King Memorial located along the banks of the tidal basin, not far from the Lincoln Memorial and opposite from the Jefferson Memorial. I had no idea what to expect, but the monument did not disappoint.

There’s so much to see and do in DC so make sure you have comfortable walking shoes, make an itinerary of what you must see since there are so many spread out throughout the city, and give yourself plenty of time to explore the museums since you can spend a whole day at each one with all the treasures to see. It’s a fantastic place to explore for the young and the young at heart.