Last March, Joel, and I traveled to Washington, D.C. for his birthday, where we spent a long weekend immersing ourselves in the rich history of our nation's capitol. Although we had both been to D.C. with our families and friends, this trip was special because 1) it was just the two of us; 2) we were there for Joel's birthday; and 3) we were able to set our own itinerary.
We decided to stay in Arlington, near the Rosslyn metro, at the Courtyard Marriott on Clarendon Boulevard. On a prior trip, I stayed with a friend in the heart of D.C., so I was unfamiliar with Arlington, Alexandria, and the surrounding areas. Based on my research, the Rosslyn metro was a short distance away from the sights and sounds of the city, so we booked a stay at the Residence Inn. At the last minute, I realized the Residence Inn was pet-friendly (ah...ah...ah...ahhchoo!), so we changed our reservation to the Courtyard Marriott on Clarendon Boulevard. This was one of the best decisions we made, as the Courtyard is about a five minute walk from the metro, and we were surrounded by lots of restaurants and coffee shops.
The Courtyard Marriott is very comfortable; it appears to have undergone a renovation and was very modern. Our room was less than $100 per night, which we thought was wonderful, considering the cost of hotels with similar amenities in Alexandria ($250+). Parking was semi-expensive, at $14 per day, but our car was safe, and we didn't mind the extra expense. There was a small bar located off the main lobby (the drink selection is small and VERY pricey - I recommend bringing your own bottle of wine if you intend to drink), but our room was cozy, clean, and well-maintained. We didn't spend an extraordinary amount of time in the hotel, but it's a great value, and we will likely stay there again.
Day 1
We arrived on a Friday afternoon, after driving nearly seven hours from North Carolina, and immediately decided that, when we come again, we will fly. Sure, D.C.'s within driving distance, but when you fly into Reagan, you're not responsible for flying the plane, AND you're only several metro stops away from your destination (if you stay in Crystal City, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, or anywhere on the blue line). D.C. can also be a confusing city to drive, especially if you've never driven there before, and it's easy to take a wrong turn and become discombobulated. (I especially would not advise driving in Georgetown anytime after 12 a.m.; hello, gridlock.)
Because we've each been to D.C. before, we had a more leisurely approach to planning our weekend. Upon arrival to our hotel, we checked in, inspected our room, and immediately left for the Rosslyn metro. Weekend passes, which entail unlimited travel, are fairly cheap ($18 or so)
and we certainly got our money's worth. We grabbed the blue line, and disembarked at the Farragut West station, where we walked to Potbelly Sandwich Shop (near the White House) and grabbed lunch. I highly recommend this place; it's a chain, but they have delicious soups and sandwiches. (On a previous trip, my friends and I stopped in just before they closed, and they gave us free coffee and sugar cookies; it was cold, our feet were frozen, and we were starving. LOVE Potbelly.) Thankfully, Joel enjoyed it as much as I do. After lunch, we walked to the Metro Center and rode the train to the Smithsonian stop. We walked down the National Mall, mostly to get some shots in front of the Washington Monument and the Capitol. I love the Washington Monument; it's gorgeous, regardless of season, and we made several pictures of it before we continued on to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Although we did not reserve passes prior to our visit to the Museum, we were able to secure passes and received a guided tour (ours from a Holocaust survivor from the Netherlands), of one of the newest exhibits, "State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda." I highly recommend this exhibit for anyone who is interested in not only the Holocaust, but also the events leading up to World War II; our tour guide was exceptional, and provided not only details about the propaganda itself, but also its effect on his life in Holland. After our guided tour and prior to our ascension to the top level of the Museum, we received Identification Cards which contain the information of a man or woman (you receive a Male/Female ID depending on your gender) who died in the Holocaust. Then, you ascend in an elevator, to the Permanent Exhibition, which is divided in three levels: "Nazi Assault," "Final Solution," and "Last Chapter." (There's also an exhibit designed specifically for children, "Remember the Children: Daniel's Story," and I walk through it every time I go.) Dwight D. Eisenhower's testimony of his encounters in the camps is forever immortalized on the exterior walls of the Museum: "The things I saw beggar description...The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty, and bestiality were so overpowering...I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in a position to give first-hand of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations to propaganda."
I recommend visiting the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in early afternoon, so you can spend several hours there. Visiting is always a sobering, heart-and-gut wrenching experience, and cannot be taken lightly; I always find the need to schedule reflection/processing time after my visits. If you are interested in learning more about the Holocaust before you visit the Museum, I recommend Elie Wiesel's memoir, Night; Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz (If This Is a Man); Lois Lowry's Number the Stars (especially if you have young children - this is a fictionalized story of the Danish resistance); and Diane Ackerman's The Zookeeper's Wife. Even reading these will not prepare you for what you will see, but they will provide insight into the lives of those who survived and those who perished. The Museum also provides visitor information to help you plan a visit, including a Museum Guide and a Museum Exhibition Guide.
Joel and I did schedule processing time; after proceeding through the exhibits, we moved to the
Hall of Remembrance, where we lit a candle and silently reflected. We adjourned the Museum shortly thereafter, and walked to the National World War II Memorial, which opened in 2004. Joel and I are proud descendants of World War II veterans; Joel's grandfather flew B-17's in Europe, and my grandfather flew B-17's and B-29's in the Pacific as part of photo reconnaissance missions. Joel is also a HUGE WWII history buff, so of course, this is his favorite monument. Personally, I find that a monument carries more meaning if you have some connection to it (in our case, our connections are our grandfathers), and this is another reason we both appreciate the WWII Memorial. There's also a sense of pride that men and women from our home states, North and South Carolina, served our country honorable, and the states are rightly honored. The National World War II Memorial is between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, and I would highly recommend visiting this in conjunction with both the Lincoln Memorial and the Holocaust Museum.