A City of Memorials

Given more time I would have done much more, but from my two day 'memorial' tour, I strongly recommend the following:

Arlington National Cemetary: The history and the sacrifice is readily apparent and inspiring. Visit the Tomb of the Unknowns, John F. Kennedy's gravesite, the Robert E. Lee House, and the graves of great war heroes such as Audey Murphy.

The Korea and Vietnam War Memorial: They are located within a few hundred yards of each other in the 'Mall' near the Lincoln Memorial.

The Holocaust Museum: This is one of the finest museums I have experienced. Very informative and very effective in portraying the horror of the Holocaust.

The Mall: This area in the center of Washington D.C. is where you will find most of the monuments. The Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Monument and many others are located around the mall. Everyone will recognize the 'Mall' as the location of many historic rallies. The White House and more museums than you could see in a month are located around the mall.

Spend a day in Old Town Alexandria. It's a fun, relaxing day.

Quick Tips:

All the museums are free. See as many of them as you can given the time you have, but pick a few and see them thoroughly rather than rush through more than you can handle.

If you like to run, run around downtown and the 'Mall'. You will cover alot of ground and it will help orient you for sightseeing later in the day. This was one of the best runs I have ever had on vacation. Another great run was along the water in Arlington, Virginia (near the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetary) across the river from D.C. The view is fantastic and the route is very enjoyable.

If you have a relative buried in Arlington, get a pass at the Welcome Center. With a pass, you can drive in and around the cemetary in your own car.

Bring some comfortable shoes...you will do alot of walking.

Drink lots of water...it's hot in the summer!

Best Way To Get Around:

I prefer having a car to get around Washington D.C. It is the best way to see the different sections such as Alexandria, Georgetown, Embassy Row, Arlington and downtown.

When seeing the 'Mall', walk. It is a long walk, but very scenic. Parking in this area is a nightmare, so once you find a good spot, don't lose it.

Several tours are available. I don't usually like tours, but one that is fun is the Duck Tour. You ride in an amphibious vehicle that drives through D.C. and then goes into the Potomac river for a river cruise. With so many sights, a guide adds alot of nice perspective and history.

The Monaco was a beautiful hotel. It was not too large and it had a hip feel to it that you don’t always find at a nice hotel. There was some real attention to detail when it came to the design of the rooms, the common areas, and the very cool restaurant.

I had a large room that included a very nice bathroom. There were chocolates waiting on the pillow and everything else that I might need. There was a nice stereo in the room and free internet access. Most importantly, the bed and pillows were exceptionally comfortable.

Other nice touches included a free wine in the main reception area during the traditional happy hour time. If you still wanted more, there is a nice restaurant that I enjoyed both for the food and the cool, trendy atmosphere. There was a business center in the room that included a very nice printer (although it was a little expensive for copies). I also appreciated the little things like the Aveda bath products and very courteous concierge who was helpful in setting me up with a gym (you get free passes to a nearby gym).

Finally, the location couldn’t have been better. I was within walking distance of most of the things I wanted to see. Plus there were several great restaurants, stores and a subway within a few blocks.

I enthusiastically recommend this hotel.

I was in the mood for Asian food so I tried Ten Pehn. I was really hungry and not particularly picky about where I ate, but that being said, I enjoyed my meal. The restaurant was not crowded and the service was quite good.

I ordered the crusted halibut and it was delicious. It was very tasty, the portion was healthy (large but not over the top) and the food was nicely displayed. I also enjoyed the dessert so make sure you save room. After an appetizer and entrée, I only had room for the sorbet. But several of the other choices at the surrounding tables looked fantastic. The desserts were particularly interesting to look at as well.

The layout of the restaurant was very open. It wasn’t particularly cozy (something seemed a little fabricated, although I can’t put my finger on it), but all things considered, it was fine if you are with friends. It felt like a chain restaurant for some reason.

All things considered, this is a solid choice if you want some decent Asian food. It is nothing special, but you can do a lot worse. You do a get a decent meal for a fair price.

If you are looking for a very hip restaurant, you should definitely try Zaytinya. When I heard it served Greek / Turkish food, I wasn’t expecting much from the décor. But I was mistaken. It had an exceptionally cool interior. There were high ceilings, white walls, pretty people, and many other interesting design details. I liked the place so much that I stayed for a couple of drinks after my meal and mingled.

Most importantly, the food was excellent. I thought the choices were unique and inventive. I had the beef pasta in feta cheese, an eggplant appetizer, and an excellent pita dish. The food was attractively displayed very tasty. The portions were not particularly large, but an appetizer, entrée, and dessert will fill you up.

I also appreciated the exceptional service. My waiter was very attentive and the host was very helpful when I asked him a few questions about the place. It was also nice that my hotel (Monaco) was only a few blocks away.

If you have the chance, you should definitely check out Zaytinya (particularly if you are looking for a fun night out on the town).

Below are a few more photos of Arlington. Arlington is the final resting place of over 245,000 servicemen and their family members. You cannot help but get a lump in your throat when you walk through the tombstones and see all of the young soldiers that died during various conflicts. Some are famous (i.e. Audie Murphy, General George C. Marshall, John F. Kennedy, Joe Louis) and others are obviously a bit more anonymous, but they are all brave soldiers who served their country. Make sure you go to the Tomb of the Unknowns and watch the changing of the guard. The tomb houses the remains of unknown servicemen from past wars. Also visit the Iwo Jima war memorial, Arlington House (a memorial to Robert E. Lee, whose land was taken to form Arlington), and a variety of other memorials commemorating tragic moments in history (i.e. the Memorial to the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger).

Take a moment and leave a flower on the grave of a fallen soldier. For me Arlington is personal because my grandfather (a WWII hero) and my grandmother were buried here. I always take the time to pay my respects and say a quick prayer when I pass through Washington.

This is a combo tour - part land and part water. You ride past and around the Mall and see all of the historic sites and memorials. Then you go to the Potomac and get the view from the water, which is beautiful, including a stop beneath the flight pattern of planes from National Airport.

Be prepared for some good insights, some corny jokes and a fun time (you have to have a little bit of sense of humour riding on the Duck tour). Allow 1 1/2 hours for the tour.

Since opening in 1993 this museum has been one of the top attractions in D.C. This museum provides one of the best and detailed chronicle of the Holocaust including the events surrounding and leading up to the horrific event. The permanent exhibit is divided into four sections:

The years leading up to the Holocaust: You will see perspectives and articles from events such as the book burnings, the Nurembourg Laws, the Kristallnacht, propaganda and more.

The Final Solution: This covers everything from the Jewish ghettos, mobile killing squads, deportation, and camp life. You will walk through rooms dedicated to whole communities that were eliminated (with pictures of the people), through authentic train cars that were used to transport Jews, an exhibit on medical experiments and a section on the equally gruesome plight of the mentally challenged under the Nazis and by a variety of narrated films, and articles from these days. Very powerful and moving and not for the faint of heart.

The Final Chapter: This section of the museum covers the rescuers, the Jewish resistance and the liberation of the Jewish people. It was nice to see that some people (at great personal risk) had the courage to help save many Jewish people. Unfortunately, you will walk away from the museum knowing that not nearly enough was done given the sheer numbers of people killed during the Holocaust.

Several Special Exhibits: A series of rooms allow you to see certain aspects of the Holocaust in more detail such as the Nazi Olympics, the Ghettos, and Daniel's Story (Remember the Children).

The Wall of Remembrance (the children): Over 3,000 tiles were painted by American children in remembrance of the children killed during the Holocaust. Very moving.

Hall of Remembrance: In this room you will find a flame that is always burning in remembrance of those who died that is meant to remind people to never forget what happened.

This is definitely a museum that everyone should see. I learned many things and will encourage everyone I know to go here.