Washington, D.C. during Cherry-Blossom Time

The highlight of my visit to Washington, D.C., was the spectacular sight of the cherry blossom trees around the tidal basin in full bloom. We happened to be there during the Cherry Blossom Festival. For information about the festival, see this link.

I also very much enjoyed the Marc Broussard concert at the 9:30 Club. (If you're not familiar with Marc Broussard, I would highly suggest giving his music a listen. Check him out at this link.)

Washington, D.C., also has a wide array of restaurants to choose from. Just about any cuisine you can think of can be found somewhere in D.C.

The collections housed in D.C.'s various museums are not to be missed, but just can't be covered in one week's time.

And, of course, just being in D.C. - our great country's political home - is a highlight in itself.

Quick Tips:

My first suggestion is to wear COMFORTABLE SHOES.

My second suggestion is to try to plan your visit when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It is quite a sight to behold.

My third suggestion is to spend some time in the city's great museums. Our visit to D.C. lasted one week. A person could spend all week just visiting one of the amazing museums the city has to offer. And they're all free of charge.

Best Way To Get Around:

The D.C. Metro makes getting around the city a snap. D.C.'s Metro is super clean and very well kept compared to other metropolitan areas that I've visited. We purchased a 7-day metro pass for that allowed for unlimited rides during our stay. For information about the D.C. Metro, click on this link.

Staying at this hotel was a suggestion by my travel agent. With three people sharing a room, it was suggested for its "suite" style. Our suite had a kitchen, living room area, bathroom, and bedroom with two queen-size beds. The extra room was nice, with three people sharing the space.

The property was in a quiet residential area close to George Washington University. The area felt safe for nighttime walking. It was only a short walk to the Foggy Bottom Metro station.

The property was clean and up-to-date. The front-desk staff was, for the most part, friendly and helpful. The doormen were extremely friendly. Some sort of reservation mix up delayed our check-in for a little bit, but it all worked out okay. There was a complimentary breakfast on the weekends. For additional information about this hotel, visit its website by clicking here.

My group headed out to Jaleo for dinner after reading about it in a travel guide. Trying Spanish cuisine was intriguing to me. A friendly greeting was right inside of Jaleo's door. The interior is spacious and modern, with windows looking out onto the streets.

We were promptly seated, and our server appeared promptly. Drink specials were pointed out, and I settled on the red-wine sangria, which was excellent. Our server asked if we were familiar with the tapas concept and thoroughly explained it for our benefit. Tapas (or shared appetizer portions) was what we settled on. Jaleo's tapas menu is divided into three sections - cold, hot, and combination. Our server seemed happy to make suggestions. There were three in my party, and we decided to order six tapas (so as to save room for dessert!). Our choices included marinated grilled vegetables, potatoes with cheese, pork loin, shrimp, scallops, and portabella mushrooms. Each tapa was brought out as it was prepared, not all at once. Every item was delicious and had a beautiful presentation. For dessert, I ordered the flan. I also ordered an orange liqueur, which was suggested as an accompaniment to the flan. The flan was rich and creamy, and the liqueur was strong.

You can check out Jaleo's website by clicking here.

We stumbled upon this restaurant at lunchtime one day while walking in the Dupont Circle area of D.C. The front window booth provided us with a nice spot for lunch and a place to rest our weary feet. The location is cozy, not big at all. The interior has a colorful eclectic vibe to it.

I ordered the Australian wrap. When it was brought to the table, I was shocked by the sheer size of it. It was huge! And there was quite a flavorful combination of ingredients - moist roast beef, blue cheese, roasted peppers, and onions with a cream-cheese spread. The wrap came with fries, but the server allowed me to substitute a salad - which was fresh and tasty. My girlfriends had the 8-ounce burger and the Monte Cristo sandwich. Both were large portions and received compliments.

Chipotle is a chain restaurant that I've seen in larger cities than my hometown. Despite seeing a few locations over the last few years, I had never actually tried one. I'm normally not a fan of chain restaurants, but the modern, upscale look of this tiny eatery intrigued me.

This location is in the Dupont Circle area. We decided to stop in here for a quick bite of lunch one day. The restaurant was very busy. In fact, we had to wait a few minutes for a table to clear.

I would describe Chipotle as upscale fast food. You go in, get in line, and have your meal custom-made. The menu is very simple. First, you must decide the "form" of your lunch. There are three forms - burritos, tacos, or a burrito bowl. Next, select a meat of your choice - chicken, pork, beef, or veggies. Next, settle on a freshly made salsa of your choice and other toppings.

The food is quick, inexpensive, and high quality.

We visited this Dupont Circle area restaurant for dinner one evening at the suggestion of a local on the subway. She gave this restaurant rave reviews, and I thoroughly agree with her.

Shortly after giving our server our drink order, he brought out a basket with a variety of fresh-baked breads. To accompany the bread, there was a delicious olive spread. We happily munched on this while reading La Tomate's extensive menu. I ordered a Caprese salad, which came prepared the traditional Italian way with fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. Topped with a splash of balsamic vinegar, the salad was flavorful and fresh. For my entrée, I chose one of the evening's specials - lobster ravioli with a black-truffle cream sauce. It was excellent! The delicious salad and entrée left no room for dessert, but I did sip on a cappuccino while chatting with my friends.

The wait staff was friendly and attentive. We had two gentlemen serving our table of three. La Tomate had a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere despite the fact that the restaurant was completely full.

The only thing that sort of surprised me about this restaurant was the wine list. It was quite small.

Check out La Tomate's website by clicking here.

We stumbled into this unassuming Dupont Circle-area shop and were pleasantly surprised by what was inside - jewelry, every type of bead and bauble you could imagine, and a small selection of lady’s accessories. Bedazzled appeared to mainly be a supply store for those making their own jewelry, particularly beaded jewelry. There are beads everywhere you look! There are some loose and some already strung to common lengths - necklace and bracelet lengths. This shop is a must for those interested in jewelry making.

See http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/.