Business Trip to Washington D.C.

Although this was a work trip, I made time each afternoon to walk around a bit, snap some photos, and visit some of the great sites that the city has to offer and see some of the great artifacts that this country was founded on. After the first days work, there was plenty of time in the afternoon to go to the National Archives to see the Charters of Freedom, which are more commonly known as the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights. That was an incredible feeling to see these documents up close. After workday number two, I toured downtown and the National Mall area where I saw the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, and then the White House. I didn't take official tours, just a walking tour on my own. It was still very fun though and good exercise I might add. Day three was an early day and I had plenty of time to sightsee before my flight out so I had a prearranged tour of the U.S. Capitol building where I got to observe some Senate Floor debates and also received a full tour of the building. That was absolutely awesome.

So, these were the things that made a business trip more fun that it should have been. I would suggest these mini-trips to anyone stopping off in D.C.

Quick Tips:

Wear some good walking shoes as you will need them. Many of the sites in D.C. are close enough to walk to, but these walks will still not be really short distances, even with coordinating with Metro. Hydrate and also utilize the late afternoons when things cool off substantially.

Another tip is to consider using Reagan National Airport to fly into and out of D.C. This is very convenient due to the Metro stop at the station and the airport is not overly huge like many others in the U.S. or Europe where you can literally become lost between/before/after flights.

Best Way To Get Around:

Use the Metro! Washington has a very good Metro system that can get you within walking distance of most all of the major sites that will interest you. In addition, make sure that you have a map of the area that includes the Metro stops where you can coordinate these mini self guided tours with the stops for the least amount of walking.

Luckily, there are plenty of food coaches sprinkled downtown that you can hit while running around to grab snacks or water to keep you going.

If you have read any of my other journals, you know of my affinity for Germany and the cuisine due to my wife being from there. So naturally, I sought out a German restaurant while I was in D.C. The one that I found did not disappoint. Actually, there were quite a few, but I opted for this one on the side of Capitol Hill. The menu was not overly extensive to the point that you could not make a decision. I quickly narrowed my choices down between two meals and then asked the waiter for his recommendation between the two. I ordered the Jägerschnitzel with spätzle and had a liter of Warsteiner on the side. The food was absolutely great and was very authentic. The waiter was very good and did not hover, yet covered my needs quickly. The meal was a little bit expensive, but I suppose for the D.C. area, it is not out of line.

Unfortunately, I did not have much room left for dessert as they had an excellent selection that I would've loved to take a taste of.

I highly recommend the Cafe Berlin for anyone in the D.C. area around Capitol Hill as I believe that you will enjoy the experience and the food very much.

I had to see the Declaration of Independence. That was a must see since I was going to be in D.C. Due to the age and condition of the documents housed at the Archives, light is kept at a minimum at just two candlepower. Very dim, but it has to be that way. If you have a camera that you can use without flash, you can snap photos and they will turn out, but you won't get much detail and they will be very dark.

But seeing the Charters of Freedom is worth more that what the pictures won't show. The Charters also include the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Although they are aged and not in good condition, they are something that you should take the time to see. I believe that their condition is even more reason to see them as you wonder how much longer they they will be viewable. But just the thought of being that close to the manuscripts that set into motion the creation of this country is an amazing feeling. Being inches away from documents handled by the original leaders of this nation is enough to make any American proud.

This tour is definitely worth taking the time to do as you can always say that you did see the Charters. There are a few guides who give a little bit of information, but for the most part, the tour is self-guided.

In addition to the Charters there is much more to see. However, I became a little pressed for time and had to leave. I would suggest to take at least an hour and a half to explore this site, more if you're planning on doing research in the archives below.

I will go back again when I visit D.C. again.

While I was in D.C., I had a prearranged tour of the Capitol Building. This was very interesting. The inside is very ornate and filled with history, as well as statues. There are two statues per state on exhibit and this gives the place a museum feel to it.

If you have the time, I would also recommend observing the proceedings on the Senate Floor or the House of Representatives to see you tax dollars at work. Quite an eye-opener to say the least. You will take away a belief that any pay raise that you ever receive from that day forward is warranted after you see these groups in action. But all kidding aside, it is fascinating to watch the ceremony and tradition unfold in front of you as these timeless rituals are played out.

When you reach the Rotunda, you will notice the large pieces of artwork that signify major events in the Nation's history. Looking up, you will see the Freize, which chronologically dates the history of the continent from Columbus to the Wright Brothers as it wraps around the base of the inner dome.

In the old hall between the Rotunda and the House of Representatives Chamber notice the acoustics of the room. This was where all business took place in the early days of the U.S. and if you scan the floors, you will see brass plaques that designate where famous former members of Congress had their seats such as Lincoln and John Quincy Adams.

Walking out to the western side of the Capitol to the balcony, you will get an excellent view of the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial, famous from pictures.

A visit to the Capitol is definitely worth the time and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting D.C.

Setting at the west end of the National Mall, this monument is one awe-inspiring tribute to one of America's greatest Presidents. Deceptive in its size, from afar, it does look large, but as you get closer, you are struck by the size of the seated statue of Lincoln and the inside of the memorial itself. Words from Lincoln himself are set into the walls on either side of the statue from his Second Inaugural Address as well as the Gettysburg Address.

Listen while inside the memorial though and you will hear silence lest the footsteps of those around you. Solemn in its tribute, the memorial begs for silence as its tribute to the man known as Lincoln.

Upon walking out of the memorial, you are once again struck by an incredible view only possible in D.C., yet seen in hundreds of movies. That is the view of the Washington Monument and WWII Memorial to the east looking back toward the U.S. Capitol, all of which reverberates in the Reflecting Pool. So incredible is the view that you might miss the inscribed mention on the floor of the outside of the monument that indicates where M.L. King Jr. gave his "I have a Dream" speech in 1963.

Truly not a site to be missed, the Memorial is also within walking distance of the WWII, Vietnam and Korean War Memorials and Washington Monument.

One of the newest Memorials in Washington D.C. having only been dedicated on Memorial Day 2004, the WWII Memorial is a beautiful tribute to the men and women who served and to those who died in the greatest struggle in the 20th century. Ground was broken for the Memorial in September 2001 at the former site of the Rainbow Pool and construction was completed three years later.

At the center of the Memorial is a pool with a fountain in the middle and granite opposing arches on either end. The North Arch is dedicated to the Atlantic Theater of the war and the South Arch is dedicated to the Pacific Theater. With pillars for every state and U.S. territory that committed troops to the fighting, the monument, though simple is a great testimony to those who fought and died in the war. In fact, there is a wall that is solely dedicated to those who dies with 4,048 golden stars adorning it, one for every 100 American deaths in the war with a motto,"Here we mark the price of freedom."

I found the Memorial to be a very fitting tribute to America's Greatest Generation that won the war. Somber in mood and treated as such by those who visit, it is a powerful reminder of what occurs when we do not fight against aggression, repression and tyranny in the modern world until it is too late.

I highly recommend the World War II Memorial for a visit to reflect on that historic war and its repercussions.

Dedicated in 1995 to the men and women who fought in the first U.N. combined effort in Korea, the Memorial is a eerie and stark reminder of our involvement in the Korean War. The main portion of the monument is nineteen stainless steel figures that represent the four services in a "patrol" type set-up as if moving through the field. Each statue is over seven foot tall and weigh over 1,000 pounds apiece. The details in their construction, especially the facial features is what makes them almost speak to the viewer though. Wearing ponchos and almost stalking forward, the statues are very powerful and moving. From the back, it is interesting to see that it almost appears as though one of the soldiers on patrol seems to be looking up toward the Washington Monument.

To the south of the field of nineteen is a black granite wall 164 foot long with sandblasted images of those who served in the U.N. efforts. Fighting to be seen through the sunlight and dark granite, the faces and figures of those who served can be made out as ghostly apparitions in the background.

Where the two parts of the monuments come together is a silver inlaid reminder, "Freedom is not free" at the base of the American flag. If you walk just around behind the wall, there is also a small reflecting pool.

Very nicely laid out and presented, the Korean War Memorial is a great tribute to a war that is sometimes forgotten.

I highly recommend visiting this memorial if you have the opportunity.

Dedicated in 1982 to those who served and died in the Vietnam War, The Wall has been nicknamed "the wall that heals." Set into the ground and rising from the Lincoln Memorial end to the its plunge back into the ground at the Washington Monument end, the black granite wall is a modest and profound memorial to the Vietnam veterans, both alive and dead.

With over 58,250 names etched into the black granite, the wall constantly has people looking for and shading names of friends and family off of the wall onto paper as a reminder of their sacrifice. Perpetually lining the bottom of the wall is flowers, pictures and letters to those who lost their lives in the conflict left by friends and family.

Just to the south of the wall is another portion of the memorial, the statue and the flagpole. These are symbolic of the men and women who served and the country and they served under in that region. With excruciating attention to detail, you can almost see the sweat run off of the faces of the soldiers in the statue.

I highly suggest seeing the Vietnam War Memorial. To me it seemed so much more personal than did any of the other war memorials. Perhaps this was due to the amount of people that were stopped at the site taking it in or maybe it was the individual names, but it is a very power memorial despite the simplicity of its construction.

One of the most recognized and most visible monuments in the Washington D.C. area, the Washington Monument stands over 555 foot tall between the National Mall and the Reflecting Pool. Construction began in 1848 from white marble quarried from Maryland and Massachusetts, the Monument was completed and opened in 1888. Named after the father of the country, many people thought that the effort was an attempt to deify the first President of the country. Although it wasn't, the monument is testimony in its size and prowess to many of the qualities that Washington exhibited.

Peeking over the building scape of most of Washington, the monument really does look over the entire city from its location to the south of the White House. With fifty flags ringing the base of the monument, it is truly dedicated to the states and people of this great nation as well.

Some of the best views of the monument can be seen from the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials.

I would highly recommend visiting the Washington Monument if you are in the D.C. area. I would also suggest that you get there before 4:45pm, so you can take the elevator to the top and see the views of Washington. I, unfortunately did not arrive in time and was not able to do so, but from on-line, the views are incredible.

The National Mall in Washington D.C. is a wonderful walking tour that you can take without having to pay for a tour service. With nice weather in the spring and fall, it is also a way to get some exercise while on vacation or business.

There always seems to be something going on at the Mall. Whether it is simply other walkers and joggers or preparation for a festival or concert, the Mall consistently attracts attention. The views that you will see of many of the major D.C. landmarks are enough of an endorsement though.

Although approximately 2.5 miles long from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, if you make a morning or afternoon of the walk, you will be amazed with what all you can see in a very short period of time since there are a lot of Monuments and Memorials just off of the Mall's beaten path. Close enough to see from the walking tour is the Lincoln, Korean War, Vietnam and World War II Memorials, the Washington Monument, Ellipse and White House, Smithsonian, National Art Gallery and Air and Space Museum, and the U.S. Capitol.

That is definitely too much to take in in one day.

I would say the only drawback is that there isn't a Metro station very close to the Mall itself with the closest being the Federal Triangle.