This week I discussed a few of my favorite pictures that I’ve taken. Check out the store for prints and goodies!
Photography Memories | DC, Jellies, Locals Only
Category: Washington, D.C.
Tips and Tricks | Washington D.C. on a Budget
When I went to Washington D.C. for the first time Spring 2018, it was definitely one for the books. We only paid just shy of $350 for our hostel. And, yeah, I know that a bit much for 2 people for 3 nights, especially to be “on a budget,” but we got a private room, and believe it or not, D.C. is an expensive city. The dorm hostels sell their beds for about $30-$50 for the ones closest to the National Mall. There are a few that are less expensive, but further away. The Airbnbs are around $70 to $170 a night for the ones closer to the National Mall.
I recommend staying close to the National Mall and walking rather than using public transit. There are transit passes you can purchase if you do end up further away from the Mall. The day passes were around $15 when this was written. To me, that’s a little more than I would like to pay when I can walk.
Food is a different story. You can’t really save a lot of money on this trip by not eating! We ended up mostly eating at the convenient, refreshments stands located on the National Mall. They are pretty expensive though. We ended up sharing a lot of our small meals, but they were so tasty! The black bean burger was one of my favorite things we ate while in the city. Each visit to the stand ended up costing us about $15 for one meal: entree, side and drink.
Speaking of great food finds, there’s a gelateria in D.C.! Pitango Gelato Penn Quarter is a treasure! I had the pistachio flavor, and it made me feel almost as if I was back on the warm streets of Italy. Almost.
Now let’s talk about the sites. There are so many things to see in Washington. Everyone knows the big ones: the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial. Most of the museums, monuments, and memorials are free to see. The museums along the National Mall usually close around 5pm or so. They also count tickets for a lot of them, so be careful.
If you’re dying to see the Holocaust Museum, buy tickets ahead. There were folks who got in line 4 hours before they opened and still didn’t get tickets for the main exhibit. We also didn’t get tickets for the main exhibit, but the others were moving, as well.
For the most part, I think Washington, D.C. is not one of the more ideal destinations to go on a “budget” vacation, but it is possible if you know how and where to save. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on the blog. I hope I’m helping you make your travels affordable! 
Washington D.C. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Seeing the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. was one of the highlights of our time in the nation’s capital. The opening of the memorial is a gateway of sorts. It is two large rocks with a walkway through the middle. When you walk through them, the two rocks pillar off to the side, as shown in the picture below. There are walls on either side that have famous quotes of King’s engraved on them. In the center, a huge bolder stands with the impression of the great Martin Luther King Jr. standing with his arms folded over his torso.
It is definitely a sight to see, but there is a hidden MLK gem that you might miss, if you don’t know what you’re looking for…
This inscription is on the top steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking out to the reflection pool. The outline of the lectern that King stood behind to give the “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 is present along with the following:
“I HAVE A DREAM
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON
FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM
AUGUST 28, 1963″
Washington D.C. | The 4 Most Notable War Monuments
In this post, I wanted to highlight some of the architecture of the war monuments that are along the National Mall. I don’t believe these are all of them, for we did not make it to Arlington Cemetery at all, and I know there are more from the wars since the Korean War and before the First World War.
D.C.’s Monument to World War I
Dedicated to the men and women of Washington, D.C. who fought and died in the first world war. World War I lasted from July 28th, 1914 to November 11th, 1918. An estimated 9 million soldiers and 7 million civilians were killed, including those who were victims of genocide.
World War II Memorial
Dedicated to the men and women from every part of the globe that fought and died with the Allies in the Second World War. This war was fought from 1939 to 1945. The deadliest combat in history, it’s estimated that 50 to 85 million casualties occurred either during combat or as a result of genocide.
Vietnam Memorial
Dedicated to the men and women who fought and died in the Vietnam War. The conflict lasted from November 1st, 1955 to April 30th, 1975. The casualties of the war are estimated to be between 1.3 million and 4.5 million people.
Korean War Memorial
Dedicated to the men and women who fought and died in the Korean War. The Korean War was a conflict between North and South Korea. The US fought on the South Korean side of the war. It lasted from June 25th, 1950 to July 27th, 1953, and an estimated that 2.5 million civilians were wounded or killed in the conflict and another 180,000 or more are still missing.
Washington D.C. | The 6 Most Famous Monuments in D.C.
So, this week, I decided to highlight the pictures I got of the most famous monuments in Washington, D.C.. So in order, I will talk about The White House, The Capitol Building, The Supreme Court building, The Lincoln Memorial, The Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial.
The White House
When I saw the white house for the first time, I saw the back. I looked at it and remembered the scenes of shows like House of Cards and Scandal that were set on that balcony. I never really thought about the fact that this wasn’t the front of the white house. I don’t really claim to be anything like an expert of D.C., but this idea of the back being what I recognize more was recurring in D.C.
The Capitol Building
The Capitol building was another of the iconic buildings that I didn’t recognize as much from the first side I viewed. I believe a big reason for this is because the inauguration usually takes place on the Eastern steps, and I saw the opposite side of the building.
The Supreme Court Building
The Supreme Court Building is the home to the highest form of the judicial branch: the supreme court justices. It was really cool to see the outside of this building. So many important decisions are made here. I did not get the opportunity to go inside, however.
The Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is one of the biggest tourist attractions in D.C. Abraham Lincoln is still adored by this country for being the President that lead war to free the African Americans from the South.
The building is very large. It is made of one large center room and two smaller side rooms. The side rooms have engravings of the Gettysburg Address and the dedication ceremony for the Soldier’s National Cemetery. There is also a bookshop off the northern room. It is very small and has a lot of memorabilia.
The Washington Monument
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what it is like to be at the top of this beauty. It was closed for renovations until the next spring. It was taller than I thought it would be. It was also a lot closer to The White House than I expected. It almost reminded me of the towers that were built by the Italians in the providences when they were still separate governing entities.
The Jefferson Memorial
My girlfriend and I like to walk around and see everything we possibly can, so we circled this monument. It was such an amazing structure. When you enter the center of the dome, the air is cool and refreshing. It’s almost as if there is a light breeze that creates a calming, serene atmosphere.
So, there are some of the monuments I saw in Washington, D.C., but this is by no means the only ones I saw. D.C. is full of American history and monuments that tell the stories of the United States. I highly recommend that you travel to the nation’s capital, and every nation’s capitals.
Washington, D.C. | The Longest Serving President of the United States
On our vacation to Washington D.C. in April of 2018, we saw many monuments and memorials. D.C. is rich with architecture and design. It’s a gorgeous city, and a a popular tourist destination. Since it is the capital of the United States, this is no surprise. We all know the famous ones: The Washington Monument, The White House, The Lincoln Memorial, The Jefferson Memorial, etc.
But there are countless more memorials that are lesser known, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t just as important and beautiful. One of the ones that really impressed me was the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, located about midway along the Tidal Basin between The Jefferson Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
It’s basically a set of 4 South Dakota Granite and bronze rooms with 21 famous quotes and statues telling the story of Roosevelt’s 4 terms in office. It was opened for the first time in 1997, and is a really stunning memorial that deserves as much appreciation as The Washington Monument.
President Roosevelt, in his first term, dealt a lot with the effects of the Great Depression. He is known for the creation of the New Deal, which was a series of acts that created institutions such as Social Security and the “Alphabet Soup” of different government agencies (FERA, PWA, CCC, AAA, NIRA, etc.) which were meant to stimulate and repair the broken economy of America in the 30s. 
During his second term in office, Roosevelt and America were both still feeling the effects of the depression, but everyone could also see that things were getting better. Roosevelt had won re-election by a landslide. Until the end of this term, the US stayed neutral about the German aggression in Europe. America was busy repairing the economy, improving the unemployment rate, and increasing average wages.
His third term was dominated by World War II. The most famous quote from that era is “I hate war.” Plain and simple from a wise president.
In my opinion, this was the most impactful and thought-provoking of the term rooms.
When Roosevelt was re-elected in 1944, it he set the record for the longest reign as United States President. After his presidency, an amendment was passed to limit the terms for president to 2 terms. President Roosevelt suffered from polio, and the presidency took its toll on his health. By 1945, his health was detrimental, but this was a secret to the general public. His death shook a nation. His legacy is written in American history. Today he is considered to be one of the greatest presidents that America has ever had.
Washington, D.C. | Peak Cherry Blossom Blooming in 2018
When you go to Washington, D.C., there’s one thing that no matter where you go on the National Mall, you will see: The Cherry Blossom trees.
So where did this gorgeous collection of pink trees originate? Are they native to D.C.?
Actually, the original 3,000 cherry blossom trees were a gift from the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, in 1912. In 1910, there was a first attempt to get 2,000 cherry blossoms, but the trees did not survive the journey. So, 2 years later, with the help of Dr. Jokichi Takamine (chemist and founder of Sankyo Co., Ltd.), Dr. David Fairchild (U.S. Department of Agriculture,) Eliza Scidmore (National Geographic Society), and First Lady Helen Herron Taft. The gift was meant to honor a long friendship between Japan and the US. The gesture has been reciprocated to and from Japan a few times over the years.
Every year, there is a festival in the spring to honor these trees and the kinship of the US and Japan. The Cherry Blossom Festival began in 1927. The first ladies have historically been involved in some way to the yearly festivities. It has grown and expanded a lot. Today the festival is about 4 weeks long and hosts around 1.5 million visitors!
So, what about your pictures?
Well, my collection of Cherry Blossom pictures are shown in this post. We went to D.C. the first week of April. As a result, we were in D.C. for the peak day, April 5th, 2018. D.C. in early spring is cold and rainy, but that didn’t stop these gorgeous trees from impressing this photographer. They really make the perfect frame for photos.
I hope you like them.
For more information on Cherry Blossoms or the festival, click here.
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