We don’t travel to many cities on this trip, primarily because being a solo city-goer with a dog really limits your experience. So instead of dwelling on it, I stick to things we love which means outdoor adventures. But this time around, we are staying with friends in the beautiful state of Maryland so that means, Franklin gets a nap and I get a free day to adventure!  After some long discussions about the best way into the city, it was set, I was going to also have my first experience taking the metro, alone, with a transfer! This may not seem like much to those of you that do this often but remember back to your very first time… I was a little nervous but mostly excited!

With texted directions on which train and which direction and where to go in my hand, I set off… D.C. or bust!

For something so mundane to most people, it was pretty exhilarating and as my first “real” visit to our nation’s capitol, I was even more excited. I sat there pretending to be a solemn local, hiding any expression. I envisioned climbing the stairs out of the metro station to the National Mall and getting to the top and there, in all her glory would be a glowing and patriotic White House surrounded by speakers singing the Star-Spangled Banner on repeat as our American flag flew with grace.

I made my transfer successfully (Yes)! Then the stop, Smithsonian… I climbed the stairs as my head whirled with excitement, I got to the top… CONSTRUCTION, horns honking and a chain linked fence. Ok maybe it wasn’t what I was imagining but it was still amazing. I walked passed the Washington Monument, climbed the stairs to the Lincoln Memorial, walked along the wall of names of lives lost at the Vietnam Memorial, and stared at the statues of soldiers at the Korean War Memorial. I walked and walked, seeing as much as I could in my small window of time. I saw the White House from very far away and no, they don’t play the Star-Spangled Banner on repeat. I saw the Capitol building and the National Sculpture Garden. Every building was grand and every street was historic.

I only had time for one museum so I chose the Air and Space museum and spent two hours learning about the history of flight and seeing really cool stuff, like the Command Module from Apollo 11.

It was a great day and I was exhausted as I slumped down in my seat on the Metro and headed back to the house. Mission Accomplished!

See all my pictures here

(Note: we ended up going back to see the Natural History museum as well, thanks friends, both awesome museums)