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5 Reasons to Visit the Library of Congress Jefferson Building
The Library of Congress Jefferson Building is one of the most beautiful buildings in Washington, DC! There are plenty of reasons to visit this library, but here are my top five: It’s Free! One of the best things about Washington, DC is its plethora of available free activities and visiting the Library of Congress is no exception! Entry is free, you just need to reserve a timed entry pass before you go. See the LOC website to reserve your timed entry. Note: the weekend passes can book out in advance so try to plan ahead if you can! The Library of Congress also has staff throughout the building available to…
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Day Trip from Rotterdam: Kinderdijk Windmill Village
Kinderdijk is a village just up the river from Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. While staying in Rotterdam, I took a day to travel to Kinderdijk and explore this iconic windmill village. The majority of Netherlands is actually below sea level and the Dutch have been successfully managing water for centuries. You can learn about the Dutch water management systems and take in the beautiful windmills of Kinderdijk! You can walk or bike around Kinderdijk for free, which a lot of local families do on a nice day. There is a path along the water with windmills on either side. Even on a cloudy day,…
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Hiking Bearfence Mountain Trail on Skyline Drive
Hiking Bearfence Mountain Trail on Skyline Drive I recently spent a girls weekend in Orange County and we wanted to do a nearby trail. My friend suggested the Bearfence Mountain trail loop on Skyline Drive. Located in between the Swift Run Gap entrance and the Thornton Gap entrance, Bearfence Mountain Trail Loop is a one mile loop that partially overlaps the Appalachian Trail. The trail is quick but fun with several rock scrambles. It is not dog friendly so leave your furbabies behind for this one. The views atop the main rock scramble are absolutely spectacular! Due to the rock scrambles, you will definitely want to wear appropriate footwear with…
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20 Lessons I Learned in My Twenties
20 Lessons I Learned in my Twenties As I enter a new decade, I have been reflecting on all the life changes that my 20s have brought! Thinking back over the last 10 years it is crazy how different life looks at 30 compared to 20. I think this is one of the most drastic periods of change – transitioning from an adolescent fresh out of teenage-hood to a full blown adult. It’s been quite a journey and I am very grateful to be where I am. I have had many pivotal moments over the last decade: studying abroad in Paris at 20; being an exchange student at UVSQ at…
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Christmas in DC: Top Festive Ways to Celebrate the Holidays
I can’t believe it is already about to be Christmas already – this year has flown by! There are lots of fun things to do in DC to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season. Here is my list of festive ways to celebrate the holidays! National Christmas Tree I always said the National Tree used to be the ugliest Christmas tree when they used net lighting, making it look like a cone. They seem to have done away with the nets though and it is much better! The National Christmas Tree is a must see during the holiday season, surrounded by smaller trees for each state decorated with ornaments created…
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Day Trip from DC: Harpers Ferry
While looking up trails and parks in the area, I came across Harpers Ferry! Harpers Ferry is located right where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers converge at the corners of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. It’s just over an hour away from Washington, DC by car or by train making it a super easy day trip. Harpers Ferry feels like a town frozen in time. The town is well preserved with 19th century buildings and is full of history! Harpers Ferry was witness to the first successful American railroad, more than 5 civil war battles, and the abolitionist movement! Harpers Ferry National Historic Park has various museums where you can…
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A Guide to Leaf Peeping near Washington, DC
The leaves changed a bit later this year but it’s official! It is leaf-peeping season! Here’s my guide to leaf peeping in and around Washington, DC. National Mall The National Mall is always a great spot for a stroll or a run. In the fall, it’s a nice spot to check out the changing trees. You won’t find super bright trees on the mall but the golden glowing trees will still get you in the fall mood. Walk towards the Capitol and there are some bright maples scattered around with popping color both on the East and West side. Rock Creek Park I recently posted about hiking in Rock Creek…
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Biplane Ride in Northern Virginia
During our honeymoon this summer, my husband wanted to book a ride on a small plane to go to one of the remote islands off the coast of Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, as they were recently reopening there were limited options so we ended up taking the ferry. Since my husband was all hyped about the small planes, I was inspired to look up small plane flights in the area for a surprise birthday gift. Lo and behold I found an even cooler option than a simple small plane ride – a ride in a 1941 biplane! Biplanes are the early plane models with two pairs of wings. When searching local…
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Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience in Washington, DC
If you haven’t already seen ads for the Van Gogh Immersive Experience, this crazy exhibition is currently in 10 US cities and 4 European cities (a few locations already finished the exhibition). In Washington, DC the exhibit is showing through January. We just recently visited the exhibit and I highly recommend snagging a ticket before it’s too late! I am a huge Impressionism and Post-Impressionism fan so Vincent Van Gogh is an easy favorite. When in Amsterdam, I visited the Van Gogh Museum which features a huge collection of his work as well as excerpts from his many preserved letters. Similar to the Van Gogh Museum, this exhibit features a…
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Hiking Rock Creek Park in the Fall
Rock Creek Park is one of my favorite parks in DC! Founded in 1890, the park is located in the upper NW quadrant of DC. Within its 1,700 acres, this park offers more than 32 miles of trails, as well as open areas for gatherings and picnics. In my opinion, the best part of Rock Creek Park is obviously Rock Creek!! There are trails on both the East and West side following the creek from Miller Cabin down to Boulder Bridge. You can also follow the creek on the East side all the way up to Boundary Bridge on the border of DC and Maryland. I usually drive to Rock…
