United States
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DC in Bloom: Best Places to See Spring Flowers in Washington
There’s something about the season of renewal – springtime is my favorite! After months of early sunsets and cold weather, it’s so exciting to see signs of the warmer weather ahead. Every year I look forward to peeping cherry blossoms and flowers in the city! Below are my recommendations for best spring flower highlights in Washington, DC. If planning a visit, check out my recommended local hotel pick. Magnolias Bloom Timing: Mid-March Enid A. Haupt Garden Closest metro stop: Smithsonian I might love tulip magnolias even more than cherry blossoms! Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian castle is a beautiful place to enjoy these stunning trees. The timing…
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DC in Bloom: Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Washington
The National Cherry Blossom Festival brings more than a million visitors to Washington, DC each year! Although it gets crowded, the cherry blossoms have always been a must see for me. If visiting from out of town, check out my recommended local hotel pick convenient to the National Mall. Below are my favorite places to see cherry blossoms in Washington, DC: Tidal Basin Closest metro stop: Smithsonian Yoshino cherry trees are the iconic light pink blossoming trees surrounding the Tidal Basin. These trees were originally gifted to the US by Japan as a symbol of friendship in 1912. Unfortunately, not many of the originally gifted trees remain. (Does anyone…
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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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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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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 Washington, 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…
