Wednesday, August 10, 2011

5 Family-Friendly Places to Visit: D.C. Edition

Sure, it gets a bad rep in the press, but Washington, D.C. is actually a really beautiful place that also just happens to have politicians living in it. It's also an extremely tourist-friendly destination. 
Whether you're new to town or planning a trip, you will eventually visit the Washington Monument, the Air & Space Museum and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Below, are the five places you must visit to get the D.C. experience and really have something to write home about.

Established in 1927, the United States National Arboretum is composed of 446 acres of land with over 9 miles of roadways. Whether you're a nature buff, a budding botanist or just an outdoorsy type of person, the Arboretum has something for you. 

The National Capitol Columns- USNA website

Wherever you choose to go, you'll find something beautiful and interesting but the Bonsai & Penjing Museum, the National Capitol Columns and the Azalea Collections are specially noteworthy. 
Like almost everything in region, the Arboretum is metro accessible, but you'll really want to have a friend bring you or event rent a car so that you can explore more. Wear comfortable shoes as you'll probably walk a lot and be sure to pack a lunch. There are plenty of eating areas where the whole family can rest and absorb nature.

Admission to the Arboretum is free. It closes only December 25th. 

Paddle boating on the Tidal Basin is a great family activity that will keep you busy for an hour without making too much of an effort. If you've never been before, you should know that it is not as easy as it looks, so it can also be a good bonding exercise. If you're the competitive type, get two boats and race in the safety of the Basin while enjoying people and monument watching.


In summer, be sure to bring water and a hat. 
Prices for Summer 2011 are $12/hr for a two person boat or $19/hr for a four person boat. Closes for Winter after Columbus Day.

3. Get lost in the stacks of the Library of Congress
You don't have to be a bibliophile to appreciate everything the Library of Congress has to offer. Not only does the LoC offer an extensive collection, it also host tours, concerts and more. Show up during visiting hours to take one of their free tours or check out their calendar of events to catch a special show. 

Library of Congress
Creative Commons: saturnism

Admission to the Library of Congress is free.

4. Take a break in the Kogod Courtyard
Housed in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, the Kogod Courtyard is a beautiful space on its own right. While you are there, you'll want to visit the National Portrait Gallery and the adjoining Smithsonian American Art Museum. Both are filled with one of a kind works and stories. 
The Kogod Courtyard itself offers a respite in the city's Penn Quarter, just a few blocks away from the National Mall. Just sit at one of the tables and enjoy a respite from your vacation.

Kogod Courtyward
Creative Commons: cliff1066™

Admission to the Kogod Courtyard is free. Wi-Fi available.

Did you know that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is open to the public on daily basis? The architecture of the center itself is worth a visit, but the Kennedy Center also offers free tours and free programs on its modern Millennium Stage. World-class performers often perform on the Millennium stage and future scheduled performers include Charles Covington Jr., Beauty & Melody Orchestra of Sichuan, and the International Young Artist Piano Competition.

Creative Commons: Kyle Rush


Admission to Kennedy Center tours and Millennium Stage performances are free. 




Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Why Travel? Perhaps You Owe It to Yourself

It seems a bit entitled to say something like "You owe it to yourself to travel." After all, we are in an economy that is poised to recover...until it isn't and then it's back again. Taking trips is becoming more and more of a luxury. But, if you love to travel, nothing could be closer to the truth than "You owe it to yourself" because it's during the tough times that we realize what really matters.
Remind yourself of why you do what you do.

Like most people I know, I could go on ad infinitum about my financial debts, those costs we must all pay to have someplace to live, a car to drive to work, etc., etc. The debts that keep popping into my mind, however, are the debts I've accumulated in my travels. I don't mean credit card or similar debts. I am talking about debts I hope to pay back the more I travel, my debts to my fellow travelers and to those places I've been to.


This method I have of linking personal debt and travel actually came from my mother. For someone who loves to travel, I don't need the fingers of one hand to count the number of trips I've taken abroad. Two years ago, even traveling in the US was something I planned for, but never found the time to pursue. Then, in a casual conversation with my mother, I heard her say, "You owe it to yourself to see the world." Maybe I'd eaten breakfast that day or gotten eight hours of sleep the night before, but something clicked when she spoke. We'd had this same conversation a thousand times before, but perhaps never phrased quite that way. 


Since then, I've taken road trips and side trips. I've visited two countries and am working on more. In these trips, I've managed to reward myself with new horizons and have picked up more debts: I owe nameless strangers and new friends for the hospitality they've shown me and their willingness to share. I owe Colombia for showing me that most of what is told about it is outdated and irrelevant. Colombia today is a vibrant, growing country. I owe Montréal for making Canada feel truly far away from everything I'm used to and living up to its reputation.
 
Depending on the scale of your travels, you might find that traveling can indeed be very costly. If you travel to NYC for the shopping, even Chinatown can add up. But, if like me, you travel to learn, experience and just see, then traveling isn't very costly at all. Visit NYC to soak in the pulse of the city, try the croissants in Montreal, make it a point to see new museum exhibits or go kayaking in a nearby park. All those trips await, you just have to decide whether you owe it to yourself or not.



Traveling, even on a small scale, has altered my definition of what it means to owe and to spend. I now have a very clear concept that while I (like most people) work to meet my financial obligations, one of those obligations can be to myself and my desire to travel, to see more of the world. Even if it means 'traveling'only a few miles, making the effort makes everything else worthwhile.


Note: This past weekend, Longshot magazine challenged me to phrase my view of debt and owing. This post, longer than almost everything I've shared so far, is the result. Thank you for reading!

B77HHRVGBNZ8Longshot