Thanksgiving in Washington D.C.

This past Thanksgiving was the first year I haven't been able to make it home to eastern Washington. It was a sad time...considering how almost all of my family on my dad's side of the family convene at my aunt and uncle's house.

As I started to plan my Thanksgiving in NY, I quickly found out that all of my good friends were leaving town! AHH...so I had to act fast! I decided that I too should leave town! I remembered that one of my good friends from high school was back in D.C.! So I figured there would be no better time to go visit, hang out with an old friend and see D.C. (I'd never been there before!).

So Thanksgiving Day, I boarded a train from Penn Station heading to D.C. Unfortunately I had chosen a 7am departure time which made me have to wake up at 4am to make it there on public transportation! Yeah, public transportation is amazing most of the time...but every once and awhile a car would be so handy! As I was walking from the train to the station...I got to experience a little bit of the Macy Day Thanksgiving Parade. Well, at least I got to see all the crazy people standing outside of Macy's at 6am!

Anyways, I made it to D.C. by 10ish and Jessi came and picked me up! Later that day she toured me around Fairfax Virginia. I got to see where she went to school, at GMU, and a lot of the country side! After a long and stressful fall, I would have to say it was VERY great to see an old friend!

We spent Thanksgiving at her friend's house. They were AMAZING cooks and the food was incredible! I had a great time! Her friends were really great! Through Jess, they learned of my soccer skills and tried to recruit me for the kickball team. Supposedly they are #1 in the nation and travel all over for tournaments.

The next day we went into D.C. and walked around a bit. We walked past the White House and to George Town, which is the cutest city ever! And ended up eating in China Town. She also drove me to Alexandria, which is also a super cute city!

The main street in George Town

A super cute side street in George Town. It was a gorgeous time of year to visit because of all the leaves changing color!

An old street in downtown D.C. with the huge modern building behind. It's crazy when the old meets the new like that.

Me in front of the White House

The White House

China Town in D.C.

Coble stone street in Alexandria

One of the days, Jess had to be in class most of the day, so I took the subway into Washington D.C. to walk around the Mall and see all the historical stuff. I walked past the Washington Memorial all the way down to the Lincoln Memorial, stopping at the World War II and the Vietnam Memorial along the way.

The Washington Monument

Looking up the Washington Monument

Looking down the Mall towards the Lincoln Memorial from the Washington Memorial.
(You can see the World War II Memorial in the foreground.)

The World War II Memorial

The side of the memorial dedicated to the Pacific. Below it was names of some of the largest battles...see below.

My Grandpa fought on Okinawa...

The Lincoln Memorial

Good old Lincoln

The reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial.

The Vietnam Memorial. So simple...yet so moving.

Vietnam Memorial

I also made it into the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and the Bills of Rights. It was very cool to see those old documents...but rather difficult to fully appreciate them as you were swarmed by other people trying to get a glimpse.

The Newseum...I couldn't resist LERA did the structural design for it.
Unfortunately I couldn't go in...it's not open yet.

A small sculpture I liked outside of the Art Museum.

I also walked up to the Capital, through the Botanical Gardens and to the Library of Congress. It really was a great afternoon. Oh, I also wandered through the Art Museum and quickly walked past the impressionist paintings they had (my favorites).

The U.S. Capitol

The Capitol again...

An orchid in the Botanical Gardens...I took this for you dad!

Outside the Botanical Garden there was this coolest little train track set up with bridges and all!
I thought it was super cool!

The Library of Congress

The ceiling of the Library of Congress...it was a beautiful building!

The rest of the weekend entailed of me and Jess just hanging out and relaxing. It was a perfect Thanksgiving and weekend get away!

Here are some other great pictures of D.C.

From the Capitol looking down the Mall.

Again looking down the Mall.

The Capitol at Dusk...the sky is beautiful! I had such amazing fall weather while I was there!

The Capitol at Night. Quite impressive I will say.

Washington Monument at Night