There are many fun and interesting things to do in Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia. The region is truly a gold mine of things to experience. This blog offers information, ideas of things to see and do, history, fun facts and observations through photos. You also might find some adventures from the eyes of a resident and frequent tourist. If you can't find the information you are looking for, please try the blog's search feature for other posts. Thanks for stopping by!
Our family likes to take regular day trips from the D.C. area, usually within a 2-hour driving range. Last summer we finally made our way into Maryland, east of D.C. With so much history and nature to see, I have a whole bucket list of places I want to go in that region.
Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to delve into the history since we were on our way to points north but we did spend a few hours exploring nature. We decided our stop would be in Stevensville, Maryland at the Terrapin Nature Area. I'd always wanted to visit Kent Island and thought we could at least see this small corner of it.
Totally worth the stop! This was in August and it was pretty balmy out, so I'm thinking a spring trip might be fun to do. We parked our car (there is ample parking) and set out on the trails. There are a few different ones posted on the signposts near the parking lot and we took one of the longer ones that led us through both wooded and marshy areas with lots of wildlife spotting opportunities. We spotted many different kinds of birds, dragonflies, crabs, fish and a few other critters too.
The trail we took also leads to the beach area on the Chesapeake Bay. It's a narrow strip of beach and offers stunning views of both the bay and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Tip: Take a photo of the signage before you set out or have a map opened on your phone, we didn't see much signage on the trails and actually had gotten a little lost, meaning we'd taken a longer path than we'd intended. It was totally worth it but being so hot (upper 90s that day) and with plans to head right back on the road we originally didn't plan to be out that long.
The park is open from dawn until dusk. General admission and parking at Terrapin is free. The park is across the bay from Sandy Point State Park (which is on the Annapolis side) - I've never been there but if you're headed that way you might be able to see both, according to Google Maps it's about a 7-mile ride.Definitely a trip I'd like to revisit in the spring. Fall is probably very pretty too.
In western Fairfax County you can find the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Sometimes I take a ride over just to take photos and enjoy this little beautiful area sandwiched in between the noise of civilization (traffic, Dulles Aiport, etc.). In January I stopped to take a walk around the pond to see if I could spot any birds or other wildlife. No such luck that day, however, the winter reflections in the water were so pretty so I took a few shots. It was unusually quiet that day and a peaceful, albeit brisk, walk (it was cold!)
The park
is a fab place to visit in the spring, summer and fall. We've seen
frogs, birds, turtles, snakes and all sorts of critters once the weather
warms up. There are some trails located behind the pond backing up to
Route 28. Over at Cabell's Mill there are also some walking areas and I
think behind the Visitor's Center too but I haven't explored those yet.
Oh, so many places to go!
Additionally, the county/park
offers "campfire talks" on different topics throughout the year. We
like to go to the ones at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and learn about different animals and take the short
nature hikes. Always a fun and interesting time.
The winter season of 2016-17 has been a weird one.
This year's unusually warm February brought early blooms of bulbs and the cherry blossoms were on their way to an early bloom as well. The peak prediction for the blossoms down on the Tidal Basin was originally set for March 14-17 and then, as the cold weather pushed in, that prediction was pushed back to March 19-22.
That second prediction still stands as of this morning on NPS' website but after the storm that brought on heavy icy rain and some snow over the last 48 hours, some of the local TV stations are reporting we may not even see a peak this year. I suspect the park will share more news in the next day or two once the full damage is assessed. Today is forecast for the temperatures to be hovering around the freezing mark, but those wind gusts are expected to be strong. So not looking good. One news report this morning did leave a speck of optimism though, so keeping fingers crossed! Either way, the annual Cherry Blossom Festival will carry on! It starts today and will run through April 16. For more information about the history of the festival and what there is to see and do, I invite you to visit my earlier posts: Guide to the National Cherry Blossom Festival
Spring in Washington D.C. is synonymous with cherry
blossoms. Every year locals and visitors alike flock downtown to
see these magnificent blooms. Often coinciding with spring break, cherry blossom season is one of the busiest times of the year in our nation's capital.
Many people come not only to see the gorgeous views, but to
take photographs of these incredible trees. (More than 3,000 cherry blossom trees are here!) Here are some of the best places I’ve found to take photos:
1. Tidal
Basin
This probably goes without saying because, if you’re on the path walking
around the Tidal Basin, you’re going to get some nice photos from almost every
angle. If time permits, I recommend setting enough time aside to walk the entire
path. If you're lucky enough to be visiting during peak (the best time for cherry blossoms in DC), you can't go wrong getting shots anywhere here.
As you circle the Tidal Basin, you’ll get different angles and views. It's tempting to hang around other spots (Washington Monument and also along Maine Avenue) that have lots of trees, but as you travel closer to the Tidal Basin, it's really worth it to walk down and see the real deal.
2. Martin
Luther King Jr. Memorial
Several angles near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorialoffer opportunities to take some nice photos
of the monument with the blossoms it.
Another reason I like this spot is right before you arrive at the monument (if
you are walking from the festival area) is that the fallen petals start to
collect in the basin and you can get some pretty shots here.
3. Jefferson
Memorial
The Jefferson Memorial is a popular spot with many people. It’s a great place
to sit and take in the views. For photography, you can see the entire basin and
take the distant shots that show the full scope of the magnificent trees. After
sitting on the steps, you can get close up and personal with some trees. In this area is a dark pink tree that I usually like to take some shots of because
there are fewer of these around the Basin, the majority of them are light pinks
and whites.
4. Franklin
D. Roosevelt Memorial
Another spot where you can get some nice shots is by the FDR Memorial. I
like to try to capture the Washington Monument with its reflection in the water
with the surrounding cherry blossoms.
Additionally, some wonderful
opportunities present themselves for close-ups and other angles. Once you pass the FDR Memorial
and continue around the basin (walking towards the Jefferson Memorial), there
are some “sweet spots” here. As you get closer to where you need to cross Ohio
Dr. SW to get to the Jefferson Memorial you can get real close and personal
with the blossoms and frame the Jefferson Memorial (and its reflection) with
flowers.
5. Independence
Ave. SW
I’ll be honest, I had to look this up on the map in order to
try to direct to the right spot since I rarely drive in this area. Independence Ave. SW runs through (in a
circle) and basically cuts off a small part of the Tidal Basin. It’s not an
unknown spot, but you can typically get some lovely angles away from the
crowds, along with the gorgeous reflections there are to see.
6.
Bonus shots
It is common for other flowers come into bloom at the same time
as the cherries in the DC region. Over by the George Mason Memorial, the blend
of pink magnolias and yellow forsythias are truly gorgeous. Also, the National
Park Service (NPS) has a pretty tulip garden between the Tidal Basin and the
center of the National Mall. Sometimes the tulips aren’t ready yet, but there
are some years they are out in full bloom.
If you go to see the
cherry blossoms on the weekend, it’ll be harder to get clear shots because of
the heavier crowds that tend to visit. If possible and fits into your schedule, try to go on a weekday instead. I have gone down on the weekend and
experienced chaos just trying to get on a train and once there, it’s sometimes
difficult to move around, especially if the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington aligns with peak blooms (the festival is fun in itself but not the ideal time to get the best shots). Being local, I typically opt to head down on a weekday
for a few hours. It’s still typically busy, but I’m usually able to get some
good shots. I tend to get downtown around 10:30-11 a.m. (after the morning rush I’ll
hop a Metro) and stay for a few hours. However, I’ve also gotten downtown
around 4 p.m. and stayed through until sunset.
Ever since I started my "fun facts" series, I've had the idea of doing a piece about Nationals Park. Now with spring training on the horizon, I'm seriously starting to have baseball on the brain.
Baseball in Washington D.C. finally made its way back, now celebrating more than a decade of a District-based professional MLB team. For 30+ years the city was without a pro-baseball team, but that was rectified in spring 2005 when the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals. The team was first slotted to play at RFK Stadium with a future stadium planned. In 2008 the Nationals finally got its own digs and it’s a beauty. Having baseball in Washington DC is a special thing.
We're big baseball fans in my family and usually try to get to at least a few games a year. Located in Southeast D.C. in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, the state-of-the-art stadium is large and very clean. It's also conveniently located near the Navy Yard Metro station.
Want to know more about Nationals Park? Read on.
10 fun facts about Nationals Park
1. The stadium cost more than $611 million to build. It is owned by the Lerner Family, who are natives of the District.
2. The park opened for the spring 2008 season and can hold more than 41,000 spectators. Depending on which source you read, the figure varies. I’m not clear if the higher numbers include standing room areas, but generally, it’s in this range.
Jordan Zimmermann, no longer with the team, takes the mound a couple of years ago. Ryan Zimmerman, then 3rd baseman, now plays 1st base.
3. The field dimensions are as follows – the left field is 336 feet, center field is 402 feet and right field is 335 feet. The left and right center fields are respectably 337 and 370 feet each.
4. Kentucky Bluegrass makes up the field. According to MLB.com, the three types that make up the field are Princeton 105, Brilliant, and Midnight Star.
5. A lot of dirt needed to be excavated to bring the park to realization. More than 34,000 truckloads carrying a total of 340,948 cubic yards were removed. The main concourse of Nationals Park is at street level and the playing field is 24 feet below.
Team mascot "Screech" spotted before a game
6. There are lots of cool things to see if you have time to kill before the game, such as taking a walk around the stadium’s concourse. Lots of eateries, shops, and photography opportunities are to be found. Additionally, there is an exhibit called, "Baseball Americana" with history shared by the Library of Congress. The exhibit opened in April 2015 and will run indefinitely.
7. The stadium is simply called “Nationals Park”. At this time there is no corporate sponsor reflected in the park’s name.
8. The park is family and kid-friendly. The Nationals organization likes to keep things “clean” and appropriate for all ages. There is also a play area for the kids to enjoy. Not to mention the President mascots are often found wandering around doing meet and greets with fans.
The 4th inning Geico-sponsored Presidents' Race is a popular highlightduring any Nationals home game.
9. In the spring 2008 opener, the Nationals played the Atlanta Braves (Nats won 3-2). Then a rookie, now team veteran, Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off homer in this game. The seat is now marked in blue.
In 2015, the Washington Post reported that going forward the Nationals will be marking historic or long-distance home runs with different colored seats and small plaques. In places where the homer doesn’t land on a seat, a plaque will be placed.
2015 MVP Bryce Harper hit two historic homers in 2014 that are now marked. The first was a third level bomb and the second happened in Game 1 of the NLDS that year.
Fielder Jayson Werth also hit one of those historic homers. His 2012 bomb landed in the bullpen during Game 4 of the NLDS and is marked with a plaque.
10. In summer 2018 Nationals Park will host the All-Star Game.
To date, the Nationals have yet to go to the World Series or make it past a division win. However, they’ve won a remarkable three NL East Division titles in five years (they seem to be on an every other year pattern), the first being in 2012. If things go as they have the past several years, this would be an off year. But then again, who knows! This might be the season they buck their previous trends and take it all the way to the end. I hope so. Either way, I know I’ll be watching!
Over Christmas we went to see ICE! at the Gaylord Resort, located in the National Harbor. It was a great day! Since this was our first time down at the Harbor, we spent a little time walking around after our ICE! tour.
It was chilly out, but not too cold, especially considering we were down by the water. This is definitely a place I'd love to revisit when spring arrives. Looks like there is plenty to explore at the National Harbor. Here are some photos I took that day:
For years I've been wanting to go see ICE! down at the Gaylord National Resort, but every year for one reason or another have been unable to go. 2016 was finally the year! We went the day after Christmas and got there around 11:30 a.m. Fortunately, we were able to get an entry time within the hour. This year's theme at the National Harbor resort was "Christmas Around the World". Luckily we had dressed warmly, so between that and the parkas the resort hands out before going into the exhibit, which is just 9 degrees, for the most part we were OK (our faces were a little cold though!). Since the event is over, I'll do a fuller review next fall, but I did want to share some photos from 2016 now since it seems there is a different theme each year. This is only a small sampling of the sculptures to be seen at an ICE! show, but it does highlight the beautiful work and craftsmanship that goes into each carving. Photos are shown in order we saw each sculpture.
