DC Trip: Food and Hotel

Come on, did you think I was going to recap a trip without including where we ate and stayed? If so, you clearly haven't read many of my posts! As always, we made a point to research some good dining options and we also tried something new. 

For our lodging, as opposed to paying something like $200 a night for a hotel room, we went onto the website AirBnB, searched for rooms in DC during the time we would be there, and booked something for less than $100 a night! If you've never heard of the website, it allows people to post listings for a spare room/house/trailer/whatever to those visiting their city and AirBnB handles the logistics of communication and payment. There are many checks into both the renter and rentee's backgrounds and all of the communication goes through AirBnB website. We read a plethora of reviews prior to choosing the room we did and they were a great help in helping us narrow down the choices. Overall, we really enjoyed our first experience!  

Our hosts were Stefanie and Taylor and they couldn't have been nicer! Even though they were moving that weekend we were there, they made sure we had everything we needed and helped us with our touring. They live really close to a Metrorail stop so it was very convenient for getting to the attractions we wanted to visit. We stayed in their spare bedroom and bathroom and also had access to their kitchen, which was great for breakfasts! 

The bed was so comfortable!

If you recall, I mentioned when we first got back that we now have a close connection to a former presidential candidate. Well, apparently Taylor worked as Newt Gingrich's financial manager for his 2012 presidential campaign. Though the campaign did not go so well, Taylor is still working for the Gingrich's as the CFO of their company. So that was cool-- regardless of one's politics it is neat to know someone who literally works for a former presidential candidate! 

We also ate really well. I'll spare you more text and just give you the food pictures :)

Our first dinner was at Old Ebbitt Grill-- SO GOOD

Appetizer of the pork belly tacos

My crab cake

Matt's pork chop

Our amazing dessert- chocolate chip bread pudding

Our deep dish pizza from District of Pi Pizzeria

When we visited Georgetown, we ate at Clyde's. I really enjoyed this salmon salad.  

Matt's steak

Our peach crisp, made with locally-sourced peaches

Before we left for the airport, we enjoyed Sunday brunch at Founding Farmers 

My Crab Benedict. Yes I took full advantage of having
fresh seafood available to me

Matt enjoyed his Whipped Blueberry Butter Pancakes, with a side of sausage.
These pancakes were definitely amazing- very light and flavorful! 

One of the cool things I liked about the restaurants we visited is they all had many if not all ingredients locally-sourced. They also had many more healthy options for quick lunches then you see here in Texas. As someone that wants to eat well and healthfully while traveling, I really appreciated that!

DC Trip: Arlington National Cemetery

Along with touring the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonians, we made a point to head over to Arlington to the Arlington National Cemetery. We got there right when they opened and we able to walk around the grounds mostly alone. There really are no words to describe our visit so I'm going to be brief save for some pictures. If you have been, I'm sure you remember the awe and respect you felt. From the changing of the guard ceremony to the Eternal Flame marking President Kennedy's grave, it is truly a unique place to visit and remember the history of our country.

By the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

By the Arlington House (the residence of General Robert E. Lee),
overlooking Pierre Charles L'Enfant's grave and DC. Very fitting for
the city planner of DC to be buried overlooking the city

By President Kennedy's gravesite

The Eternal Flame, looking up back towards the Arlington House

I'm sure I sound like a broken record but I highly recommend going to see this. Go early to avoid the crowds and take your time to walk around and look at the 'big' things like the changing of the guard as well as the rows upon rows of graves. It is great to escape the hustle and bustle of the National Mall area and think about the significance of what our service men and women did for us.

DC Trip: The White House

Along with making plans to tour the Capitol and the Supreme Court, when Matt & I first found out we were going to DC I quickly contacted one of our congressmen's offices and requested a tour of the White House. While nothing exciting happened and we didn't meet see any major political players, it was still one of the highlights of our trip! It was really interesting not only from a historical point of view, but also a security perspective as well. You are not allowed to bring any bags with you into the tour (pretty much only wallet, cell phone, and keys) and you're still searched relatively thoroughly. 

The tour is self-guided through several rooms of the White House and you aren't allowed to take any pictures. However, you can totally take a virtual tour here if you want to see the rooms we went into. It was so awesome knowing you're in the same room our past presidents have been in. For instance, several of the presidents' family members were married in the East Room. Several items in the rooms were owned by the first few presidents. It was just cool taking it all in! 

This was right after our tour. As soon as you step out the
back of the White House, you are free to take pictures.

Though we won't do it again unless it is during the Christmas season, I recommend taking the time to tour the White House at least once. It is truly cool to see and it is worth the time and effort!

DC Trip: The Library of Congress, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court

So prepare yourself, this is going to be a lot of pictures! I arrived and met Matt in DC on Thursday and then Friday morning we got up to be at the Library of Congress for opening at 8:30 AM. We were the first ones in and got to see the amazing building when there was no one else in it. It was definitely beautiful and it was especially cool to see the Reading Room. One day I will get to go in there and do some research, just have to figure out what! The LOC also has some really interesting exhibits, including one on Bob Hope, and a copy of the Gutenberg Bible.

Almost felt like I was back in Europe

Just stunning

The Reading Room

The Gutenberg Bible

After our tour of the LOC, we headed over to meet up with our tour guide for the tour of the US Capitol! Several months ago I had arranged through our congressional office tours of the White House, Supreme Court, and the Capitol. A few days prior to the trip, I get an email offering us a private, staff-led tour of the Capitol. If you get a chance, I highly recommend you take them up on this offer. We had an intern show us around parts of the Capitol the 'big' tours don't get to see and it was excellent getting to skip the lines, too!

The next few pictures were taken prior to our tour of the LOC,
around 8 AM, hence why there aren't throngs of tourists :)

Now inside the Capitol, this was the Supreme Court Chambers from 1810-1860

A replica of the Magna Carta 

Now THIS is what made the staff-led tour especially awesome. This is from the
Speaker's Balcony. That larger balcony below is where the president makes his Inaugural Address.

Inside the dome

The Old Senate Chamber from 1810-1859

And finally we went to the Supreme Court! This was more interesting than I expected and we learned all sorts of cool things about this building. Did you know it wasn't built until the 1930s? Until then, the Supreme Court met in the Capitol.

You could take pictures looking into the chambers but not once you were inside.

We were able to enjoy a rather informative 30-minute 'lecture' on the history and architecture of the Supreme Court. Again- highly recommend it if you're able!