No visit to Washington DC would be complete without a visit to at least one or two of the Smithsonian museums.  The Air and Space museum and the Museum of Natural History are two of the more popular of the museums, but don’t overlook some of the smaller art museums.
The Freer Gallery and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery make up the Smithsonian’s Asian Art museum, and can provide a well-rounded look at some art often over-looked.
The Freer Gallery is location on the National Mall at Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW, and was the first Smithsonian museum dedicated to …read more

Here are my top recommendations for a fall shoulder season vacation.  These are listed in no particular order, and you could have an amazing time in any of these locations.

San Francisco – Always an expensive city, but fall starts rolling in a few more cloudy and rainy days, making it a bit cool when the sun goes down.  The days are still lovely, and the evening’s cold, crisp air, is not unbearable.  The city looks different this time of year, and it’s in a good way.
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Disneyland – If you can justify taking the kids out of school for a …read more

Located 16 miles south of Washington DC, Mount Vernon, the estate of George and Martha Washington, sits atop an undeveloped area along the Potomac River.  The Washington’s acquired the estate in the mid 1700’s, and George oversaw the development of the estate, from design through furnishings, even while he was off fighting in the Revolutionary War.
Whether he was a control freak, or just didn’t trust Martha’s judgment, I’m not sure, but the results are most impressive.  Today Mount Vernon is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is open to the …read more

Washington DC’s Phillips Collection was one of the country’s first museum of modern art, opening in 1921 in what was the home of Duncan Phillips.  From its inception with merely a few paintings, the collection has grown until it moved to a larger space and officially became a museum.
At its current location among the brownstones of Dupont Circle (1600 21st Street NW, on the corner of Q and 21st), the Phillips has two buildings full of art and a outdoor courtyard for sculpture display.  The permanent collection includes works from American and European impressionists, post-impressionist, and modern artists.  You’ll …read more

Since I don’t have a money tree growing in my backyard, a visit to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the closest I’m going to get to the source of money.  They’ve even named their website Money Factory.
The “money factory” is located in Washington DC and Fort Worth, Texas, and it’s here that all the Federal Reserve notes are printed.  They also engrave all the White House invitations, and print other security documents.  These are the folks that really can show you the money.
FREE tours are offered at both the DC and Fort Worth location.  You’ll see a …read more

Enjoy viewing the sights and the  colorful gardens around the Netherlands Carillon, on the Virginia shore of the Potomac River.  This spot borders the northern end of Arlington National Cemetery (adjacent to the US Marine Corps War Memorial), and overlooks the District of Columbia.
Among thousands of tulips on the grounds, along with lots of other flowers,  is a bell tower — a carillon — that was a gift to our country from the Netherlands.  There are 50 bells in the carillon, the largest about 7 feet in diameter and weighing in and over 12,000 pounds, and the smallest measuring …read more

Don’t let down time at an airport get you down.  If you have downtime at Dulles Airport (Washington DC), you can visit the Steven F. Udvar- Hazy Center, companion museum to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (located on the National Mall).  Between the two museums, the Smithsonian offers the largest aviation and space collection in the world.
Udvar-Hazy is full of exhibits that you may find familiar, including the Enola Gay, an Air France Concorde, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the Gemini VII space capsule, and the quarantine unit used for the returning crew of Apollo 11.   There are …read more

Throughout Barack Obama’s campaign, I read many stories about the quilters who were making quilts and wall hangings to commemmorate his run for the Presidency.  Now that Obama is President Elect, these quilts take on more significance.
An exhibt has been organized in Washington, DC for the Inauguration.  Check out Kyra’s post at Black Threads, Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of Our 44th President for more details about time and place.
For more about Obama and presidential quilts:
Club captures presidential race in unique quilt
East St. Louis quilter selected for inaugural exhibit
History attractions prepare for inaugural in DC
(Whether you agree or disagree with Obama as President, …read more