The DC Traveler

The 2008 National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC will be lit this evening, Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 5:00 p.m.  It is the last time the tree will be lit by President and First Lady Bush.  Next Christmas, President Obama will have the honors.
Tickets went fast for the event, but the grounds will be open to public 24-hours through January 1, 2009.
Besides the National Christmas Tree, visit the Pathway of Peace, with decorated Christmas trees from each of the states and U.S. territories, along with the National Yuletide Log.
The grounds are illuminated each evening from dusk until 11:00 p.m.  …read more

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Honing his craft as a street mime and clown for years in both the U.S. and Europe, and after joining his first of two European circuses in 1984, David Shiner later became a featured clown for two and a half years in Cirque du Soleil’s 1990 production of Nouvelle Experience.
Fast forward 18 years later and he’s directing Cirque du Soleil’s latest production to visit Washington, DC, KOOZA.  He also wrote and created the production, which opens October 30th, 2008 at the new Nation Harbor.
I had a chance recently to chat with David about the upcoming production of KOOZA. …read more

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On a warm night on August 28 in 1963, the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom rally in Washington, DC drew over 250,000 people to the National Mall.
After the march, which ended at the Lincoln Memorial, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic 11-minute “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps. 
This march was initiated by the vice president of the AFL-CIO, A. Philip Randolph.  Other groups supported the march, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the NAACP, the National Urban League and other civil rights organizations. Yet the march was not totally supported by all …read more

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For over 200 years, the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC has been the seat of American government and it’s open to the public for guided tours only.
The Capitol’s 500+ rooms serve both the House of Representatives and the Senate, plus staff.
On the third floor, when Congress is in session, visitors with passes can watch a couple minutes the proceedings where lawmaking, speech making, voting and typical partisan posturing occurs.

Afterwards, visit the Rotunda, with frescoed paintings of major events in American history, the Crypt, and the National Statuary Hall (rub the the shoes of Will Rogers for good luck). And …read more

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Today marks the the 39th anniversary of Apollo 11, the first manned space mission to land, walk on and safely return from the moon. 
About a month before the historic moon landing, I met the three Apollo 10 astronauts, John Young, Thomas  Stafford and Eugene Cernan on their national tour. They had just completed the final rehearsal for the moon landing.  Their mission was to circle the moon’s surface in both the Command Module and the Lunar Landing module (LEM), and conduct photographic surveys for a good landing site for the Apollo 11 mission.
Just two months later, on July 16th, …read more

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Just 90 minutes from downtown Washington, DC is one of the areas most interesting, amazing and “coolest” (a constant mid-50s temperature) attractions – Luray Caverns in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley.  A quick road trip is the perfect family weekend activity.

Discovered in 1878, Luray Caverns are the largest underground caverns on the East Coast and a Registered Natural Landmark. 
The 1.25 mile walking tour (paved walkways), takes you about 16 stories deep into the earth and winds through pristine and natural underground caverns, including the massive, 10-story tall Giant’s Hall.
 
The path traverses through a few tight passageways with …read more

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The National Aquarium at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is one of the best aquariums I’ve ever visited.  It’s up there with some of the world’s best.
And as I mentioned couple days ago, I visited Baltimore with my niece and nephew recently and while there, we also toured the aquarium.
The 2 million gallon aquarium is home to over 600 species of fish, rays, sharks, and other marine life, including birds, penguins, amphibians and reptiles.
The aquarium is split into several major sections and levels. Some of the more interesting include:

Atlantic Coral Reef -  This area is most children’s favorite stop, as they get …read more

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I love taking day trips to Baltimore.  It’s less than 90 minutes from Washington, DC to downtown Baltimore and there’s always tons to do. 
Recently, my college-aged niece and nephew visited me from the West Coast and we took a day trip up to Baltimore.  We visited the National Aquarium, (which I’ll write about in a couple of days), and also the impressive Body Worlds 2 exhibit, at the Maryland Science Center at the Inner Harbor.

The exhibit is not for the squeamish, but a must for anyone interested in biology, physiology or how the human body works.  The exhibit displays …read more

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How can you not enjoy strolling the National Mall in Washington, DC DC, on a sunny day when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom?

Image – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti
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The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Washington, DC. Despite recent cold weather and rain, the trees are showing their all their beauty.
And the cold hasn’t stopped people from bundling up in winter clothes and lining up to rent a paddle boat on the Tidal Basin either.
So far this Spring, the high temperatures have been sticking between 45 and 55 degrees, a near 30 degree drop from the balmy temps last year, when highs cracked 80 degrees and made for comfortable touring.
This weekend, the temps should reach highs into the 60s, with Sunday being the only …read more

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