If you ever want to feel both extremely poor and extremely powerful at the same time, may I suggest a visit to the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. I went in July of 2019 with my boyfriend (important detail, hold onto it), ostensibly because I like rocks. Which is true. I do like rocks. But not in a “I know Mohs hardness scales off the top of my head” way. More in a “this shiny thing has been on Earth longer than capitalism and could still crush me emotionally” way. This hall is pure spectacle.
Category: Tourism
Dinosaurs In DC: The Most Elite Thing You Can Do With Your Time
Let’s clear something up immediately: If you go to Washington, DC and skip the dinosaurs, you didn’t “do DC.” You just walked around outside looking at buildings like a Victorian child with no indoor enrichment. The dinosaurs are indoors. The dinosaurs are free. The dinosaurs are the best thing in this city. This is not an opinion. This is a travel truth. The Smithsonian Fossil Hall Is a Flex The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils is one of those places where you walk in and instantly think, Oh, I should have blocked off more time for this and fewer minutes
July 4th, 2019: The Best Firework Show I Never Saw
It took me awhile to finally post about the Fourth of July, but I DID IT. Eventually. (I mean, it’s only six years later). We love a delayed sense of patriotism. This was the Fourth of July 2019, and it was supposed to be special. Celebrating our nation in the nation’s capital had been sitting on my bucket list for years. I imagined fireworks, history, vibes. What I did not imagine was tanks and a very aggressive “Salute to America” announcement turning the whole thing into a political spectacle. But listen. I did not care. I was there for the fireworks. I am
The Lincoln Memorial: The Most Dramatic Stone Dad in American History
If the monuments in Washington, DC were a family, the Lincoln Memorial is the dramatic eldest son who moved to the big city, became philosophical, and now sits in the corner silently judging everyone. In other words…my kind of guy. I’ve been to a lot of monuments, but the Lincoln Memorial hits different. Maybe it’s the solemn glow from the marble. Maybe it’s the vibe of “we’ve gathered here to reflect on democracy and also take a hundred selfies.” Maybe it’s the fact that the man himself is sitting there with the world’s most iconic “I’m not mad, I’m just
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The Most Uncomfortable Selfie I’ve Ever Tried to Take
There are places in DC that feel like postcards. The Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, even the Washington Monument which is basically a very patriotic exclamation point. And then there is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which does not want to be your postcard. It wants you to sit down, shut up, and look directly at yourself while contemplating 58,000 names of people who never got the chance to overthink their outfit for a casual Tuesday. Which, rude. But also necessary. My Very Bad Attempt at a Nice Photo I went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with perfectly normal tourist intentions. Take
Why the World War II Memorial Is the Most Powerful Monument in DC (and Maybe Ever)
Listen. I’ve seen a lot of monuments. The Lincoln Memorial is dramatic, the Washington Monument is a literal and figurative point of pride, and the Jefferson Memorial has that “philosopher-king” vibe. But the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.? Hands down my favorite. Ever. No contest. Here’s why this one hits different. First, the Basics Completed in 2004, the World War II Memorial sits smack dab between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, like the quiet middle child who actually holds the whole family together. It honors the 16 million Americans who served during the war, the more than 400,000 who died,
The National Portrait Gallery: Where Presidents Go to Be Judged by Lighting and Vibes
You know you’ve reached a certain level of power when your face gets immortalized in a portrait that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Where lighting, brushstrokes, and historical trauma all come together under one very expensive roof. The Gallery is basically America’s yearbook, except instead of embarrassing prom photos, you get artistic interpretations ranging from “timeless statesman” to “hungover at a Chili’s.” Let’s talk about the highlights, shall we? Abraham Lincoln: Classy AF Lincoln’s portrait radiates the kind of quiet, tortured gravitas that says, “Yes, I abolished slavery, and I’d still remember your birthday.” He’s draped in
The Smithsonian American Art Museum: A Roasting in Oil Paints
If you’re in D.C. and want to feel both deeply inspired and mildly haunted, the Smithsonian American Art Museum is your jam. It’s like wandering into America’s attic: some pieces are gorgeous heirlooms, some are historical oddities, and some are the kind of thing you stare at for five minutes wondering if you’re the problem. Spoiler: you’re not. Let’s break down some of the highlights. The Seasons of Life: Your Entire Existence in Four Frames The Seasons of Life paintings are so beautiful they should honestly come with a warning label: “Will cause an existential crisis by the third cavas.”
I Accidentally Time-Traveled in Washington, D.C.: Ford’s Theatre and the House Where Lincoln Died
So, here’s the thing about history: sometimes you read about it in textbooks, nod sagely, maybe even ace a quiz on the date, and then promptly file it away in your brain’s “Random Trivia for Jeopardy” folder. But sometimes (if you’re very lucky), you stumble into the actual physical space where it happened. And that’s when your brain short-circuits because the ghosts of the past are suddenly real estate you’re standing in. That was me at Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House (aka “the house where Lincoln died”). Spoiler: I was so dumbfounded that I completely forgot to take pictures at the Petersen House. Whoops.
The National Air and Space Museum: Where Nerd Dreams Take Flight
There are museums you go to, and then there are museums you experience. The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. is firmly in the latter camp. This isn’t just a building full of dusty artifacts. It’s where the Wright brothers’ sketchy little plane rubs elbows with a freaking space shuttle. It’s where you suddenly find yourself whispering, “Okay fine, humanity has done some pretty cool things.” The Vibes Walking in, you’re immediately hit with the kind of awe that makes you want to slap your own face and say, “Remember this moment!” Planes dangle from the ceiling like oversized mobiles, rockets stand upright