Washington, DC Day 1- Diners, Planes & A Night on the Town

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who left kind notes and encouragements about my big announcement last week.  Even though I know leaving WLOS for now is the right thing to do, it’s still been hard to actually go through the motions.  Your continued encouragement means the world to me.   I feel so incredibly blessed to have the support of my family, friends and so many viewers and readers.  I’ve read every comment, they are all so kind and hold a special place in my heart.  I’m a little behind on all the e-mails and questions, but I will catch up.

I have so many blog posts ideas ready for when I start making Running in a Skirt my prime focus and I can’t wait to share them with you.  Stay tuned, dear readers and viewers, there are good things to come!  This is just the beginning.

Washington, DC Trip

The hubs and I spent this past weekend in Washington, DC visiting with my best friend Sarah, her hubby Andrey and her sister Beth.  I'm so glad we had a little trip planned the day after my last post on leaving WLOS.  It gave us a chance to get away from the uncertainty of leaving my job and focus on some fun time together.  Sarah and her hubby are moving in early Fall to Brazil for at least two years, so I am trying to spend as much time as possible with them before they leave.  And yes! I'm hoping to visit her in Brazil and blog about it when the time comes.

On our trip we went a little overboard trying to fit things in (I know, big surprise,!) but there is so much to see and do in the DC area that is hard to budget any down time.  I kept asking myself, “Do I want to sleep in or see the space shuttle and an original Degas painting today?”  It wasn't really a question in my mind.  See the Degas.

I'm going to separate our trip into days, giving each day (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) it's own post.  Some of the highlights are the original Wright Brothers Flyer, a stealth aircraft, the monuments at night & some beautiful French Impressionist paintings!

Day 1

Silver Diner

After arriving on a delayed flight late Thursday night we wake up early Friday a little tired, but anxious so see Sarah and the city!

My bestie Sarah & her hubby Andrey---->

Sarah and Andrey luckily start work around 10 AM so they have enough time to take us to breakfast before work Friday.  They know we like to eat well and thought of the perfect way for us to start our trip.

They suggest a yummy place called Silver Diner which has a fresh and local spin on classic diner fare.   The hubs and I split a vegetarian Huevos Rancheros…

…and the most divine, rich banana chocolate chip French toast ever.

It is a take no prisoners breakfast!  We have a wonderful time catching up and eat enough to go into a full sugar coma.

After breakfast Sarah and Andrey go on to work for the day and the hubs and I make our way to the Metro station to go to the National Mall.

We are staying in Arlington, VA and decide we don't even want to try to drive and park in DC.

Neither of us are very familiar with using the metro, but with a little help we figure out how to get a farecard and where to wait.  I sometimes feel like such a country girl on transportation like this and totally out of place.  It always makes me a little nervous to be so far underground, but the DC metro is pretty clean and not too eerie!

Air and Space Museum

Once in DC we walk to the Air and Space Smithsonian Museum.  The hubby and I are huge aviation enthusiasts and can't wait to explore.

We see the original 1903 Wright Brother's flyer.  It amazing me how light and flimsy it looks.

Would you be willing to be the first one to try to fly in this?

The original Wright Brother’s propeller

A motorized glider that “flew” a short distance even before the Wright Brothers

The Spirit of St. Louis

 

 

 

The first German jet fighter

My favorite plane: The plane Amelia Earheart flew solo across the Atlantic.  Her story has always fascinated me and how she was a pioneer for women in aviation, science and beyond.

Who me fly? Yes Please!

The hubs favorite is this super fast plane.  It is the fastest plane ever flown by a pilot and that record will most likely never be touched because it is too dangerous.  It is dropped off of another plane at high altitudes.

By Midday my hubby is loving the Air and Space Museum so much that he insists we don't waste any daylight time to leave the museum for lunch.  I'm not a huge fan of fast food in general, even less in a food court situation,  but he is having so much fun that I can’t make him leave.

My only complaint about the whole day was they had very little healthy food options.  I settled on this reheated cheese pizza.

After lunch we see a movie in the planetarium, an Imax movie about D-day AND the the fighter pilot simulator.   The simulator is a two person game with one fighter pilot and one shooter.  It is so much fun and completely flips us around.  I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t have a big lunch!

Yup.  We conquered the Air and Space Museum....

After being inside for much of the day it is nice to finally be outside in the sun, even if it is hot.

We eventually make our way back to Arlington to clean up for dinner and a night on the town in DC.

The Quintessential DC Night

We meet back up with Sarah, Andrey and Sarah's sister Beth after they are done with work and start the night back in DC at at the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden.

The space is blocked off for a Jazz festival and is packed,  There are people lounging with blankets and picnic food listening to some amazing music.

People line up for pitchers of sangria, which is a no brainer really!  I love seeing all the sculptures and people watching.

I just wish we had come earlier with a blanket and snacks.  What a great way to spend the evening.

After listening to the jazz music at the sculpture garden we meander past the Washington Monument and take in the sights at sunset.  The monument turns even more beautiful and almost glows as night falls.

We lose track of time and have to walk pretty fast to our late dinner reservation at Old Ebbits Grill.

Old Ebbits is a DC institution. President Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt have all eaten here.

And now add this crew to the list!

Old Ebbitt's oozes of history and you can just imagine rubbing shoulders with DC big-wigs while you are inside.  The exact locale has changed a couple times,but the beautiful old bar is original.

The highlight of our meal is a oyster sampler which are easily the best oysters the hubs or I have ever had.

The rest of our meals are tasty and my crab cakes are especially delicious!

I guess I can overlook the fast food for lunch 🙂

After dinner we stroll through the city to see this....

The White House is spectacular at night.

We all imagine very important things happening inside and wonder which rooms are which.    Are Sasha and Malia inside?  Where is the Oval Office?  Lots of questions…

We were going to get dessert at another historical site to the finish the "quintessential" DC evening, but we all decide we are too full and too tired to do anymore.

We head back to Arlington dreaming of the city and planning our next two days of adventure!

Up next Day 2 & 3 in Washington, DC!

Your turn…

Have you ever been to Washington, DC?

How was your weekend?