Inauguration Day Tour

It's not often that I have so much material I don't know where to start but I find my head spinning as I sit down to prepare for Muse Swing's Inauguration Day tour. I knew I wanted to write about visiting D.C. but after writing, rewriting, editing, starting from scratch, and rewriting yet again, I feel like I can't do my love for this city justice. I should've started this post the moment the tour was announced.

I live near enough to D.C. that it makes a great weekend getaway. I've lost count of how many times Joe and I have made the drive, how many fabulous places we've eaten, how many events, museums, monuments and neighborhoods we've checked out. It's one of my favorite cities to visit.

D.C. has such a rich diversity of offerings that a visit can be anything you want it to be, which is part of why I love it so much. Every time we visit, it's like checking out a completely new city. There really is something for everyone regardless of your interests.

It doesn't have to be an expensive trip - public transportation is great, many museums are free, and there's so much to see and experience just by walking around. You can spend an entire day just wandering the Mall, especially if you throw in a Smithsonian Museum or two (I recommend Natural History, American History, Air & Space).

If you're interested in paying for a museum, there are two I recommend. Newseum is fairly new but it's an interesting way to delve into history, focusing on how news has been portrayed through the media. Also, the view from the top floor is amazing. Another museum worth the price of admission is the Holocaust Museum. I will warn that it's a very sobering experience but it's well-presented and left me with a much greater understanding of the horrible events that occurred.

On the lighter side, maybe you'd rather check out some specific neighborhoods. Dupont Circle is an area I could spend an entire day poking around. In fact, I have done just that. Bookstores, shops, restaurants... I spent an entire afternoon hiding in the corner of a bookstore with some coffee and my laptop, writing and people-watching for hours. Also, it's only a Metro stop or two away from my absolute favorite D.C. attraction - the Zoo, complete with these guys over to the right:

Another neighborhood I love is Alexandria. We haven't spent as much time there but from the brief glimpse I caught, I can tell it's worth going back for, hopefully this Spring.

For reasonably priced and tasty, casual eats, check out Cosi. There are locations everywhere and it's a great place to grab a coffee, a salad, or a sandwich. You must try the T.B.M. (tomato, basil mozzarella on fresh-baked flatbread).

Of course, there are many ways to enjoy D.C. that involve spending a lot of money - amazing restaurants, shows at the Kennedy Center, sporting events, private tours. But rarely do we spend a lot on attractions when we visit. There's so much to see and do even on a small budget - save your money for a good pair of walking shoes because you're going to need them!

Thanks for stopping by though I apologize if you felt a bit ignored because I'm a bit glued to the Inauguration events on tv. I can't wait to see what everyone else came up with for their tour stops. Enjoy your day and thanks to Muse Swings for organizing the event!