1. White House tour: This was by far my favorite tour. It was self-guided, but just walking through a house with so much history was amazing. There's the Kennedy portrait, famous red-carpeted hallway, ballroom, etc. A truly awe-inspiring building. Being mistaken for White House employees was also a plus :)
2. Supreme Court session: I really enjoyed witnessing this! We got to sit in the courtroom while the Supreme Court justices read their opinions on groundbreaking cases. Several of these instantly made news (one striking down an AZ Clean Elections law, and another one that involved minors' rights to purchase violent video games). Since I will be reading opinions similar to these in law school, this experience was especially memorable. This time, someone thought I was a member of the Supreme Court Bar. Maybe someday...
3. Capitol tour: Not as cool as I thought it would be, but still nice to see. The Rotunda and Capitol dome are really pretty. I tried to sit in a session of the House of Reps and Senate but the times didn't work out. I still have Senate passes though which don't expire, so maybe some other time. This is still my favorite building in Washington though. Maybe because I still have this crazy dream to be a Senator/Rep eventually.
*I definitely saw all three branches of government- score!*
4. Newseum: Such a great thing to see. They feature artifacts from major news stories throughout the ages. It made me want to be a journalist. A definite must see here in DC despite the $20 cost. I spent 5 hours in here and my roommate spent 7. There's lots to see.5. Holocaust Museum: A very sad and moving experience. I still remember the smell of the victims shoes that were on exhibit. It puts a lot in perspective. I can't even imagine what it's like to visit the camps themselves.
6. Smithsonian Museums: I went to the Museum of American History and the Air and Space Museum. I really liked the American History one because they had awesome things on display- Abe Lincoln's hat, inaugural dresses of every previous First Lady, Dorothy's slippers, George Washington's uniform, and so much more. The Smithsonian Castle is also very pretty but I haven't gone inside.
7. Lincoln Memorial: This is my favorite memorial in DC. It overlooks the reflecting pool, Washington Monument, and Capitol building. The reflecting pool is drained right now which is depressing but it's still a great view of the National Mall. A ton of historical events have taken place on those steps. It's also a beautiful place to watch the sunrise, which I got to do with a very special person :)
8. Jefferson Memorial: This is also a beautiful structure that sits right on the Tidal Basin. You can walk right along the water and look right at the Washington Monument. I watched fireworks here on the 4th, and they were the best fireworks I've ever seen (mainly because of the scenery bc the fireworks show didn't last that long).
9. Vietnam Wall: This is a powerful memorial. Some people bring pencils and paper to shade over the names of loved ones. There are so many names. I'm glad I got to see it.
10. WWII Memorial: Also cool to see. They have little pillars for each state and a big fountain inside. It's right near the Washington Monument.
11. Korean War Memorial: Very eerie to see at night. The faces on the wall almost seem to be looking right at you and the statues of soldiers look real.
12. FDR Memorial: Nice waterfalls, and memorable quotes from FDR's presidency. A nice stop on the way to Jefferson Memorial.
13. Pentagon Memorial: Unique architecture and special meanings at this memorial. The Pentagon is huge, and I still would like a tour of the inside. I can't imagine what it was like on 9/11. I still can't believe a co-worker was in the building when the plane hit.
14. Arlington Cemetary: I went here on Memorial Day weekend. The tombstones are all white and in very neat rows going for acres. The Changing of the Guard was great to see. It helped me to understand the sacrifice that is made every day for our country, and the true heroism of each and every member of our armed forces.
15. Georgetown: One of my favorite areas of Washington! M Street has amazing bars, restaurants, and shopping. There is a beautiful waterfront, cobblestone streets, and adorable townhomes. The actual Georgetown campus is incredible. I really wish I went there for undergrad. It felt like Hogwarts! No joke. This was also the site of many memorable late nights, especially at Rhino bar. Oh man... haha
16. Dupont Circle: This is a very trendy area of Washington. My first week here, I was treated to a bottle of wine and scallops at a restaurant here. After that, I've checked out the area several times for happy hours and bar nights. The Front Page is one of my favorite hotspots.
17. National Cathedral: This cathedral is enormous, and I would love to get married here. It is located outside of the city in the suburbs. Large stained glass windows, a huge altar, the usual.
18. National Archives: The home of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights. I saw First Lady Laura Bush speak here. Very cool.
19. Kennedy Center: Free shows at 6pm nightly.
20. Walking Tour: I went on this interesting walking tour at night that detailed Lincoln's Assassination. It went to all of the main places (White House, Fords Theater, etc). The tour guides are usually amazing storytellers. I literally thought I was walking through Washington back in the 19th Century.
21. Susan Rice: She is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She made a speech to about 50 of us at work. I got to meet her. A very powerful woman.
22. Secretary Hillary Clinton: I get to see her speak this week. Excited!
23. Congressional Office Buildings: I love walking around these offices because you never know who you might run into. I even passed out resumes a few weeks ago. Headed up to "the Hill" again this week for a briefing.
24. Washington Monument: You can see this from most places around the city. I still haven't gone to the top, but it's pretty much one of the symbols that represents Washington.
25. Jazz in the Park: This is every Friday night at the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art. Such a great way to relax after the workweek if the weather is nice. They sell Sangria by the pitcher and it's very chill. I've been twice.
And there you have it. The best summer of my life is drawing to a close. Someday I'll come back here, it's guaranteed. I've learned so many things about life this summer, but that will be for another blog entry.
The beautiful sunrise over my favorite city <3
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