The United States Capital Region

Next stop was Washington, DC, to see some sights.

I found Cherry Hill Park, the closest one to the capitol.  It has won awards for the best campground in America and I can see why.  They have great amenities, a variety of types of sites (some full timers) and great staff.  High tension hydro lines run across the park, which is used as the dog run, but if you are concerned about EMF's you might want to pick a site as far away from them as possible.  They have an 18 hole mini putt course, which is only $1.00 to play and that goes to charity, so it is like it is free.  The holes are interesting and it was in very good condition when I played.  

Cute sculpture.

Most interesting hole.

They have two huge laundry rooms, though I didn't need to use them as my relatives let me do laundry at their place.  They have a splash pad and two swimming pools.  The local bus comes into the park but doesn't run very frequently so I drove to the Metro station ($5.10 parking weekdays, free on weekends) and rode the subway from there.  It is about 1 hour, 13 stops, into the city center.  The cars were air conditioned so it was pleasant.  You have to buy a fare card in advance, which the park sells for $10.  $2 of that is for the card itself, a bit of a rip off in my opinion but the fairs are reasonable, based on rush hour and non rush hour times.  You can refill the card with a credit card or cash at each station. I'm holding onto the card for when I go back.  This park is rather expensive but when you consider its location, amenities and that most museums and monuments in DC are free it seems o.k. for the overall budget.  

I had been to Washington a few times previously and seen quite a few things, so the plan was to visit new places. 

My first night I went into town to see The Nationals play Baltimore in the inter-league, Beltway series.  That was my 6th regular season, major league baseball park following: Exhibition Stadium and Rogers Center (Blue Jays), Yankee Stadium (old), Camden Yards (Baltimore) and Fenway Park (Boston).   Most of the fans enter through the center field gates, which seems rather odd to me, but works for them.  

From the outside.

From my seat.

Video Score Board.

I was cheering for Washington as the Jays were battling Baltimore for play-off positions.  Washington won.  The stadium is very nice, with lots of interesting foods on offer.  I had a burrito and soft pretzel.  Budweiser was giving each fan of drinking age a free beer!  What's better than free beer at a ball game? 

The following day I spent most of my time at the Newseum, one of the few museums with an admission fee, but it was well worth it and you are able to go back for free the following day if you want to, which I did.  They have great exhibits.  Some very historic (old) and many newer ones as well.  

Human cost of Vietnam War. 

One of those events I remember where I was when it happened. 

The 9/11 one was sobering and I'm glad I was able to see something about it, seeing as my plan to visit New York and their full museum well through earlier in the trip.  There was another interesting one on the present Presidential Campaign.  I think a visit here and to CNN Head Quarters in Atlanta should be mandatory for all Mass Communications/Journalism students, like those at Loyola University in New Orleans. 

View of Canadian Embassy and Capital Hill from Newseum.

After the Newseum closed, I spent a bit of time at the Air and Space Museum including watching the 3D IMAX film about D-Day, a battle my father had a small supporting role in, from a distance away.  It was very well done. 

The following day I returned to the Newseum to take in the few items I had missed the previous day and then did a quick visit to the National Gallery of Art and then went to the Museum of Natural History.  At the Gallery, I asked if they had a quick tour suggestion.  They gave me a map that pointed out the biggest highlights in the gallery, about 17 works in total.  I sought them out and looked at others that caught my eye in between.  At the Natural History Museum I watch the IMAX film about the National Parks, seeing as I could have as a goal with my RV to visit many of them.  The film was rather disappointing as it didn't cover many of them and they didn't use the 3D film making technique to the fullest in my opinion.