DC cherry blossoms fever hits me each year during the last cold weeks of March in Washington DC. Paint my city pink! Frail white Yoshino petals rain down in flower showers on the bumpy path along the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. Gnarled branches trap you in a tree’s embrace or trip you on the path. Dive into puffy floral clouds. “Spring it on!” The DC cherry blossoms are legendary. This year peak cherry blossoms occurred March 22-25. The Tidal…
Each spring before the cherry blossoms peak, Washingtonians race to see the giant cup-shaped pink blooming saucer magnolia trees at the Smithsonian. There are two rows of pink blooming saucer magnolia trees (also known as tulip magnolia trees) that line the main brick walkway around the manicured gardens at the Paterre at the Enid A. Haupt (EP) Garden. When in full bloom, the saucer magnolia trees provide a pink canopy above your head. Dart down before you walk into a…
If you’re looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, look no further than Cleveland Park. This historic DC neighborhood in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. is a true gem, offering a mix of stunning architecture, abundant greenery, and vibrant local culture. If you want to get off the National Mall, visit this DC neighborhood. Take a walk back in time and admire changes in residential and apartment architecture styles in Washington DC. Cleveland…
Embassy Row astounds visitors and residents alike when they first see the palatial mansions that line several blocks on Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington DC. It is one of the most exclusive DC neighborhoods. You’ll see both residences where the ambassador lives as well as chanceries (embassy offices). “Massachusetts Avenue is a boulevard of grand mansions, row houses, and embassies, affectionately known as ‘Embassy Row.’ It is among the finest realizations of L’Enfant’s Baroque vision of grand vistas and diagonal…
Discover DC neighborhoods. Roam the streets and alleys of DC’s historic and eclectic neighborhoods. See 300 years of different architectural styles – Federal, Victorian, Queen Anne, Beaux-Arts, Romanesque, Brutalism, and 20th Century Revival architecture. Sample cuisines from around the world. Putter in antique stores, record shops, and local “Made In DC” retail establishments. Take a trip around the world but stay in your city. Be a flaneur. “Flâneur is a French term used by nineteenth-century French poet Charles Baudelaire to…
We all have a “Forest wild”—or should. This is a place in nature where you can go to retreat, reflect . . . and (hopefully) recharge your spirit. Unfortunately far too many people lose their wild places because they don’t prioritize time spent in nature. They live in the city and can’t make time to find a park where they can walk every day. They’re busy raising children, running errands, and commuting to work. But you can find a forest…
If you love street art, then you need to devote a weekend to visiting Richmond, Virginia. While it is famous for its Gothic Revival mansions and craft breweries, Richmond is also an outdoor art museum. Gaze up at sky-high murals painted on brick buildings. “With art that’s as big as the buildings they’re painted on, Richmond is known for its murals.” www.visitrichmondva.com According to the travel bureau, Bella Magazine just named Richmond as the city with the best street art…
Trinity College, located in the heart of Dublin, is Ireland’s oldest university. It was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. The monarch wanted to create an institution in Ireland modeled after Oxford and Cambridge. The iconic university campus appears in movies and novels. Trinity College looms large when I first encountered it during the Christmas season walking down Grafton Street, Dublin’s most prestigious shopping corridor. The university’s tall walls cannot be breached so it feels like a castle more…
