If you missed Del Ray’s Art on the Avenue festival, don’t worry. Year-round, visitors as well as locals can enjoy the vibrant murals documenting this Virginia neighborhood’s history. I mapped out a self-guided Del Ray’s street art tour that runs 12 blocks down the center of town and features nine murals. Located just two miles from the historic Old Town Alexandria, Del Ray offers an entirely different vibe. I didn’t run into any tour guides dressed up as Martha Washington…
Picture a dirt pathway lined by giant azaleas and rhododendron bushes at the U.S. National Arboretum’s Azalea Collection. The 446-acre Arboretum is located in Washington DC. Walk past a Monet canvas of red, pink, salmon, lavender, and white puff flowers. Under your feet lie a carpet of silky petals that floated in the breeze before their descent. Take a virtual walk during peak blossom. The air is perfumed by the rich moldy dirt. It may be the most glorious place to experience…
What pooch wouldn’t want to sniff the tulips and investigate the vegetable garden at dog-friendly Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia? Certainly, my Golden Retriever Parker gave a “paw’s up” to accompany me on a beautiful spring weekend to tour the home of former President Thomas Jefferson. As the website advises, “Visit now for beautiful blooms.” Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the UNESCO World Heritage site is a must-see for any tourist visiting the city. It costs $22 for one adult to buy…
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…
