Spoonful of Sugar Free

Registered Dietitian

Sugar Free goes to D.C.

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Hello everyone! I am back from my wonderful trip to D.C., and I am full of sugar-free recipes I am itching to try!

For now, though, take a look at some of the things I did:

I took a trolley around the city to see some of the national monuments...

Including the Lincoln Memorial...
And the Iwo Jima memorial.

The trolley driver, Jazzy Jan, taught me an interesting fact. Do you know the difference between memorials and monuments? A memorial is made after someone dies and a monument is made during his/her lifetime. For example, the Washington Monument was made during George Washington’s life, and the Lincoln Memorial was made after Abraham Lincoln died.

I also took a tour of the Capitol Building
Inside of the Capitol dome.
Saw the Library of Congress. The most gorgeous library ever. If you take a trip to D.C., I suggest making time to visit this Library.
Inside the Library. Pictures don't do it justice.
I had to make a stop in Chinatown, too, to get some wonderful, hot chicken and rice noodle soup to warm me up! Pho DC-Vietnamese noodle bar.
I saw "Liberty Smith" at the Ford's Theatre. Hilarious! I had a blast listening and watching this musical. The Theatre was beautiful and cosy, too.

History Lesson! What important event happened at the Ford Theatre? I’ll Β show you where it happened:

If you guessed, “Ford Theatre is where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated,” you are correct! This Friday, April 15th, marks the 146th anniversary of Lincoln’s Assassination.

I also visited the American History Smithsonian Museum. I saw the Ruby Red Slippers from the Wizard of Oz...

And Julia Child's Kitchen, of course!
Almost all of Child's pans were made of copper. A man told me that copper is one of the best heat distributers.

There was so much to see at the museum including Lincoln’s top hat and the flag that inspired our National Anthem. I could spend a month looking at all of the artifacts in the museum. Did you know the Smithsonian isn’t just one museum, but a collection of 19 museums all centered in an area of D.C. called, “The Mall?”Β Pierre CharlesΒ L’Enfant, the designer of the streets of D.C., envisioned a mall of history for D.C. where people can learn and see America’s artifacts. 33 years after his death, the first Smithsonian museum, the castle, opened.

I was exhausted by all of this new knowledge (and walking)

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Have you been to Washington D.C. before? Or maybe you live there?

This was my first time visiting the nation’s capitol, and it was gorgeous. All of the architecture was immaculate, and I could spend years looking through all the history. If you have been there before, what is your favorite thing to do/see? I need to make a list of stuff to do for my next trip there! πŸ˜‰

 

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Comments

  1. I am one of the few native Washingtonians, although I do live in Southern Maryland now. I spend time EVERY year visiting many of our National Treaures and have placed that same desire in my children. For me, it is like reading the bible, at different times there are new nuggets found each time I read through.

    I am glad you loved our city – it is yours too because it is the Nation’s Capitol. Please come again. Jacki

  4. I’ve only been to D.C once, and it was a quick day-trip visit, but it was soooo amazing! We walked everwhere too, and rode a train up to the city! We walked around the mall and saw the Lincoln memorial, Washington monument and we walked all the way to the White House and got to see it up close (kinda). I really want to go again and see the museums! They sound awesome!

  5. I used to live (and teach) just outside of DC! I also took two different fifth grade groups on field trips there when I lived in central Virginia. Without a doubt, the Lincoln Memorial is my favorite. Every time I’ve been I tear up at it. I don’t know why it has that effect (well, actually I could probably try to explain but that would require a VERY long comment), but it just touches me.

    Sounds like you did a whole lot on your trip! πŸ™‚

  7. So glad you have so much fun! Yep, I live in DC (even though I was born and raised in NYC). DC is a little slower than NYC, but I love it so much I choose to live here instead of my hometown.

    You covered a LOT of ground on your trip, but if you come back when the weather is cooler, there is ice skating in the sculpture garden which is a lot of fun and really pretty.

  8. you’re so cute–on the floor and all! πŸ˜› wow I just learned something new about memorials/monuments haha. Never ever knew the difference.

  11. That’s so awesome! I’m so jealous you got to go to Ford’s Theater – I’ve been to DC three times but have never had the chance to go there (I went for various high school programs and such). Lincoln is my favorite president! πŸ™‚ And if I could go back, I would want to go on one of those segue tours of DC – they look so fun!

    -Megan

    • Definitely go to Ford’s Theatre-it is totally worth it! It is a gorgeous theatre and a museum all in one! I highly recommend the musical, Liberty Smith. Hilarious, yet informational!

  12. I went to Washington DC for my 8th grade trip in middle school! It was so fun to see all of those historic places! I especially liked the history museum and the capitol building! I have always loved history and it was so cool to be surrounded by it in DC! Glad you enjoyed it too. πŸ™‚

  15. Visit agaiiiin I live so close to DC! Only about an hour πŸ™‚ I love the city, it’s so neat – all the museums and history!

  18. We go to D.C. all the time. Our daughter lives there. Try the International Spy Museum. So much fun! The National Arboretum is good when the weather is. Seeing the cherry blossoms in the spring will bring tears to your eyes. The National Zoo is fun and the National Gallery of Art has so much to offer. Union Station is a fun place to window shop and have something to eat. The Holocaust Museum is sobering but so powerfully presented. You have to get tickets ahead of time. The American Indian Museum had us captured for hours and they have great food. Try Old Ebbits Grill for lunch.

    • Hi Barb!

      Thanks for all the great tips on DC!! I will definitely check those places out next time. I heard the American Indian museum had great, authentic food, but I didn’t have time to make the stop. Since I am part Native American, I need to go sometime πŸ™‚ And I actually did go to the Spy Museum! Fun Fun!

  19. thanks for checkin out my blog!!! love yours- esp your title! haha. omg i would be exhausted from all that too. I’m actually going to my sister’s for easter weekend and she lives outside DC- wish I had time to visit all the cool monuments!