Ok so Friday was the LONGEST day of our trip. This was my 3rd time going to D.C. and 3rd time seeing all the monuments, although my friends have never been so it was kinda nice to see it all over again. Before we even hit D.C. we had to make a quick stop to IKEA (the best place ever!) in Woodbridge, VA. Their set-ups were so nice I wanted to buy so many things. I ended up getting a modern with a retro twist pink lamp and settled for a very nice smelling candle. Then it was off to the nation's capital.
We arrived at our Metro stop: Vienna/Fairfax and were on our way to the White House. Of course they had the usual protestors and people saying, "It's smaller than I thought it would be." Then we saw the Executive building on the right of the White House which has this Medieval Gothic feel to it. Also saw the Treasury building to the left of the White House. We headed off to the mall and had some fun taking pictures with the sculptures in the Sculpture Garden in front of the Hishhorn Museum. About 5:00 we began our self guided tour and saw the Washington Monument, then the World War II Monument, then the long walk to the Lincoln Memorial. It seemed longer that day because it was unusually warm. Then saw the Vietnam and Korean Memorial.
I got the idea of walking around the Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossom Trees and the FDR and Jefferson Memorials. All the way around it we were finished around 9:00pm that night. Like I said it was a VERY LONG DAY.
We stopped by Union Station to get something to eat since the places at Metro Center were closed?? Who knows why. Anyways we ate at Johnny Rockets which I HIGHLY do not reccomend. Our server was very rude, no smile to her face, and was arguing with the cooks right in front of us. She messed up our orders and even told the lady behind us that she was wrong in what she had ordered!! I'm a supervisor at a restaurant and it suprised me. No tip for her!
Arriving at the Holiday Inn Express in Fairfax at midnight was a drag..... but the rooms were very nice and comfortable with flat screen TV's too. Yay made it through day one!
Since you have given Holiday Day Inn Exp high rating, we might end up staying there since it is only 5-min drive to Metro station.
Thanks.