Washington has always been a bucket list destination for me. With our love of history, we decided to stay at the historically infamous Watergate Hotel, scene of the Watergate scandal which toppled Richard Nixon. It proved to be the perfect place to begin our Washington stay. It was luxurious, central and welcoming. The infamous room 205 is here and yes, you can stay the night in this nostalgically decorated room…for a price.
We arrived in the afternoon and immediately set off on a walk to get our bearings. The gallery walk along the grand streets takes you past the Smithsonian museums and gives a first look at the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building. We decided to visit the Smithsonian Museum of Air and Space and were so glad we did.
In the first room we encountered the story of the Wright brothers, complete with their first successful prototype. We all know the history but to see the innovations, sketches and photos was mind blowing. Other rooms detailed a history of flight, the planets and our need for speed. It was a wonderful interactive space.
Our very favourite display was the moon landing. They even had the real Challenger rocket, space suits and memorabilia. It was an emotional moment for us as we both remember the moon landing in 1969. Yes, we really are that old!
Day Two was a drizzly day so we donned our raincoats and walked to the Lincoln Memorial. Even with the crowds, a hush falls as you enter this majestic space and remember Lincoln’s promise to bring equality to all. It is a prominent place in American history. Make sure you read his inspiring words!
Below us, by the water, were soldiers ready to show off their formations to a group of veterans. It was a sobering and emotional moment watching on. Sometimes these unplanned moments are the best of the trip.
Next, we boarded the hop on – hop off bus which takes you to all the sights. This is something I love to do in any city to get my bearings and find out more about the place we are visiting. We decided to hop off and visit the Spy Museum, which was a fun and interactive way to spend the afternoon. There were so many interesting stories of espionage, an entire range of spy gadgets and more recent cyber spy stories. You even get to complete your own mission.
I was surprised to hear that Julia Child had been a spy before becoming such a beloved cooking show host. Closer to home was the devastating bungle of the Rainbow Warrior and the stories of Russian spies living freely in our midst. It was shades of the hit show ‘The Americans’ right there. There is also a James Bond exhibition on now.
In the evening, we dined at the lovely Kingbird restaurant found in the Watergate Hotel. It is named after the Washington native, the Eastern Kingbird. This bird looks like it’s wearing a little business suit. The restaurant is famous for its steaks and decadent Ron Arad design. Sadly, due to the weather we could not visit the Watergate’s magnificent rooftop bar.
On our last day, the weather was fine, and we ventured to the beautiful National Gallery and Sculpture Gardens. This a massive building with traditional art in the West Wing and Modern Art in the East. We began with the Impressionists and were excited to see an exhibition called Impresionists 1874 in addition to the permanent exhibits.
This exhibition shared the rivalry between The Salon artists and the breakaway Impressionist society. One of the highlights was seeing Monet’s Impressions: Sunrise. This is the painting which gave Impressionism its name.
We love modern art and were happy to see some Warhol, Lichtenstein, Pollock and Giacometti amongst the beautifully curated collections. The Sculpture Gardens were equally impressive and full of families enjoying the colourful gardens, sculptures and
sunshine.
Next stop was the impressive Smithsonian Museum of American History. This museum sprawls over several levels so we chose to visit the history of transport and the history of pop culture which indulged both our interests. Transport showed America’s love of ships, trains and automobiles and how it has developed over time to cover the vast distances to be found here.
The pop culture section was a treasure trove of film, television, music and sporting memorabilia. There were Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Prince’s guitar, Muhammad Ali’s boxing robe and an authentic Kermit the Frog puppet plus so much more. It was amazing to see these memorable pieces up close.
Washington was designed by Frenchman, Pierre Charles L’ Enfant in 1791 which explains the feeling of being in Paris I had here. With its grand avenues and majestic buildings, museums, art galleries and upmarket restaurants, Washington is a very grand and cosmopolitan city perfect for a few days stay on your next USA trip.
To see so many of the iconic monuments and think of the decisions being made at the White House and in the Capitol Building is humbling, and we were surprised there was no evidence or talk of the looming election anywhere. It was a pleasant surprise. Washington was a peaceful, safe and awe-inspiring city to visit. Next stop is Denver, Colorado.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
