Unashamed Tourism (DC bucket list)

Wowee it has been a long time since I posted anything (thank you Lauren for prodding me…).

When I moved to DC, my uncle Peter told me I should make a list of things I wanted to accomplish in the next year. Then a year passed. And now here I am after another year gone. Sigh. I’ve now lived here for two years and have spent so much time assimilating into the city that I haven’t really taken advantage of actually being in the city. Yes, I went to a presidential inauguration and yes I have almost met Joe Biden (last week!). Yes, a congressman walked into me the other day because he was too busy looking at his iPhone, and yes I have to push through the crowds of high schoolers on field trips every day to get to work (#standontheright).

BUT–from living three blocks from the Capitol and working three blocks from the White House, I really haven’t been taking as much advantage of it as I should. So now, with summer Fridays and free Saturdays at the Corcoran on my side, I present to you the DC bucket list for summer 2014 (ok and maybe I am including some things that I have already done because hello free space). Interns, take note, because these are your summer assignments, too.

1. Visit all the Smithsonians. ALL.

Working on it…everyone has told me that the American Indian museum has the best food so obvs that is at the top of my list.

2. Go on a trolley tour

I did this last week! I had never actually been to the Vietnam Memorial or the Iwo Jima statue…whoops. But now I have! Of course, trolley touring it does make you susceptible for teenage girls on the street to quote Princess Diaries while yelling at the trolley. Two can play that game, though. It also didn’t hurt that the tour guide was pretty cute, even if he didn’t ask for my number rude.

3. Go to the top of the Monument

When I first moved here, the Monument was under construction because of the earthquake. It reopened last month, so now I feel obligated to go. BONUS: Walk to the top instead of taking the elevator (which apparently has been experiencing some operator errors??).

4. Ride the new ferris wheel at National Harbor

And hope it has a good vantage point of the skyline…

5. Brunch at La Boum + Drag Brunch

Need I say more?

6. Screen on the Green + Jazz in the Garden

My senior year I built a picnic table to get a free UMW picnic blanket. Time to put it to use! The sangria at Jazz in the Garden may be expensive but you can always bring in your own…reinforcements if you will (maybe wrapped in a picnic blanket). Plus, the NoMa summer screen movies look pretty good this year, even if Midnight in Paris did get rained out this week (I am still holding out for the rain date).

7. Practice yoga on the Mall.

Maybe it will be a planned group activity or maybe it will just be me saluting the sun and the Monument by myself. Either will suffice. Last year I did Kazaxe on the Mall with my friend Hannah and confusing tourists with our outfits was probably the most fun of the whole day.

8. See a show.

Ok…so I have this one covered. Saw West Side Story at the National Theatre last week (amazing) and saw Les Mis there in 2012. But I’d be down to go to a concert or anything else too, I guess.

9. Picnic at Gravelly Point read about it here!

Most of the time I see Gravelly Point from an airplane or driving past or while running a half marathon (ok that was once but PTSD). Every time I want to picnic there it rains and this needs to be resolved.

10. Go to a Nats Game/DC United game

Ok so yes I have also already done this also, but it can’t hurt to go again…and again…and again.

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I originally had this as a list of 15 but alas couldn’t think of anything else. Please give me your ideas! I am trying to not be ashamed of tourism activities…because really, if I can go on a trolley tour that drives in front of my house, I can do anything.

ADDITIONS:

11. Holocaust Museum (thanks for reminding me Dana!)

12. Union Market