Alright, so here’s a timeline of this past summer’s (2021) travels so far:

• July 9-16 Left Alaska, drove across Canada 🇨🇦, arrived in St. Louis (3,953 miles) 🏁
• Aug 5-8 St. Louis ➡️ Pensacola ⛱ ☀️ (779 miles)
• Aug 8-12 Pensacola ➡️ South Carolina 🎣 🪱 (682 miles)
• Aug 13 Arrived in Washington D.C. 🛣 (428 miles)
• Total Driven So Far: 5,842 miles in 35 days!! Way too much pavement time!!

After spending the morning at Arlington National Cemetery, we decided to tackle the National Mall. Affectionately nicknamed “America’s Front Yard,” this 2 mile wide, tree-lined park is home to over 100 monuments, including the famous Lincoln Memorial (my personal favorite), and the historic Smithsonian Museums. Boasting over 25 million visitors annually, it sees more action than Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon combined! Despite such a high volume of foot traffic, the National Mall surprisingly has the feel of a gorgeously manicured city oasis, complete with sprawling green lawns and ample shade.

We were fortunate enough to have a bright blue, cloudless sky for our day of sight-seeing in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, that meant the sun blared down on us in all her heat-filled glory for hours as we walked from the Capitol to Mr. Lincoln, and then back again. *Note to self: Pack plenty of water bottles next time*

We started at Smithsonian Castle, then zigzagged through National Air & Space, finally meandering slowly through American Art. While I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, I couldn’t help but revel at the centuries of talent housed inside the architecturally stunning buildings. What an experience to gaze upon works created by Van Gough, Monet, Vernet, and so many more. Fun fact – the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex, consisting of 19 separate museums, with two new additions in the works: the Smithsonian American Women’s History and the National Museum of the American Latino. We had hoped to visit the National History Museum, but the line literally wrapped around the building, so…we will have to save that for another time.

Exiting the cool, air-conditioned galleries, we stepped back out into the heat and headed towards the Washington Monument. At a height of slightly over 555 ft., it is the tallest obelisk in the world. While construction started in 1848, progress halted in 1856 due to lack of funding, causing the monument not to be completed until December 6, 1884. Because of the lengthy build time, marble was gathered from different quarries creating a distinct color difference between the top and bottom of the monument still noticeable today.

From the vantage point at the Washington Monument, Mr. Lincoln appeared to be but a stones throw away. But don’t be fooled! Supposedly only a mile separates the two, but heat and an already long day made the walk feel at least three times as long. And while we almost forewent climbing those infamous marble steps, I’m so glad we seized the opportunity and didn’t let exhaustion get the better of us.

Admittedly as I was writing this, I struggled to find the words to recount the intense awe of standing within the temple of the Lincoln Memorial, so naturally…I googled it. To my delight, others clearly experienced the same feelings and described them as follows: ”It swallows you up…One of the greatest monuments ever!…Spectacular…Surreal…Powerful and understandable.” I can attest. It does “swallow you up.” The history. The magnitude. The significance.

Like the grande finale at the end of a fireworks display, so was taking in the panoramic view of the National Mall from atop the iconic stone steps. The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool directly in front of us, mirrored the grand statues to the east and to the west, while cherry blossom trees rippled along the edges, and ducks playfully splashed in the otherwise still waters.

Finally, all sweaty and tuckered out, the kids napped as we headed towards (in my opinion) one of the best RV parks we have ever stayed at, Cherry Hill RV Park (www.cherryhillpark.com). Conveniently located just 30 minutes outside the city, on the Maryland side, it boasts resort-style amenities, heated pools, and spacious grounds. After a quick dinner, the kids somehow mustered the energy to spend a few hours in the pool, while Dave and I sat back and relaxed. A perfect ending to a fantastic day!