My First Time Back East

There are two things that stand out in my mind about the last time I was in Washington, D.C. (which was also my first time on the East Coast): The first was taking a rubbing of my uncle's name at the Vietnam War Memorial, and the second was riding in a taxi cab for the first time.  To be fair, my mom and I also saw the Smithsonian, the Holocaust Museum, and walked past most of the big monuments, but in my memory as a 12-year-old visitor, my day trip to DC was less about the incredible culture and more about a mother-daughter adventure in a big city.

This time around, with five weeks to spend in a new place chock-full of big names and big attractions, I've been polling friends and family to see where I should spend my time.  Here's the short list:

1. The new MLK, Jr. monument

2. Explore Georgetown

3. See a Washington Nationals game

4. Visit Alexandria

5. American Art Museum

6. Try all of the great food

7. Independence Day celebrations