Washington DC, Fall, 2013

Washington DC - our first trip without Sarah.

SR-71 Blackbird at the Smithsonian Air&Space Annex

The first day we first drove from NJ to Chantilly, VA, to see the Air and Space Annex, then back to Hanover, Md (Arundel Mills Mall area) and dinner at a lovely Chevy's in the mall.  We stayed at The Hotel at Arundel Preserve, which was a wonderful, upscale hotel that we got at a very good rate.   After a quick breakfast at Bagels and Grind, a walk across the street from our hotel, we headed to the Greenbelt Station and took at twenty minute Metro ride into downtown, right near the International Spy Museum.  We spent much of the day there, taking a break to have pizza at Ella's Wood Fired Pizza that specializes in true wood fired pizza.  The link is to my review of it on TripAdvisor.  After the Spy museum, we headed across the street to the National Portrait Gallery, where we saw portraits of many famous Americans, and a cool covered atrium courtyard.  Great acoustics.  Then back to the hotel for the night.  On the last day, we went into Georgetown, got stuck in bad traffic for a while, then parked and wandered around a bit.  Lunch at a very busy and popular tavern, and then it was back to home.  A very good trip.

The Annex has a 5 story control tower and observation deck that overlooked Dulles Airport.

The Spy Museum had a lot of cool gadgets and books in the store.

At Ella's Wood Fired Pizza

At the National Portrait Gallery

Presidents Row

At a small tavern in Georgetown.  They a Madeline Albright Booth and boasted having served 6 presidents!

Heading back on the Metro