It wasn't long after I started working in DC that I began hearing gripes about "the tourists." If it wasn't complaints over them standing on the left side of the escalators, it was them taking photos "in the middle of the sidewalk!" in front of nondescript government buildings while wearing matching t-shirts from the tie-dye vendor on the corner.
Here's the thing: I am a tourist. I've never lived anywhere that people came from afar to visit. While Niagara Falls is close enough to my home to call it mine, I can't visit there without being completely captivated, so I consider myself a visitor each time too. I almost never lose my patience with people who are pumped to see something they've waited awhile for, because it's so easy for me to channel my own excitement over seeing that same thing for the first time. I think Matt would also agree that part of what has made our travels so satisfying (to Charleston, Nashville, Charles Town, etc.) has been how welcoming people have been to us. So coming to DC, I'm not sure I've lost that tourist mentality, nor have I become a grouchy "host." Yes, I've complained when I've nearly missed trains because of huge groups of out-of-towners (the best is when they yell "NOT OUR TRAIN. NOT OUR TRAIN" over and over to warn the group). And it's "the worst" (as Matt would say) when 2/3 of a metro car is full of a group of loud, lost individuals making their way to the White House during rush hour. But put me on the National Mall at any point in time of any day, and I am instantly feeling better.
A habit that I started very early on in my tenure with the government was walking past the White House whenever I had a bad day. It's a quick 15 minute walk from work, but I cannot help but slow down and take a deep breath when I'm nearby. 90% of the time, I take a photo and send it to my mom or dad. DC's monuments and parks were built for "tourists," I suppose; more importantly, they were built for citizens, regardless of where they're from. So with this long preamble (in keeping with our government theme), I bring you: The Mall - Adventure Edition.
Two separate adventures make up our mall visit, so I will separate them by date. The first visit occurred in our big mix-up that was the Einstein Memorial adventure. Poor Matthew was so patient while I carted us around the mall, full of tourists (my Manhattan man doesn't necessarily identify with them the way that I do), searching for Einstein. In a desperate attempt to make lemonade out of lemons, I decided to show Matt the Vietnam, Korean and Lincoln Memorials, an experience he had yet to have.
You can read a lot about each of these memorials, and I'll spare you the summaries. But each time I'm there, I experience them in a different way. Company makes such a difference, and being there with Matt was such a treat. He notices the smallest details and makes the most routine experiences feel new again. We walked up the Lincoln Memorial, quoting Wedding Crashers, laughing as usual, and standing where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for his "I Have a Dream" speech. We walked down the small hill where the Vietnam War memorial stands, silently taking in the impact of a controversial and often under-appreciated war, while reflecting on how difficult that must be for the veterans. We made our way to the Korean War Memorial, one of my favorites for its ability to really bring it all home and remind us that the names of the veterans could be yours or mine. Between the reflection on the wall that allows you to see yourself and the life-size statues of soldiers, we can easily place ourselves in that situation. Our journey thus went from commercial mall feeling (the Lincoln Memorial is always a bit of a zoo - kids slide up and down the marble railings) (holy smokes I just sounded like my parents), to silent appreciation and somber reflection. The best part of ending the journey with the Korean War Memorial is how beautiful the surrounding area is. The monument itself is very green, with water and fantastic placement next to the reflecting pool. It was a good way to ease out of memorial mentality and sneak in a quick nuzzle on our way to find the Einstein Memorial.
It'd be difficult to find a first-time visitor to Washington, DC who avoided the mall for no good reason, so I won't be the billionth person to recommend a visit for a visitor. But as a resident of CLASS TRIP CENTRAL, it's easy to neglect the area that's built not just for visitors, but for us, as well. So even if you've experienced the mall with every second cousin that's come in to town, take time to go and re-appreciate it, knowing that the people around you often have first-time excitement on their side. Hopefully it'll open you back up to the 8th grader inside of you, and you can feel especially thankful for the control of your hormones and acne that you have today.
Location: The National Mall, between 23rd Ave. NW and 17th Ave. NW on Constitution Ave.
Closest Metro Stops: Foggy Bottom (orange/blue) or Farragut West (orange/blue) for the west side of the mall. (For the middle - Smithsonian; the east side - the Capitol - Federal Center or Capitol South, orange/blue)
Cost: Your tax dollars (yeah, I went there)
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