Washington, DC

We began our visit to Washington, DC, with a stop at the C&O Canal about an hour away in Hancock, Maryland. According to the National Park Service, “the C&O Canal follows the route of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD. The canal operated from 1828 to 1924 as a transportation route, primarily hauling coal.”

Washington, DC is a town we have been to many times and love to explore. There is so much to see and do here. Plan to spend more time than expected at each location. Also good to know, all the Smithsonian Museums are free, others may charge a fee.

We chose to spend a day exploring the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum this time. The last time we were here we were a bit rushed and though we spent a couple of hours here we only saw one floor. This time we decided this museum was the one And only thing we would do for the day, and we were able to see everything we wanted on three of the four floors.

Both museums occupy the same building. Each of the Museums are on three main floors and split their exhibits on every floor. Each with amazing (and famous) original pieces of art.

On the second floor is the Presidents Portrait Gallery with original portraits done by artists from each president’s time period.

Two of the key paintings currently on exhibit are the portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama. When I first saw them on TV I liked Michelle’s portrait better, but seeing them in person I found that I preferred Barack’s. The colors were so much more vibrant in person, while Michelle’s portrait felt more gray.

There are also great, unexpected finds at this museum. I found a painting of Bill and Malinda Gates in one of the rooms. Then, on the first floor, I turned a corner and found myself looking at an original “Grandma Moses” painting.

We went to lunch at Fiola Mare in historic Georgetown on another day. It was wonderful to sit outside right by the Potomac River.

Georgetown has a Waterfront Park with great walkways along the river

From the walkway you can see both the Kennedy Center (square building on the right) and the Watergate Hotel – yes, the same Watergate made famous during Richard Nixon’s time (it’s the round building next to the Kennedy Center).

The C&O Canal we saw in Maryland extends all the way to the Potomac in Georgetown. It was pretty cool to see this canal at both the beginning and end.

Our time visiting with family went by too fast. And we loved hanging out and exploring this town with them.