Washington, D.C. is a place steeped in history, turmoil, and lots of Mediterramean food. Last weekend, I spent a long day there, visiting memorials, monuments, and museums. I learned a lot about the good and bad of the city and its tourist attractions. 

We left around 7:45 a.m. to get a decent jump on the day, all five of us piling into our friend’s little Prius. After a beautiful, slightly chaotic, two-hour drive, we arrived at the (Mennonite) International Guest House, run by a lovely couple who fed us freshly-baked blueberry muffins. This was our first score of the day—I would highly recommend connecting with someone just outside of D.C., or really any big city, prior to your visit. This is for one big reason: parking. We were able to park for free, and because of their hospitality, got some muffins, too. It was only a 20-30 minute bus ride to the National Mall. 

We didn’t really go into the day with any plans other than to see as much as we could. We got dropped off right by the White House, so that’s where we decided to start. Right off the bus, we were greeted with a protest against the Iranian government that reverberated throughout a few-block radius. It was a harsh reminder of the polarizing nature of every facet of D.C. We visited with some lovely protesters outside of the White House, then continued our journey. Unless you are looking for intriguing people, the White House is really just that: a white house. 

We then hit the Washington Monument and the National WWII monument on our way to the Lincoln Memorial. We didn’t have the time to take the trip up the Washington Monument, but it was highly recommended to us, and I imagine the view is fantastic. If you are a fan of very large architecture, that one is for you. This Kansas girl was pretty taken with its height and majesty. 

The National WWII memorial was nice. I mostly enjoyed watching the different kinds of people take it in. Our generation missed many of the effects of WWII, but that wasn’t the case for many visitors. Even if we didn’t have strong emotional ties, it was worth seeing. 

Next was the Lincoln Memorial which I had never been to. Though crowded with people, I’ll admit it was pretty impressive. The view of the National Mall was beautiful, and yet again, I was appreciative of the people from all backgrounds enjoying themselves together. 

We stopped by both the Korean War Veterans memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial before lunch. Both had fewer people but were powerful in and of themselves. Inspiring quotes were engraved into many of the walls at both, and I felt much more moved by the memorials themselves rather than the surrounding people. 

It was then time for a lunch break, and the options were overwhelming. Food trucks stretched for what seemed like miles down one of the city blocks, and food from all over the world peppered the boards out front. It was pricier, but that comes with the territory, and I was appreciative of the opportunity for many cultural options. My lamb- over-rice was tender and delicious, and while I ate, I reflected on all of the monuments and memorials we’d just seen. Though I didn’t feel like I had gained any revelations, I was glad I went for the impressive architecture and chance to experience some parts of history, good or bad. 

Bellies full and feet beginning to get sore, it was time for museums. Our first stop was the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It (kind of) ended up being our last stop as well. We were not prepared for the expansiveness and the volume of information that awaited us inside. Starting with the bottom half—the historical half—we slowly worked our way up. This part of the museum spans multiple floors, each level leading to a new time period of African American history. I was beyond impressed by the layout, the nuance of the information in every format. 

The information was eye-opening, empowering and horrific, and I felt overwhelmed by just how much there was to soak in because I wanted to read all of it. At every turn, there was a new piece of engaging information to take in. Before we knew it, it was almost time to catch our bus back. We ran (really ran) to the Museum of American History, saw some dresses and Abe Lincoln’s hat, then hightailed it back to the car. 

The trip was exhausting but completely worth missing a day’s worth of homework. My biggest takeaway from the day was that what I really needed was three days instead of one, especially for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. That was easily my favorite part of the trip; it felt like the part that I actually gained some perspective and learning from. 

I will definitely be going back to see that and the other museums. The monuments and memorials? Worth seeing at least once.