What better time to visit Washington D.C. than February when we celebrate the birthdays of two of our nation's greatest leaders: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Washington is one of those cities with so much to see; you could spend weeks there and never come close to seeing it all. If it's your first visit, you can catch the high points and get an overview or you can delve deep into whatever interests you most and plan to return.
You can spend an entire vacation touring the fabulous galleries of the Smithsonian or visiting the many stunning memorials and specialty museums that crowd the city's center. You can tour the capital, spend some time in the Gallery watching the legal meanderings of our country's representatives at work, and the chow down on a hearty bowl of bean soup in the commissary -- it's a perennial Congressional favorite. You can visit later in the spring and delight in the Cherry Blossom Festival when delicate pink and white petals drift like snowflakes through the air. You can tour myriad government buildings and learn all manner of fascinating facts. (Don't miss the Spy Museum -- so James Bond!)
No matter what your plans, for touring the capital, the Wyndham Old Town Alexandria (shown) is the perfect place to stay. Located in the charming heart of Old Town Alexandria, the Wyndham is just a short jaunt to the Washington transit stop, the smartest way to get around the capital's major attractions. Parking in the city is not for the feint of heart. You'll generally wind up closer to the sights taking the Metro. It can be a long walk from your parking place to the building you plan to visit.
For a rare treat, visit the newly opened Lincoln summer cottage on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Lincoln and his family spent summers in the cottage from 1862 to 1864 to escape the heat and humidity of the National Mall. In Lincoln's day the sprawling property, just 3 miles from the White House, was surrounded by bucolic farms and served as the President's private sanctuary. It was here that President Lincoln paced the floor contemplating the end of slavery while his children played on the grounds. For Lincoln admirers, it's a must see, along with the Lincoln Memorial and Ford's Theater.
"This is one of those places that is hidden in plain sight, and yet it's one of the most significant historic sites," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation which just completed the seven-year, $15 million restoration. The site just opened to the public this week on President's Day, February 18.
In audio and video recreations, actors portray the president, first lady Mary Lincoln and their associates to tell the stories of events centered around the cottage. The history of people and events was meticulously pieced together from letters, diaries and newspaper accounts. A multimedia room allows visitors to play the roles of rival cabinet secretaries debating emancipation.
