Laurie's light travel travel tips

Note from 2020: The following was written in September, 2017. Because of COVID-19 Arlington National Cemetery is presently closed, except for family pass holders who must wear a mask and only visit a gravesite (no touring). OK, so I finally made it to Arlington Cemetery, and though it's no longer summer (sorry!) it feels like it - 85 degrees with a nice Big Easy kinda humidity today. Perfect for touring the nation's preeminent and sacred cemetery dedicated to our heroes, the fallen from wars dating back to the mid-19th century as well as retired members of the Armed Forces. My favorite stop this morning was, undoubtedly, at the JFK gravesite. I had forgotten that our nation's 35th president was buried alongside his wife, Jacqueline, and their son Patrick. I had no idea that there would also be a gravesite for the baby that was never born. Very sad. According to Arlington Cemetery: "On Dec. 5, 1963, the two deceased Kennedy children were reburied in Arlington, Pat...

The summer's nearly over so I must scurry to get these last two posts to you. No, I haven't been back to Arlington Cemetery yet, and yes, I know I promised that visit a few blogs ago. I promise it will be the final blog Sept. 20! See, it's easy to get sidetracked in DC, to find new places to fall in love with you never expected would hit you so profoundly. That first happened at Lincoln Memorial, then the Air and Space Museum. Frankly, whenever I've seen the Potomac I've waxed poetic: it's stunning, and reminds me of the history I'm walking on every day, every hour. I urge visitors to Washington to make a bee-line for the National Portrait Gallery / Smithsonian American Art Museum (a name that confused me, because the museums are conjoined like an Oreo cookie.) Reasons are myriad, but if you hurry you'll catch the delicious John F. Kennedy exhibit of photos surrounding both his presidency and the campaign. I particularly delighted in the photos of Nixo...