The Watergate
Watergate Hotel
Lincoln Memorial
Smithsonian Kids TV
Korean Memorial
Washington D.C.
We Stayed at the Watergate
A political junkie, nothing suited me more than staying at the Watergate hotel site of the original "gate" scandal.
Ever wonder why any policitical scandal seems to be called "somethinggate"? e.g. NAFTAgate, Camiliagate, Irangate.
In the early 1970s, burglars linked with the President Nixon reelection campaign were arrested while breaking into the offices of the Democratic Election Committee located in the Watergate complex of condos, offices and a hotel. The scandal led to the resignation of President Nixon before he could be impeached. The investigation created such colourful characters as "Deep Throat" and a major motion picture, "All the President's Men".
Washington D.C. has long been on my “must see” list so it was an easy decision to stop over on the way home from a family vacation to a South Carolina resort. I chose the Watergate Hotel, checked around for the best price and found it on the hotel’s own website.
Emergency Helicopter on the Highway
Driving into Washington, we were overtaken by two police cars with their sirens screaming. They stopped just in front of our car and blocked all traffic into the city. After a 10-minute wait, they explained that a helicopter life flight would be landing on the highway in front of us to move a traffic accident victim to hospital.
Once the accident victim was safely in the air, traffic resumed its flow and we found ourselves driving through D.C. towards our hotel with only one small misstep. We accidentally turned into the Pentagon parking lot and noticed a security vehicle moving towards us as we turned around and found our proper turn.
The Watergate
Approaching the Watergate was a real pleasure. The building is unique and interesting and once you arrive at the door, the doorman and concierge are most welcoming. We had booked an Executive Suite for one night. It was so magnificent and there was so much to see, we extended our stay by a night.
The suite was much larger than we had expected. It had a wrap-around balcony and a view of the Potomac that was breathtaking. The room was clean and the furniture had a shabby elegance. The bathroom was a recent upgrade and was quite impressive and what we had thought was a connecting door turned out to be a full kitchen.
The location of this hotel is exceptional. It's in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood and has it's own shopping complex. The proximity to the Kennedy Center and the Mall make it convenient for sightseeing or business travel. The political history, both in the past and in the making are ever present.
The second evening we were there, Condaleeza Rice was having dinner with the British Ambassador in the hotel restaurant (Aquarelle). We had the good fortune of having to wait 1/2 an hour with the doorman (Mark - the baby of the group with over 10 years of service) for a tour and his amazing stories brought us back for more when the tour was finished.
Smithsonian Museum
Our visit was too short to really delve into this amazing group of museums and exhibits but we were able to spend an hour or so in the Air and Space, Natural History and American History museums. We could have used a few more hours in each and would have loved to visit even more of the 18 museums.
On our next trip, the National Zoo and the American Indian museum will be at the top of my list. All of the Smithsonian museums and the zoo are FREE admission. A family could spend several enjoyable days visiting these national treasures without breaking the bank. As someone who regularly visits museums and often breaks the bank to pay admissions, I was completely delighted to add my donation to the donation boxes.
Lincoln Memorial – Vietnam Veterans Memorial – Korean Veterans Memorial
There's a real "coming home" feeling when you visit one of the things you've seen so often on television and in movies. Sadly, the thing you're seeing is rarely as impressive as the pictures. That's not the case with the Lincoln Memorial. You have to see it, touch it, read the words and look up into Lincoln's eyes to really experience it. It's difficult to describe the impact the monument has. A Canadian, I was as moved as the Americans who were near me.
The guard was helpful in pointing out exactly where Martin Luther King gave his "I have a dream" speech and my favorite 13 year old pointed out where Lisa Simpson stood on the Simpsons. We heard many people reference "Forrest Gump" and saw others pull out their pennies. I visited D.C. several days after breaking my foot and wasn't sure if I could make it up to the monument. What a pleasant surprise to see the elevator sign! (For those needing wheelchairs, they are available at the Vietnam and Korean memorial kiosks)
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was the most powerful experience. I slowly walked the length of it and thought of the 58,253 lost loved ones it represented. There were tears in my eyes as I viewed the notes and mementos left by family and friends on the day we visited. There was a rusty knife with a note from a friend, a letter to a beloved grandfather who had missed the birth and birthdays of his grandchildren (with assurances that he was held in their memories forever), an MIA bracelet and an old army cap that was well worn. Each elicited tears and thoughts of the names on the wall and those left behind. Each night, the notes, birthday cards, and artifacts are gathered up and saved by the park service.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial does not have the simplicity of the Vietnam Wall but its 19 ground troop statues are impressive and moving and the faces carved into the granite wall are a beautiful tribute to those who were lost in the conflict. Canada has a plaque along with the other nations in this war.
Spy Museum
Finding the perfect place for a 14 year old who is completely museum’d out and a husband who'd rather be golfing seemed impossible. Thank heavens for the Spy Museum! I went along with the thought that this would be more fun for the guys than for me but I ended up enjoying it just as much as they did.
With all of the free attractions in D.C., it's still more than worth paying for this one. The atmosphere is cryptic and even while viewing fun movie artifacts, you're aware that you're being watched. The real gadgets are fascinating, the history and future of spying are illuminating and the whole experience is just plain fun!
M.J. Christie
