A Visit to the Freer Gallery of Art and Dinner on Capital Hill

My wife and I recently went into downtown Washington, D.C., as we do periodically on weekends to walk around, always with the possibility of seeing something new. We took the Orange Line on D.C.’s Metro Rail, and exited at the Smithsonian Station, which takes commuters into the heart of the National Mall. We had no specific destination in mind when we arrived. However, upon exiting we noticed the Freer Gallery of Art building, an institution that somehow escaped our notice in the past.

Tour of the American Northwest, Summer 2012

During the summer of 2012, my wife and I decided to take a trip to Glacier National Park, Montana. Starting from northern Virginia, just outside Washington DC, the trip required driving 2,400 miles one-way.

The first two days of our drive was mostly uneventful, passing through Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin; all states we have lived in or visited the past. There were a few new sites on our second day of travel worth noting however. Traveling through Indiana on Interstate 65, we passed through the Benton County Wind Farm, consisting of 87 wind turbines. Passing through Wisconsin westbound on Interstate 94, we stopped at the Mars Cheese Castle to get a taste of Wisconsin’s reputation for cheese-making; our lunch lived up to that reputation.

Nags Head; Outer Banks, North Carolina

My wife and I completed our short trip to Nags Head, part of the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Normally, we don’t take much interest in beach vacations, but the slower-paced atmosphere of the area and our decision not to schedule activities in advance resulted in a relaxed vacation.

One of the first features of the cultural landscape that stands out at Nags Head is the lack of high-rise resort hotels. The tallest hotels are approximately five to seven floors and number less than a half dozen. There is also a small number one and two floor hotels to serve visitors. The dominant buildings in Nags Head are beach houses. Designed as low-density housing, beach houses provide limited accommodation for residents and visitors. As a result, Nags Head and the surrounding region does not suffer from severe congestion. There is plenty of space on the beaches and in the water to move around. These characteristics come together to form a relaxed atmosphere.

Nags Head, NC; viewed from a sand dune.

Visiting the historic ship, Elizebeth II - Roanoke Festival Park

The historic representative sailing ship, Elizabeth II, at Roanoke Island Festival Park, is a fascinating look in maritime history. The Elizabeth II is a square-sailed, three-masted barque modeled after the Elizabeth, which sailed from England in 1585.

I boarded the Elizabeth II on a self-guided tour. Most parts of the ship above and below deck were accessible. The ship is staffed with knowledgeable costumed interpreters. I don’t care for the so-called “living history” presentation model at historic sites, but the their knowledge and willingness to answers questions easily made up for this.

Leaving for the Outer Banks, NC; the future of this blog.

My wife and I left for the Outer Banks, North Carolina, this morning. The trip took about six hours total including stops at a farmer's market and a local diner for lunch.

Our experiences there will serve as a starting point for this blog; it will also provide a chance to figure out how I want to organize it.