Summertime Blues in D.C.

Let’s face facts. Our nation’s capital was built on a swamp, in the South, so if you go during the summer, it will be hot… obscenely hot. My recommendations this week are meant to provide a brief respite from the heat of Washington, D.C.

The National Mall, technically, extends from the Washington Monument in the west to the Capitol in the east. But if you extend your stroll just a little further west, you can take in the White House; the Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR Memorials; and the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials. Within this two-mile stretch, you can take in some of this country’s greatest monuments, memorials, and museums. (This map is one of the best I have seen of Washington, D.C.)

A Little Off The Beaten Track

The sights noted above are well worth a visit, but they’re OUTDOORS, and I expect any visit to D.C. will include at least some of them on your itinerary. My job is to take you a little beyond the ordinary (and into some air conditioning).

My first off-the-Mall recommendation is the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. I can’t honestly say that this will be the most fun part of your visit, but I do believe it will be one of the most moving visits to a museum you will ever make. The museum does an incredible job of making the Holocaust seem real and personal.

“Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story” tells about the Holocaust from the viewpoint of a young boy, beginning with his diary, which tells of his family’s deportation to Auschwitz. The hexagonal Hall of Remembrance, with its simple “eternal flame” to commemorate U.S. victims of the Holocaust, offers a quiet retreat in the heart of a crazy-busy city.

I encourage you to print out a copy of the visitor’s guide and review it before you get to DC.

Next, let’s think about the millions and millions of pages – to be generous – of information that our government produces each year. Only about 2 percent of all that… stuff… is deemed worthy of being ensconced permanently in the National Archives. However, the rotunda of this building is home to the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. Even the most cynical citizen (that would be me) can’t help but be moved by seeing original copies of this trio of documents. I strongly recommend getting there by 9:30 a.m. or so (the rotunda opens at 10) to be able to wander through the rotunda at your own pace; if you arrive later, the place is a madhouse.

The next place I recommend is the Library of Congress. I know, this screams “nerd,” but the Library of Congress has upgraded recently and features some of the most diverse and interesting exhibits in DC. For example, right now, the Library is showing the following:

· Exploring Early America

· Creating the United States

· Thomas Jefferson’s Library

· The Bob Hope Gallery

· The Library of Congress Bible Collection

Plus, the architecture of the building makes a visit worthwhile, just to wander and be awed.

In a city full of remarkable architecture, my final recommendation is the National Building Museum. Honestly, the exhibits can be a bit sparse – although the current “Washington: City and Symbol” is fascinating – but the building itself is worth taking a break for, as is the museum shop. The 360-degree tour available on the Museum’s Web site gives you a flavor of its grandeur.

Good luck staying cool in Washington!