Three Hour Radius

There are close to 5 million things to do within a three-hour radius of DC.  In the past month, we've started to explore a few of the gems outside of DC.

Manassas

Manassas National Battlefield Park is the site of two civil war battles, most notably the first battle of the entire war.  It is located just 25 miles from DC, which is truly interesting when you think about how close that really was to our nation's capital.  It's neat to learn about the battles via a short walk down to a stone house that stood long before the war arrived at its doorstep and via a driving tour with stops at important battle points.  It's hard to imagine troops moving through this hilly, forested area without cell phones to communicate with commanders.  At one point the troops only realized that fighting was about to begin when they noticed the sun glistening off the bayonets of an approaching mass of enemy soldiers coming up a hill very close to where they stood.

 3-12-11 - Stone House @ Manassas

I would recommend a visit and while you're there, stop for breakfast at Yorkshire Restaurant in the town of Manassas. Yuuuummy!

Chimborazo Hospital

In Richmond, they've preserved the largest confederate general hospital from the civil war: Chimborazo.  It's interesting to learn about the fact that women, slave and free blacks, all worked together with men to save lives.  There's a museum and movie in the Visitor Center, but the best part about this site is the park.  It's on a hill overlooking parts of Richmond.  Great place to bring your lunch and enjoy the view!

3-26-11 - Chimborazo Visitor Center

Maggie L. Walker (Richmond)

Maggie L. Walker was one of the earliest and most successful black, female entrepreneurs in our nation.  She built a local banking empire, taking its parent organization from an impoverished community with $400 in debt to a thriving one worth over $400,000.  Her house is preserved with 95% of the furnishings she owned still intact.  The staff at this site are amazing and will take you on an excellent tour of the house and a museum in her honor.

3-26-11 - Maggie L Walker's House

Fort Ward

Of course, we've been exploring close to home as well.  My favorite place to stroll with Allie in Alexandria is Fort Ward, which used to be one of the Forts protecting DC during the civil war era.  They still have part of the earthen fort set-up as it once was and a museum that you can walk through for free.  The best part is the walking path around the park and the fact that they have an amphitheater for concerts in the summer.

3-18-11 - Fort Ward Gate

Sakura

We've all heard of it and now Nathan actually works at it, but could the Cherry Blossoms in DC really be that great?  Yes, yes they can.  I went to view the trees on March 25th, a day before the actual festival began.  It's really nice to have someone with the inside scoop because, although it wasn't a sunny day, I got to see the trees at near peak bloom with a fraction of the people there that usually come for the festival.  I guess I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

 Almost makes you forget you're in a city.

Human progress meets nature.

The Forest

Just the two of us!

Washington Monument