When it comes to adventuring, it’s always nice to have a partner in crime who has a similar temperament and interests. It’s helpful when they can expertly navigate their way through your destination when your destination is a place like Washington D.C.

I spent a long weekend in D.C . with my friend Nichola who has more oomph than the Energizer Bunny combined with a deep knowledge of the best things to see in the city. We had a fantastic time touring the monuments, museums and neighborhoods.

One of my favorite stops was George Washington’s Mount Vernon. It has been open to the public since before the Civil War and has been beautifully preserved. This dining room is magnificent.

We toured most of the monuments.

Looked at airplanes.

Enjoyed art – some old and extraordinary.

Some that I didn’t understand so well but that is visually striking.

We had the trains mostly to ourselves. The city was mostly empty this weekend and we were never once in a crowded train.

I faced a fear.

Admired beautiful skies.

We even stopped to smell a lot of flowers.

And looked for art in every nook and cranny.

I have not downloaded my camera pictures. In fact, I’m not even completely unpacked and return to work today. Yet, I have a ton of stories to share and am trying to figure out where to start. Look for many pictures and stories in the weeks to come.

All of D.C. feels like a monument to our nation’s past and future. Simply walking around felt like a privilege and some places felt so profoundly meaningful that it was difficult to process the weight of what it represents. Staring into the slave quarters at Mount Vernon was one of those moments. Staring at a wall of stars that represents the 405,399 souls lost in World War II was another.

All I can say is stay tuned. I’ll try to keep the stories interesting and show you lots of images to give them life. It was an incredible weekend and I’m grateful to my friend for making it fun.