 |
| Honest Abe watching over the city... |
It is safe to say that the Lincoln Memorial will find itself at or near the top of every visitor's "things to do in Washington D.C." list. Most will climb the memorial's 58 steps, pause to take in the view of the reflecting pool and Washington Monument, snap a photo of the giant statue of the man who saved our Union, and then walk back down the steps, moving on to the next site. I also followed this routine the first couple times I visited the memorial, but a few years ago I discovered that the shrine to Honest Abe has a secret...
 |
| The only side of the memorial most see... |
The interior of the Lincoln Memorial is inset by several feet on all four sides, creating a marble path all the way around the main level of this gorgeous structure. As I reached the top of the memorial's famous steps on a visit not long ago, I was struck with a curiosity to walk around this marble path. We reached the back side of the memorial, and there I found the most overlooked spot in Washington D.C.
 |
| The path to my secret spot... |
In total contrast to the noisy, crowded front, there was not a soul to be found on the memorial's opposite side. We sat on the edge of the worn marble, and took in the view of the Potomac River and Arlington Cemetery. As the sun began to set, it was possible to see the eternal flame at President Kennedy's grave site flicker in the distance, and the aviation buff in me enjoyed watching the planes on approach to National Airport. I enjoyed this spot so much, we returned the next evening with a pair of hot dogs for dinner and soaked up some rare solitude at one of the most popular attractions in the country.
 |
| Best spot in the city... |
I really hate to use the phrase "hidden gem," because I feel it gets thrown around way too much on outlets like this one, but in this case I think it's appropriate. So the next time you're in D.C., grab a hot dog, climb the steps, skip the statue, and enjoy the view. But let's keep this between us, shall we?
~Insert Dude-like Closing Here~
Deej
What a great tip! I'll certainly do that next time I'm in Washington D.C.
ReplyDeleteI love this tip! I wish I knew it before my week there last August :( I like the Lincoln but it is always so mobbed that I never enjoy it as much as the other memorials. This is definitely something that I'd enjoy however. Thanks again for the hint!
ReplyDeleteRosanne @ The Disney Point
Great post, Deej, thank you for writing about such great experiences you can have in Washington, D.C. I'm from Sterling, VA, about 5 minutes from Dulles Airport, so DC is my backyard.
ReplyDeleteBTW, did you know that on the old pennies, with the Lincoln Memorial on the back, if you look at one with a magnifying glass, you can see President Lincoln sitting in his chair?
Cool spot. I'll have to remember that when I'm in DC!
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely check it out!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Hope you get to visit my favorite spot in DC soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mickey! And yes, I was an inquisitive kid and discovered the statue on the penny...Still amazed they can mill something that small into the coin...
ReplyDeleteCheck it out sometime Jason...Good spot to relax amongst all the hubbub of the city...
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I found this when I was working out in DC a few years ago. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteAlways great to find cool spots like this when you least expect it...
ReplyDeleteI love DC. It is such an awesome place to visit. Definitely my favourite of all the cities in the USA.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely check that out when we visit DC later this year.
ReplyDeleteYeah it's a can't miss Jessica...enjoy your trip!
ReplyDeleteNew York will always be my favorite, but DC is a very close second!
ReplyDeleteSo if you'd posted this about 5.5 years ago I would have been loving this tip! Now I'll have to get back to DC again sometime ... I loved it though. Went on my honeymoon (not exactly romantic but we both just love travelling) and have heaps of photos of the Lincoln Memorial! When you're Australian these really famous places that get mentioned in so many American films/shows/books are really something!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I have actually been to that side of the Lincoln Memorial and it is as peaceful and quiet as you say. I go to DC very often and I can tell you there are many awesome "unknown" places very few see. In fact, the Einstein Memorial is merely a block from the Lincoln and is likely the coolest statue in the city. I will be posting a lot more on my blog about DC and other unsung areas of the East Coast here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pats-East-Coast-Travels/117326845062274
ReplyDeleteAwesome Patrick...I'm tagging along with you now on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteHope you make it back soon...I would have loved to honeymoon in DC! Nothing like a little romance and democracy in action haha
ReplyDelete