Why Travel Local?

Annapolis Rock, Middletown Maryland 

If you are a travel junkie like me, travel can morph into this grand and lofty idea. It becomes bigger than itself in the sense that so many people think that great travel can only take place when when you are off on some adventure in a far away and exotic land, in a place you need a passport to get to. It is often forgotten that there are so man beautiful places just outside our back doors.

Don't get me wrong. I am often one of those people. 

But, when you are in a situation where international travel is not exactly feasible you don't need to get on a airplane or use your passport to have a meaningful travel experience.

With gas prices lowering and insanely cheap bus tickets (thanks Bolt!) you can travel locally without breaking the bank. In the past month I have visited the Baltimore Aquarium, headed to the top of the Washington Monument and taken a cruise around Annapolis.

I always remember this quote from the movie Eat, Pray, Love. It's when the character Luca Spaghetti (yes, that's his name) says:

   "Americans. You work too hard, you get burned out. You come home and spend 

the whole weekend in your pajamas in front of the T.V."

That line stuck with me, because its so true. Trust me I love a weekend lounging on the couch, binging on some new TV show as much as the next person, but since we live in a country where half of the citizens don't use up all of their paid vacation days, weekends are precious time. So why don't we make the most of them and get out there and see what our backyards have to offer.

Have you traveled locally recently? Are there any places close to home that you have been dying to see?

A Day of History - Washington D.C.

I am embarrassed to admit in all of the 20+ years that I've lived in DMV (District Maryland Virginia), and in all the time I've spent in D.C, I have never been to the top of the Washington Monument.

And, get this, its free!

Yea, how awesome is that! Actually, there are insane amounts of cool things to do and see in D.C that are completely free.

So after the earthquake damage was repaired and the Monument, which I used to refer to as "the pencil" when I was younger, reopened back in May, I knew that, once I came home from Paraguay, I had to finally make the trek to the top.

Fun fact of the day - the Washington Monument is the tallest building in D.C. due to the Height of Buildings Act of 1910 which made it impossible for other buildings to be taller.

Our next stop was the Lincoln Memorial, one of my favorite memorials in D.C. You get a great view of the Washington Monument but, Lincoln himself is pretty awesome. Every time I go there he is much bigger and grander than I remember.

Our final stop of the day was the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. I have been there several times, but its always fun to go to a place you have been before and see it through someone else's eyes, and Jose was like a kid in a candy shop, amazed by everything he saw.

It was a long, long day, and by the end of it, I was dead and so were my feet.

Have you eve been to Washington D.C.? Is there a place close to where you live and have always wanted to visit, but never got the chance?