✨ A humbling discovery, big walks, and tips for your own trip.
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Oh shoot, I missed our usual Monday get-together — so happy Tuesday, Reader!

This week’s note is running late because we were busy walking our way around Washington, D.C. Would you believe, in four short days we logged nearly 100,000 steps (93,556 to be exact!). No wonder Monday slipped away.

As we wrapped up our time in the capital, we reflected on a few things we learned and loved. Here’s what stood out:

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1 | Public transit is a game-changer

We skipped the rental car this trip and relied on walking and public transit. Our hotel - Hilton Club The District Washington DC - was about a mile from the White House, so we were in a prime spot. Still, the Metro made it easy (and affordable!) to get everywhere we wanted to go.

• $70 → 2 Metro passes (loaded on our phones = quick tap in/out)
• $36 → MARC commuter train to Baltimore for a baseball game at Camden Yards
• $25 → Uber from the airport to hotel

💡 Budget tip: The Metro goes straight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — so next time, we’ll skip that Uber!

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2 | Exploring the Smithsonian museums will take MUCH more time than you think

Our main reason for visiting was the Smithsonian museums. Admission is free, though some (like Air & Space) require timed-entry tickets. We booked three in advance:

• ​National Air & Space Museum​
• ​National Museum of African American History & Culture​
• ​United States Holocaust Memorial Museum​

Our plan: spend a few hours at each, then move on.

Reality: each one deserved a full day. Even after hours inside, we left feeling like we’d barely scratched the surface.

A better plan: allow a full day, with breaks every couple hours to refuel and digest all the information (especially for those heavy topics like the Holocaust).

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3 | Arlington National Cemetery is unforgettable

One day, we crossed the Potomac River on foot (from the Lincoln Memorial via Arlington Memorial Bridge) to visit Arlington National Cemetery. It’s a moving experience — and it's free.

But, with 639 acres to explore, we recommend the narrated tram tour. It runs every 20 minutes, lets you hop on/off, and makes it easy to see highlights.

Absolutely hop off at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where you can:

• Learn how the tomb came to be and why it is so significant
• Witness the ceremonial changing of the guard
• And maybe even observe a wreath-laying ceremony (we did 🤍)

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⁉️Confession time…

At the top of the Washington Monument, I had a humbling “aha” moment: the U.S. Capitol and the White House are not the same building. 🙈

I may have even shared a photo with the wrong caption (oops!).

Lesson learned — and a reminder that it’s okay to laugh at yourself along the way. We definitely had a good laugh with my epiphany.

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That’s all for now, but I’ll be sharing more about D.C. in the weeks ahead.

Until next week…

🏛️ Your fellow wanderer and life-long learner