Search Results for: D.C

Martin Luther King Honored in D.C.

Few have worked so hard and sacrificed so much for social consciousness as Martin Luther King Jr. We’ve given him a holiday, many cities have streets named after him, and Memphis has a Civil Rights museum honoring him on the site where he was assassinated. Finally, King became the first individual who wasn’t a president to receive a monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The $120 million dollar monument set on 4 acres near the Tidal Basin officially opens tomorrow and will be dedicated on August 28th. The opening comes on the 48th anniversary of King’s historic “I … Continue reading →

Climate Rally in D.C. on April 25th

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, there will be a Climate Rally in Washington, D.C. on April 25th. The rally, to be held at the National Mall, is sponsored by the Earth Day Network. The organizers hope the rally will cause Congress to pass stronger environmental legislation. There will be entertainment including Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Passion Pit, Bob Weir, Patrick Stump, Mavis Staples, Q-Tip, Jimmy Cliff, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph, Willie Colon, Honor Society, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, and Booker T. There will also be speeches given by Jesse Jackson, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Olympian Billy Demong, producer … Continue reading →

Website Review: YogaDownload.com

Practicing yoga at home is great if you don’t have a studio nearby or can’t afford a membership. However, selecting a yoga DVD can be challenging. One problem is the inability to try out a DVD to see if you like it. Most of us have at least one or two lying around the house that we bought and weren’t crazy about. Another problem with using a DVD for yoga practice is the lack of variety. The practice is the same each time and even with a few DVDs, there is little variety. There are a few websites who have … Continue reading →

Spring Fun in D.C.

It’s that time of year again… time to get lost among the cherry blossoms in President Barack Obama’s backyard. The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. kicks off in just a couple of weeks and this year organizers are predicting record crowds. Each spring millions of tourists from around the world flock to D.C. to witness the explosion of pale pink blossoms. The flowers, which were originally a gift from Japan in 1912 to symbolize its friendship with the United States, flank the city’s Tidal Basin near the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Festival organizers say the cherry blossoms should reach … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Cheap Thrills in Washington, D.C.

Who says you have to mortgage your home to pay for a family vacation? With the skyrocketing price of gas and the exorbitant cost of airfare most families would agree that taking a trip these days requires some major financial wrangling. However, there are ways you can make the most of a family getaway—-no matter how cash strapped you may be–if you look in the right places. For example, Washington, D.C. is loaded with free and cheap attractions that will appeal to everyone in your clan. Many of the area’s museums, monuments and other star attractions are run by the … Continue reading →

Summer Travel—What’s New in D.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta

WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Mall is sporting a new look these days. A real temple has been constructed at the popular tourist site as part of the 42nd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which this year includes a celebration of the culture of the little-known Kingdom of Bhutan. Event organizers say carpenters from the Himalayan kingdom traveled to Washington to help build the authentic Bhutanese lhakhang, or temple, along with other examples of Bhutanese architecture. Once it is complete the temple will be one of the largest traditional buildings ever erected on the Mall. The exhibit, “Bhutan: Land of the Thunder … Continue reading →

D.C.’s Newest Family-Friendly Educational Destination

There is no question Washington, D.C. is one of the foremost educational vacation destinations in the world. And now families have yet another attraction to add to their list of must-see sites in the area. D.C.’s Newseum is a massive, multi-million dollar complex that celebrates newsgathering and teaches visitors “news is necessary to a functioning democracy.” The $450 million, 643,000-square-foot translucent structure held its grand opening ceremony today. The Newseum sits on Pennsylvania Avenue a few blocks from the Capitol near the National Mall and is preparing to host more than a million visitors in its first year. For $20 … Continue reading →

Travel in the Pope’s Footsteps–Washington D.C.

In just a few days Pope Benedict XVI will begin a historic tour of Washington, D.C. and New York. In my previous blog I listed some of the sites the pontiff is scheduled to visit while in the Big Apple and how you too can share in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing the leader of the Catholic Church in person. If you are unable to make it to New York City or Washington, D.C. next week during the Pope’s visit you could settle for the next best thing—following in his footsteps the next time you are in either of the … Continue reading →

The Most Popular Hotel Room in Washington, D.C.

It is now… and for all the wrong reasons. If the walls in Room 871 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. could talk I’m sure former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s high-priced call girl wouldn’t have been offered nearly as many lucrative book deals. Since the Spitzer sex scandal broke hotel managers say they have had dozens of people calling to book a night in the now infamous room. But, according to hotel big wigs, guests can ask for Room 871, but they might not get it. Apparently, standard operating procedure dictates that guests can’t be guaranteed a … Continue reading →

Are You Traveling to Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration?

If so good luck trying to get a hotel room… Actually, there is some good news on the lodging front, though if you are planning to visit Washington, D.C. during inauguration week there are a few things you should keep in mind… First, if you have not solidified your travel plans you need to do so ASAP. Many hotels in the D.C. area are already booked. Sure, the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009, is a year away, and the guest of honor is still unknown, but that certainly hasn’t stopped travelers from making sure they won’t be left out … Continue reading →