Katzateer
01-15-2012, 08:25 AM
This past week I took the train out of Philly and went on a day trip to Washington DC. My oldest is still on break from college and I can't usually travel during the week due to work and we have too many animals and I have to be around to let the dogs out or pay an animal sitter.
When I got to DC it was. Beautiful winter day-got into the 50's( got sooo lucky with that since I got my train ticket weeks before). I walked to the Capital and then down Constitution Ave. To the Art museum. I have bad knees and don't walk super fast took me about 25 minutes. I was going to take a taxi bit the line waiting was very long at 11am and it was a nice day so I just walked.
The National Art Gallery is divided into 2 buildings with an underground walkway connecting them. Also there is a sculpture garden and a nice place to eat in the garden. We had been to the sculpture garden and eaten at the cafe so I skipped that this trip.
I was able to cover the museum in about 3 hours. The Impressionist paintings are my favorite, but that section is being renovated :(.
The collection of art is very nice and the design of the buildings are well done. I think they mystery be at the end of renovating the entire museum-a lot of it was new.
There are nice places to eat-in the lower level in the walkway between the buildings I got a flatbread pizza and salad for under $10 that was right out of the pizza oven and very good. A large waterfall and skylights were by the seating area and relaxing to view while eating.
A tunnel with a moving sidewalk was really cool-it reminded me of the area in Spaceship Earth with the lights as you come down the ride. Glittering lights reflecting off steel panels-very well done.
The gift shop is AMAZING! It is as very large and has a great selection of art items, books, prints, gifts, music. If you are on Washington and don't have an interest in the museum, the gift shop is worth a visit just on it's own.
I was exhausted after walking through the museum but since it was such a nice day I walked back to the train station.
Can't wait to go back!
When I got to DC it was. Beautiful winter day-got into the 50's( got sooo lucky with that since I got my train ticket weeks before). I walked to the Capital and then down Constitution Ave. To the Art museum. I have bad knees and don't walk super fast took me about 25 minutes. I was going to take a taxi bit the line waiting was very long at 11am and it was a nice day so I just walked.
The National Art Gallery is divided into 2 buildings with an underground walkway connecting them. Also there is a sculpture garden and a nice place to eat in the garden. We had been to the sculpture garden and eaten at the cafe so I skipped that this trip.
I was able to cover the museum in about 3 hours. The Impressionist paintings are my favorite, but that section is being renovated :(.
The collection of art is very nice and the design of the buildings are well done. I think they mystery be at the end of renovating the entire museum-a lot of it was new.
There are nice places to eat-in the lower level in the walkway between the buildings I got a flatbread pizza and salad for under $10 that was right out of the pizza oven and very good. A large waterfall and skylights were by the seating area and relaxing to view while eating.
A tunnel with a moving sidewalk was really cool-it reminded me of the area in Spaceship Earth with the lights as you come down the ride. Glittering lights reflecting off steel panels-very well done.
The gift shop is AMAZING! It is as very large and has a great selection of art items, books, prints, gifts, music. If you are on Washington and don't have an interest in the museum, the gift shop is worth a visit just on it's own.
I was exhausted after walking through the museum but since it was such a nice day I walked back to the train station.
Can't wait to go back!