William Rigdon

in Current Semester, Spring 2016, Student's Blog, Uncategorized
May 6th, 2016

The Best Fun, Fast, and Free 2-Hour Trips in DC

William Rigdon
Spring 2016

I see you there. You are an incoming student to the BUDC program and you just realized that your semester is going to be busier than you’d hoped. You have work all week, class at night, and you need to find some time to eat; sleep; and do homework. When are you going to have time to see and enjoy all the rest that DC has to offer? Not to worry! Washington DC is a fantastic city with lots to offer to all types of people and fortunately not all of it takes all that much time! It is important for both your mental and physical well-being to amongst your busy schedule set aside at least 2 hours on the weekend to get out and try a new restaurant, explore a new sight, or just take a walk to learn your way around. Two hours might not seem like a lot of time, but you will be shocked to find out how much you can do for free in that time. Here are some of my favorites.

National Cathedral/Embassy Row Walk

Take a right from the front door of the Debonair, walk up a block on Connecticut Avenue, take a left onto Cathedral Avenue, and prepared to be amazed! You will begin your trek up the hill to the National Cathedral by first enjoying the sight of the Swiss embassy and then some of the quieter, more upscale neighborhoods in DC. As you arrive at the top of the hill you will see the National Cathedral towering above your head. The Cathedral is home to some amazing sights including the tomb of President Woodrow Wilson, lots and lots of stained glass, and some very cool artwork interspersed throughout the chapels. The Cathedral has even been home to the state funerals of Presidents Eisenhower, Reagan, and Ford, so be sure to take in the history! If you don’t have enough time (or money because this part is unfortunately not free) to explore the inside at least take in some of the incredible views from their gardens, while enjoying a cup of coffee from Open City!

When you are done at the National Cathedral proceed towards Massachusetts Avenue and begin your walk back down the hill. On this part of the walk you will first pass the Naval Observatory, the official residence of the Vice President, followed by a wide sampling of the 177 embassies in Washington, DC. Be sure to reflect on how the architecture and setup of each embassy reflects the culture and norms of that country. My favorites are the Finnish Embassy, the British Embassy, and the Brazilian Embassy!

Soon you will find yourself back in the familiar territory of Dupont Circle having now seen a part of DC you probably never even knew existed!

American President’s/Star Spangled Banner Exhibits

Everyone knows about the Smithsonian museums and everyone especially knows about the American History Museum, but you could spend days in there! I recommend going for a few hours specifically to see the President’s exhibit and the Star Spangled Banner exhibit.

On the third floor is the American President’s exhibit where you can see some of the coolest historical artifacts in existence. These include the dresses and china selected by every first lady, “the football” that carried Bill Clinton’s wartime emergency codes, the file cabinet from the Watergate complex, and even the top hat worn by Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated. This is not even to mention the variety of cool videos and interactive presentations!

On the second floor is the Star Spangled Banner exhibit. Here you can walk through the history of our national anthem and in the culmination see the original 30 by 34 foot, 200 year old flag that inspired the song to be written (just be careful not to take a picture or step over the lighted path….). As you walk out you will be serenaded by the playing of the national anthem; A truly American, patriotic experience!

Tidal Basin

I know. It’s so touristy. But as they say when in Rome….

All joking aside, the tidal basin, especially during the Cherry Blossom bloom (typically early-mid April, but late March this year), is a great way to witness some of DC’s natural beauty. Uber down after work if you have to, but this is a must see. Take a walk around the basin, snap some scenic pictures, and explore the three monuments that surround it (the MLK, the FDR, and the Jefferson). If you’re lucky you may even see the President’s helicopters buzz by overhead before landing at the White House. A quintessential Washington experience for sure!

The Zoo

Your metro stop is “Woodley Park Zoo,” so you should probably go and see it, right? It’s only about a block away, so it’s not too far and it houses pretty much any kind of animal imaginable. Some of the indoor exhibits shut down an hour before the rest of the zoo though, so I recommend going earlier in the day. I also recommend going when the weather is warmer as not all the animals like to be out in the cooler climate.

The Library of Congress

This is not something most people put on their “must-do” list while in DC, but they should. Located directly on Capitol Hill next to the Supreme Court and across from the Capitol, it is in the middle of everything. It houses some extremely cool sculptures, ornate décor, and not to mention some incredible historical artifacts including the Gutenberg Bible (the first book printed with movable type], Thomas Jefferson’s book collection, and the original maps where America first appeared. If you really love it you can even go over the Library’s James Madison Building and get a reading card for access to their reading rooms

These are some of my favorites, but I implore you to explore and find your own. I know you will be busy this semester, but find some time to get out and have fun!

William Rigdon is a business law major at the Questrom School of Business. Originally from Norfolk, MA, he is currently living in Washington, DC and interning at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.