Paris - Major Sights

I sat in the waiting area at the Copenhagen airport, eventually finding a seat next to a well-dressed gentleman who was also waiting to board a flight.  Close quarters meant we quickly exchanged travel plans, talking about our trip through some of Europe's popular cities.  I told him I was on my way to Paris after spending 3 days in Copenhagen, Denmark and a day in Malmo, Sweden.  He was on his way back to Rome and we chatted about the differences between these pretty little cities.  He talked about the cleanliness of Copenhagen and the party scene of Malmo and when it came to Paris, he told me what he thought.  Paris... it's too romantic.

Chester Carry-On Suitcase Review

Chester Carry-on Suitcase

I am one of those people who simply refuse to check luggage.  If you haven't met me.... you should know this - I am very stubborn.  Like, carried my large grill out of my basement up the stairs by myself because I wanted to grill steak that night kind of stubborn.  When it comes to traveling, my "I can do it all" attitude shines through.  A weeks worth of clothes?  I will fit that into a carry on with enough packing cubes and patience.  Unless I am on a dive or ski trip when I need to pack heavy gear, it has to fit in a carry-on. 

Why?  A few reasons.

First, I simply refuse to pay excessive fees to check a suitcase.  Traveling is expensive enough and after paying for airport parking and flights, the last thing I want to do is shell out more money for my belongings - and each way.  Secondly and THE most important reason I always carry on?  I hate waiting at baggage claim.  When I finally get off the plane and after spending hours in the germ box, I want to get the hell out of that airport and onto my final destination or home.  I do not (repeat, do not) want to spend an extra second at the airport if I don't have to.  It's usually an extra half hour of waiting at the carousel for the black bag that looks like every other black bag.  While we are talking about time, when you get to the airport, you can also skip the check-in counter and head right to security.  And then there's the whole "your bag didn't make it" scenario.  If you carry-on, your bag will never leave your sight and get put on the wrong plane.

Carrying on will save you money, a whole lot of time, and you will never lose your bag. 

Iceberg Ahead: Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón, and Diamond Beach

This....

This is one of the posts I have been most excited to share about my trip to Iceland.  Before I left for Iceland, I knew the iceberg lagoon was going to be one of my favorite stops and I was correct.  Icebergs and beautiful diamond-like masses of ice sitting in the quietest lagoon, surrounded by a foggy mist or on a black sandy beach with waves washing in and out.  The ice-blue popping out from this large body of water with seals splashing and birds swimming. 

 The icebergs making their way out of this lagoon, under the bridge, and out to sea or even better, washing up on something called Diamond Beach.  From the crystalline blue to the crystal clear diamond like masses of ice on a bed of black sand, an afternoon at Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón and Diamond Beach is a traveler's dream and one of the best stops in Iceland.  Best yet, these spots are all right off the Ring Road and were some of my favorite stops of the entire trip around Iceland.

Jökulsárlón

All About Icelandic Horses- riding tours and fun facts

Riding horses is something I rarely do on vacation.  It seems silly to pay all this money to go ride a school-broke lesson horse that usually involves 95% walking on a dirt path with 20 other people who have never ridden a horse before.  BUT, Iceland was going to be an exception to this rule.  Icelandic horses are so unique, and the countries landscape so insanely beautiful, that I couldn't pass the opportunity to tolt (more on that later) around the Icelandic countryside, taking in the views of Iceland from the saddle.  If I go back to Iceland, I would certainly sign up for one of the more advanced overnight tours instead of the 2 hour session open to all groups.  I have so much to tell you about our tour, who we used, how much we paid, and why we went riding but first, it's time for some fun facts.

Hiking to Sandstone Peak- Santa Monica, California

If you have been following this blog for a little while, you probably know I am not much of a city person.  The crowds, the traffic, the prices, the garbage, the crime... I could go on and on. You may be thinking "didn't you live in a city Katie,  downtown in fact? " Yes, I lived in a city downtown for two years but Salt Lake City is such an easy city compared to some of our country's big cities like New York and Los Angeles.  With that being said, I still like to visit and can definitely appreciate a city for a day or two.  I love the various food and sheer amount of things to do, aspects you can find in just about any city.  

When I had the chance to visit Los Angeles, I jumped at the opportunity for these reasons.  The first thing a few people said to me was "you don't seem like an LA kind of gal".  Yes, yes they were all right.  I was excited to see the city but let's be honest, within five minutes I was researching the best hikes and outdoor activities in the area.  I was staying in Santa Monica just outside of LA and within minutes, had found some great hikes and activities in the area. 

The Cliff Walk -- Newport, Rhode Island

One of the best parts about blogging is that it makes you a better writer in the long term.  The more I blog the more I find my "voice" and discover what a good blog post looks like.  Between my style of writing, the pictures I take and the way I present the information, it all gets better.  When I visit some of my favorite places a year or so later, I can update old posts to give you, dear reader, a better blog post. Today, we are revamping my post on Cliff Walk with some real Nikon photos, a better flow and information.  So let's chat (again) about a world famous walk and Rhode Island's most popular visitor attraction, Cliff Walk.

Cliff Walk in the winter 

What's a Rhode Island post without a little intro to our country's smallest state?  It's no secret I am one of Rhode Island's biggest fans.  Ocean, architecture, history, charm, scuba diving, shops and some amazing seafood, what more could you want (I bet you Utah folk just said mountains).  Newport is just one of those iconic New England towns and when you catch it on a beautiful clear summer day, sitting on the dock eating oysters at your favorite restaurant while the band plays and the cocktails are poured, those long hard winter New England months seem all worth it and so far away.  When you catch Newport on one of those days, it's hard to describe how lovely it is.  

What is it:

If you find yourself as a tourist in Newport, there is a lot to do.  Among one of my favorite things (and the one thing I insist every visitor do) is take a walk on Cliff Walk.  It is a world famous walk along the eastern shore of Newport, Rhode Island.  This walk combines the rugged Atlantic coast/Rhode Island shoreline with the mansions of Newport's gilded age.  The 3.5 mile long walk starts off as an easy paved trail in the southern portion (about 2/3 of the trial), past famous mansions like The Breakers, before turning into rugged and rocky shoreline and dirt paths through tunnels and by the lawns of private properties. A walk, a hike, a little bit of both with breathtaking scenery from the waves of the Atlantic to the manicured lawns and gardens. This is the only National Recreational Trail within a National Historic District in the United States.

Couple walking down a paved section of the trail

Cliff walk is an amazing way to see another perspective of the Newport Mansions.  On one side, you will pass famous sites like The Breakers, Forty Steps, Rough Point, and Mrs Vanderbilt's Tea House (more on all this later).  On the other side, you get sweeping views of the Atlantic and Rhode Island's coastline. During my latest trip in December, we walked about 80 percent of the trail- about from the Breakers over to the end, walking the road back to the Breakers.  From the more developed areas to the rockier quieter section, we loved it all.  

Short detour on a more rugged section of Cliff Walk

The trail leaves the nice paved path and crosses over this rocky beach

Need to Know

Free admission
Open sunrise to sunset 365 days a year
Dogs allowed on leash only
Bathrooms- Two unisex toilets on Narraganset Avenue
Time to finish: 2.5 hours
Parking: First Beach Memorial Blvd -71.297055, 41.475944
Narragansett Ave Forty Steps -71.297055, 41.475944

There are a few tunnels throughout the walk

A view of The Breakers from the trail

Seasons

It is great all year round. Cliff Walk in the summer will bring warmer temperatures but will also bring a lot more people. The winter will have more unpredictable weather and likely a chilly breeze, but you will likely have portions of the trail all to yourself.   

Source Click HERE for an interactive map.

Start/End  

"The walk starts at the western end of Easton's or First Beach at Memorial Blvd. and runs south with major exits at Narragansett Ave., Webster St., Sheppard Ave., Ruggles Ave., Marine Ave., Ledge Rd., and ends at Bellevue Ave. at the east end of Bailey's Beach locally referred to as Reject's Beach". - Cliffwalk.com

Click HERE for an interactive map.

Map Credit: City of Newport, Commonwealth Engineers & Consultants, Inc., and the RI Dept of Transportation Source

Walk a Section

There are five unique segments to Cliff Walk

1. Memorial Blvd. to Forty Steps

2. Forty Steps to Ruggles Ave: covers a close up of Mansions at Salve University campus; there are several sets of steps.

3. Ruggles Ave. to Belmont Beach: covers a touch of rough terrain and waves breaking near walk when wind is strong from South.

4. Belmont Beach to Ledge Rd: covers pieces of Rugged Terrain especially at Rough Point, however this is most rewarding for serious hikers not afraid of heights.

5. Ledge Road to Bellevue Ave: sometimes missed by Cliff Walkers, but if you have done segment 4 this is easy and better than walking out Ledge Rd.

If you only have a short time to do a piece of Cliff Walk drive down Narragansett Ave. to the Forty Steps and walk south past Salve Regina College and the Breakers.

Viewpoint along the trail

Information along the trail

There are QR Codes all over the trails that link to some great information about the walk, the area and neighboring mansions.  I also think these small stands with QR codes are the perfect way to give visitors information, without having big obtrusive signs that get damaged or graffitied.  It was really fun to be able to scan the code (get an app that can read these for free) and learn some more information about exactly what I was looking at.

  

“The Cliff Walk Trail Marker program is a noteworthy enhancement to the Walk, one that offers readily accessible information to what visitors see as they travel along the ocean’s path,” said Bob Power, Chairman of the Cliff Walk Commission. “The Walk is not only the first National Recreational Trail in New England, but it is also set in a National Historic District. Now visitors can learn about the fascinating sites they pass, such as The Breakers, Marble House, Bailey’s Beach, Rough Point, 40 Steps and others. The content of most of the information accessed at the sites was researched and written by students from Salve Regina’s Cultural and Historic Preservation Department. The markers themselves were crafted and installed by the Boy Scouts, Troop #3 Newport, Led by Conner Flynn, as part of his Eagle Scout project.” Read more about this new marker program here.

Couple walking down the trail 

Antique gate along the trail 

Be Aware

Parts of this walk do pass over a public right of way over private property.  Be cognizant of your surroundings and like any trail, be respectful and bring all and any trash off the trail with you.  Also noote that in some spots the trail is less protected and there are steep drops and cliff edges.  In some sections, just a couple of feet from the path are abrupt drops of over 70 feet and wild bushes and weeds often hide this danger. The further south you walk, the more rugged the terrain will become. Expect to cross over large rocks and boulders and proper shoes are a must. Fine sand and sea spray on some of the rock surfaces can make the walk very slippery. If you get poison ivy, keep your eyes peeled especially during the summer months.  Poison Ivy which grows well in rainy summer weather along some areas of the path.

Taking in the views along Cliff Walk

Paved section of the trail 

Travel Insurance- Things to consider

It's a New Year.  What does that mean for those of us who like to travel? A whole new year of scheduled trips.  But before you start filling up 2017 with exotic travel, I wanted to have a quick chat about something we all hate to think about. Insurance.

I think we all have pretty negative connotations associated with this.  Car insurance--we pay all this money a month and then if we ever need to use said insurance, its a constant battle of getting our refund, deductibles, and other issues.  Health insurance - we pay into it every month and find out just about nothing is covered (specifically dental, the worst!).  Regardless of how you feel, these insurances are required and it is likely that we all pay into them.  But what about Trip Insurance?  How do we decide if our investment is worth the return?  Before we get into "Should I buy it" let's talk about exactly what trip insurance is. 

What is it?

Insurance intended to cover medical expenses that your normal healthcare may not cover as well as travel problems such as general expenses, trip cancellation, lost luggage, flight accident and other losses incurred while traveling internationally or within your own country. It is an extra insurance to cover costs of unforeseen circumstances while traveling, wether it be flight delays or medical bills. While it sounds like an amazing coverage at first glance, it is important to know there are many loopholes and a lot of "fine print". 

Why should you get it?

Travel insurance offers travelers some piece of mind.  It is a source of coverage for unforeseen problems.  From a cancelled flight to a serious illness, travel insurance can help you recoop the costs of every day occurrences.  Travel insurance is also there to help you in the extremely rare cases, even an act of terrorism or the financial default of a travel supplier. If something like an illness, accident, or other covered unforeseen circumstance creates the need for a traveler to cancel or interrupt their travel plans, the traveler faces two potentially major financial losses.  First, is the money invested in (often) nonrefundable pre-payments and secondly, the medical expenses that in many instances may not be covered by health insurance.  If you personal reasons, or reason to believe you may need to cancel a trip, you should consider insurance.  Specifically, you can even get an insurance that refunds a trip after canceling for "any" reason (including work reasons, etc). It is important to note that most insurances can be purchased up to 24 hours before a trip. When it comes to trip insurance, the earlier the better.  If you try to purchase insurance after you are made aware of a weather event, insurance may not provide coverage.   A whole lot of loopholes and a lot to consider. 

A few things to consider

When you are considering trip insurance, it is important to consider factors like:

• Does your medical insurance cover you abroad? And will it cover high-risk activities like scuba diving? Talk to your primary insurance and find out what is covered and what isn't.   Medical insurance while traveling abroad is a necessity for me when I like to be hiking, scuba diving and biking.  
•  Does your credit card offer any kind of insurance? Some may cover the flight if booked with a card.  If flight insurance is your biggest issue, this is something worth looking into. 
• What is the weather like where you are traveling to and from? Are you traveling during hurricane season? Is there a chance that a large storm could hit the week you are traveling?  I am not talking rain on my beach days, but hurricanes and flooding that could potentially cancel your trip. If so, insurance may be a good idea. 
• Was the trip expensive? Is it worth the extra cost for a cheap trip or should you invest to cover an expensive one? The cost of insurance will go up with the cost of the trip but may be worth it for those really expensive trips where you have a lot more to lose. 
• What are the politics like in the area you are traveling? Could there potentially be safety issues that evolve before your trip (terrorism, difficulty with US relations, etc). 
• What kind of coverage would you need? Do you need Trip Cancellation Coverage (this covers specific and limited LISTED events like severe weather and illness) or "any reason" coverage (work, breakups, etc). Traditional Trip Insurance will only cover "Listed Unforeseen Circumstances" and you cannot assume everything is covered. 
• Read the fine print and look over the exclusions.  For example, "I can't afford to go" or going specifically for medical procedures will not be covered under traditional Travel Insurance.  Any Reason Coverage does just about that, lets you cancel for virtually any reason with a few stipulations.  Of course, this will be more expensive than typical travel insurance but worth looking into if you think you will face a non-listed reason. Read the details on Any Reason insurance.  Read more about travel insurance exclusions.   

What I choose

These are the questions I ask myself when considering insurance.  Thankfully, most of my trips have let me to the "no I don't think I need general travel insurance" route.  But when I travel for Scuba Diving trips, I always make sure I have an updated Divers Alert Network (DAN) membership and insurance which will cover all my medical needs (the most expensive trip disaster!).  For just $110 a year ($35 in membership dues and $75 in insurance fees for their middle shelf "preferred plan") I know I have all the extra coverage I need for scuba diving and traveling in a foreign country.  

If you don'y dive on a regular basis like I do and are more of a "vacation diver", then don't worry, you don't have to commit to a yearly plan.  On top of a yearly covered insurance, DAN has single trip plans, and multiple trip plans.  This is a great resource and deserves its own post in the future, but lets get back to general travel insurance. 

Why am I only increasing basically my medical dive accident  insurance through an annual policy instead of taking advantage of trip interruption/cancellation insurance for this trip?  In this case, the Island is safe, we are not going during hurricane season (the weather is almost always perfect!), and the trip is on the cheaper side.  The flight at $450 and the resort at $1,250.  The odds of the airline or resort going under, or a huge storm hitting the area are pretty slim.  But just in case, any of the medical expenses I may accrue (which has happened on a trip before!) usually the biggest expense in travel emergencies, will be covered through DAN. 

So I guess my answer is Yes and No.  Some insurances are worth it, especially those that cover medical expenses!.  If you do go for the insurance route, read the fine print, ask questions, compare prices and shop around.  

Comparing Prices 

There are a lot of various insurance companies out there offering different types of travel insurance.  Travelinsurance.com will allow you to compare policies among different companies like April International, Berkshire Hathaway Allianz travel Insurance and AXA Travel Insurance. If you are going on a dive vacation, I highly recommend checking out DAN's specific yearly coverage policies for divers.  If you are not a diver, they also have a Divers Alert Network Trip Protection plan. If you are shopping for insurance,  Travelinsurance.com is a great place to start.  Here is a price comparison below for different companies. 

Divers Alert Network: Basic: $71

Berkshire Hathaway: $60.25

Allianz:  $58

AXA: $55

Roam Right: $49 

April International: $47

These rates are for a 29-year-old, leaving from Connecticut to Grand Cayman in March of 2017 for one week for a trip priced at $2,000 for the most basic plan that includes trip cancellation (more have three different plans). All in all, these costs are pretty cheap for piece of mind. But remember, rates will vary for each trip depending on each of these factors.  If you already booked your trip and want to consider travel insurance, most insurances can be purchased up to 24 hours before a trip. 

When deciding if travel insurance is right for you, make sure you weigh your options. Figure out if the cost of the insurance is worth fronting for the cost of your trip. Figure out if you need extended medical, trip cancellation or "any reason' insurance. Most importantly, if you do decided to go the insurance route, read all the fine print, make sure there aren't any exclusions that may interfere with your need for insurance. Travel Insurance isn't for everyone or every trip, but its nice to know you can buy peace of mind when you need it. 

Want to learn more about financial protection while traveling?  This article goes into some more detail about problems you can run into while traveling (car rentals, medical bills, etc) and how travel insurance can help you with these issues.  

Happy Traveling, 

Katie 

Gift Guide for Travelers

It is that time of year folks.  The time of year when all your favorite blogs feature gift guides.  I have always find them slightly annoying yet really awesome.  Annoyed that beautiful pictures of hikes and travels are filled with products for sale and affiliate links, but also grateful for the gift ideas in the holiday season.  So if you are slightly annoyed and excited about this gift guide, I am sorry and you are welcome.  

This years guide is a little heavy on organization.  Why? Because this tends to be the biggest struggle I have when planning for a trip (how to pack everything I need as compact and organized as possible).  I also put in a few awesome electronics, a menu aid, a fun wallet, a genius idea for a water bottle, and a way to wash your clothes without a washing machine.  Without further adieu, lets talk about awesome gift for the traveler on your shopping list. 

Top Six Favorite Trips

Today is a funky fun Friday.  
Two things for you today:

First, check out Naomi in Wonderland to read my interview on her blog.  Naomi is the gorgeous girl behind the Belgian travel blog.  She's currently in Australia and her posts are making me weak in the knees (diving and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef anyone?).  Naomi also has a soft spot for California (we share a deep love for Monterey), and I am proud to say I have even turned her on to visiting Salt Lake City and it got the number 9 on her 10 must see U.S. cities.  Utah Represent

Over on her blog she shares a monthly travel blogger interview series and I was over the moon when she asked me to be involved.  Head on over to her blog to see my interview, and read about the time I walked into a water fountain in Miami.  And then check out today's post where I share six of my favorite trips. 

I thought it was going to be really hard to pick a few of my favorite trips, but I am proud to say these six stood out to me more than most.  Looking back at these trips, I smile at all the awesome memories, disasters, and photos.  These are the six trips that make me stop and think how lucky I am to live this life.  Forward and onward: 

1.  Northern California Road Trip:  This was my first time to California, and there is nothing like seeing California from your car (trust me!).  Having the freedom to drive wherever you want and see so many aspects of the state on your time schedule is key.  We saw so much of Northern California from Lake Tahoe to Napa Valley, Sausalito over the Golden Gate Bridge to San Fransisco, Monterey, and driving the Pacific Coast Highway down to Big Sur.  California is truly a dream with mountains, oceans, and everything in between.  It is a state that has a little bit of everything, and then so many of the special little things.  Vineyards and sealions, I loved dipping my toes in the Pacific under CA's famous bridge.  This was definitely one of my best travel adventures so far and top 3 road trips. 

View of San Francisco from Sausalito 

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona

I am pretty sure everyone knows even a little about Monument Valley.  If you haven't heard the name before, then you certainly saw it on film.  This tribal park has served as the backdrop for various films such as National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Back to the Future part III (1990), Forest Gump (1994), Disney's The Lone Ranger (2013), and a ton of old western movies. I am sure you recognize this famous backdrop, the long paved road to Monument Valley, from Forest Gump. 

What you probably didn't know, is that Monument Valley is a Tribal Park located on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal park was established in 1958 and covers about 30,000 acres.  The park lies on the Utah/Arizona border, with most of the monuments on the Arizona side.  The park has an entrance fee and because it is tribal land on the Navajo Indian Reservation (not National Park land) your National Park pass will not work here.  

Monuments and Memorials: A trip to Washington D.C.

This week I am having my wisdom teeth brutally yanked out of my head. So there haven’t been any amazing new hikes or sites to share with you all. However, I have some trips I have not posted on this blog and I am so excited to share my trip to Washington D.C. with you all. 

One of my best friends was living in Arlington, Virginia when I visited, with her now husband Mike. I have always wanted to see D.C. and missed this girl miserably, so with the help of her husband Mike, Christine and I planned a surprise visit to D.C. We got a great deal on flights, and showed up outside her apartment door to the most happy and surprised Liz ever. Even though she didn’t know we were coming, she quickly planned an amazing weekend for us, sightseeing, brunching and exploring some of D.C’s highlights.

A Long Weekend in Washington, D.C. 
Visiting the Memorials and Monuments.

 I was never a city person, so I was shocked when I fell in love with the adorable areas around D.C.  How clean the city was.  How absolutely stunning this city was from the monuments, statues, museums and art.  There is absolutely no way you can get bored in this city.  I loved D.C. way more than I thought I ever would (again, never a city person).  While in D.C. Liz took us to some of the cutest D.C. neighborhoods. From her Arlington neighborhood (only a few miles from the steps of the Lincoln Monument) to the adorable Georgetown and Alexandria.  Lets talk about all of the beautiful monuments and memorials we saw. 

Lincoln Memorial 

The Lincoln Memorial stands at the west end of the National Mall as a neoclassical monument to the 16th President. The memorial, designed by Henry Bacon, after ancient Greek temples, stands 190 feet long, 119 feet wide, and almost 100 feet high. It is surrounded by a peristyle of 36 fluted Doric columns, one for each of the thirty six states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death, and two columns in-antis at the entrance behind the colonnade. The Lincoln Memorial, administered by the National Park Service, is on the west end of National Mall, located in West Potomac Park, in line with the US Capitol and the Washington Monument, bordered by Constitution, Independence Aves. and the Reflecting Pool. The memorial is open 8:00 am to 11:45 pm everyday except Christmas. Metro stop: Smithsonian.   Source

Reflecting Pool

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is the largest of the many reflecting pools in Washington, D.C., United States. It is a long and large rectangular pool located on the National Mall, directly east of the Lincoln Memorial, with the Washington Monument to the east of the reflecting pool. Part of the iconic image of Washington, the reflecting pool hosts many of the 24 million visitors a year who visit the National Mall Source

Washington Monument 

Built to honor George Washington, the United States' first president, the 555-foot marble obelisk towers over Washington, D.C. Tickets are required to visit the interior of the Washington Monument. Source

National World War II Memorial 

Through stone architecture and bronze sculptures, the World War II Memorial recognizes the ways Americans served, honors those who fell, and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe. Source

In between visiting monuments, we spent some time taking pictures around the city. We rented D.C. greenbikes to get around and act like good ole fashion obnoxious tourists. This was such a fun way to see the city for just a few bucks. You pick up a bike at one location, and drop it off at another. There are a ton of great apps to show you where all the bikes are, and they are conveniently set outside all of the super touristy spots. 

One of my favorite things about this city was how clean and absolutely beautiful it was. I have never been a fan of NYC and I am glad to report, D.C. is nothing like NYC.  I loved everything form the iconic monuments, to the beautiful sculptures that adorned the bridges. I loved the Arlington Memorial Bridge and the sculptures. D.C. might be as pretty as a city can get.  

Another highlight of the trip was a visit to Arlington Cemetary. Visiting the cemetary is a beautiful and somber trip when in D.C. The wreaths on all of the graves, and the sheer number of graves.

Arlington Cemetery 

Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 400,000 fallen heroes from the fronts of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, the Cold War and America’s Civil War. Established in 1864, the cemetery is still fully operational today, conducting an average of 27 funerals each day throughout its 624 developed acres. You can visit Arlington National Cemetery to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Source

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: 

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a white sarcophagus in the plaza of the Memorial Amphitheatre which pays tribute to an unidentified American soldier from World War I. On Memorial Day in 1921, four unknowns were exhumed from four American cemeteries in France. One soldier was chosen at random to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. In front of the sarcophagus are also crypts for unknown soldiers from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The Vietnam soldier has since been identified through DNA testing and was returned to his family for proper burial. The Vietnam unknown grave now remains vacant.

Changing of the Guard Ritual: 

The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and in any weather by Tomb Guard sentinels. Sentinels, all volunteers, are considered to be the best of the elite 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment headquartered at Fort Myer, Virginia. This is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, since 1784. The guard is changed every hour on the hour from Oct. 1 to March 31 in an elaborate ritual. From April 1 to September 30, the guard is changed every half hour.  Source

Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) 

The United States Marine Corps War Memorial, better known as the Iwo Jima Memorial depicts one of the most historic battles of World War II, the battle of Iwo Jima. The memorial is dedicated to all marines who have given their lives in battle.Source

On our last day in the city, Christine and I visited the Holocaust Museum.  The museum is put together so well, and though it is somber and sad, it is an amazing experience and a must-see on on my D.C. to do list.  We also visited the Smithsonian Natural History museum, home to the famous Hope Diamond from the Titanic and many more amazing pieces of history.  There are so many museums in D.C and some of them are even free. 

D.C. is an amazing city and there is so much to see.  I had such a great time seeing the amazing monuments and memorials in D.C with these amazing friends.  Thanks for a great time D.C.