Rob A.
Yelp
Review 1,000 - What should it be? I know...
Washington DC right? When you think of DC, the National Mall area comes to mind. You get a mental image of the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, The Capitol Building dome, maybe even the White House off to the side, or one of many other tributes to this nation and its history and heritage. You travel here and if it's for the first time, it may even provide some wow factor or at the very least, a sense of "I'm seeing this for real and not in a photo or pictures in some book." It might fill you will a sense of pride.
And so you'll stroll, walk and travel around the area either with a set path in mind or take in the sights as they come. There's a lot to see and a lot to do. If you're like most, you'll enter full-on tourist mode and have it at it with a backpack, camera, and guide map in tow. You'll visit one sight and then be ready to move on to the next. You'll have the same focus as you set off to Arlington National Cemetery.
If you're coming from the National Mall area (or anywhere for that matter), a car will help because it's a bit of a hike if you tried to foot it after already wearing out your soles from one monument to the next. You're gonna have to cross the Potomac River so go ahead and drive, or catch a trolley. Arlington National Cemetery has a structure with plenty of room for parking.
So, you've parked and you're now making your way up to the main entrance building which will be your gateway into the cemetery proper. You'll notice right away upon entering that there is quite a bit to see her as it's set up just like a small museum. Definitely, a place to spend some time before heading out. Something unexpected happens during your exploration of this building. As you're walking through and stopping to maybe read or look at the displays, a solemnness starts to settle down on you. If you're an empathic person, you might also start to sense a heavy feeling coming from some of those around you.
I could save this for later but let me get right to it. Yes, you are a tourist and yes, this cemetery is an attraction. But make no mistake about it, this is still a cemetery. The feeling I described above; was me, that's what I felt because I arrived for the first time, still in the sightseeing mode, and didn't set my mind up for where I actually was. It's one of those moments when awareness sneaks up on you.
There are signs posted but you want to remember, some people are here because they have a loved one buried on the grounds and for them, it's not sightseeing. So respect right? Just a little courtesy in your actions and how you and your group conduct yourselves while here.
Alright, I'm typing and I'm not going back to read and edit what I wrote. Just putting it down as it comes to me.
You'll want to make this a stop during your visit to the nation's capital. A couple of things, if you plan to go about it on foot, wear comfortable shoes. You are going to cover a lot of ground if you want to see some of the more prominent locations. Not only a lot of ground but some drastic changes in incline/decline. It's a workout for sure.
Another way to go is to use the tram system. I'm not up on the details of it, but you pay for a ticket and it will make stops along the way and comes at regular intervals.
Expect to spend a few hours here because the further you explore, the more time it will take to make it back to where you started. There are some must-stops for everyone, like; President John F. Kennedy's Gravesite with The Eternal Flame, The Arlington House up high on the hill, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A pamphlet from the entrance building will point out where all the points of interest are located.
At some point, as you make your way through, take a moment or two to read a few of the gravestones you pass and reflect with appreciation and thanks to the ones who served.
