Last week my husband and I flew to Virginia to visit our son, and our daughter and SIL drove up from Tennessee. It was a chance for all of us to spend time together while our son acted as tour guide. He had some specific destinations in mind, so on those days, we were out the door by 8am to beat the crowds and get an early start. Fortunately, the weather complied, so no plans were detoured. Our first tour began with taking the Metro into Washington DC, a 20-minute ride from his apartment. This was a fun adventure.

The first stop was the White House, which was a bit underwhelming because of construction. Other historical sites we visited were the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, National Mall, the United States Capitol, Original Smithsonian Museum, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and the National Air and Space Museum. We covered 11 miles at a moderate clip!

Another point of interest was Harper’s Ferry National Park in West Virginia. This is the town abolitionist John Brown raided from October 16-18, 1859 in an effort to initiate a slave revolt in Southern states by taking over this United States arsenal. Brown’s raid has been called the dress rehearsal for the Civil War.

From Google (paraphrased):

Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park is located in West Virginia. Paths wind through this quaint town that has 19th-century buildings, a Civil War Museum, and John Brown’s Fort, a key site in an 1859 abolitionist raid. The location where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, known as The Point, offers views of Maryland and Virginia. The Appalachian Trail Visitor Center has exhibits on the long-distance hiking trail.

In addition to the history, Harper’s Ferry is a small town full of charming shops to entice your wallets and delicious cafes to satisfy your palates. We walked about 6 miles, up and down hills, and on trails by the Potomac River, and also on the bridge overlooking the Shenandoah River. The views were incredible!

Our last stop was at Fort Washington in Maryland…

From Wikipedia:

During the War of 1812 Fort Washington, built to protect the capital from enemy advances on the Potomac River, was captured by the British under the command of Admiral Gordon, three days after the burning of the capital.

It was interesting to read about the history while walking around this huge historic park with extensive hiking and bicycle paths. An abundance of grass made this park a perfect place for dogs to run around, and there were lots of happy dogs doing just that. This is a great destination for picnicking, fishing, and outdoor recreation. Historical re-enactments are held periodically at the Fort, and there is a small museum. Cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom, and they are beautiful.

Now, I ask you, “Have you ever had the Ambar experience?” Ambar is a restaurant in Arlington, VA offering Balkan Cuisine. Our son treated all of us to the Ambar experience which is when small plates are ordered and brought to the table for everyone to sample. If you want more of an item, you simply ask the waiter or waitress. The cost is the same for each person and there is a 2-hour limit. We finished just shy of an hour and a half. The experience alone bursted with energy in the packed and noisy restaurant. We enjoyed drinks first, then we dove into the food frenzy. A few items we indulged in were a Charcuterie board with a variety of spreads and white flatbread. Then came a kale caesar salad, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and a cheese pie. The main course consisted of stuffed cabbage, stuffed peppers, chicken skewers, meatballs, smoked sausage, salmon, and grilled shrimp. Remember, each plate had just enough for the five of us to sample. But even though we ate small helpings, we were full by the end of this food adventure, so we agreed to skip dessert.
I’m sure the desserts would have been absolutely heavenly because the food was to die for!
I’m sharing a few pics…

Hope you all enjoyed the adventure!

~Lauren ❤️