Washington DC and Park Hyatt
This past weekend I visited Washington DC for a short weekend trip while my husband Kent was at a conference. I stayed at the Park Hyatt which was fabulous in every way. I booked a junior suite and was upgraded to a Georgetown suite. From check- in to check out the service was impeccable. Booking with our special Hyatt Prive program I received the upgrade (if available, which it was), early check in, late check in (if available), $100 credit and free breakfast for two. A special highlight of this property is that they have a Michelin star restaurant on premises, Blue Duck Tavern. Not only did we eat there Friday night, but we also had our (free) breakfast there each day. How often do you have a Michelin star restaurant as your hotel breakfast? Better yet, how often is it free? Just one of the perks of having someone like me assist with your reservation. Why do it yourself when I can do it better?
Museums
The first museum I toured was the Newseum. It is a museum dedicated to the importance of a free press and the First Amendment. I really enjoyed it. The museum is very interactive and perfect for kids and people of all ages. They have a portion of the Berlin Wall there and it was a fascinating thing to see up close. It is really striking to see the graffiti and color on one side and the white concrete on the other. I would highly recommend the museum. There is an admission fee unlike the other Smithsonian museums.
BERLLIN WALL
We also stopped by the Air and Space museum. They are undergoing heavy renovation and the parts that are open are in need of a facelift as well. They do have some interesting areas but if you are short on time there are other museums that offer a better experience at this time. Across the street is the National Gallery of Art so we made a quick visit in there. I love Impressionist art, so we saw some of Renoir, Monet and more.
The next day I went to the Holocaust museum. It is done very well, and pays a tremendous tribute to the victims. It also serves to document extensively the true history so it will never be forgotten or diminished. This quote from the Remembrance Hall I believe sums it up best.
Lastly, I visited the African -American museum. I had heard such wonderful things about it and it did not disappoint! It is huge and it is a considerable undertaking for one day. My advice would be to start at the concourse level and work your way up so you will not miss the important history on the levels below. It can be easy to start at level one with the misunderstanding that is the beginning. Then you will be left with little time to see some of the most important things below. The museum has so much depth and interactive displays that I truly felt as though it enveloped a full circle and history of African American life. They didn’t miss culture, sports, music or entertainment. It is a can’t miss for all ages.
Of course I have not left off some food pictures. They are all from Blue Duck Tavern. Some are from our dinner and the rest are from breakfast.
