Man-Half in D.C.! A 36 Hour 1st Timer Visit

Yep, it's the White House.

D.C. is a magical place. I haven't seen much of it, but man-half hasn't seen any of it until recently. We were invited to wedding in late August for two amazing gals up in the Dupont Circle area. (And ladies if you are reading this we were stoked and loved your wedding - we had a great time and appreciate the bourbon you provided at the bar).

We arrived late on a Friday night. It was the perfect opportunity to hit up a few iconic tourist stops prior to crashing at the hotel. The midnight stroll was excellent. A full moon framed our experience at the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. Man half seemed to enjoy it. Last time I was here I also enjoyed the late night wandering of monuments and memorials. It was cooler, less crowded, and somehow very serene. This time was no different.

The next morning we hoofed it from our hotel in Dupont Circle back to the National Mall. We had six hours before we had to be at a wedding (which again was totally awesome). We first trekked by the White House and got a glimpse of the front and the back. The back is definitely the busier area. One day we might actually put in a request for tour tickets, but the next few years will not be the time we'll be doing it. Pictures pending whenever we actually do it.

We got a number of the major outdoor stops in on the west side of the Mall. WWI Memorial. Check. Constitution Gardens. Check. The Reflection Pond. Check. Korean War Veterans Memorial. Check. Lincoln Memorial. Check. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Check. Each of these were super awesome and worth even a quick visit. We were even excited to run across the not-quite-open-yet Lockkeeper's House. NPS is converting the facility from storage to an actual public venue. It's somewhat surprising given the location, which is on the corner of a major intersection near the WWII Memorial, the Washington Monument, and White House grounds. (Side note: We bet in today's real estate market this house would rent out for about $1,500 and maybe sell for $250,000. It's all about location, right?)

Another must stop for our trip was to see the Burning Man exhibit at the Renwick Gallery. This stuff was on point. We've been wanting to head to this desert event for awhile now. This is the closest we'll get for now. The spirit of the festival is right up our avenue. It is like A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which is evident by the

many pieces inspired by Douglas Adams. Several rooms clearly expressed the unique, the nomadic, and the inventive. It stretched the sensory experience and rationality of existence.

Overall, I think our favorite piece was the wired woman. Whoever created her did a great job. Whoever it is based on also deserves kudos. Apparently you work out or are naturally blessed with good genetics. Experiencing her was a bit different that any of the other portions of the exhibit. She clearly dominated the room.

After one wild wedding night, it was time to head back home. We opted to stop by Mount Vernon. We heard that they make some whiskey here, and it just so happens to be George Washington's estate. It was not disappointing at all. The guy seems to have lived in luxury. The inside of the house was fit for someone from the upper class. Besides displaying the key to the Bastille, the house had some impressive furnishings and paint. Yes, paint. Not paintings. Just paint. That green paint in the dining area was not cheap. Apparently that color required a process that led to the modern cost equivalent of $500 a gallon. Apparently the dude liked to flaunt his wealth. The grounds were just as stately as the home. His teeth were also on point. I made sure that we found that exhibit before we left. I don't know why I'm obsessed with teeth. I just am. A dead President's teeth is just as interesting as the teeth of the living. Except maybe that those are some famous chompers.

Separate from the estate location is the gristmill and distillery. This part of the estate is tour based like the mansion and is about a 30 to 40 minute event. The first stop is the gristmill. It is a two-story water-powered monster that churns out cornmeal and grits. Corn is acquired from the on-site farm, processed in this facility, and sold in the gift shop. We bought some of the white grits and will give a taste-tester approval rating of A+.

The second half of the tour focuses on the distillery. This portion was probably a bit wasted on us. The distillery was not operational (and only is during certain times of the year when visitors really aren't welcomed). It was a basic two story facility that had the "distilling" process on the bottom and a museum up top. There were no samples of the product provided. However, you can purchase some of their moonshine and aged whiskey in the gift shop. We opted not to despite my intense curiousity for it tastes like. I know a certain someone (*cough*cough* Dad) that has some. And this person (*cough*cough* Dad) could invite me for a taste test. Until then I cannot rate the product. I can only assume that it may be good considering it is a rye whiskey.