Our nation's Capital houses many of the necessary departments to run our country. The building is…read morebeautiful and it has the Albert Gallatin statue in front.

My brother in law works here and told me about how tours are free. So naturally, this was added to…read moreour visit list! Be aware--you do have to log into their website and sign up for tickets for the tour--they will not let you in without this reservation. They do have a gift shop of sorts, but they do not sell water--just an fyi. They give a guided tour and it was so very neat! They tell you all about the money printing process from start to finish, how to tell the difference between real vs counterfeit. They discuss the reasons that bills change every few years. You get to see them actually working the ginormous printing machines. I highly recommend visiting on your next DC trip!

Great little base with a few key moment tied to history, including Abraham Lincoln and several…read moreother presidents. Home of national defense university, and the national war college.

Nice base. Interesting history. NDU has an INCREDIBLE library! Unfortunately, it is not close to…read morea Metro station stop.

We love visiting Washington and find it offers the nation's best combination of culture, history…read moreand culinary excellence. Now that things are opening up we thought an impromptu road trip might be in order. Not so fast, while hotels are relatively plentiful (and reasonably priced) the newly implemented timed ticket system used to control the post-pandemic crowds at most of the major museums and must see attractions (Smithsonian, National Archives etc.) are bring scarfed up by the locals leaving nothing to speak of for the tourism trade. Multiple websites report no availability until November at the earliest. Oh well, so much for spontaneous travel, as I suspect we'll point our car in another direction. Normally, DC is one of the most attractive destinations along the Northeast Corridor as most major landmarks are free to the public. For the balance of 2021 they might have been smarter attaching a nominal fee to the tix ($5-$10) in order to prevent the hoarding and stockpiling apparently now in evidence. See you in 2022. Roll over Lincoln and tell Jefferson the news. Two stars.

This is a WONDERFUL website that has TONS of information on it…read more They publish The Official Washington DC Visitors Guide. They will send it to you for FREE by either online or through their toll free number on their website. We found this guide to be extremely useful since it had the most up to date information on the museums, monuments, tours, hotels and events . Definitely send away for it. They also may have it available at your hotel.

U. S. Customs and Border Protection is the largest federal law enforcement agency of the United…read moreStates Department of Homeland Security employing about 45,000 employees. It is the country's primary border control organization. The department's responsibility includes regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs, and immigration. In this day of artificial intelligence and insecurity in our technology the thoughts of their enormous power is frightening. I'm a "United States Citizen" but that doesn't make me feel any more safe and secure anymore. I'm not sure what rating I should give but the reviews are positive for the most part. When my grandparents became citizens things were so much different to me. I read my maternal grandfather's naturalization papers my grandmother and my mother (who was born here) were listed. Bottom line is I won't be leaving the country any time soon. I'm definitely not sending, AND I don't want anything sent to me that requires customs involvement.

Today, we're reviewing the folks at the US Customs and Border Protection's Official Trusted…read moreTraveler Program who took thirteen months to approve my Global Entry renewal. I applied in December of 2022 and heard back yesterday. Two stars for "Could've been better." I shouldn't complain too much. I was told that since I am renewing the membership, my status continues to remain active while they process it. Only if I am denied does my membership change. Others I have spoken to were processed in days, one took a week. Over a year is apparently rather unusual. I guess they had to read through all 21000 of my Yelp reviews to determine whether or not I'm a risk? Regardless, I will be able to continue to use the Global Entry kiosks when I arrive into the United States instead of waiting in that super long queue. If you travel more than once or twice a year, it's definitely worth the $100 or so for Global Entry which includes a Trusted Traveler Number. With a TTN in your airline reservation, you're extremely likely to get TSA Precheck on your boarding pass so that you can use the short line at airport security. [Review 21133 overall - 108 in Washington - 96 of 2024.]

A nice campus with a lot of amenities. There's a spring in everyone's step and they look genuinely…read morehappy to be there. The upper echelon of the management team are great people persons. 2/12/18: The ATMs dispense the absolute crispiest bills ever. It's as if they took the bills straight from the printing office and into the machines.

Globalist organization. If you like government-fluoridated water and black ops commanders…read moreselecting your next president, this is the place for you.

* I took so many photos, that I couldn't get to all of them when it came time to upload them. I had…read moreto screen shot them and this is why you may see added stuff in the picture.* 8/29/21 Women In Military Service For America Memorial.  In two decades since I was here, this place seemed new to me. On the contrary the Memorial broke ground in June of 1995, to build the 33,000 ft sq building but was finished on October 18, 1997. I saw a picture and possibly a video of Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, but did not know who she was. A way after visiting the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, I learned that Wilma (Yes, screaming her name is not advised) is the driving force behind getting The Women In Military Service For America Memorial made. "Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught Wilma Vaught was the driving force that built the $22.5 million Women's Memorial at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. She is now the President of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation. The Memorial and its 33,000 sq. ft. education facility is the nation's only major memorial to pay tribute to America's 2.5 million women who have served. The Memorial stands as a place where America's servicewomen can take their rightful place in history and where their stories will be told for future generations. Because of Wilma Vaught, the American people and visitors from around the world can learn of the courage and bravery of tens of thousands of American women who, like her, have pioneered the future." I found this Memorial very educational.  In my high school days and last time I recall visiting the site,  this Memorial site was in the early stages of being built.  1994-1995 I was a Sophomore  I remember talk about a new site opening up, but since that time, a lot has changed. I am glad I visited the site this time. Some tells me I have been to this area before, but regardless of this fact, it was all new to me again...if I was here before.  My favorite icon in this Memorial is a Miltary Soldier I call Bellatrix and Her Dog Potter. Bellatrix and Potter seem to be the centerpiece for the Memorial near the gift shop.  I took pictures from all four sites of this sculpture.   Unfortunately don't know if I captured the sculptor's name, but I hope I did. There weren't a lot of people visiting this Memorial when I was here, but it gave one more time to think about things without hearing Dennis The Menace and  Minnie the Minx disturbing the peace. My second favorite section of the  Memorial were the paintings.  I took pictures of the ones that really caught my eye.   The men's bathroom bathroom was clean, empty and did not have the smell of men ass.  This is very good.  To much gas can be an overwhelming experience.  Overall,  this Memorial is something one should see at least once.  It is experience one should see during special events when hundreds gather here.  Hopefully,  The Coronavirus and its Delta Variant will be behind is when special events do happen here. Oh, if you do take the steps to head to the top of the Memorial,  you can get a good view of Washington D.C  behind you. To Be Continued in Robert E. Lee Memorial....

Amazing & greatly needed & under represented history & Herstory!! I have wanted to come here for…read moreyears since I heard about it from a retired female General. As a female chaplain, I have heard hundreds of stories from older female veterans in the VA that I know are not recorded in history and it breaks my heart. I am so proud to see this memorial filling this role. Donate to help if you feel called & register online so your family & friends will know your story. Also, you can register friends or family even if they've passed away.

"Ascent" by John Safer is a monumental sculpture that rises like a gleaming exclamation mark at the…read moreentrance of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. Standing 70 feet tall, this polished steel form twists and tapers upward in a fluid, aerodynamic gesture. It commemorates the human journey of flight and the grandeur of the Museum's collection. Safer believed that sculpture should capture "the essence and reduce the subject to the pure line in space." This is truly metallurgical poetry and when you view it without the museum or the trees in the way, it looks like a rocket launch against the blue sky. [Review 1031 of 2025 - 1515 in Virginia - 24585 overall]

This sculpture is the work of artist John Safer who crafted the piece in 2003. It looks great,…read moreespecially for being 20 years old. This helical shaped sculpture demands your attention. You will find it in the parking lot of the National Air & Space Museum Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center. You cannot miss it as you are approaching the museum. It towers at 75 feet tall and looks like a spiraling contrail of a jet. It is made of polished stainless steel and is an abstract piece whose interpretation is left to the viewer. There are some that believe the sculpture's upward soaring image represents man's desire to soar to the heavens. Safer is a very active artist with his work being featured in over 1,000 museums and embassies worldwide. But most notably and least known, Safer was a WWII veteran and an emeritus board member of the Air and Space museum. I have to admit, I like this piece. It drew me in and I could not take my eyes off of it. The pieces sits in a calming reflection pool with a little waterfall. That is a nice touch and pushed it to five stars for me. I do not know if it is allowed or encouraged, but some people have even thrown some money into the sculpture's reflection pool. The sculpture sits right out of the museum's front door. It is connected by a long walkway and you pass through Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor, a collection of curved stainless steel plaques that line the walkway and lists the names of those that have received the flying cross and those with a passion for flight. This is not a destination piece, but an add on piece. The vast majority of the sculpture's viewers will be visitors of the museum. At $15 to park, I do not see it being a stand alone, even though I believe the first 20 minutes of parking are free. But anyway, this is a nice addition to the museum. I hung out at the sculpture about 10 minutes after I exited the museum. I recommend checking it out up close.

Yummy onion rings and a great gyro too. Nice place to hand out. Beer and wine only unless you…read morejoin and can keep your alcohol behind the bar

American Legion Post 293 is located in the heart of downtown Purcellville. The Post has been…read morerecently renovated after becoming a non-smoking facility in May. Big Mike is the chef and they have food almost every night. Wednesday night there is a dinner special (spaghetti, meatloaf, etc.) and Thursday night there are wings in several flavors. Big Mike also has other BBQ fare such as ribs, pulled pork, mac and cheese and his collard greens are the best I have ever had. They have Bingo every Saturday morning starting at 10:00AM (doors open at 9:0AM). There is breakfast and chicken salad available for a small charge. This is a very friendly Post and it's getting better all the time.