Recently visited the Black Hills of South Dakota for a quick trip. While Mount Rushmore is certainly worth the low admission price, plan to spend more time at the Crazy Horse Memorial! Crazy Horse has museums, Native American crafts, and a low-cost bus ride to get to the base of the mountain!
To avoid tourist traps, travel through Hill City, S.D. Hill City, S.D. web site Stop and see the new Twisted Pine shop featuring unique vinegar, wine from New Mexico, and neat craft items (cold beer, too!). The Alpine Inn looks really cute and the current owner is from Germany. I should go back for some German cooking!
Rapid City S.D. is only about 45 minutes from the Black Hills so if you want to fly in (expensive from most places) the little airport is easy to navigate and has plenty of opportunity for rental cars! I enjoyed the FireHouse Brewing Company restaurant (in a real Fire House!) in Rapid City. go to www.firehousebrewing.com/
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Thursday, June 21, 2012
Thursday, March 17, 2011
D.C. tourism and food
Food:
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub started by an Irish woman from County Kerry, now run by an Isirh bartender. Serving good Irish food and pouring great Irish pints! In Arlington, VA at corner of Wilson and Washington. Enjoyed the food, beer, atmosphere, and barman's hospitality.
Places to visit:
Of course there are HUNDREDS of sites to visit in D. C. A few not on everyone's list include:
SOUTH OF THE NATIONAL MALL -
Eastern Market, DC, is the District's oldest continually operated food market! Here we find a traditional market with fresh fish, fresh meat, fresh flowers and more plus a weekend farmers' market and weekend 'flea' market. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and a block from the Eastern Market Metro stop. A great place to walk around on a weekend.
Library of Congress has over 33 million books in addition to maps, photos, and artifacts. The public can view a Gutenberg Bible, artwork, the beautiful interior, and see the main reading room. Tours are available. ANY U.S. citizen can apply for a library reader id card for specific research needs (see their website). This fantastic building and resource is located on First Street at Independence AV near the Union Station or Capital metro stops.
"TO VISIT" + Food Adventure:
fresh fish off the wharf: The D. C. fish wharf on Water Street just south of Maine Av SW at the South end of 9th ST NW. The Circulator bus that runs S on 9th and 7th ($1 per ride) goes within 2 blocks. This is a little hike south from the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop? Why bother? Multiple vendors selling fresh shrimp, crab, mussels, oysters, fish rite off of the dock. You can go to eat lunch while standing around! This is a true "seafood experience."
To visit: NORTH OF THE NATIONAL MALL -
Scottish Rite 'House of the Temple' in D.C. has been featured on several television shows and whether you are a Freemason, curious, or a history lover this facility offers many relics, beautiful and unusual construction, and some history of the U.S. including a number of 'Founding Fathers.' Tours available 10-4 when enough gather or arranged in advance for a group. Located at 16th and R and a short walk from the Dupont Circly metro stop.
Clustered just West of the White House:
To Visit:
The International Spy Museum:
A lot to read and yet interesting museum pieces; certainly different and a D.C. original. At 9thNW and F this is one "tourist stop" that I find truly interesting and worthwhile -- filled with intrigue, relics, and stories! Needs 1 hour.
Food: Gordon Biersch Brewpub is Across from the International Spy Museum at 9thNW and F and is one of my 'always' stops for a cold one and lunch (see DCH below, too) Brewers of great German/Czech style lager beers (Pils, Marzen, etc.) this is also a beautiful restored historic Site. You can stay above in the Courtyard by Marriott if willing to spend the price!
District ChopHouse, 7thNW between G & F, is another one of my favorites. I always find a bourbon barrel stout that is delicious. From DoppelBock to IPA this is the alternative to the German style beers listed above. Truly good food and TIP: go at lunch when entrees are in the $10 range vs. dinner at $22-30.
To visit: a nice cluster walk includes
Ford's Theater near E St and 9thNW (TIP: if you want to glance it wait until a tour ends - when the exit doors open I've never been stopped from walking in and looking around vs. paying for the tour.)
the Old Post Office Pavillion at 12thSW and Pennsylvania Av -- a great view from the tour that most tourist likely miss + interesting historical building!
Decide if you want to go south to Museums or West to the White House
White House visitors centor: West of 14thNW (get a local map)
White House view from The Ellipse
ALONG Constitution Av at the National Mall:
EAST from 12thNW
Natural History Museum
National Gallery Sculpture Gallery (outside)
National Gallery West and East
National Archives -- see the Constitution (at 7thNW)
WEST from 12th NW
American Museum of History
Washington Monument
National Aquarium
head down 17thSW to the reflecting pool
for WWII Memorial
VietNam War Vets Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Korean War Memorial
WWI Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub started by an Irish woman from County Kerry, now run by an Isirh bartender. Serving good Irish food and pouring great Irish pints! In Arlington, VA at corner of Wilson and Washington. Enjoyed the food, beer, atmosphere, and barman's hospitality.
Places to visit:
Of course there are HUNDREDS of sites to visit in D. C. A few not on everyone's list include:
SOUTH OF THE NATIONAL MALL -
Eastern Market, DC, is the District's oldest continually operated food market! Here we find a traditional market with fresh fish, fresh meat, fresh flowers and more plus a weekend farmers' market and weekend 'flea' market. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and a block from the Eastern Market Metro stop. A great place to walk around on a weekend.
Library of Congress has over 33 million books in addition to maps, photos, and artifacts. The public can view a Gutenberg Bible, artwork, the beautiful interior, and see the main reading room. Tours are available. ANY U.S. citizen can apply for a library reader id card for specific research needs (see their website). This fantastic building and resource is located on First Street at Independence AV near the Union Station or Capital metro stops.
"TO VISIT" + Food Adventure:
fresh fish off the wharf: The D. C. fish wharf on Water Street just south of Maine Av SW at the South end of 9th ST NW. The Circulator bus that runs S on 9th and 7th ($1 per ride) goes within 2 blocks. This is a little hike south from the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop? Why bother? Multiple vendors selling fresh shrimp, crab, mussels, oysters, fish rite off of the dock. You can go to eat lunch while standing around! This is a true "seafood experience."
To visit: NORTH OF THE NATIONAL MALL -
Scottish Rite 'House of the Temple' in D.C. has been featured on several television shows and whether you are a Freemason, curious, or a history lover this facility offers many relics, beautiful and unusual construction, and some history of the U.S. including a number of 'Founding Fathers.' Tours available 10-4 when enough gather or arranged in advance for a group. Located at 16th and R and a short walk from the Dupont Circly metro stop.
Clustered just West of the White House:
To Visit:
The International Spy Museum:
A lot to read and yet interesting museum pieces; certainly different and a D.C. original. At 9thNW and F this is one "tourist stop" that I find truly interesting and worthwhile -- filled with intrigue, relics, and stories! Needs 1 hour.
Food: Gordon Biersch Brewpub is Across from the International Spy Museum at 9thNW and F and is one of my 'always' stops for a cold one and lunch (see DCH below, too) Brewers of great German/Czech style lager beers (Pils, Marzen, etc.) this is also a beautiful restored historic Site. You can stay above in the Courtyard by Marriott if willing to spend the price!
District ChopHouse, 7thNW between G & F, is another one of my favorites. I always find a bourbon barrel stout that is delicious. From DoppelBock to IPA this is the alternative to the German style beers listed above. Truly good food and TIP: go at lunch when entrees are in the $10 range vs. dinner at $22-30.
To visit: a nice cluster walk includes
Ford's Theater near E St and 9thNW (TIP: if you want to glance it wait until a tour ends - when the exit doors open I've never been stopped from walking in and looking around vs. paying for the tour.)
the Old Post Office Pavillion at 12thSW and Pennsylvania Av -- a great view from the tour that most tourist likely miss + interesting historical building!
Decide if you want to go south to Museums or West to the White House
White House visitors centor: West of 14thNW (get a local map)
White House view from The Ellipse
ALONG Constitution Av at the National Mall:
EAST from 12thNW
Natural History Museum
National Gallery Sculpture Gallery (outside)
National Gallery West and East
National Archives -- see the Constitution (at 7thNW)
WEST from 12th NW
American Museum of History
Washington Monument
National Aquarium
head down 17thSW to the reflecting pool
for WWII Memorial
VietNam War Vets Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Korean War Memorial
WWI Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Thursday, March 10, 2011
around the area - Cemetary
Visited Crown Hill Cemetary in Indianapolis recently. Famous and infamous people buried there from Gatling, creator of the Gatling gun, to Dillinger, the famous criminal.
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