This was our 1st Christmas as DMV residents. There was so many amazing things to see and do, and we tried to keep up. What we loved the most is the sense of small community. As we would walk down King Street in Old Town Alexandria, with it’s old historic brick buildings, all the trees were lit up with white lights. The brick homes had old lanterns going. In the town square in front of City Hall stood the Alexandria Christmas tree.

Thanksgiving weekend started our holiday season. We drove to Maryland for the weekend to see my cousin, who was in town for a few days. They took us to a tree lighting ceremony in Leonard town. If you want a small town Gilmore Girls Christmas, Leonard town is where you want to go. Santa lit the tree, there were tractor rides, hot chocolate and wine/cider stands with lots of other festivities and of course Christmas music!

The following weekend we stayed in Virginia to see all of the Holiday activities. The first adventure was the Alexandria boat parade. We walked into old town, planted ourselves on some not so soft rocks along the Potomac River to watch all the boats go by. Each one was lit up and decorated in a different theme and played Christmas music. There was even a World Series Boat with the World Series trophy for the Washington Nationals. Not something we ever thought we would see.

Another Christmas “must” in Virginia is to see Arlington Cemetery. It is a humbling place to see at any time, however, at Christmas, there is a wreath on every headstone. You can’t help but sit and reflect.

On Christmas Day we went into The District to see the National Christmas Tree. What we learned is that there are several throughout the area, but the one you see on TV isn’t as tall as it looks. It was a beautiful day and we walked around enjoying all the holiday spirit.

When we first arrived here, we went out to visit Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington. It was beautiful. We signed up for a yearly membership so we could go back to walk the grounds whenever we want. So we went out at Christmas time because I wanted to see the Gingerbread House. Of course it was beautiful, and George and Martha Washington are both buried on the property. It’s a peaceful place to just walk and enjoy the beauty.

On several recommendations, we took a day trip up to Annapolis, MD to see the beautiful little town and all it’s history. There is just something amazing about walking around all these towns and the buildings that were built in the 1700 – 1800’s.

In November we took a week and drove down to Norfolk, VA for work. Just as anywhere in this area of the country, there is plenty of history to take in. The week was beautiful weather wise, and our hotel was right next to Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse Restaurant, which according to Lee, is the best pulled pork sandwich ever.

We also had dinner at one of our favorite Irish Pub’s, Grace O’Malley’s https://irishpubnorfolk.com/

There is lots of great food and Sightseeing in Norfolk.

Driving home we decided to stop a night in Williamsburg, VA. There is so much to see and do there, it is on our bucket list to go back when we can spend more time. We did spend the day at the Yorktown Battlefield. We drove the Colonial Parkway from our hotel to Yorktown—- a beautiful and historic drive. We drove east that took us through swamps and open fields where French and Continental armies camped during the siege in 1781. The historical Park includes 8, 677 acres. Most of it provides habitat for native plants and wildlife.

Once there we went to the visitor’s center and small Museum. Again, it’s another place you could spend days. We drove the Battlefield tour which included the British Inner Defense Line, Grand French Battery, Second Allied Siege Line, Redoubts 9 and 10 ( the capture of them was final straw in the defeat of Cornwallis’ army) the Moore House (a historic building that was the site of negotiations for the British General Cornwallis’s surrender) and the Surrender Field (here is where the British layed down their arms in surrender to George Washington.). The battle at Yorktown was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War… gaining the title of “Where America Was Born”.

https://www.nps.gov/york/index.htm

We have been settled in Alexandria, Virginia for a few months now. So far we are loving the area and all it has to offer. Adjusting to apartment life has been quite a change. We have never been without a pick-up truck, and you take that for granted. Our first trip to Costco we found furniture we loved. Then came the task of getting it home and up to the 4th floor. We found “Uber-like” service for large item deliveries! The driver loaded it all up, and took it up to our apartment for us!

Our household goods took a month to arrive, so we learned quickly how to live very minimally. We downsized by a large amount before the move and once our stuff came from the movers, we realized how small apartment living is. Luckily Goodwill is close LOL!

Our apartment is in a residential area, but close to everything. The bike paths that go throughout the area are out our front door, so we purchased new bikes and can’t wait to get out to ride the extensive trail system.

We have already been exploring our new area and all the history here. The first weekend we headed up to Arlington Cemetery . It’s only a couple miles away and the metro goes directly to it from our apartment. If you haven’t been, you should add it to your list of places to visit.

We love being able to get up on a Saturday morning, get on the metro and decide on the spot what to see. We have seen the Law Enforcement Memorial/museum, been to the National Mall and visited all the Memorials. One day walking back to the metro station we passed the International Spy Museum… in we went. What a cool place! One day we were out for a drive and stopped at the Manassas Battlefield. There are a lot of battlefields in the area and plan to see as many as possible. Each week is something new to explore.

I think everyone should drive across the country at least once in their life. We have driven all over the western half of the United States, and hit several east coast states via plane. Then one day earlier this year, as we walked through a record 2 feet of snow outside our house, we decided to take a huge leap of faith and move to the east coast. After selling the house we started the drive east with our cat, Jabba. It’s 3300 miles from Bremerton, WA to Alexandria, VA in case you were wondering. We took seven days to drive, so we could visit friends and family along the way.

We have now been to 29 of the 50 states. Every state is amazing in it’s own way. Driving across the country you get to see the beauty of this country and gain a new appreciation for it.

In the past couple years, we have really traveled a lot. We drove to Texas, flew to Alaska, driven the route from Seattle to San Diego so many times we could now do it with our eyes closed. And now we have driven all the way east.

I had no idea that Iowa was so beautifully green or that it had some of the most amazing pizza I have ever eaten. I didn’t expect New Mexico to have some of the most beautiful and colorful scenery I have ever seen (going back is on our bucket list). Of course, Alaska is jaw dropping beautiful and makes Texas seem small. And there is something very special about seeing the Rockies and knowing you’re at the Continetal Divide. Last year we spent a week in Portsmouth, NH and I was amazed at all the green trees and plants and it had amazing food! Texas is BIG… it goes on and on and on when you are driving thru it. Leaving Texas one morning (ok, 3 am – is that morning or night?) we drove along the highway and with no other cars around, all we could see is eyeballs staring at us. They were deer, grazing along the highway for miles and miles and miles, and we waited to see how many of them would jump out in front of our little RAV 4. We got lucky, they were busy eating and never crossed the road in front of us. Nebraska is is big too. Or maybe it just seems that way because the scenery doesn’t really change. But as we drove thru I realized that Nebraska has a peaceful feeling to it. And we saw what was left of massive flooding they had this past spring. We have seen so much of the devastation that has happened in the past couple years. Drove thru San Francisco and Northern California while it was flooding (watching rivers overflowing and raging so fast they swallow trees is not a sight you will ever forget), drove thru areas with flash flood warnings, detoured to avoid the Delta fire that closed I-5, which took us thru the remains of the Carr fire. It is so much worse in person. Seeing what used to be homes, with only the chimney standing and a burned out car where a garage had been. We saw one home with nothing but the BBQ left. Driving home that trip we were on the outside of the Camp fire. Stopping for gas, my eyes burned so bad I could hardly see in the minute it took to run from the car inside the station. On our drive to Texas we were always out-running storms. We missed seeing the Grand Canyon because of a horrible snow storm that closed everything. We also were at Crater Lake when they had all their fires, so many of the roads were closed we had to drive detours.

We have seen so much and more in our recent travels. Made me realize we really need to preserve everything we can, value what we have and not take for granted the gifts and beauty this country offers. Go see as much as you can and enjoy every day!

We were both born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. But love to travel and have done so a lot. When this job opportunity to Washington DC came up, it took about 30 seconds of discussion to decide we couldn’t turn down the experience. Our goal and hope is to still get to Europe, but seeing so much of our own Country’s history is just as exciting. As we drive thru the Cascades on our drive east, I look at our beautiful state with different eyes, and it really makes me realize how lucky we are to have grown up here.

In February 2019, in 2 feet of snow, we took lots of walks and had lots of talks about how we could take advantage of oppurtunities that were out there. That was when we decided it was time to sell the house so we wouldn’t be tied to it if we got the chance to “go”. Not to long after we made that decision a job offer came in…. one thing after another…. everything started to fall into place.

The house sold in 3 days for a full price offer. We downsized, sold most everything and packed Jabba in the car. It wasn’t without a lot of stress, but so far it is all working out. And NO, we don’t have a place to live. Driving across the country and winging it.