If you make a trip out of NYC, then DC is definitely worth doing. Union Station in DC is also a metro stop and is walking distance to the Capitol Building...and if you really like walking, you can also hoof it to the Smithsonian (though the metro is faster). If you've had a superabundance of urban experiences, you might hop a cab into Georgetown to Jack's Boathouse under the Key Bridge. (Or you can metro to GW/Foggy Bottom and take the quarter shuttle and get out at the Ritz Carleton and walk west until you're directly under the Key bridge.) You can rent kayaks or canoes there, and you can see a lot of monuments by water - plus if you head west on the river, you'll see some lovely green banks and get a strong sense of being in a little swatch of wilderness despite planes overhead. My husband and i used to kayak here daily when we lived in DC. Frank (the owner) is kind of crusty, but he has the cliche heart of gold. If Anna is there you'll get to meet a real sea goddess.
When you get closer to your trip to the Grand Canyon, make a reservation to have lunch in the dining room at El Tovar. All foodstuffs are pricey at the Grand Canyon, but the historic dining room has a great kitchen and you get a good value and great atmosphere.
While you're in Vegas, have lunch or brunch at the outpost of New Orleans' Commanders Palace. I don't think the original is up and running after Katrina, so i think that the owners are relying upon the LV branch to keep them going until the rebuilding is done. Try their Turtle Soup. |
