The big city edition : Washington DC

I was among the hundreds that thronged the Lincoln Memorial that weekend.

Staring at Abraham Lincoln's majestic marble statue, I caught myself in a brief moment of awe.

Larger-than-life statues fascinate me. (I talk about hiking to one here.)

Their enormous size appeals to my need for grandeur.

And their ability to immortalize men and women reassures - that deeds worth remembering are not forgotten.

Washington DC, the capital city of the United States of America, tells the stories of many such immortal mortals.

While some of you are dreading a history lesson :) I promise to keep our time in DC interesting.

If you'd rather take this trip alone, plan well and check out some resources here.

#1 Walk (or E- scoot) The National Mall

The National Mall, an iconic stretch of green space in the heart of DC, is home to several famous monuments and memorials.

It has miles of tree-lined walking paths one can meander on. All the memorials are free to the public.

Washington Monument specifically allows visitors to climb all the way to the top with tickets. Fair warning - the tickets run out quickly, so plan ahead if you want to see a panoramic view of DC from here.

See : Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, World War II (WWII) Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Do: Rent an e-scooter off the street. Your feet will thank you (plus it's fun!)
Have the kids find their favorite U.S. states at the WWII memorial.

For more information on The National Mall, click here.

#2 Tour the U.S. Capitol Building

The U.S. Capitol building is home to the U.S. Congress, and it is here that all of Congress’s legislative sessions are held.

Thanks to frequent news appearances, one can instantly recognize the building's large dome and historic architecture.

Take a guided tour or admire it from the outside. It’s beautiful either way.

See : The intricate Greek and Roman-inspired details, the freedom statue on the dome.

Do: Take the free guided tour and learn about the legislative process in the U.S.

For more information on the U.S. Capitol building, click here.

#3 Check out the White house

A trip to D.C. would not be complete without a peek at The White House.

The U.S. president's home can be viewed from the outside through wrought-iron fences by all. A restricted inside tour requires security checks, planning, and a request to the local representative's office.

See: The U.S. President lounging on his lawn ( Naah! just kidding :))

Do: Relax at Lafayette Square, a public park, opposite the White house and absorb your surroundings.

For more information on The White House, click here.

#4 Explore a Museum

The sheer amount of museums that DC hosts is mind-boggling. It has a museum for literally everything - Art, Air and space, Natural history and African American history to name a few.

The Smithsonian Institution, a group of 21 museums and galleries, is an excellent place to start.

See: The Wright Flyer, the first powered aircraft successfully flown by the Wright brothers at the Museum of Air and Space.

Do: Pick a museum that calls to your interests and get exploring.

For more information on the Smithsonian Institution, click here.

#5 Enjoy the Cherry Blossoms (Seasonal)

If your trip allows for flexibility, DC is a place to see in spring, when the Cherry Blossoms bloom.

From mid-March to early-April, the streets around the National Mall are a sight to behold. The timing of peak bloom varies every year depending on weather conditions. Make sure to check the National Park Service website for the latest updates.

See: Rows and rows of gorgeous pink and white blooms.

Do: Attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a month-long celebration of spring and the Cherry Blossoms.

For more information on the cherry blossoms and the festival, click here.

The legacy of a fish

As we come to the end of our DC journey, let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time, there was a sea full of fish.

Fishes of all shapes and sizes lived in it - blue fishes with shiny fins, orange ones with black dots and the rainbow kind with zig zag lines.

The fishes that looked alike hung out together and did (you know) fish things.

One day, an odd fish came along. He was a real peculiar fellow, this one.

He didn't like doing fish things. (Imagine that!)

He swam against the tide. And he mingled with all the fishes.

He spoke of things that amused and alarmed the other fishes.

"He wants to do what? Fly in and out of the ocean?"

"He wants to do what? Hang out in the blue fishes' water hole? But he is purple!"

And so on.

He persisted and they resisted.

Until one day, a dainty blue-green fish said she might perhaps like to try the blue fishes' waterhole too.

....and she too would like to fly.

And so it came to be that one by one all the fishes joined them, and the rules of the sea had to be changed.

Such is the power of the odd fishes.

They dream of flying airplanes (and they do) - The Wright Brothers.

They dream of a world where people have equal rights (and they make it happen) - MLK Jr. / Abraham Lincoln.

It is only deserving that we celebrate these odd fishes. These immortal mortals.

And no place celebrates them better than Washington D.C.