The leaves are turning and the air is cooler….Fall is here in D.C.

This week I decided to try and get away from the city and Theodore Roosevelt Island was a great place for that. The only way to get to the island is by crossing the long wooden bridge across the Potomac River. There are a few miles of trails that wind through the island with a memorial in the center dedicated to President Theodore Roosevelt. It was nice to be in the woods again because it reminded me a little of home. However, back home when I go hiking in the woods I don’t here planes flying over every 5 min or the constant sound of sirens. It was nice to get away from all the people, if only for an hour.

Just down the road from my apartment in Alexandria, VA is The George Washington Masonic Memorial. The memorial was built by the Freemasons and it was a great place to go and see the city of Alexandria from the top of the tower. Upon entering the temple there is a 30 foot tall sculpture of George Washington. There are free tours throughout the day, which last about an hour. On the tour we traveled up many floors, which depict different aspects of Freemasonry. I knew very little about the Freemasons before I went on this tour, but learned a great deal while there. There is a large collection of items that belonged to George Washington, including the George Washington Family Bible, the chair that he sat in when he was a Freemason, and his desk. At the top of the monument there is an outside observation deck, where you can see the city of Alexandria and Washington, D.C.

The tower was located on the West side of King Street in Alexandria. King Street is filled with restaurants and shops. It is a great place to go and is just outside of DC. I would recommend going to Gadsby’s Tavern. The tavern was built in 1785 and was visited by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and many other political figures. This was the location of several receptions and balls held in honor of some of the earlier Presidents of the United States; and a place full of history. Below is a picture taken from the top of the Masonic Memorial looking down King Street in Alexandria.

One of the top five places I have visited while in DC is the National Rifle Association Museum. I am a huge advocate of my Second Amendment rights and it was nice to visit the most active organization trying to protect this right. The museum was filled with thousands of guns which showed the development of guns over the years. There were guns that appeared in famous movies, such as the gun used by Inspector Callahan in the movie Dirty Harry. One of the exhibits showed the evolution of weapons used by the United States Military. The museum is located a little ways outside of D.C., so unless you want to ride the bus for an hour, you better have a car to get there. Still, its is a great place to visit while in the D.C. area.