It was good day's drive from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., but a smooth one at least. It was all the more pleasant since we were going to meet up with some long time friends! Because we arrived so late, we took some time to sleep in and recuperate the next morning, but then it was off to adventure again.
We were going to meet with our friends on the second day, which left us with an afternoon to fill. What better place than the International SPY Museum for that? Equal parts activity and museum visit, it is packed with fun and information!
It all starts in the briefing room, where you get a badge, your "mission" and an undercover identity for the rest of the visit. Interacting with the displays was a lot of fun and super informative. My favourite was the analysis challenge, where we had to use intel to make important decisions. We also discovered that either I'm quite the bad liar, or hubby knows me too well. 😅 Anyway, I even got to crawl into some ventilation ducts like I was one of the kids! At the end of the visit, you get a debriefing with your stats and an analysis of your strong points. Pretty cool! Both Joel and I accomplished our last mission. ✔️
It was not just fun and games, though! Spying is some serious stuff, and seriously intense. We learned about famous spies like Mata Hari, interrogation techniques, and historically important moments made possible with the help of intel gathered from spies. We got to see different spying devices like the deer sculpture microphone you see below, pigeons with cameras, the ice axe used to kill Trotsky 😮, and a beautiful car from James Bond.
Day two of our visit started near the Washington Monument, where we met with our two friends to start touring the city and catching up on the latest events in our lives. As we talked, we visited the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The most impressive part was this entirely wooden sanctuary, David Best's Temple, where visitors could reflect on the loss of loved ones and contribute to the piece. There was also an interactive installation called Reforestation of the Imagination, where dead-looking sculptures came to life with augmented reality plants and flowers, which was a bit trippy to be honest. Modern art isn't our favourite, but there were still many interesting pieces to admire!
And because we were in Washington, D.C., it was kind of an obligation to visit the U.S. Capitol, eh? Visits are free of charge, but it's best to make a reservation for the guided tours as they fill up pretty quickly. The wait was worth it, though! It is an absolutely stunning building, full to the brim with history and art. We also got to check out the Library of Congress, which was equally amazing. I'd say it's a must if you need a crash course in American history, or just if you enjoy architecture.
And as we were walking around the block, we also spotted the Supreme Court building. Yes, we walked to the White House, but didn't even bother taking a picture; we'd already been here a few years back, and in all honesty, it's quite underwhelming when you look at it! Plus, high fences had been put all around it to keep people out. Not the best photo op. 🤷
After all this walking, we were down for some real good American food, so we went to one of our friend's favourite place, Hill Country Barbecue Market. 100% recommend! 🤤 Mouth-watering barbecued meat, huge portions, great cold drinks and sweet desserts. What more would you need?
With a little more socializing and a promise to see each other again soon, we went back to the Airbnb, bellies full and smiling happily. Our next destination was (for once) not too far away, so we could sleep a little later the next morning and be fully refreshed for a day of exploring... Stay tuned, folks! 💜
TL;DR: We'd already been in Washington, D.C., but since two friends live there now, we had to stop! Must-see attractions include the International SPY Museum, the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court building, and the White House (reservations are months in advance for inside tours, though). We also visited the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, if you're into modern art. And if you're looking for a feel-good food joint, I highly recommend Hill Country Barbecue Market. 😋
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