An extended adventure with trains, planes, and automobiles on my way through Washington, D.C., Boston, and Acadia National Park with a couple stops along the way.
Train Route
I took the Southwest Chief from Albuquerque towards Chicago and had a small roomette. The train ride was more bumpy and uncomfortable than I remembered, and I started second guessing my plan for another train ride planned after...
Clinton
First stop Clinton for a visit with family.
De Immigrant Windmill
Eagle Point Park
Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area
Mississippi Riverfront
A good place for an evening picnic with a Wendy's Frosty.
Bickelhaupt Arboretum
Train Route
On my way again with a quick train to Chicago Union station, and then on the Amtrak Cardinal towards Washington, D.C. This train route ended up being a more comfortable ride with a good night's sleep.
Washington, D.C.
Arrived in the evening, figured out the Metro, and then took a nice sunset walk along the National Mall.
Capitol Tour
I was looking forward to a tour of the Capitol building to see the rotundas, sculptures, and paintings that I had never seen in-person before.
Supreme Court
This was a very impressive marble building. Inside was a museum-like gallery with history, and was able to attend a short lecture in the courtroom (though no photos were allowed). I tried to attend one of the sessions that was scheduled for the week, but was unlucky in the lottery.
Botanical Gardens
National Portrait Gallery
National Postal Museum
Another impressive building next to Union Station with a lot of exhibits and postal-related artifacts. They had many custom-built wall "trays" to pull out and look at collections of stamps.
National Archives
Renwick Gallery
Police Week Cars
Another Police Week event where many older police cars were lined up along the street, probably staging for a parade.
Natural History Museum
Hirshhorn Museum
A donute-shaped building for the Museum of Modern Art. One of their current exhibits was OSGEMEOS art with a yellow theme made by two twins from Brazil, which I enjoyed.
Police Week Procession
Another Police Week event where hundreds (thousand?) of officers lined the streets on the way to the Capitol lawn, and then buses carrying families of those killed or disabled in the line of duty towards a memorial event.
Botanical Gardens
National Air and Space Museum
Library of Congress
Visited for the start of their weekly "Live!" night event where they hosted a DJ playing beats that echoed through the impressive building.
National Zoo
Boston
Next stop, Boston, Massachusetts, for my first visit to the city. Starting with a walk through it...
Museum of Science
Central Library
Museum of Fine Arts
I think this was the largest museum I have been in. A little (or lot) bit of everything. Someday maybe I'll return to finish the exhibits I didn't get to.
Fenway Park
A (very) windy baseball game at Fenway. Boston Red Sox vs New York Mets, with a lot of people from both cities cheering on the game.
Road Trip
Rented a car (...Jeep) for a small road trip up to Acadia National Park in Maine, with a few stops along the way.
Acadia National Park
Park Loop Road
After arriving took a tour of the main Desert Island along the Park Loop Road. Happened to time it well for a very nice sunset along the cove with some autumn-looking colors.
Cadillac Mountain
In the morning, took a drive up to Cadillac Mountain – the highest point on the eastern seaboard.
Mountain Loop Trail
Owl's Head Light Station
Boston
And, back to Boston for more tours of the city...
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
A museum orignally curated by Isabella Stewart whose collections have primarily remained the same since she was alive. I had heard of the museum before, mostly due to the historic heist of some famous art (whose empty frames remain to this day).
Hammond Castle Museum
Toured an interesting castle along the coast which was built by inventor, John Hays Hammond Jr.
Good Harbor Beach
Sam Adams Tour
Visited the Samuel Adams Brewery for their "Artisan Beer & Cheese Experience" tour with tastings of some of their small batch beers.
St. Louis
Final stop of the trip in St. Louis to visit some family.
Shaw Butterfly House
