DC Bound...GW Parkway...

One of the prettiest drives you'll take in the DC area is along the George Washington Parkway. This is actually a part of the National Park system. This particular parkway goes from the Beltway (I-475) in Virginia right after you cross over the Potomac River from Maryland to National Airport. It is gorgeous any season of the year from dogwood trees in blossom in the spring, dense foliage in the summer, fall leaves in the autumn and covered in snow in the winter. The Potomac River follows along one side of the George Washington Parkway (called GW Parkway by the locals). There are pulloffs to view the river along this outside lane. A neat walk is to get off the Parkway at Roosevelt Island and just enjoy the stroll. In the middle of the island (and only seen if you walk to it) is a wonderful marble monument to Roosevelt. You go under and past many of the bridges from DC into Virginia. I'm posting a picture of the Key Bridge. When Nissa and kidlings lived at Ft. Myer, we took this little turn off going to opposite direction of the picture to get to Ft. Myer. We used it a lot. Now they have that turn off constructed so the only way you can go after taking the turnoff is to cross the Key Bridge into Georgetown. You will see George Washington University, the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial with the Tidal Basin in front on the DC side across the Potomac River as you drive along the GW Parkway. On the Virginia side of the Parkway you will pass the CIA exit (I once accidentally took this exit when returning home from National Airport at night. It has HUGE gates posted with booths with people in them watching you and at night LOTS & LOTS of really big and very bright lights.), the Custis-Lee Mansion at the top of the hill in Arlington Cemetary and you'll see the Iwo Jima Memorial. Also on this side of the Parkway you'll pass the Pentagon. There is also Lady Bird's Garden and lots of monuments and fun things to see along the way. You end at National Airport. Just stay close to the Potomac River and you'll be just fine. If you wander into other lanes, leave a trail of crumbs so someone can find you later. The pictures are in order from I-495 toward National Airport. They are:

• George Washington University
• Lincoln Memorial at foot of Memorial Bridge with Washington Monument in background
• Key Bridge
• Washington Monument across Potomac River

Why this description of the George Washington Parkway you ask?? Claude and I took it to get from the George Washington Masonic Memorial to the Italian Store. This time I tried again to take pictures as we drove. I managed to get these few pictures to share with you. My description is from I-495 to National Airport but we drove it the opposite direction to get to Spout Run and the Italian Store.