Boldly Go Solo

Seeing the flashes going off at the bottom of a Metro escalator the other day reminded me of two things: what a big tourist attraction my home town is and how hard it is to capture an escalator on "film." (At least for us amateurs.)

The reason people try to capture our escalators for posterity is because of how long they are. Picture, say, a department store escalator and then multiply it by four. If you're afraid of heights, don't do the math.

As for tourism, I meant to do something visitor-like this holiday weekend in my home town but friends and events intervened. This is why I don't envision vacationing at home. Life constantly intervenes.

There were two things I wanted to do though. One I haven't done in decades and loved the first time. The other I didn't know existed until two days ago.

I want to go back to Arlington House, home to Robert E. Lee and his wife until 1861. The 19th-century mansion is on a hill in Virginia overlooking Washington just above Arlington Cemetery. Your eyes sweep down Arlington Memorial Bridge, across to the Lincoln Memorial and on down the Mall toward the Washington Monument (what my niece used to call "the big pencil") and the U.S. Capitol.

The location offers an outstanding view of the plan that Pierre Charles L'Enfant came up with for the city, with its grids overlaid with radial streets poking outward like spokes. There is no better view of Washington's layout.

And now there's a more poignant reason to head to Arlington Cemetery: the grave site of the third Kennedy brother to be laid to rest there.

The historical site I just learned about also is presidential, and Civil War-related. It's the cottage where Abraham Lincoln spent a quarter of his presidency, and is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northwest Washington

The cottage was designated a National Monument by President Clinton in 2000 and was restored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. After a seven year, $15 million renovation, it was opened to the public for the first time. 

A solo traveler could get to Arlington House or Lincoln's Cottage by cab for a few bucks.

I'll likely visit with the S.O. because he's a Lincoln fan. Or maybe with a friend who's a history buff. Or maybe on my own if no one's available.

Is someone sputtering, "But I thought you were all about solo travel?" What I try to explain on this blog, which doesn't always come across clearly, is that I'm not a militant solo traveler.

I just think it's a fine option when no one else is around to join me in doing what I'd like to do. Much better than not doing it. And sometimes, an adventure it itself, depending on who I meet.

Photos by Ellen Perlman: 1. Metro map. 2. Van Ness Metro elevator

Other photos: 3. Arlington House, from the Arlington National Monument Web site. 4. Photo circa 1860 from the President Lincoln's Cottage Web site.