Our third day began with a short drive to the Greenbelt Metro station, just a few miles from Cherry Hill RV Park. Parking was free (thank you, weekend!), but the ticket kiosks? Not so user-friendly. We missed a train trying to figure them out – but with trains arriving every eight minutes, it wasn’t a major setback.

The ride to the Archives station took about 40 minutes, and we emerged just blocks from the National Mall, ready to explore. We strolled slowly, snapping photos of monuments and buildings, and were surprised by how lively the Mall was – runners, soccer players, and families enjoying the crisp fall air.

With the government shutdown in effect, we couldn’t enter any buildings, but honestly, we didn’t need to. The outdoor experience was rich enough. We climbed the hill to the Washington Monument, circled it on foot, and then descended to the World War II Memorial – a place that truly moved us.

At the entrance, we paused to read the inscription that set the tone for our entire day:

“Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and the other the nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us – a nation conceived in liberty and justice.”

We read every inscription, studied the bas reliefs, and paid our quiet respect to the brave souls who shaped history.

Next, we detoured to the Korean War Memorial, where the crowd’s reverence was palpable. Then we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial, the great “temple” of the Union. There, in the central hall, sits the solitary figure of the nation’s 16th president. It depicts Lincoln in contemplation, worn yet strong, with a clenched hand representing his strength and a relaxed hand representing his compassion. Standing in his symbolic presence, we read the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address in full. For anyone who doubts the Civil War’s roots in slavery, Lincoln’s words offer clarity and conviction.

Feeling adventurous, we rented Lime e-scooters to zip over to the White House and then to lunch at Founding Farmers. Afterward, we opted to walk toward the Capitol, passing through a vibrant Turkish Festival, a Turkish Heritage Month event filled with music, food, and dancing. Eventually, we reached the Capitol grounds, where we wandered among the trees and took in the architecture, reflecting on the events of January 6.

We wrapped up the day by catching the Metro back to Greenbelt – sunburned and weary from the day’s 15,000 steps.

For dinner, and in anticipation of an approaching storm system, Cliff opted to cook indoors, preparing pan-seared pork chops, steamed broccoli, and sliced tomatoes. We ended our evening watching another two episodes of The Diplomat followed by our late local news.

Three things we learned worth sharing:

1. Metro kiosks are designed to humble even the most tech-savvy traveler.
2. Lincoln’s words still resonate – and yes, the Civil War was about slavery.
3. Renting scooters is fun until you realize you’re still sore from yesterday’s walk.