One of the places I have been planning on visiting since my move to the United States is Shenandoah National Park. As I have mentioned on my previous posts, one of the things I love about Washington, DC is the ability to experience so many different places within a short drive. An hour and half from DC, you are transported to a lush mountainous region in the heart of Virginia. When we arrived at the Skyland Resort, we were taken with the beauty of our surroundings. Upon arrival, we indulged in a Vinter Dinner in which local foods paired with wines from Virginia. After dinner, we were welcomed with a lovely sunset descending on the resort. 

Sunset at Skyland Resort

We checked into our room at the resort and we loved the cozy rustic feel. As an added bonus, our room had a lovely view of the mountains which surround the park. Before going to bed, I looked up at the sky and was reminded of the infinite stars in the sky as we do not get to see them in the city.
We woke up early and loaded on pancakes and coffee at the resort dining room in order to prepare for our hike of the waterfalls. The day was perfect as it was sunny yet slightly cool in the mountains. Although I was a little nervous about a bear encounter as we embarked on the hike, I was excited to see what nature had to offer. Unfortunately, we only saw a very mischievous looking raccoon before we left for our hike to my Dutchman's sadness and to my relief. As we stepped into the trails, we were transported to the sounds of nature: trees swaying, birds singing, river running, and the occasional sounds of humans. It was a whole different world than our lives in DC. 

Little Swimming Hole

As we worked our way through the trail, we encountered small and large waterfalls. Like kids climbing on rocks, we worked our way to a small waterfall and discovered a small swimming hole. I was a little bummed that I did not bring my swimsuit because the cold water would have been perfect for the sore muscles. Altogether we hiked around six miles, the painful part is the way back: it was mostly uphill.
On our way back, we stopped by the stables to see the horses as the resort offers horseback trail rides. Although we did not have the opportunity to do it at that time, I would love to do it our next time there. As much as I love the city, I also enjoy taking the time to spend time in nature. For me, not only does it calm me but it inspires my creative process.

One of the highlights of living in DC is culture. Whether it is museums, music, theater, or history, there is plenty of cultural events to experience.  On the hot summer month of August, things can be quite crowded along the National Mall with international tourists and student groups. This Sunday we discovered a serene and colorful place steps from the White House: the Art Museum of the American States (AMA).  AMA collects and exhibits works by established and emerging artists and carries out other activities of an educational nature. The museum's permanent collection of contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art is one of the most important of its kind in the United States. 

The passageway leading to the courtyard

As we entered the museum, we loved the warm intimate space. The ceilings are high, there is plenty of light for the exhibitions, and it's small enough not to overwhelm.  We first studied the first exhibition "Femininity Beyond Archetypes" which challenged many of the views about the female form in our society.  The Colombian photographer Natalia Arias interprets historical views of women in her modern photographs. She depicts classic stereotypes such as the "Madonna" in her photographs which women in every culture can relate to.

One of the works of Natalia Arias

We moved on to the second exhibition, "Small Guide to Homeownership" by Mexican photographer Alejandro Cartagena.  The photographs we were most fascinated by is "The Carpoolers".   It's a series of photographs of day day laborers along Monterrey Highway 85.  I admired how the photographer captured the color, diversity, and sentiment of the men.

The fountain at the courtyard

Last but not least, we worked our way to the courtyard via the deep blue tiled walls and Aztec wall sculptures of the inner patio of the museum. The courtyard is as impressive as the interior with a gorgeous space, a serene fountain which seemed to transport me to Mexico in midst of the chaos of a Sunday in Washington, DC.

The Outdoor Garden

This summer, I've been on a mission to discover new places a short ride away from DC. One of the things I realized is that summer was about to end and we have not been to the beach yet. The thought of going south on I-95 on a Friday afternoon does not spark my interest. I've also heard about the traffic towards Ocean City and Rehoboth. Our solution: wake up at zero-dark-thiry (well, not that early but 6am on a Saturday is pretty ambitious) and go on a road trip to Fenwick Island, Delaware. We were seeking a less crowded beach and a more authentic coastal feel. After a little research online, we discovered this hidden gem on the Atlantic Coast.

The Beach

As we approached Fenwick Island, we grasped the beauty of the East Coast: driving by rows and rows of cornfields, peach orchards saturated with fruit, and birds flying low on the marshes finding their prey. When we arrived at our destination we were taken by all the colorful beach homes which led to the beach. The main challenge was to find a parking spot. There is a parking lot for the beach but even as early as 9:30 am is was already backed up. We drove around for 15 minutes until we found one of the few streets without parking restrictions.


The runway to relaxation

  A sandy dune path led us to the beach. The day was perfect: light breezes, sunny, and not overly warm. The beach had small group of families with young kids playing in the surf and groups of friends hanging out on the beach. The scene was lively but not overcrowded.  It's not a beach for singles to mingle but a great space to catch up on your reading, hang out with family, go for a swim, and admire the coastal home architecture.

After spending several hours on the beach, we decided to go for a late lunch at the Lobster Shanty, which is a 10 minute drive to where we were camped out at the beach. The restaurant has the classic coastal decor of antiques and souvenirs and a nice terrace with a view of the marshes. We started our meal with oysters and I had a delicious lobster roll. The highlight was the generous helping of lobster that the roll had. We're glad we checked it out for a late lunch given the overflow of the parking lot during dinner time.

Kayaking on the bay

We worked off the lunch by heading to Costal Kayak and renting paddle boards. Thankfully the sun was not as strong at 4pm and we went on a pleasant paddle of Little Assawoman Bay. The water was calm and we did not have to wrestle the current as I have experienced in other SUP experiences. We took in the view of the bay with the beautiful homes which line the coast. We tried our best not to look at the water as there were many jellyfish making their rounds. We did not get a warning from the staff, so assume these guys are harmless!

Lobster Roll at Lobster Shanty

We concluded our day back to the place we started our day: at the beach. By 5pm the beach was much quieter and families were packing up to head home. The surf had become more aggressive with 3-4 foot waves crashing into the sand. Some were strong enough that we felt the impact from the ground up. It was a beautiful setting to conclude our day at the beach.

BBQ on the Road

We began our journey to the city tanned and relaxed and discussing how to plan a longer trip next summer. We fueled up for our trip with an unpretentious barbecue on the side of the road. The seasoning on the red pulled pork was great fuel for the end of a fantastic day. Although a 3 hour trip each way may seem ambitious, we truly enjoyed our experience. The trick is to leave very early and head back on a Saturday evening instead of Sunday.