Cherry Blossom Season

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Kathy Horowitz facilitates a monthly women’s writer’s group at the Life Center in Huntington.  Her work has appeared in The Long Islander, Long Island Woman, Calyx, Blue Unicorn, and is forthcoming in Seventh Quarry.  She recently self-published a collection of poems and completed the 50,000-word novel-writing challenge during November’s NaNoWriMo.  Kathy offers freelance writing, editing, and proofreading services (kahorowitz@gmail.com)
www.kathyhorowitz.com.  

Now that spring is in the air and skiing season is almost over, it’s time to head south for cherry blossom season in Washington, D.C. and take in sights at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  For a long weekend, the following attractions are sure to enhance your visit:

Washington, D.C.:

• Nat’l. Cherry Blossom Festival (www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org).  The Opening Ceremony of the gift of trees from Japan to the United States opens March 15, 2017.  Visit the website for other events around this time.

• National Museum of African American History & Culture (https://nmaahc.si.edu).  This museum has been the labor of love for Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, Founding Director, for the past 11 years and is now the most popular one in the country.  He has said that, “The African American experience is the lens through which we understand what it is to be an American.”  Currently there are almost 37,000 historical artifacts, documents, photography and media.

• Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour (www.expedia.com/Washington).  For a $49 1-day ticket you can relax on the double-decker bus with 360-degree views and explore the National Mall, the White House, Capitol Hill, and the Jefferson Memorial.  There’s a choice of 4 extensive routes so that you can design your own itinerary and get a flavor of our country’s capital.

 

Inner Harbor, Baltimore:

• National Aquarium (https://aqua.org).  See more than 17,000 specimens representing over 750 species.  Visit the bottlenose dolphins and Coral Reef and awe at the iridescent jellyfish.

• Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (www.npca.org).  Visit this star-shaped fort where Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” during the War of 1812.  The view from atop brings you back in time.  There are placards that line the pathways indicating the year each state entered the union as well as a statuesque bronze figure of the poet, artist, and singer Orpheus of Greek mythology.

• Light City Baltimore, March 31-April 8 (www.lightcity.org). The Light Art Walk features more than 50 attractions including illuminated visual artworks and installations featuring local, national, and international artists.  A must see!

• The Maryland Science Center (www.mdsci.org).  It includes three levels of exhibits, a planetarium, and an observatory.

• Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is three blocks west of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.  Learn about the history of one of the most famous baseball players in history who was born George Herman “Babe” Ruth on February 6, 1895.

Whether or not you’ve been to the nation’s capitol and the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, there‘s always something new and exciting to see or do.  Happy Travels!