Today after work, Dave and I went for a DC holiday stroll. We visited the National Christmas Tree, the Capitol Christmas Tree and Union Station. We did try to visit the National Christmas Tree lighting celebration earlier this week on Thursday, but we couldn’t get close enough to the tree to even see it. We didn’t see the lighting ceremony that evening, but we had a nice walk through festive DC enjoying the holiday lighting and decorations. Here are the beautiful Nutcrackers in front of Old Ebbitt Grill restaurant.
We got out of the Metro Station stop and took a walk to the White House. To me, DC looks beautiful all year ’round, but especially this time of the year.
Approaching the Christmas Tree at sunset.
The National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony takes place each year on the grounds of the Ellipse, south of the White House. With musical performances, and a message of hope and peace from the President of the United States, this event kicks off the annual National Christmas Tree program, which runs until January 1st. This year the ceremony was hosted by Reese Witherspoon. Elegant, sparkling gold and silvery white colors highlight this year’s National Christmas Tree.
As I mentioned before, Dave and I tried to see the ceremony this year, but we didn’t succeeded. 🙂 All streets around the White House had been closed, so we were able to see only the very top of the Christmas tree from 15th Street. It didn’t make sense for us to wait for the lighting, instead, we had a nice walk in DC and enjoyed dinner in Chinatown. To be able to see the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, we should have obtained the tickets way in advance. We might try it next year.
For twenty-two years a group of non-paid volunteers calling themselves the “National Christmas Tree Railroad” construct and operate a Large Scale model train display around the base of the National Christmas Tree. The current display consists of ten train loops, three trolleys, three villages, and over a thousand feet of track. The trains run daily from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. following the tree lighting ceremony December 3rd through January 1, 2016. The model trains are absolutely beautiful!
Had to take pictures of us with the gorgeous tree in the background.
There was a Christmas performance by children on the outdoor stage not far from the Christmas Tree.
The Nativity scene is located a little farther from the stage.
Decorated White House.
A little bit of the Christmas Tree history that we read from the stands around the Tree. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas Tree on the grounds of the Ellipse. Every year, we continue that tradition, with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. Smaller trees representing the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, and the five territories around the National Christmas Tree are referred to as the Pathway to Peace. Each year, since 1954, these trees are decorated by organizations from every state.
Because of the nice warm evening, we decided not to take the metro, but to walk to the Capitol. We passed the Department of Treasury, which is situated next to the White House.
And took about a 26-blocks walk through D.C. from the White House to the Capitol.
On our way we enjoyed numerous Christmas lights and decorations. We walked by the beautifully decorated Milton hotel.
And the American Tavern holiday display.
Approaching the capitol.
The 74-foot Lutz spruce from Chugach National Forest in Alaska is the first tree selected for the ceremony from the 49th state and positioned on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. It was decorated with thousands of ornaments from Alaska, and officially lighted by new House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on December 2nd.
The last destination of our holiday walk was Union Station. Union Station is a major train station, transportation hub, and leisure destination in Washington, D.C. Opened in 1907, it is Amtrak’s headquarters and the railroad’s second-busiest station. The station also serves MARC and VRE commuter rail services, the Washington Metro, and buses.
In 1988, a headhouse wing was added and the original station renovated for use as a shopping mall. Today, Union Station is one of the busiest rail facilities and shopping destinations in the country, and is visited by over 40 million people a year (from Wikipedia).
Freedom Bell, American Legion is a public artwork located at Union Station.
One of the most recognizable markers of the holidays for Washington, DC is the huge wreaths that adorn the front of Union Station. The way these wreaths fit the arches at the entry to Union Station is just perfect.
Union Station is a DC landmark and an absolutely beautiful station. Here is a part of the lobby in the pictures below.
A fine dining restaurant is in the middle.
A view from the 3rd level. There is a huge food court on the first floor. We stopped there for dinner.
There are many brand stores and boutiques located inside of Union Station. We had such a nice walk this evening. We really enjoyed the beautiful holiday light displays and got plenty of exercise walking. 🙂
