National Mall, Washington DC

I immediately felt better as soon as I walked into the Smithsonian. I got there late as they were about to close. However, there was a very nice security officer that walked me upstairs to the 3rd floor so I could get last minute photos of Wizard of Oz's Dorothy's red slippers. It meant a lot to me and that was very sweet of him. I'll never forget it. Also, the National Mall is one of the best places to exercise, meditate, picnic, chill with friends, street shopping with vendors, ride scooters and bicycles, walk, sight-see, take photos and just enjoy a beautiful place 24/7. Not as many people frequent here at night as they do during the daylight hours but there are quite a few night owls that visit here at night. People come here at night to jog, ride scooters, sit on the benches, and love birds come here at night to take strolls on the trail while holding hands and kissing. At night, there's an absolutely incredibly amazing and gorgeously beautiful view of the White House and the Monument. The place is very serene here and peaceful. It really does remind me of Paris, France how they light up the beautifully engineered street lamps. It's really hard to leave this place. If you come here you will become encapsulated into wonderfulness and joy.

Great family-friendly place! My students enjoyed themselves. The displays were educational. I loved the section with the evolution of men and the interactive camera which shows what you would look like had you been in that era. The elephant on the first floor is a landmark for photos. The precious jewels add a touch of class to the museum.👍