A Power Walk Through the National Mall 🍂🚶♂️

The heart of Washington D.C. lies in the National Mall and its surrounding areas. Spending a day walking vigorously here allows you to soak in so much beauty! ✨ Starting bright and early from the east, first head to the U.S. Capitol Building—one of the iconic symbols of the U.S. government. Don’t just settle for the standard front-facing photo; walk around to the back, and you’ll discover a whole different perspective! 📸🏛️ After that, heading west brings you to a variety of museums, most of which are free to enter. Unfortunately, due to the government shutdown when I visited, the National Gallery of Art was closed. The Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum were also on their last day open. I’d been to these two museums before, so this time it was more of a quick revisit. 😅 Looking at the Air and Space Museum now, I couldn’t help but feel that the progress in U.S. aerospace has slowed over the years—it didn’t excite me as much as the thought of visiting the Changchun Airshow. ✈️🧳 Continuing further west, right in the middle of the National Mall, stands the Washington Monument. Perched on a hill, it shoots up like a sword into the sky. Visible from almost anywhere on the mall—and even across the city—it’s the definitive landmark of D.C. 🗽🌆 North of the monument is the White House. I visited years ago and noticed the security perimeter has expanded so much. These days, all you can photograph are layers of barriers and fences. 😬 Only the huge portrait hanging on a nondescript building hints at who the new resident is. 🏠🖼️ South of the monument lies the Jefferson Memorial. Though a bit farther out, it’s totally worth the trip—especially if you sit by the Tidal Basin at sunset. The golden glow on the pure white memorial, with planes occasionally tracing the sky, and fewer tourists around… the view is simply unmatched! 🌅✈️❤️ At the far west end of the National Mall is the Lincoln Memorial—a grand white structure at the edge of the reflecting pool. Consider visiting in the evening when the lights cast a solemn, majestic glow over the entire memorial and Lincoln’s statue. 🌙🏛️✨ Scattered throughout the mall and along its edges are countless statues of generals and soldiers—quietly gathered in the same city, forever marked by the battles they’ve seen. ⚔️🪖🍁 In early October, D.C. offers glimpses of light yellow and red leaves—many from maple and ginkgo trees. Come two or three weeks later, and this place must be absolutely breathtaking! 🍂🍁🤩 So, have you ever been to the National Mall? What was your favorite spot? Let me know in the comments! 👇😊 #LosAngeles #citywalk #WalkingTheWorld #USATravel #AutumnIsHere #WhereToTravel #WashingtonDC #NationalMall #FallVibes