Exploring America Vol. 6｜A Cornell Student's White House Adventure

Washington D.C. feels like it was made for city walking — clean, wide streets, National Guard members politely standing watch, and a sense of safety that lets you truly soak in every step 🥹🫶🏻. 🚶 A Walking Route Guide Union Station → North Lawn of the White House (about 30 minutes on foot) The north side offers a closer, less‑crowded view of the White House Pass historic architecture perfect for slow, scenic photos A Detour Through Chinatown Cleaner and more orderly than Philly or NYC’s Chinatown Try Chick‑fil‑A here — an unexpected but tasty crossover of American fast food and local flair 😋 The National Mall Axis U.S. Capitol → Washington Monument → Lincoln Memorial Free museums everywhere — reserve timed entry for popular ones in advance 🎄 Holiday Highlight The Norwegian Christmas tree inside Union Station (a gift from Norway each year) is now a classic photo spot 🎄 After dark, its gold‑and‑green glow feels especially magical ✨ ✈️ A Reunion Across Time and Space From Beijing in June to Washington in December, Meeting an old friend in another capital — Oceans apart, yet pulled together by the gravity of friendship. Maybe that’s the warmest footnote a study‑abroad journey can have. #CornellInDC #WhiteHouseWalk #DCCityWalk #StudyAbroadReunion #NorwegianTree #MuseumParadise