Today we decided to take rent bikes for the day. We headed on the Metro to the Federal Triangle station. A walk around the building and we found the bike rental shop. We are fitted for our bikes, get some directions and head off on our ride.
The bike shop recommended a few places to go that are otherwise not easy to get to by foot or mass transit. They recommended that we ride by the Washington Monument, along the Reflection Pool to the Lincoln Memorial. On either side are the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. On the other side of the Reflection Pool we can ride around the Tidal Basin to the FDR Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial.
Before we get to far, we take a short break for some lunch. The day is very hot and humid. Taking breaks often and keeping hydrated are the measure of the day.
We locked the bikes near the Lincoln Memorial. We visited the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial, then walked up the long steps to the Lincoln Memorial. Visiting the gift shop is a great relief from the heat.
We took a few minutes to view the Washington Monument in the Reflection Pool near where Martin Luther King Jr. stood giving his famous speech. We had some fun with pictures of the Washington Monument.
From the Lincoln Monument we rode our bikes around the Tidal Basin to the FDR Memorial. The FDR Memorial is a large open air memorial showing all the many stages of his 13 year presidency.
Around the corner from the FDR Memorial on the way to the Lincoln Memorial is the George Mason Memorial. This is a new memorial to George Mason who helped write the Bill of Rights.
Next is the Jefferson Memorial. The Jefferson Memorial is simple but majestic, showing the many sides of the Thomas Jefferson.
From the Jefferson Memorial we started our ride back. On the way we visited the World War II Memorial.
After turning in our bikes we went back to the Metro and headed home.
Tomorrow we have a tour of the Capital Building scheduled. We have to decide what other sites we'd like to see.
