Arlington, VA – Important places worth your time
My first trip to the Arlington wasn’t planned, but I was still excited. A friend from Washington told me that this little county just across the river has some fascinating monuments and that was enough to get me pumped up for the trip.
I experienced quite a surprise when I found out how many interesting monuments and other spots this place has and I will try to share it with you.
Monuments every American should visit
I am a proud American, and the visit to the Arlington reminded me of everything that makes me proud.
The first place I visited was the Arlington National Cemetery. This cemetery is controlled by the army as it is located on the land of the late Confederate General Lee’s wife who is also a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. This is an important historical location as it contains bodies of many soldiers that fought in past wars. In the beginning, only dead from the Civil War and later wars were buried here, but that changed as soldiers from prior wars were brought to be buried here. Once you visit this place, you will understand the sacrifice our soldiers made to create the USA we know today.
Arlington and its national cemetery is home to the Tomb of the Unknowns, also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The history of this tomb goes back to the end of the World War One. In this tomb lies an unknown American soldier that fought and died in France during this war. He was brought to the states and buried in this cemetery along with more than half a dozen of rewards he earned. A decade later this tomb became a final resting place of an unknown soldier that fought and died in Europe during World War Two.
The Pentagon – Home of the defenders
You can’t talk about Arlington and forget to mention Pentagon which is a home to United States Department of Defense. This building is a symbol of the American army, and it has been a symbol since before the World War Two.
The Pentagon was one of the two targets of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. A hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the western side of the Pentagon, and it resulted in 189 dead out of which 125 were in the building during the impact. The Pentagon was later rebuilt, and it still stands as a symbol of American power.
Arlington County – Where heroes rest
Arlington is a county that contains many monuments and statues that are dedicated to those who have fallen in battle. You won’t comprehend the beauty of Arlington and its monuments until you come and see them in person. That is how I found out all the beauty that this small place has to offer.
Arlington – The resting place of the brave
This county is a home to the Pentagon that is the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense as well as the symbol of the American army. The location of the Pentagon means that many cemeteries dedicated to different elements of American army are located near it. I wanted to visit as many monuments as possible, and I will bring you my experience from the tour. The majority of these monuments are located in the Arlington National Cemetery, which is a large complex that is a final resting place for soldiers from various wars throughout the American history.
Pentagon Memorial is one of the monuments that every American should visit. It is dedicated to the victims of the terroristic attack that claimed 184 victims on September 11, 2001. This is a memorial that represents the victims that have fallen during the attack as well as the strength of the nation that went on to rebuild the Pentagon and punish those responsible for this terroristic act.
Iwo Jima Memorial, also known as the United States Marine Corps War Memorial is located in the Arlington Ridge Park and is dedicated to all Marine Corps that laid their life on the line and lost it in defense of the USA since 1775. The idea for the memorial came long before the World War Two, but the lack of resources made it impossible to make it until 1954. The design of the memorial was based on the picture of marines that raised the flag in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Arlington – The resting place of the Kennedy
Arlington National Cemetery is a place where you can find the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame which is a memorial dedicated to the late president. The design of the memorial was in the hands of the John Carl Warnecke who was a good friend of the president. The site was finished and opened to the masses on March 15, 1967. Kennedy was a highly influential president and the fact that his remains rest near the Pentagon shows the respect of the nation toward him.
What you can do in Arlington except Memorial sightseeing
Arlington has many memorials and other monuments, and thus it’s tiring to try and visit them all in a short period. I dedicated two weeks to the Arlington trips, and that meant I had to find a place to stay and a place to eat. Thankfully Arlington has several hotels as well as restaurants that can accommodate tourists and feed them.
Hotels in Arlington that are worth the money
You won’t have a lot of free time in Arlington as it has many interesting places to visit. This ranges from visits to memorials to nightlife and many concerts and shows that happen all the time. This means that you will require some rest to replenish your energy in-between all the tours and parties. Arlington is a home to several hotels that will provide you a nest to rest from all the activities you will have during the day and part of the night.
Residence Inn is one of the places in Arlington where you can relax from tours. It is a non-smoking three-star hotel that has a pool, and air-con along with the breakfast that is included in the original price. It also has a fully equipped Fitness Center as well as the hot tub where you can rest after a workout.
Hilton Garden Inn is located at the Arlington Courthouse Plaza which is near both the square and the metro which is a big plus. The place is clean, and the staff is friendly, and the best thing about this place is the price which is quite reasonable for a hotel in the tourist oriented place.
Hyatt Regency Crystal City is located at the Airport, and it is a huge hotel that can host quite some guests. The best advice I can give you about the place is to take a room that is on either eight floors or above as the traffic on lower floors makes it impossible to rest.
Where to eat in Arlington, VA
If you are a fan of excellent food, then you should visit either Blue Duck Tavern or 1789 Restaurant. Both of the places offer quite a lot of both American and foreign dishes that are excellent. They also have vegan and gluten-free options whose quality is also quite high.
Individuals that don’t have a lot of time to spend on eating should visit one of the places that offer cheap and fast food. I visited Italian store and Pho 75 and the food there was both cheap and tasty.
