Traveling with children to cultural meccas is fun, rewarding, entertaining, and educational for everyone in the family. It can also be slightly restrictive if you have really young children. It’s not often that I get to enjoy a hotel room by myself. Family life and priorities rarely afford the opportunity. However, this weekend I got a chance to travel to D.C. without the kids. I was blessed with a few moments to myself at the The Hotel George in D.C. on a blogger arts trip sponsored by the Shakespeare Theater Company.
If you don’t believe in the power of God then feel free to skip this paragraph as I display how He answered a very specific prayer. Several weeks ago, overwhelmed by work, home-life, triathlon training, and everything else in between, I told my husband that I needed a monthly getaway at a local hotel. One full day a month, I would check into a hotel and have quiet time with myself and my computer. This, I told him, was my wish. So we debated briefly about the lack of room in the budget for such behavior, with me strongly arguing my case. After the discussion ended, I left it alone but only after saying, “God, I wish….” Fast forward and here we are to my point about the power of prayer. My very strong feeling and request manifested itself and placed me here, in front of my computer, in a hotel room by myself.
Today I was completely in my element. I enjoyed a day of walking in the city, attended a street festival, watched amazing live theater, tried new and interesting foods, and relaxed in a hotel. Solo.
Traveling alone isn’t necessarily about getting away from the ones I love. For me, it represents a time of solitude, something that I occasionally need which feeds my mind and my soul. That’s just who I am. It is a time to get back to me and appreciate the simple things I took for granted before kids. Like what, you ask? Well, things such as:
- Long showers in the middle of the day.
- Uninterrupted self-paced walks through the museum.
- Non-assisting meals.
- Extended walks in the city.
- Experimental eating.
- Spur-of-the-moment unplanned decision-making.
- Sustained conversations with new people that I meet.
Here are some of the sites that I saw and foods that I tasted along the way:
The day began early and ended well after midnight. It was filled with extensive walking, relaxed museum-touring, wine and food tastings, evening theater, and good conversation. These are not things I personally would have been able to do with my kids. What are some of the things you seek or look forward to when traveling solo?
Amazing photos and a great post.
Thank you Ellie! I like taking photos of food.