- President Barack Obama, August 19, 2020
We are sad to not be in Milwaukee but on a positive note - our livers, wallets and sleep cycles are all faring much better by watching this virtually from the safety of our couches. So far, we are delighted in the outcome and ready for Joe’s big night tonight! Here are MAA’s Top 10 favorite moments so far:
10. The roll call. Such a huge improvement from crazy people yelling a sentence or two you can sometimes barely hear. Instead, we saw a beautiful tapestry of our country.
9. Video of the Amtrak conductor Joe befriended - this man cares about working men and women from the bottom of his heart.
8. The segment on Ady Barkan. Read here in case you missed it.
7.Tuesday’s spotlight on Dr. Jill.
6. The video right before HRC spoke highlighting women in politics. Amazing.
5. Michelle Obama urging us to vote like our lives depend on it. Because they do.
4. Jennifer Hudson. Jump to 2:16 to watch her incredible cover of “A Change is Gonna Come.”
3. Gabby! We love you.
2. President Obama urging us to vote to save our country.
1. Kamala’s acceptance speech - what an amazing woman and public servant. Let’s do this!
two cool things:
Thanks, Washingtonian, for 14 ways to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment!
H/T to our friend, Jeff Ziarko who has become a puzzle master with his new DC/K Street-themed crosswords series. You can email him to get on his list!
Last Minute Trips!
The number of ‘out of office’ auto-responders has spiked this month! Those of us who took vacation earlier this summer are feeling a little jealous and ready to get away again. So, here are some thoughts on nearby ‘hidden gems’ or some day trips that will rejuvenate you, with or without kids.
Fletcher’s Cove Boathouse - 4940 Canal Road NW (Foxhall/Palisades) - recommended by Hannah
Kayak, SUP and rowboat rentals by reservation only. If you don’t like being on the water, Fletcher’s Cove is also an access point to both the C&O Canal and Capital Crescent Biking Trails. If you’re so inclined, you can also pick up a fishing license.
Bring an umbrella if you want some shade!
Matapeake Beach - Stevensville, MD (over Chesapeake Bridge, approximately 1 hour from DC) - recommended by Jaime
This is a small beach by any typical standards but is clean, free to enter, and offers calm, shallow bay water to play or relax in. There is also a dog beach right down the shore. Having been a few times with my family, I recommend arriving as early as possible (before 9am if you can swing it) to stake out the space you need and some shade if that’s your preference. They are supposedly limiting capacity (the close parking lot fills up fast but there is an overflow lot a bit down the road) but we definitely find it’s time to leave as the afternoon hours arrive and bring a larger crowd than we’re comfortable with. Regardless, it’s a totally painless drive and easy access for those in need of a beach day!
Shallow enough for pint-sized kiddos!
Assateague State Park, Berlin, MD (2.5-3 hours from DC) - recommended by Isaac
Earlier this summer, my girlfriend and I went out to the beach at Assateague Island for the day. We got up bright and early to make the three hour drive to this local National Park. In our humble opinion, this beach is well worth the drive. For $25, you can get your car onto this island that is a little stretch of paradise. If you are willing to really put in the time to get your money's worth, that ticket technically buys you 7 days of access so you can come back the following weekend. We arrived at the beach by 10:30am and there was plenty of parking available on the island. We found a comfortable and socially distanced spot on the beach to camp out for the day. Please be aware that there are no shops on the island so whatever food or drinks you would like to enjoy, you will need to bring. We opted for a couple of sandwiches and refreshing beers. One tip we wish we would have had before arriving is that there is absolutely no sun cover so, if you can, it is worth bringing an umbrella with you so you do not have to contend with the sun the entire day. The island stretches across the coast line so, despite more people joining us throughout the morning and afternoon, we never felt crowded and always had our own space. This island is not within the bay so there were a good amount of waves coming in which were a definite surprise for my girlfriend, who grew up only ever visiting lakes in her home state of Michigan. Once she got used to the new surroundings, we both enjoyed the beautiful scenery and refreshing water!
I would recommend traveling to Assateague not only for the amazing beach and sea views, but the wildlife who cohabitate this island. Assateague has wild horses on the island. Below is a picture of those horses that we took from our car! They are not shy to come close to the beaches and, as we found out, the roads. Although the park stresses to not try and interact with the animals, you are welcome to watch from afar and enjoy the feeling of being a part of truly wild nature. In my opinion, Assateague is a great day trip for those looking for a break from the city!
