washington

We love books because they take us around the world, into the past or future, and beyond the limits of reality. True book lovers don’t mind toting around their current read. Doing so allows them to prop open their current book and read through a few more pages whenever a moment presents itself—whether it be waiting in line at the store, relaxing during a lunch break at work, or stealing a couple minutes away from a boring class lecture. But it’s not just the books that capture your imagination; libraries can play a big part, too. Take a look at these three incredible libraries around the world, and maybe even spend a minute or two daydreaming about plopping down among the shelves and reading the day away. All of these libraries are open to the general public, so, if you get the chance, one day you can make that daydream a reality!

At the mention of the Oregon Trail, many young Americans will recall fording rivers, crossing plains, and being waylaid by dysentery or broken legs in a popular game played on flickering computer screens. The real Oregon Trail, used by many American pioneers during the westward migration from Missouri to Oregon during the mid-nineteenth century, was far more remarkable.

Arena Stage is housed at the Mead Center for American Theater, a new high-tech facility in southwest DC.

Horns honk and sirens wail. Men and women swiftly shuffle down the sidewalk. Without warning, the smells of pollution or police-horse droppings waft away, and the city now smells of sautéed vegetables, melted Gouda cheese, or grilled barbeque beef.

Created in 1912, the Czarevich Egg was created for Empress Alexandra Feodorovna as a tribute to her son, Alexei. Photography courtesy of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. On Easter morning, you are probably used to seeing a wicker basket filled with eggs—perhaps dyed chicken eggs, chocolate eggs, or colorful plastic eggs filled with a variety of candy treats. But what would you think if the eggs hadn’t been laid by a chicken or weren’t made of plastic or sugar?

Every spring, Washington, DC, wakes from its wintertime slumber in dazzling shades of pink and white bursting from the blossoms of thousands of cherry trees. Millions of visitors flock to the nation’s capital to admire the blossoms and celebrate spring with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. But the attraction is more than just beautiful flowers. Over the 100 years since their planting, these cherry trees have come to symbolize friendship, hope, and—in true spring fashion—renewal.

In addition to permanent collections, most museums have special temporary exhibits that showcase one particular subject. These can be anything from a display about the U.S. Postal System during World War II to blown and sculpted glass. You have to pay attention though, because these special exhibits are sometimes open for as short as a few months. Here are some exhibits that are currently on display that you won’t want to miss.