Growing up in the countryside, I never appreciated the graceful curves of mountains outside my backdoor, the endless trees that nature set ablaze each fall, or the remarkable freshness of the air. But after two years breathing the pollution that emanates from Shanghai’s prolific factories and cars, I was eager to immerse myself in the great outdoors. […]
Parks and Gardens
The National Arboretum and Bonsai Garden
The U.S. National Arboretum is a sprawling 446 acre park maintained by the Department of Agriculture. Its main purpose is to increase the value of plants through research and conservation. But with 9.5 miles of pathways winding through fields and forests, the arboretum is also one of Washington DC’s best hiking spots. Grab a map […]
A Guided Tour of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Home
George Washington is a beloved figure in U.S. history. As general of the Continental army, he led the American colonies to success in the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. This win was followed with his election as the first president of the newly formed United States of America in 1789. When not busy helping to […]
My Perfect NYC Weekend
Having lived in Manhattan for five years, my returns to the city are more of a homecoming than a tourist holiday, a time to catch up with friends and revisit favorite old haunts. These always-too-short weekends are filled with conversations that linger over delicious meals and long meandering walks that hardly ever end at the […]
Visiting the NYC 9/11 Memorial
“Where were you on 9/11?” That’s a question that doesn’t get asked as much anymore, twelve years after the event. When I am asked, almost no one is prepared for my answer. I was in the air. In September, 2001, I was working in Washington, D.C., for a small publisher of legal books. I had […]