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5 Vital Things To Know When Visiting Washington, DC

A trashcan will become your best friend.

Diana Xavier

Jul 09, 2018

East Carolina University

Diana Xavier

Just recently a group of friends and I made a trip up to Washington, DC. We went in the wintertime and boy was it cold! There wasn't as much snow as I'd thought (it was a little disappointing) but the wind was killer!

One of the things that was great about this trip was that I gathered knowledge from the experience! Here are 5 things that are vital to know when you visit Washington, DC!

1. The security at the Museums and Monuments is serious!

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The security in Washington, DC is serious. For good reason, but unfortunately, even snacks and pocket knives are on the list. As a country girl, this was a bummer. There is nothing that southerners love more than their pocket knives and food.

If you visit any indoor monument or museum, be sure to leave your food and weapons in your hotel room.

2. The Metro is a godsend!

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When you visit Washington, DC there is a lot of walking. I mean a LOT. But if you buy a metro card, it makes everything so much better!

The metro is warmer, there isn't any wind, and it isn't as crowded in the wintertime!

We still walked a lot, but towards the end of the trip, we mainly stuck with riding the metro as we got more tired.

3. Trash cans are epic hiding places!

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Not for people! But for the aforementioned pocket knives and snacks.

When I was in DC, I had a whole backpack of snacks, some scissors I had forgotten about, and probably a pocket knife. We went to go into the capital and they don't let you take in any food or metal objects (unless its the metal part on your belt).

So, like any normal people, we tried to hide our stuff. But, unfortunately, it didn't work. Ultimately, one of the security guards outside the doors suggested that I place our stuff in an umbrella bag and put it in the trash and hope for the best.

Thankfully, when we were finished touring the Capital all of my stuff was still in the trash can! The security guards had changed, but after I pulled out my bag, I turned to the new ones and gave them a thumbs up before we left. My best friend thought I was crazy, but hey, it worked!

4. Doughnuts make even the cold bearable!

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Warm doughnuts covered in chocolate are great motivators to brave the cold! If you visit Washington, DC, in the wintertime, keep an eye out for the hot and ready sign at Krispy Kreme! Walking to all those monuments will leave you cold and tired, but doughnuts will definitely help you to forget about you freezing limbs and aching feet!

5. Don't be afraid to ask for information!

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The layout of Washington, DC, isn't too bad, but it can still be confusing. Several times we had people ask us for directions and we had to ask others for directions. So don't be afraid to ask those around you for information, most people are pretty nice and very helpful!

Overall, the trip was awesome and I had a great time! Riding the metro was a great experience and all of the monuments and museums were amazing! I'll definitely visit it again, especially since I didn't get to see all of the museums! Maybe I'll pick a better time to visit though, some time that's not too hot and not too cold would probably be best.

If you have traveled to Washington, DC, and have some helpful tips or knowledge that you've gained from it, feel free to comment!

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5 Vital Things To Know When Visiting Washington, DC

A trashcan will become your best friend.

1. The security at the Museums and Monuments is serious!

2. The Metro is a godsend!

3. Trash cans are epic hiding places!

4. Doughnuts make even the cold bearable!

5. Don't be afraid to ask for information!

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May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

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8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

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If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

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