Weekend Wanderings: Midnight Monument Tour

Let's face it, there's never really a bad time to see the monuments - maybe unless it's 97 degrees and the Mall is over run by tourists - but their majestic beauty still shines through. But the monuments take on a different feel at night. There's a reverence that falls with the night and it's often accompanied by a hush or quiet whispers. There may still be a hoard of tourists, but somehow the quiet still creeps in as you approach.

Some of the most romantic moments can be found on the steps of the Jefferson pondering the wisdom you've just read inside the dome. Some prefer the coolness of the fountains inside the Roosevelt as you wander through the eras of his Presidency. And my heart swells as I see the men who've died for our country remembering their brethren as they walk through the Vietnam, Korean or WWII memorials.

When's the last time you visited the monuments at night? You might think about planning a trip.