Hello world. This is the most exciting, yet awkward post because I don’t know what to say or where to start.

Ok, I have to start somewhere. My name is Sunny Kamara(Now you get where Sunny In Every Country comes from. I know, say it with me tacky yet catchy, HAHA!).

 If there is one thing that I can admit to, is that I have a restless feet and a desire to see the whole world, one country at a time! I created this blog as a hub for people like me who want to be inspired daily to travel and live a more adventurous life everyday. I will be sharing travel tips, lifestyle tips/ motivations and a little from my life back at home.

Since this is my first post, I wanted to start with the place I call home. I was born in West Africa Sierra Leone, but I have lived in the Washington D.C area over 18 plus years. So, back to where I call home. As much as I love to travel, DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) is home. Below are some of the things, places and restaurants I visit frequently when I am in town.

 The National Mall Washington D.C

I like going to The National Mall for several reasons. Most times when I cannot travel, due to various reasons, I find it very refreshing being a tourist in my own city. It is a great way to clear my head and have an alone time to myself, yet I get to interacts with strangers.

The National Mall is located in the center of Washington, DC. It can be reached via the Smithsonian Metro stop on the Orange and Blue lines.

The National Mall is home to the country’s most famous monuments and memorials. The Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorials all reside here. You’ll also find the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the National World War II Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. DC’s monuments and memorials are free and open to the public 24 hours a day. Spread out across just two miles, it’s fairly easy to see them all in a day or two.

The Lincoln Memorial

Built in white stone with 36 iconic columns, The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most recognized structures in the United States. The memorial is at the west end of the National Mall and is an example in Neoclassical architecture.

 It features a solitary, 19-foot-tall statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting in contemplation, which is flanked on both side chambers with inscriptions of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and arguably his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address. The statue is 19 feet high and weighs 175 tons.

The National Park Service estimates that the memorial draws roughly six million visitors per year.

The Jefferson Memorial

The dome-shaped Jefferson Memorial is an iconic American structure. While its shape is an obvious nod to the Pantheon of Rome, it also mirrors the University of Virginia rotunda, a structure designed by Jefferson himself. The memorial is located in West Potomac Park on the shore of the Potomac River Tidal Basin, at the southern end of the National Mall.

The memorial is noted for its circular marble steps, portico, a circular colonnade of Ionic order columns and a shallow dome.

The interior of the memorial contains a 19-foot statue of Thomas Jefferson, and excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, which he authored, can be found on the southwest interior wall.

The National Park Service estimates that more than two million people visit the Jefferson Memorial each year.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

 

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial was built to honor the 32nd president of the United States. The memorial is divided into four outdoor “rooms,” signifying FDR’s four terms in office. Sprawling over seven acres.

The memorial features 21 FDR quotes, along with accompanying statues and murals representing major events during Roosevelt’s four terms, including World War II and the Great Depression.

The National Park Service estimates that 2.8 million people visit the memorial each year.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is situated on a four-acre site along the Tidal Basin, adjacent to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and sharing a direct line of sight between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The centerpiece of the memorial is a 30-foot statue of Dr. King. His likeness is carved into the Stone of Hope, which emerges powerfully from two large boulders.

The two boulders represent the Mountain of Despair, and are split in half to give way to the Stone of Hope. Together they represent soul-stirring words from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Text from this speech is cut sharply into the rock of the Stone of Hope.

According to the National Park Service, the memorial has had more than 5 million visitors since it opened to the public in 2011.

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Built by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory with $18 million in donated funds. Located on a 2.2-acre site adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, featuring a sculptured column of soldiers arrayed for combat and a 164-foot mural wall inscribed with the words, “Freedom Is Not Free” and etched with 2,500 photographic images of nurses, chaplains, crew chiefs, mechanics and other support personnel.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival

When do the cherry blossoms bloom?
This popular question has a different answer year to year. The average peak bloom date (when 70% of the flowers of the cherry blossom trees are open) is April 4.

The peak bloom date last year occurred on April 10.  In the past, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15 and as late as April 18, according to the National Park Service. The entire blooming period can last up to 14 days, which includes the days leading up to peak bloom.

Expect to see or hear plane noises every few seconds

Activities At The National Mall

One of the best ways to explore the National Mall is to get a rental bike. They are everywhere. You just need a credit or debit card.

Another great activity is paddle boats. Great way to enjoy fresh air and terrific views of the National Mall.

City Center DC

CityCenter is located between H Street NW and New York Avenue, and is bordered by 11th and 9th streets.

Simply put, it’s a 10-acre oasis of luxury shopping, local cafés, renowned restaurants and park space in the middle of downtown’s concrete building-lined streets.

I like coming here for exploring but also to window shop.

Restaurants

I can’t cook to save my life but I can tell you the best and worst restaurants to have a meal in the Washington DC area for the most part. Below are my favorites restaurants that I go to on a regular basis.

The Carolina Kitchen

The Carolina Kitchen is my all time favorite southern cuisine restaurant in the Washington DC area. They have three locations currently. Largo, Maryland, Hyattsville, Maryland, and Rhode Island Ave in Washington DC.  It has a unique charm that appeals to everyone. As soon as you enter the restaurants, you will be greeted by the staffs with their signature “welcome welcome welcome” that will instantly gives you a warm sense of being at the right place.

Trust me when I tell you, these corn bread are insanely delicious.

Creole Grilled Salmon with a New Orleans style cream sauce with lump crab meat & grilled shrimp served over garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese and collar greens

 Langano Ethiopian Restaurant

Langano Ethiopian Restaurant is by far one of the best in the Washington DC area.  I honestly think I was Ethiopian in my previous life because my love for this food is beyond obsession. I cannot get enough of it. I eat Ethiopian food at least once a month when I am in town. 

There are several Ethiopian restaurants in the downtown DC and Adams Morgan. But I like going to Silver Spring for my Ethiopian food because after many trial and errors, I think the Silver Spring locations has the best quality.

I like seating outside while eating. 

I usually ordered fish with the vegetarian dish. It comes with combination of greens, cabbage, lentil, tomatoes, peas and beans.

 Swahili Village

Swahili Village is the only restaurant very close to me. Even though it is more than 20 minutes away. I still find time to go there at least twice a month. Again, I can’t cook, so try to understand why I will drive so far away for food.

I love being outside and listening to African music. They play East and West African music. 

Swahili Village is one of the best African restaurants in the Washington DC area. The food is always delicious and the service is superb. Located in Beltsville, Maryland.

I have been eating this food for the last 5 years routinely but I am not tire of it yet. I usually get the Tilapia Fish in Masala sauce (Samaki wa Mchuzi). Deep Fried tilapia fish topped with savory tomatoes onions, and cilantro sauce.

This is my routine when in the Washington DC area. I hope this post was helpful to not just visitors to Washington DC, but locals as well. It’s always refreshing to explore your own city.

Join me as I embark on this crazy journey of traveling to every country in the world. Stay tune for my next post.

I love this picture dearly even though I look pregnant. I actually did April fool the same day with similar picture and many believed it. Haha. I will be taking details and beautiful pictures of places, people and ofcourse myself when I travel. What I will NOT do is photo-shop my pictures. I love food and if I happen to look pregnant on some of my pictures, please learn to deal with it!  

All photos are taken by me. Please do NOT use my photos without giving credit.