Mr. McConnell Goes to Washington...and Sacramento

I've been thinking quite a bit about going to Washington D.C. for the inaugural on January 20. I actually have access to a couple of standing room tickets and it's awfully tempting to join four-million of my closest friends for this historic occasion. I've spent quite a bit of time in Washington over the years and love the old swamp. Being a politics and history junkie (my majors through college and graduate school,) I'm just compelled to experience the moment in person. On the other hand, I'd like my boys, 25 and 17, to have the opportunity, too.  Someday, they can tell their kids that they were there. At 15, I dearly wish I had heard JFK's inaugural in person on that brisk and cold day. At 18, I would love to have been in the swealtering throng below the Lincoln Memorial to hear for myself Martin Luther King deliver his "I have a dream" speech. Maybe that's what I should do. Nicolas and Patrick, pack your bags.  Just tell me who else you heard
 and what you saw.  Robert Frost was with Kennedy. Mahalia Jackson was with King. Treasure the experience.

So what does that leave for me to do in January? Well, it's a little less exciting but a lot less crowded to drive up to Sacramento and tour our magnificent State Capitol building. Believe me, I know it's not exactly like hobnobbing with the Obama's, but I'm easily entertained and we too often overlook our rich political legacy and the beauty of the people's building in our home state.  If you want to see the Capitol building for yourself on video, check out my website, www.OpenRoad.TV, and wander its corridors of power with me and a knowledgeable guide. 

Come to think of it, I could do an entire capitals of California tour, and buzz through Monterey, San Jose, Benecia and a few other spots that were or almost were the seats of government here. I'll take any excuse to poke into our past while we all, anxiously and hopefully, look to the future.

For more tips about travel in the West, go to www.OpenRoad.tv.

Posted at 04:11 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Tips | Permalink