I Took My Teen to Washington D.C. for a Weekend of Museums, Scooter Rides, and Meaningful Moments.

My 40th year on this planet has been pretty awesome. After years of not feeling excited about family vacations, I've discovered that I don't dislike travel, I just needed to do it my way. For me, this revelation opened a door for adventures with my kids -- and myself -- and I'm so grateful it did.

This fall I visited Washington D.C. with my 13-year-old and it was the first time for both of us. We picked a spectacular weekend to visit; it was mid-October, the temperatures still warm and the skies that brilliant shade of blue that juxtaposes beautifully with fall foliage. And I became intimately aware with the weather because we averaged over 30,000 steps a day wandering around Washington D.C., exploring the city step by (blistered) step.

Planning a trip with a teen might seem like a daunting task, but don't let that dissuade you. Knowing my 13-year-old, I decided on D.C. for its museums and walkability. I got our tickets months before our trip, using credit card rewards and also picking a direct flight -- I've found that travel with kids is much easier without layovers. I booked a well-reputed hotel with a central location *and* luxe amenities that made the trip feel extra special. I let my kiddo pick the restaurants we ate at, and, for the most part, drive the itinerary. I made sure we had water and snacks on our outings, and I let Julian decide when we took breaks. I also built in plenty of chill time, and our History Channel marathons (Julian's choice) were much needed for both of us!

We landed at Reagan airport and took the Blue Line to the Farragut West stop, which put us an easy ten minute walk to our hotel, the Mayflower. (One welcome perk of traveling with a teen? They can haul their own bags!) It was early (like, 9:30 a.m. early) and I knew our room wouldn't be ready, but wanted to check in so we could stash our bags at the front desk (a travel tip I learned from my favorite travel guru, Jackie Sutherlin). Happily, our room was ready and we were able to rest our legs and plan our day, an ambitious itinerary full of museums and iconic Washington D.C. landmarks.

I'd chosen the Mayflower for its central location: in one direction, we had the White House, Washington Monument, and National Mall; the other direction was a straight shot to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park a la Dupont Circle *and* the city's beautiful brownstones and townhomes.

We then walked to the White House and the Washington Monument and visited the African American History Museum and the Museum of Natural History. We saw the Lincoln Memorial and stood on the steps where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech. We walked around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and I told Julian about that scene from "Forrest Gump" (you know the one). We eavesdropped on a school tour and learned about the symbolism of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial -- its design and even placement (across the way from the Jefferson Memorial) very intentional and meaningful. We were simultaneously speechless and deep in conversation.

Before returning to our hotel, we took a detour to visit the Old Post Office Tower, which I heard offered the best views of Washington D.C. This place is a true hidden gem, the kind of place only in-the-know locals know. Two elevator rides and a secret door later, we emerged on the viewing platform and were taken aback. From here, we were treated to 360-degree jaw-dropping vistas of our country's capital. Julian said he was so glad that we persevered and also, he was impressed by my boldness in asking strangers for directions.

The next morning, we set out early because the walk to the zoo was about two miles. My feet were aching from that first day, so we took it slow and, when met with the opportunity to rent bikes. In addition to public transportation, D.C. has lots of amazing bike/scooter shares -- we went with Lime -- that are easy to rent and a great way to rest those tired feet.

These moments of spontaneity are what I love most about these one-on-one trips; my kids get to see a side of me that's my purest, funnest, best self. This adventuring woman full of joy and curiosity, this is why I travel and why, on that final morning in Washington D.C., I found myself scootering around the National Mall with Julian; it was quiet and nearly empty and it felt like ours.

I had another one of these moments at the Zoo. Jules and I were waiting in line for the reptile house (there was timed entry) and saw a same-sex couple holding hands with their toddler. Julian turned to me and said, "Maybe that can be me someday."

Connecting with culture and history in such an immersive, hands-on way was incredibly powerful and moving. Maybe it took me 40 years to get there, but something I've come to understand this year is that life happens on our own timelines and rarely is it ever "too late" for anything.

I was meant to visit Washington for the first time -- with Julian -- on that weekend in October. Experiencing Washington D.C. for the first time with my 13 year old is something I'll never forget, and always be grateful for. Here’s to more adventures with my favorite teenager.