Mount Equinox Skyline Drive

Mount Equniox, the highest point in Vermont, as accessible by car on the "Skyline Drive" for $15/car and $5 for any passenger.  It is a steep climb up, but pretty much any car should be able to handle it, although older cars may have some over-heating issue in the warm months.

During the drive there are many pullover spots to get out and take in the gorgeous scenery.  The real highlight though is at the very top where you get an amazing view of Vermont.  You definitely want to make sure you do this on a nice, clear day so that you can enjoy the views.  Rainy days will just obscure your view with fog.

Hotel Review: Residence Inn - Capital View

The Residence Inn - Capital View, in Arlington, VA lies within the Crystal City portion of the city.  This section is full of hotels and restaurants to choose from.  When making a decision, this hotel is an excellent choice and a great place to stay to quickly get into Washington, DC.

The staff is very friendly and helpful.  There is a regular shuttle to the closest metro stop, as well as to the airport.  A full complimentary breakfast is served each morning consisting of eggs, sausage, french toast, chipped beef biscuits and various other choices.

The rooms themselves are very clean and spacious, including a kitchen for anyone looking to cook for themselves.  The shower and toilet were separate from the sink area, allowing two people to get ready at the same time in the morning.

The only negative we found was the parking cost of $22 per day.  Even though the hotel rates are very reasonable, this parking cost I think is pretty ridiculous.  Even hotels inside of the main area of Washington, DC don't ask for this much in parking.

Arlington National Cemetery

The Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, VA are the grounds that honors those who have served our country.  This is still a very active cemetery that holds numerous funerals daily, so when visiting, please be respectful of these hallowed grounds and the other visitors (Silence your cell phones!!!).

The grounds are huge, but you are able to walk through the majority of the cemetery.  A better way to get around and see everything though is to take the tour bus for $8.95/person, which will make 3 stops along the way.  The buses keep coming every 20 minutes, so you can stay at any spot as long as you want and venture around as much as you want.  This is especially helpful on extremely hot days.

The bus will stop at the Kennedy Grave site, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Arlington House.  All are definitely worth your time to visit, however the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is definitely the best to see due to the Changing of the Guard.  Every 30 minutes in the summer (60 minutes in the winter), you can watch the "show", which is an intense display of military training as the soldiers change positions.  Words cannot describe the impressiveness of this and it should definitely be seen and appreciated by all Americans.

When leaving the cemetery, also keep in mind you are very close to the Iwo Jima Memorial Statue, as well as the Air Force Memorial statue, both in Arlington, VA.  They are very impressive and should be visited when in the area.