Today we visit the National Aquarium, not the big fancy one in Baltimore, but the one on 15th Street in Washington DC in the Department of Commerce Building. We recommend you take Metro to the Federal Triangle exit to get to the Aquarium. Once there you will go through security and down a blue staircase to get to the Aquarium.

We start off checking out sea horses, right behind the admission desk.(3:11)

We continue to visit a representation of a shallow patch reef, which we remember from snorkelling trips. Then we head into the main part of the aquarium. There is a lot here about the National Marine Sanctuary program, and we explore a little of the information on that. (3:52)

Our next stop is in front of the shark tank, after which we continue to visit some of the Pacific fish (and I have no fish book on them). (11:13)

We play Ocean by Zack Ashton. It also comes to us via the Podsafe Music Network. (15:54)

We return to the shark tank for a talk on sharks and to watch the feeding. (19:55)

After the Shark talk, and feeding the sharks we continue into the freshwater gallery, and visit those fish, including the fancy pirahna. (26:07)

We finish up our visit at the exhibit on endangered species. (31:24)

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Our Opening Theme Music is Garden Walk by Kim Evans, we interspersed bits of the National Park Service's Radio recording, and recording from the shuttle bus between the visitor's center and the lower town between our stops, and our logo design is by Kathleen Hamm at Hamm Multimedia.

Our Photo Album highlights some of these beautiful creatures.

Today we went downtown and walked from Union Station, past the Ellipse to the Willard Hotel. We saw all the Holiday decorations in downtown DC. We recommend you start at the Union Station metro station for this walk.

We begin our visit at Union Station's Norwegian Holiday, sponsored by the Embassy of Norway. (1:05)

We play Christmas Time of Year by the Tequila Mockingbirds. It comes to us via the Podsafe Music Network. (4:50)

We walk to the Capitol Grounds, to visit the Capitol Christmas Tree, then stop by the US Botanical Garden and check out their holiday train. (9:21)

We visit the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Gallery of Art, and talk about the displays and events associated with the holidays at these two museums. (14:07)

In between Museums, we play Sweet Little Jesus Boy by Nancy Krebs. It also comes to us via the Podsafe Music Network. (15:57)

We continue on to the Sculpture Garden and the ice rink. (21:04)

We play The Twelfth Night of Christmas, by Andrew Hamm, along with Karen Hamm and theRichmond Shakespeare Company. (22:34)

We visit the National Menorah, the Pageant of Peace, including a performance by the Country Steppers of Northern Virgina, then finish with a walk up to the Willard Hotel. (26:10)

• feedback@washingtontravelcast.net
• Julie@washingtontravelcast.net
• Mark@washingtontravelcast.net

Our Opening Theme Music is Garden Walk by Kim Evans, we interspersed bits of the National Park Service's Radio recording, and recording from the shuttle bus between the visitor's center and the lower town between our stops, and our logo design is by Kathleen Hamm at Hamm Multimedia.

Our Photo Album shows Washington all dressed up for the holidays!

The Holidays are Joyful, as one of our favorite Christmas Albums tells us, but they are also hectic, and Mark and I decided to take a week off this holiday season!

We'll be back the weekend of December 21st and 22nd, with a great holiday walk down the Mall, a great activity for the next couple of days.

We have a short podcast for you today, a visit to the Downtown Holiday Market, an open air craft market in front of the National Museum of American Art/National Portrait Gallery, downtown in Washington, DC. The best metro station to use is Gallery Place/Chinatown, being sure to exit at 9th Street. The market will be run until December 23, 2008, from noon to 8 PM.

We didn't do a lot of stuff for this podcast, just walked through the market, taking you with us.

We play Deck the Halls by Jim Goodrich, and The Huron Carol by Tracey Helen. Both songs come to us via the Podsafe Music Network.

The performer that you heard in the background as we visited the market was Jason Byrd, a DC area Singer/Songwriter.

Our Theme Music is Garden Walk by Kim Evans and our walking music today was from Find Me by H. Logo design is by Kathleen Hamm at Hamm Multimedia.

We have some Photos of the Holiday Market.

We spend another late fall day in front of our virtual fireplace reviewing how Washington, DC handles the winter holidays. There are many events, and we discuss some for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's. And we're including links here to all the things we discuss, so you can follow up on our suggestions!

We start out with the major events - the big ones that really define the season here in Washington. (2:09)
Web links for this section:

• Washington Walks - A Nation's Capital Christmas
• Alexandria and Washington Channel Parade of Lights Holiday Boat Parade
• Harper's Ferry Old Type Christmas
• Candlelight Tours of Mount Vernon
• Old Town Alexandria Candlelight Tours
• Annual Messiah Singalong at the Kennedy Center
• DAR Constitution Hall Holiday events and tours
• National Christmas Tree and Pageant of Peace
• Norwegian Christmas at Union Station
• Entertainment at the Post Office Pavilion
• Virtual tour of White House Christmas Decorations

Then we move on to look at some events for Hanukkah. (10:32)

• National Menorah Lighting
• Hanukkah Gallery Show and Sale and Hanukkah Festival at Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington. in Rockville, Maryland.

We play Festival of Lights by Alicia Bay Laurel, which comes to us via the Podsafe Music Network. (15:15)

Next, we talk about Christmas Light Displays. (18:37)
Web links for this section:

• Festival of Lights Mormon Temple, Kensington, MD
• Seneca Creek State Park (and Sandy Point State Park) in Maryland.
• Zoo Lights at the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
• Lights in Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland
• Brookside Gardens Garden of Light
• Symphony of Lights, Columbia, MD
• Bull Run Festival of Lights, Bull Run Regional Park, Centerville, VA

We move on to discuss performances in Washington. Which, of course, you cannot do without talking about the Kennedy Center (24:14)
Web links for this section:

• The Kennedy Center
• And the KC's Millennium Stage free concerts daily.
• Gay Men's Chorus of Washington
• Washington Ballet Theatre, Nutcracker at the Warner Theatre
• U.S. Air Force Band Concert Schedule
• U.S. Army Band
• U.S. Navy Band
• DAR Constitution Hall Holiday Concerts - Anita Baker and Andy Williams
• The Washington Revels' Christmas Revels
• Cathedral Choral Society

We play Santa Clause is on the No Fly List by Lee Harris, which comes to us via the Podsafe Music Network. (31:41)

Our next area of attention is Theatre and Dance for the Holidays.(35:24)
Web links for this section:

• Ford's Theatre, A Christmas Carol
• Washington Walks - A Nation's Capital Christmas
• The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker
• Second Shepherd's Play at the Folger Theatre

We play Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light by J. S. Bach, performed by the Little River United Church of Christ Sanctuary Choir, which was used by permission. (38:31)

We then turn to the religous observances in Washington. (40:01)

• National Cathedral (Episcopal)
• National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)
• Franciscan Monastery Commissariat of the Holy Land

We then to discuss Kwanzaa Events, in the Capital including (44:57)

• Kwanzaa Celebration at Dance Place
• Kwanzaa Events at the Anacostia Museum
• The Spirit of Kwanzaa at the Kennedy Center

The Smithsonian Institution always has a great lineup for the Holidays - and 2007 is no exception! (47:36)
Web links for this section:

• National Postal Museum
• The Anacostia Museum
• The Discovery Theatre
• National Museum of the American Indian
• The 21st Century Consort performs A Child's Christmas in Wales, as part of the Resident Associate Program.
• The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestrra performs Duke Ellington's and Billy Strayhorn's Nutcracker Sweet

We enjoy Auld Lang Syne performed by Caledonix and brought to us via the The Podsafe Music Network. (51:09)

We finish up with a look at the opportunities in Washington to party in the New Year! (56:51)
Web links for this section:

• Kennedy Center Offerings on December 31
• Odyssey Cruises
• Dandy Dinner Cruises
• Spirit of Washington
• First Night Alexandria
• First Night Leesburg, VA
• Mad Masquerade New Year's Ball
• Glen Echo Park's New Year's Swing Dance
• Washington Area Parrotheads' New Year's Eve

Email us and let us know what you think of our show! We particularly wanted to know if this studio show was helpful to you!

• feedback@washingtontravelcast.net
• Julie@washingtontravelcast.net
• Mark@washingtontravelcast.net

Our Theme Music is Garden Walk by Kim Evans and our walking music today was from Carol of the Bells by The Pittsburgh Symphony Brass. Logo design is by Kathleen Hamm at Hamm Multimedia.