The art group to which I belong took a nice morning trip to Dumbarton Oaks ("DO") in Washington, D.C. recently.

Here's the site for your information: http://www.doaks.org/

We left by chartered bus around 9:15 from the Annapolis Mall area and pulled up to DO at around 10 and were given a quick escorted tour (we made a reservation for this). Unfortunately, we were too early for the gift shop. What were they thinking?! Originally a farm, it was purchased in the early 1900s by Mr. and Mrs. Bliss. Imagine a farm in D.C.!

The grounds are lovely and the home is spectacular. Part of the grounds were purchased by an Embassy and part were donated to D.C. to become part of Rock Creek Park. The rest was donated to Harvard University and it is now a research center for much of the pre-Columbus art work and relics from South America. Mr. Bliss was an Ambassador to Argentina, hence the collection. An addition to the house was built to contain the collection in temperature-controlled environment.

There is a great room with a piano owned by---hmmm, senior moment--Paderewski? I'll check. Also Stravinsky wrote 2 concerti in honor of his friendship with the Bliss couple. Today, concerts take place in this room.

A differet docent walked us around the gardens. A special art installation with 70,000 crystals hanging from a "cloud" of chicken wire was roped off. A tennis court was turned into a formal garden. There was an outdoor swimming pool that looked very inviting.

After the tour, the bus took us to Wisconsin Ave. and Macomb St. Some of us ate at Le Zinc and enjoyed it very much. Others had pizza at Two Amys and declared them great. Bus picked up at 2:00 and we were home by 3:00.

The homes in the general area are gorgeous. I'm not sure about the parking situation though. FYI, DO is only a block or 2 from Wisconsin Ave but quite a few blocks to Macomb St.

It's really worth a look especially when azaleas are in bloom.

PS-the piano was signed, not owned, by Paderewski who played it many times. Also, I didn't notice that the art installation is shown on the DO site (and considered a cloud!) and here is the site of the artists:

http://www.caoperrotstudio.com/

Thanks, TDudette. I've always wanted to see it but haven't made it yet. What other "private homes" have you been to in the DC area? I've only visited Hillwood and Wilson's home, two very different homes but I loved both. I haven't been to the most famous of all, the White House or Mt. Vernon.

I've visited the same as you, Birdie but also Octagon House and it is interesting. IMO, Mt. Vernon's recent renovations and expansion made it much more tourist-friendly but more touristy. DH and I spent an enjoyable day there despite the tourist throng.

It's more difficult to get to the White House but it can be done and is a must for a U.S. citizen-again, just my opinion. Info is online, but the Holiday tour is nice. Our group went but we started the process in June to get a December appointment and it was at an ungodly hour! I think I did a TR about it. I'm not even sure if your Congressperson does the tours anymore. Anyone know?

On my Hillwood TR, others suggested Kreeger and Tudor.

Should have said we started in July, not june.

Nice report and nice reminder to go there. When were u there? Just trying to figure out what might still be blooming -- such a crazy season in DC this year.

Yes, Kreeger Museum is wonderful

Thanks, yestravel. We were there April 10. Azalea's were blossoming early this year. Special plantings were around the art exhibit.

With a normal winter, probably late April would catch azaleas.