One of my favorite things to do in D.C. is right in my own backyard of Arlington! On a beautiful balmy night, when the wind is just right, I love to go to Gravelly Point Park, sit at the end of the runway a Reagan National Airport, and watch the planes land. My husband, an aviation buff, first introduced me to this experience on one of our first dates. I'll have admit that I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing at first. I mean, sitting at the end of a runway with jets flying a few hundred feet overhead did not sound all that amazing; in fact, it sounded downright dangerous!
I WAS SO WRONG! The difficult landing at Reagan requires great skill and finesse from the pilots, and it's thrilling to be so close to a plane during the final moments of its descent. You can feel -- and hear -- the wake turbulence that the plane creates as it whips through the air towards its final destination.
But of course, the real reason I love this activity is that it makes for some unique photos! As you can see below, the size of the planes really puts everything into perspective. Here's my husband as a jet flies by us in its approach to the runway.
If you haven't done this yet, I highly recommend it. It's a free and fun way to spend an evening!
