Sometimes the best reason to travel isn’t to discover somewhere new. It’s to reconnect with the people who have been part of your story all along.

This weekend brought me back to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the DMV, to spend time with my brother Brian, his wife Natasha, and their two sons, Solomon and Sammy. My parents were joining us, too, making this an opportunity for several generations of family to spend time together.

I had made a similar trip about a year earlier and was looking forward to returning. What I didn’t anticipate was how much this visit would remind me of the importance of family, slowing down, and simply being present. And, of course, there would be plenty of traffic along the way.

Thursday: The Journey Begins

We left around 10:30 Thursday morning, heading south along Interstate 95 toward Bowie, Maryland. The drive was surprisingly peaceful, and I enjoyed the opportunity to take in the journey.

We stopped at a rest area in Delaware, where our food choices included Auntie Anne’s pretzels, Popeyes chicken, Dunkin’, and hot chocolate. Nothing extraordinary, but sometimes those ordinary moments become part of what makes a trip memorable.

Our first destination was Bowie, where we picked up Brian before heading into Washington, D.C., for my nephew Sammy’s junior varsity soccer game at an away school. We arrived early enough to catch the end of a girls’ field hockey game.

There was something enjoyable about watching young athletes compete while families supported their children. Not every memorable travel experience is a tourist attraction. Sometimes it’s the opportunity to participate in someone else’s everyday life.

An Unexpected Adventure in Springfield

By the time the soccer game ended, we were all tired. My parents and I were staying at separate hotels in Springfield, Virginia, and we headed back after a long day.

I had done most of the driving around D.C. When my parents dropped me off at my hotel, I gathered my things and went inside. Unfortunately, I also took the car key.

My parents made it back to their hotel without the key. They were able to lock the car, but couldn’t use it again until I returned it. After a quick phone call to confirm I had the key, we agreed I’d bring it over in the morning.

Their hotel was about a mile away. For someone who enjoys walking, that little mishap became an opportunity.

Friday Morning: Finding a Different Kind of Beauty

Early Friday morning, I set out on foot to return the key. Walking is one of my favorite ways to experience unfamiliar places. I notice the businesses, neighborhoods, people, and rhythm of a community in a way I often miss while driving.

Springfield was different from some of my previous walks. Instead of historic buildings or quiet downtown streets, I crossed busy roads and passed shopping centers, restaurants, stores, and plenty of traffic. A shopping mall was nearby, and the whole area seemed to be constantly moving.

That became one of my recurring observations about the DMV: distance and travel time are two very different things. Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., are close geographically, but traffic and congestion can make even short trips feel long.

Still, I enjoyed the walk. After returning the key and spending a little time with my parents, I walked to Target to pick up a few things, then headed back to my hotel to prepare for a day with Brian.

You don’t have to be somewhere extraordinary to appreciate the simple experience of being present. Sometimes a morning walk is enough.

Discovering Washington Through Public Transportation

Friday was particularly special because I had plans to spend the day with Brian, just the two of us. That’s something we don’t get to do very often.

The night before, Solomon had helped me figure out Washington’s public transit system. He explained how to catch a bus near my hotel and connect to the Metro. I took the bus, rode the Blue Line and connected with the Yellow Line, eventually getting off near the Navy Memorial and walking toward Union Station.

I enjoyed the ride more than I expected. After all the driving through congested highways, the bus and trains offered a different perspective. I could relax, look around, and watch the scenery instead of concentrating on traffic.

I remember passing Reagan National Airport, the Pentagon, and Crystal City. Like walking, public transportation let me pay attention to the places around me.

When you’re not focused on navigating the road, you have more freedom to notice the journey.

Union Station: The Energy of a City

I reached Union Station before Brian, so I had time to explore. The station was full of restaurants, shops, commuters, travelers, and people moving in every direction.

It was impressive, but after a while the activity became overwhelming. When Brian arrived and it was time to choose lunch, I welcomed the idea of leaving Union Station and heading to Georgetown.

Georgetown: A Burger and a Conversation

Georgetown was still busy, but the energy felt different. People were shopping, eating, and going about their day. We found a comfortable spot at 7th Street Burger and settled in for lunch.

Nothing elaborate, just a burger, a place to sit, and time to talk. Brian and I had a lot to catch up on.

After lunch, we still had time before the boys finished soccer and football practice, so we went to a coffee shop called Tatte. What followed became one of the most meaningful parts of the weekend.

Coffee, Conversation, and the Search for Significance

Over coffee, Brian and I talked about change, purpose, and significance. We are both navigating transitions in our lives, and we found ourselves discussing what it means to live intentionally and make a meaningful difference.

We talked about the distinction between being busy and living a life of significance. It’s possible to fill a calendar with responsibilities and accomplishments, yet still wonder whether we’re investing our energy in what truly matters.

As we talked about purpose and what really matters, we kept coming back to a surprisingly simple conclusion: eat, drink, and be merry. Not as an excuse to ignore life’s responsibilities, but as a reminder to enjoy the life we’re living right now. Share a meal. Have the conversation. Laugh when you can. Be grateful for the people sitting across from you. In the end, those ordinary moments of joy and connection may be among the most significant parts of our lives.

I left our conversation feeling clearer about certain things and more connected to my brother.

What made the afternoon especially meaningful was how familiar it felt. Years ago, when I was newly married and going through a period of significant change, Brian and I worked near one another. We would try different restaurants together and have the same kind of long, thoughtful conversations.

Here we were, years later, in another season of life, doing essentially the same thing. Different circumstances. Different challenges. But the same two brothers, sharing ideas, offering encouragement, and trying to make sense of life together.

Sometimes we don’t realize how meaningful a moment is until it reminds us of another one.

Maret School: A Community Worth Celebrating

Later that afternoon, we headed to Maret School in Washington, D.C., where my nephews attend school. It’s an established private school with a beautiful campus and impressive facilities, but what stood out to me most was the community.

I watched students interact with friends, saw parents supporting activities, and even had the opportunity to speak briefly with the head of school. There was a genuine family atmosphere.

It made me proud and grateful to see how happy and comfortable my nephews seemed among their friends.

I also appreciated the commitment Brian and Natasha make to give the boys this opportunity. Traveling between Bowie and D.C. for school, games, and practices takes real time and effort—especially in this traffic.

Seeing the boys thrive made that sacrifice feel particularly meaningful.

Friday Evening: Family, Food, and Two Birthdays

After practice, we headed back toward Springfield for dinner. The trip was only about 15 miles, but took roughly 40 minutes. Welcome to the DMV.

We gathered at Maggiano’s for a wonderful family dinner: generous portions, salads, appetizers, and plenty of Italian food to share.

We also celebrated two birthdays a little early. Sammy and my mother both have birthdays later this month, so with everyone together, it made sense to celebrate around the same table.

Being together across generations, sharing food, laughing, and catching up, was the best part of the evening. The tiramisu and Gigi’s butter cake with strawberries were an excellent finish.

So much of the day had revolved around something simple: time together. Not elaborate activities or expensive entertainment. Just shared experiences and meaningful conversation.

The Roads We Travel

As our family dinner came to an end, I reflected on just how special this visit had been.

We still had one more family activity ahead of us, watching my nephew play football for Maret during his senior year. Another opportunity to support him and spend more time together.

But what made this trip meaningful wasn’t any single event. It was the combination of little moments.

Watching Sammy play soccer. Taking an unexpected morning walk through Springfield. Riding the Metro into Washington. Sharing a burger with Brian in Georgetown. Sitting together over coffee, talking about life, purpose, and significance. And finally, gathering around a dinner table with people I love.

Throughout the weekend, I was struck by the constant movement of the DMV, the highways, the traffic, the intersections, and the effort required to cover relatively short distances. Yet amid all that movement, the moments I appreciated most were the ones when we simply slowed down.

I thought about the conversations Brian and I used to have when we were younger, in Princeton, NJ, and navigating different chapters of life, and how special it was to find ourselves doing the same thing again, years later.

Life has changed. We’ve changed. Our families have grown, and our circumstances are different. But that connection remains.

Perhaps that’s what made this weekend meaningful. It wasn’t about discovering a new destination. It was about rediscovering the importance of relationships that have been part of my journey all along.

The roads we travel may take us through different cities, states, and stages of life. But sometimes the most meaningful journey is the one that brings us back together.

And that is something worth slowing down for.

Until the next journey, remember to slow down, look around, and appreciate the here and now.

— The Here and Now Traveler