Desert

I'm sure people disagree with me on this one, but one thing which frustrates me is the degree to which we want any green spaces to be devoid of things that humans basically need to get through the day (food, drink, bathrooms, benches). I'm not saying we should cover the National Mall in TGI Fridays, but we should recognize that humans need things and strike an appropriate balance.

Then we start our two mile trek through the Cemetery, with a grand finale at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Water fountains are available, but limited and often not working. Experienced groups plan ahead and have bottled water for their students, ideally one for the walk and one to replenish afterwards.

I don't mean to just pick on Arlington, which clearly has bigger management problems right now than fixing their water fountains. Visiting the Memorials, the Capitol, even the Smithsonians, require a lot of walking with limited bathroom and water facilities. The National Mall is a virtual desert. Having a place to regroup, get hydrated, pick up or drop off a rain jacket, and so on isn't really a luxury when you are responsible for forty to fifty children.