The schedule for the fist day went something like this...
- Work all day
- Take bus from Hewes in the evening to LAX--take red eye to VA.
- Go to breakfast where deep fried bacon is the best dish in the buffet
- From there go on tours all day during which the only sitting that takes place is on the bus between tours.
- US Air Force Memorial--this was a memorial we probably could have skipped as it was better to be viewed from far away. The enormous sculpture emananted the missing man formation and can only really be appreciated from a distance--you can see it in some of my photos.
- Pentagon--it was pouring rain here--but the 911 memorial was moving, especially the one bench dedicated to the three year old that died on the plane. The benches of the people on the plane all faced towards the pentagon, and the victims from the Pentagon who died--their benches faced outward. It was quite a sight to see how many people died there.
- Museum of American History--saw The Star Spangled Banner there. It is HUGE! What an amazing sight! Also saw weird statue of George Washington in the Greek style...don't think he would have liked that. Also saw dresses of the First Ladies--that was pretty cool. There were several dresses there I wanted for myself!
- Lunch at Reagan International Trade Center
- Alexandria Bus Tour--quaint little historic town--would love to go there again...
- Mt. Vernon--one of my favorite places--loved the tour of the house and walking the pastoral grounds.
- Dinner
- Alexandria walking Ghost Tour
- Check into hotel at 9:15 pm.
DAY 2:
- Wake up call 5:00 am, breakfast at National Emergency Training Center--very cool and better food
- Gettysburg--fascinating
- Lunch at weird mall
- Arlington National Cemetery--walk through recent burials and lay flowers on graves--very moving--Tomb of Unknown Soldier, changing of the guard--very serious and interesting to watch, Kennedy graves
- Dinner at Harriet's YUK, but kids loved it.
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial--very beautiful at night, especially with the light reflecting off the water.
- Arrive back at hotel around 10, exhausted.
DAY 3
- Wake up call 6:00, breakfast in hotel.
- Lincoln Memorial--He's super huge! We saw Robert E. Lee's face in the back of his hair, Korean War Veterans Memorial.
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial with two statues: "The Three Soldiers" and the Vietnam Memorial for Women.
- Washington Monument--kids finally figure out that it does not actualy descend into the ground... We got to go up inside the elevator. View is amazing.
- National Archives--saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other incredible documents.
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing--saw pallets of money being printed--many of kids favorite tour--seems like a grungy little printing press to adults.
- Capitol Hill Tour--tour was very fast with grumpy lady who looked like she had a nest on top of her head and clearly hated people from L.A. Was very impressive and wanted to spend more time there..
- Walked all over Capitol, saw Supreme Court and Library of Congress--very interesting...didn't know there were books there...
- Lunch at Union Station--at the famous chicken sandwich which was okay, service terrible. Very big and echoey--took second longest escalator back up. Kids loved it.
- Joe's Souvenir Shop, Fords Theater--didn't really get to see that except from across the street.
- Drove past White House--front and back--didn't realize the view we always see is the back side--couldn't really get close to see anything
- National World War II Memorial, FDR Memorial.
- Dinner at Sizzling Express--best dinner yet.
- Kennedy Center--huge, commanding view from the top floor.
- Iwo Jima Memorial.
- Arrive back at hotel at 10:00, exhausted, feet killing.
- Drink obligatory wine and socialize with World Strides facilitator. Wine is surprisingly good.
DAY 4
- Wake up at 6:30--this is sleeping in. Pack up. Eat breakfast in hotel.
- Group Photo in front of Capitol building--all chaperons are runners, meaning we are in the photo twice--will upload when I get it
- Embassy Row
- National Cathedral
- Other group going to New York leaves at this point, we continue on to the Mall where we eat lunch then see---
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum--very interesting. This is where Amelia Earhart's plane is along with a lunar module.
- National Gallery of Art
- Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History
- Head to airport where we eat dinner and catch an 8:15 flight, and finally arrive home at 2:30 am.
Whew! What a trip!
My favorite parts were Mount Vernon, which is George Washington's home. I was struck by how small the house was, the green paint--and I mean GREEN paint in the dining room, and his tomb. It was a strange feeling to be looking at tomb inside of which is George Washington, our first president's body. I also enjoyed touring through Alexandria. That town would have been a fun place to stay and eat dinner, go shopping. The historic town was quaint and architecturally interesting. Gettysburg was another place I could have stayed longer. It was fascinating to hear all about the different battlefield stories and the tales of gore and death. But, interestingly, my favorite was the Vietnam Memorial--probably because it really hit home with my dad having served there and listening to all of his stories. I just kept walking past the ever increasing wall of names and couldn't get over the very real fact that those were the names of people whom my dad had served with, been friends with, and trained with. It was a very emotional experience for me.
I would love to do that trip again, but I'm not sure if my feet could take it. They are still hurting me...
Unfortunately my camera stopped working after the first day, so my pictures are limited. But here's what I have so far. I will add more later when I get access to Jed's photos. You will see Jed in most of the photos. He resembles the Unabomber... Click here to see pictures.
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