Mickey'sGirl
08-12-2012, 01:56 PM
Cast:
DH – Brian (CanadianWDWFan) Turning 45 on this trip
DS14 – Harry – Celebrating graduating from Grade 8 (High School already?!?!?)
DS8 ½ – Euan – Celebrating his Half-Birthday because we can’t go down in January
Me – Jennifer – Just happy to be making the trip with my guys!
We left dark and early (at 2:30 am Saturday) to drive to Washington DC. We were taking the Autotrain from Lorton VA on Monday afternoon, so we wanted to spend a couple of days checking out the Smithsonian Museums beforehand. We arrived at the New Air and Space Museum at about 11 am. Both Brian and Harry are plane nerds, and this place was Nirvana for them (though it bothered Harry that the US rebranded European aircraft with different names … the V1 rocket really got his goat, but that’s a tale for another day). The Space Shuttle was spectacular … really an incredible thing to see so closely. It had almost become art with the markings made on it from its many missions. The tiles had become marked and streaked and spotted and mottled by debris up in the heavens and it was really quite beautiful. We spent several hours at the Air and Space before going to check in at our hotel in Arlington. We were all very tired, so after going out for a very good dinner, then having a swim, we hit the hay.
The next day (Sunday) we walked over to the Metro station to take the train in to the Mall. We wanted to see the Museum of American History. We spent most of the morning down on the lower floor where there were Cars and Trains and technology and electricity and all the kinds of stuff my nerd family really enjoys. We ate some lunch in the Cafeteria there (it was enjoyable enough), then headed up to the upper levels to look at some of the other exhibits before heading out to the Mall mid-afternoon. While walking towards the Washington Monument, the President’s helicopter flew overhead, and by the time we crested the hill where the Monument stands, it had landed on the front lawn of the White House, and we had a clear view! Pretty cool. We continued along to the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial. Brian wanted to see the WWII Memorial, which was not there last time we visited in 2000. A really fabulous tribute to the service men and women … Then we walked back across the Mall to the Metro and back to our hotel. After a bit of a clean-up at the hotel, we decided to go out on a drive to see other Washington sights … We love the FDR Memorial, especially the statue of him sitting alongside dear Fala. We also visited the Pentagon Memorial, in honour of those who lost their lives from in the air, and at the Pentagon on 9-11. Such a tranquil and beautiful place … using water and benches which follow the plane’s path.
The next morning, we got up and headed out to see Iwo Jima Memorial Statue which was around the corner from our hotel. We also went to see the Air Force Memorial, which was right near the Pentagon (the three spires arching up into the sky). While we were there, an international group of Service people had arrived to visit as well. We were all very impressed by the Monuments and Memorials in Washington DC. America has really evolved with the times as far as these tributes are concerned … Recent additions are modern and up to date. Really nicely done.
Now it was time to head a few miles away to board the Autotrain in Lorton VA! The next leg of our adventure was about to begin!
DH – Brian (CanadianWDWFan) Turning 45 on this trip
DS14 – Harry – Celebrating graduating from Grade 8 (High School already?!?!?)
DS8 ½ – Euan – Celebrating his Half-Birthday because we can’t go down in January
Me – Jennifer – Just happy to be making the trip with my guys!
We left dark and early (at 2:30 am Saturday) to drive to Washington DC. We were taking the Autotrain from Lorton VA on Monday afternoon, so we wanted to spend a couple of days checking out the Smithsonian Museums beforehand. We arrived at the New Air and Space Museum at about 11 am. Both Brian and Harry are plane nerds, and this place was Nirvana for them (though it bothered Harry that the US rebranded European aircraft with different names … the V1 rocket really got his goat, but that’s a tale for another day). The Space Shuttle was spectacular … really an incredible thing to see so closely. It had almost become art with the markings made on it from its many missions. The tiles had become marked and streaked and spotted and mottled by debris up in the heavens and it was really quite beautiful. We spent several hours at the Air and Space before going to check in at our hotel in Arlington. We were all very tired, so after going out for a very good dinner, then having a swim, we hit the hay.
The next day (Sunday) we walked over to the Metro station to take the train in to the Mall. We wanted to see the Museum of American History. We spent most of the morning down on the lower floor where there were Cars and Trains and technology and electricity and all the kinds of stuff my nerd family really enjoys. We ate some lunch in the Cafeteria there (it was enjoyable enough), then headed up to the upper levels to look at some of the other exhibits before heading out to the Mall mid-afternoon. While walking towards the Washington Monument, the President’s helicopter flew overhead, and by the time we crested the hill where the Monument stands, it had landed on the front lawn of the White House, and we had a clear view! Pretty cool. We continued along to the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial. Brian wanted to see the WWII Memorial, which was not there last time we visited in 2000. A really fabulous tribute to the service men and women … Then we walked back across the Mall to the Metro and back to our hotel. After a bit of a clean-up at the hotel, we decided to go out on a drive to see other Washington sights … We love the FDR Memorial, especially the statue of him sitting alongside dear Fala. We also visited the Pentagon Memorial, in honour of those who lost their lives from in the air, and at the Pentagon on 9-11. Such a tranquil and beautiful place … using water and benches which follow the plane’s path.
The next morning, we got up and headed out to see Iwo Jima Memorial Statue which was around the corner from our hotel. We also went to see the Air Force Memorial, which was right near the Pentagon (the three spires arching up into the sky). While we were there, an international group of Service people had arrived to visit as well. We were all very impressed by the Monuments and Memorials in Washington DC. America has really evolved with the times as far as these tributes are concerned … Recent additions are modern and up to date. Really nicely done.
Now it was time to head a few miles away to board the Autotrain in Lorton VA! The next leg of our adventure was about to begin!