Due to Dad's frequent traveling, we had some free airline tickets to use before the end of the year. He found seats on a 6 am flight to Washington DC. Oi!! We survived the early morning and spent the first night driving around the city getting lost! The next morning we rode the subway. You would've thought we were at Disneyland from the level of excitement as we were waiting for the 'train' to arrive. So much fun!
Our first stop was the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. We were soooo close to more than a million dollars. Unforunately they don't allow cameras during the tour.
Then we made the rounds visiting memorials, famous buildings, and cemeteries. E recited (most) of the Gettysburg Address. He learned it as part of the Great American Challenge in 5th grade. M is currently working on the Great American Challenge.
Our mode of transportation during the day was on bike. We rented bikes to ride to the various Memorials, Monuments, & the White House. We are sure the children preferred bike riding versus the option of walking many miles.
We also toured two of the Smithsonian Museums. The Air & Space Museum as well as the Natural Arts Museum.
On Saturday we spent the morning visiting the Washington DC Temple Visitors Center.We were glad we weren't biking on Saturday. Did I mention it was snowing? We spent the afternoon in the Natural Arts Museum. We ended each day with a walk home from the subway station with our Starbuck hot chocolate in hand. Then it was off to the indoor pool to get all the wiggles out before bed time!
One of the last places we visited was the home I lived in until I was three.
It was a great trip. We enjoyed learning more about our country and the great people who shaped it.
