KC, check out the Air and Space museum and if you don't mind the cold, DC has a fabulous zoo.
Oh, and our girls really liked just walking along The Mall (although Sammi was disappointed to find out there were no stores), and seeing the monuments.
opps! I flew in on Sunday for a conference at National Harbor. I wasn't sure what the schedule was like and don't have a car so kept things quiet. I am looking forward to riding the Metro this afternoon and dinner at Dino's!
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Kim, that's funny about the mall. My grandparents want me to go to the Air and Space Museum and I do too. The Spy Museum sounds interesting. I like spy stuff. Thank you for the ideas.
My 10-year-old grandson went to DC this past summer with his mom, so I asked them what they thought was the best. He agrees with everyone here about the Spy Museum.
Something else they really enjoyed, although maybe it will be too cold in January, was a bike tour of the monuments. This is the web site: Bikethesites.com.
I don't know how long you are staying. They were able to get some tours booked through their Congressman's office, but I imagine during the inauguration everything will be really busy. They had a tour of the Capitol Building and the Library of Congress, which both Spencer and his mom thought was really fascinating. Anyway, it's definitely worth calling or e-mailing your Congressman's office to see if he or she can set something up for you.
Our sons enjoyed seeing the U.S. Mint. There was a case of shredded money in the gift shop, I think. You could stand next to the case and see how much money your height was worth.
Of course, no visit to DC is complete without seeing the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Quite an experience since you have studied (or will study) these items many times throughout your education years.
Whatever you choose to see will provide you with lifelong memories.
Have a great trip!
Denise
Posts: 343 | Location: Central California | Registered: 12 February 2006
Obviously Casey has not checked ST for a few days--I need to train him better.
Thanks for all the good ideas and he will reply soon. We did contact our senators but it was too late to get their help. I am making reservations for the Spy Museum and have reservations for the Visitors' Center. We are thinking of the Holocaust Museum but can't decide if he's old enough for that. I like the US Mint idea and so will check that out.
Thanks for encouraging him in his new effort here on ST.
I visited DC when I was a kid (I think I was 11) when I went there. My favorite memory is of visiting the money mint. You have to go there! Unfortunately they don't give out money (at least they didn't when I visited) but seeing the big sheets of 100 dollar bills was amazing!
I also remember enjoying the zoo. The San Diego zoo is probably better, but it was cool seeing the panda bears. I don't think the spy museum was there so many years ago when I visited DC.
The best memory you will have though is seeing Barack Obama become our next president of the United States. You are so lucky to get to be there in person! I am taking the day off so I can watch it on TV at home. I will look for you
Have fun!! Oh and if you do go to the money mint and they allow photos, please put one on your blog.
Sorry KC, they don't give out $100 bills, but there were souvenirs that contained shredded bills. Girasoli is right, it is amazing to see the sheets of bills rolling off the presses!
We also enjoyed the zoo, but didn't get to spend nearly enough time there. We got a kick out of the Prairie Dogs. They looked like they were throwing up their arms and yelling "Hey!" They were funny! The pandas had just arrived in DC on our last trip and were still in quarantine. Of course, you have probably seen the pandas in San Diego. I love zoos and always try to visit them whenever we travel.
You are lucky to have tickets to the Inauguration. That is something you will always remember. Someday, you will even tell your grandchildren about what you saw and did.
Be sure to visit Arlington National Cemetery. It is a very moving experience. It is also very humbling to see so many headstones of all the soldiers buried there. We watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in a very cold rain. The soldiers were not even affected by the weather, they just continued to do their job, honoring the unknown soldiers.
Denise
Posts: 343 | Location: Central California | Registered: 12 February 2006
I just had an idea the other day. As you probably know, the embassies of other countries are located in DC. Many of them are on Massachusetts Avenue NW, which is a very pretty street with wide sidewalks. I enjoy walking there, looking at the signs and the flags on the embassies. So I was thinking that it might be fun to bring a map of the world (a small printout!) and then put a check mark next to the countries whose embassies you see. You could even draw the flag of the country. Then you could show your teacher later! Or does that sound too much like school?
Some of the biggest embassies are: UK, Korea, Brazil, Italy, Japan.
Chiocciola, Casey hasn't seen this yet but what a great idea! Maybe he can even go into the Italian embassy--but probably not if you need a pass through security.
Hi Casey, this website has a little film about the "fast, fun, cool, scary, patriotic, and beautiful things" you can see at various Smithsonian museums. The last time I was in DC, I really enjoyed the zoo and also the outdoor sculpture gardens there in the mall.
I can't wait to hear about your experience at the Inauguration!
One thing I meant to mention.....it may be more for your grandparents....but the National Gallery of Art has a beautiful show about the villas in the Pompeii area--gorgeous stuff and magnificently mounted.
I think you will also like the National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of American Art located very close to your hotel.....across from the Spy Museum.
And for a nice view of the city (not as high as the Washington Monument but more accessible), the Old Post Office Pavillion tower right on Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street NW is a fun place. There is also a carillon and you get to see the bells and the playing mechanisms while ascending.
I am answering for Casey as he is tied up with his new Wii. These suggestions are all great. We are planning our calendar now. I definitely want to go to the newly opened American History Museum and Casey would like the Pompeii one as he has been there and is fascinated by all of that "stuff."
I am printing out all the ideas.
Jim--sure wish you guys were joining us next Sunday--why not bring your guests?
