Yesterday....

[Chris_]

Great graet pics! Hope you guys saw eveything you wanted to. (I always hit the National Archives and as much of the Smithsonian as I can) Been to DC four or five times as a tourist but it's been many years and I've never been in the Spring. Maybe it's time to start planning a trip back.

Saw everything we wanted?  Hardly.  We went with my sister and 4 of her 6 kids.  As much as I love my sister, going anywhere and doing anything with her is a major undertaking.  I don't know why I expect it to be different every time, but every time I'm frustrated! 

We will be going back though...this time just MY family!!

This is why I'm thinking of only taking my oldest two if I go for a short trip in the summer. I don't think the 4 year old will appreciate it and will probably slow us down at this point. Another couple years I think before he gets much out of it, but who knows...I was under 6 when my dad took me all over the place in the area--Harper's Ferry, Jamestown, Smithsonian, etc and I remember most of those trips with fond memories.

Be sure to get tickets to tour the Washington Monument.  Very cool.  You have to reserve a time to take the ride to the top.  Once there, you can stay as long as you want.  Awesome view!  Technically the tickets are free, but if you want to reserve a time in advance it will cost you a couple of bucks...well worth it.  You can make the reservation online through the national park service, otherwise you can stand in line at their kiosk to get tickets for that day...first come, first serve...usually gone in about 30 mins.

Thanks for the head's up, lug. I'm going to plan it in June sometime I think. I really think my 10 year old will love it.

The best tour I took was at the Holocost Museum.  Absolutely incredible experience, but difficult to describe.  You get a real sense of the depth of hatred the Nazis had for the Jews and others.  The whole place was crowded, but very quiet.   Your kiddos may be a bit young to get the full impact of that one though.

yeah, they are...but there will be other times. I spent my first 12 years of life there and never mind going back. Maybe Dixiebelle will meet up too. I think she knows I'm not a freak or anything. 

lincoln memorial.  hands down.  I cry every time I walk into that place.  I am sort of a lincoln fanatic, though . . . .

We saw the Vietnam and Korean Memorials...in the rain.  The statues at the Korean War Memorial are dressed for the rain, so it just added to the effect.  The new WWII memorial is really nicely done...and way overdue.

[BEG]

Great pictures Flame.  Thanks for posting them.

[jtyangel]

Lot's of great ideas...I expect we will be taking several trips. I always end up taking a lot of time to go a bit further north east though. My grandad is buried up in a Veteran's cemetary in Maryland and their home of 60 years sits in Dundalk. Damn, I miss them. Good peeps.

[Wretched Excess]

Great graet pics! Hope you guys saw eveything you wanted to. (I always hit the National Archives and as much of the Smithsonian as I can) Been to DC four or five times as a tourist but it's been many years and I've never been in the Spring. Maybe it's time to start planning a trip back.

Saw everything we wanted?  Hardly.  We went with my sister and 4 of her 6 kids.  As much as I love my sister, going anywhere and doing anything with her is a major undertaking.  I don't know why I expect it to be different every time, but every time I'm frustrated! 

We will be going back though...this time just MY family!!

This is why I'm thinking of only taking my oldest two if I go for a short trip in the summer. I don't think the 4 year old will appreciate it and will probably slow us down at this point. Another couple years I think before he gets much out of it, but who knows...I was under 6 when my dad took me all over the place in the area--Harper's Ferry, Jamestown, Smithsonian, etc and I remember most of those trips with fond memories.

Be sure to get tickets to tour the Washington Monument.  Very cool.  You have to reserve a time to take the ride to the top.  Once there, you can stay as long as you want.  Awesome view!  Technically the tickets are free, but if you want to reserve a time in advance it will cost you a couple of bucks...well worth it.  You can make the reservation online through the national park service, otherwise you can stand in line at their kiosk to get tickets for that day...first come, first serve...usually gone in about 30 mins.

Thanks for the head's up, lug. I'm going to plan it in June sometime I think. I really think my 10 year old will love it.

The best tour I took was at the Holocost Museum.  Absolutely incredible experience, but difficult to describe.  You get a real sense of the depth of hatred the Nazis had for the Jews and others.  The whole place was crowded, but very quiet.   Your kiddos may be a bit young to get the full impact of that one though.

yeah, they are...but there will be other times. I spent my first 12 years of life there and never mind going back. Maybe Dixiebelle will meet up too. I think she knows I'm not a freak or anything. 

lincoln memorial.  hands down.  I cry every time I walk into that place.  I am sort of a lincoln fanatic, though . . . .

We saw the Vietnam and Korean Memorials...in the rain.  The statues at the Korean War Memorial are dressed for the rain, so it just added to the effect.  The new WWII memorial is really nicely done...and way overdue.

I gotta admit, the vietnam memorial was also very emotional for me.