A Note on Sore Feet
So here we are in the nation's Capital and we are having a great, albeit, exhausting experience. We managed to get here in one piece, but having a lap baby on a red-eye flight is really not the best idea we have ever had. We made it through but neither the Wife nor I got any sleep whatsoever on either flight. We are wiped out!
The White House? How was it, you ask? A fraud of a tour to be sure. We saw a room where the daughter of a president once had a dance. Woohoo! Oh and we saw a room painted green and a completely other one painted what looked like it could have been blue. The excitement was palpable for sure. I can see why you have to get such top secret clearance to go on this tour. Yawn.
The Capitol tour? Excellent. I have done it twice now and both times it was spectacular and the highlight of our day. The history is so cool and the sense of importance at that building is truly evident. I was again delighted to see that building.
The rest of the day? We saw the National Postal Museum. Yawn. I love my post offices, but a whole museum dedicated to mail delivery? We then went and ran through the National Gallery of Art which I love but which made the Teenager almost die of boredom. Then the trip to the National Archives. Again, the sense of greatness when you are actually looking at the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was simply palpable. I kind of teared up in there.
Then a trip to the Museum of American History where the Teenager and I were quite disappointed to find that Indiana Jones' whip and hat were not on display. They had some Jim Henson creations instead but the Swedish Chef is no Short Round. By this time, the Wife had just lost it. She was so far over the edge, there was no saving her. I think I was in danger of getting a cuffing across the back of the head for absolutely no reason just because she was beyond tired and had gone to Grumpyville.
So here I am blogging trying to avoid all eye contact. The kids are in bed. I should be okay.
The White House? How was it, you ask? A fraud of a tour to be sure. We saw a room where the daughter of a president once had a dance. Woohoo! Oh and we saw a room painted green and a completely other one painted what looked like it could have been blue. The excitement was palpable for sure. I can see why you have to get such top secret clearance to go on this tour. Yawn.
The Capitol tour? Excellent. I have done it twice now and both times it was spectacular and the highlight of our day. The history is so cool and the sense of importance at that building is truly evident. I was again delighted to see that building.
The rest of the day? We saw the National Postal Museum. Yawn. I love my post offices, but a whole museum dedicated to mail delivery? We then went and ran through the National Gallery of Art which I love but which made the Teenager almost die of boredom. Then the trip to the National Archives. Again, the sense of greatness when you are actually looking at the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was simply palpable. I kind of teared up in there.
Then a trip to the Museum of American History where the Teenager and I were quite disappointed to find that Indiana Jones' whip and hat were not on display. They had some Jim Henson creations instead but the Swedish Chef is no Short Round. By this time, the Wife had just lost it. She was so far over the edge, there was no saving her. I think I was in danger of getting a cuffing across the back of the head for absolutely no reason just because she was beyond tired and had gone to Grumpyville.
So here I am blogging trying to avoid all eye contact. The kids are in bed. I should be okay.
posted by Cool Dad at Thursday, June 01, 2006
10 Comments:
Tips from a former DC tour guide...
1. Take a break from the heat mid-afternoon by going to an IMAX film in the Air and Space Mus. (If that's too expensive, try the planetarium instead).
2. Check the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage for free performances (if nothing interests you, but you still want to see the very impressive building, plan to eat lunch in the cafeteria there)
3. Take the Arlington National Cemetary Tour. Even if you hate history, it's a peaceful and interesting drive.
4. The FBI Building tour is pretty cool, the teenager will probably like it too. (a good alternative to the Spy Mus. which is usually too crowded to enjoy, plus the FBI tour is free.)
5. Don't waste your time in line for the Washington Monument (unless it's something you REALLY want to do) It's not that interesting, and you can get a pretty good view of the city in the bell tower of the Old Post Office Pavillion a few blocks away without the wait.
6. If you're interested in ethnic food go to Adams Morgan!!!
7. The Vietnam Veterans Mem. and Lincoln Mem. are great evening/night stops because it's not as hot, and they never close (if you want to go into the exhibit at the base of the Lincoln, that has to be during business hours) Also, if you go, take a walk across Constitiution Ave and sit in Albert Einstein's lap.
8. You probably know the Mormon Temple in Silver Spring, but the National Cathedral (protestant) and the National Shrine (catholic) are pretty cool churches too.
9. Eastern Market. (for a unique shopping experience)
10. Plan to come back again. There's so much to see and do, if you try to do it all, you'll just end up exhausted. HAVE FUN! Welcome to Washington DC!
I think the Library of Congess' main building is one of the most beautiful in the world. You don't want to miss it.
K - did you try to squeeze all of that into one day? Are you crazy, no wonder the wife was in Grumpyville. TF and I enjoyed the Space museaum at the Smithsonian. I hope you make it over to the temple, Bonnie says it's beautiful to see at night. I hope you are taking lots of pictures. Do you have the stroller for Indy?
Ms. Murphy,
Fine ideas all. Today we are hitting the excellent memorials and monuments and we might even make it to the Cemetary as well. I really want to check it out.
John,
I have been to the Library of Congress the last time I was out here and you are so right, but I don't think we'll make it this time.
Lucy,
Yeah, same day. We do have our moments of idiocy. We do have a stroller for indy though, thank goodness.
The King once again doesn't tell it all. They left Indy with an aunt. So don't feel sorry for the wife and the king. Touchdown and Indy have been tended by the aunt. When he says they have a stroller for indy, partially true, the aunt had to use it while the king, wife and teenager see the sights.........Just keeping the king honest.....
That's a lot after a red-eye!!!
It's been a while since I've been to DC. This makes me want to visit again though.
Make sure to eat out in Georgetown.. you might see people you'd recognize. You could ask for autographs or make faces at them! (depending on who you see...)
I remember seeing Dorothy's shoes there once. The real ones.
How about the Vietnam Wall?
Colleen,
We saw it today. Always a treat and a very spiritual one to boot. I also liked the WWII monument.
Mmm . . .my favorite as a child was the Mint and the Air & Space Museum.
The Holocaust Museum is terrific for adults and older teens.
Sounds like you are having a great time despite the whole lap baby red eye thing. I'm impressed!
Wow, talk about being in an exciting place and being unable to enjoy it in any meaningful way. Hope you don't spend all your trips that way.
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