Memorials, Monuments and a House

You can tell by the changing of the lighting that it took several hours to do all the monuments but we pushed through and did it all in one day. World War II, Franklin D Roosevelt and Martin Luther King were new to both of us. World Ward II looked  more like a pool party with everyone putting their feet in the reflecting pool waters. We discovered, after walking an extra mile or two, that the best order for everything is: White House, Washington, WWII, Veitnam, Lincoln, Korean, MLK, FDR, then Jefferson, just in case you're in D.C. and need to know.

Loved having our BOB stroller!! We had to take the wheels off to fit it along with our luggage in Rebecca's car but it was perfect for the Metro and all the walking we did!!

People clearing out as requested by the Secret Service

I really wanted a great picture with Ryan and the Washington Monument but he was always sleeping or almost asleep, that's why he has a cranky face.

World War II - new to us

 The reflecting pool is being worked on but we got some cool pictures with the tidal basin near FDR and Jefferson Memorials.

Notice the lady in traditional India/Hindu dress using her ipad to take a picture....lots of people now use their ipad for a camera and it can zoom in really close!!

 

 

World War II at night

Korean War

A Day At the Museums

We started the morning by taking the Metro to the White House and the White House Visitor Center. You'll notice no pictures of the visitor center because it was a disappointment. I really wanted tickets to the White House Tour but since we went at the beginning of tourist season no tickets were available. I thought the visitor center would be a great substitute; I was wrong. 

Notice the Hippo eating Ryan (the two pieces of glass make it  blurry).

Snack Break

 Ryan loved walking and holding on to the railings.

Wright Brothers Plane

Ryan Airlines made Charles Lindbergh's, Spirit of  St. Louis Plane

Ryan paying a lot of attention to his dad

Gettysburg

Gettysburg has a lot of moments marking the sacrifice from various states and leaders. We drove around the battlefields and town listening to a Gettysburg CD describing the various battles and details. 

Pictures of the Cyclorama (a huge painting displayed in a circle), that was originally displayed in Boston depicting the Gettysburg Battles.

Allen and his sister Rebecca

Allen's sister, Rebecca, drove us around and dropped us off at the Metro Station to make our way to our hotel. Taking a red eye flight from LA sure helped us to adjust to the East Coast time zone. We wanted to go to bed early and start a bit later the next day.

A Little Trip

We had an airline voucher, airline miles and free hotel rooms......so we went to DC and spent less than $400 for everything (including admissions for us and his sister). Allen's sister, Rebecca, lives there but we went mostly to be tourist and enjoy History.

We booked a red eye flight knowing it would be either the best or the worst....it was the best. Ryan slept before we left, charmed everyone in the airport and slept almost the whole flight. He was awesome and we even got compliments. 

I've only been to DC once, after I graduated from BYU 13 years ago.  I did a three week East Coast trip with Lori and Andrea and we had a blast.  Allen went to DC about 20 years ago with his family on vacation on their east coast trip. We were both excited, being nerds and wanting to see and experience it together. 

We (mainly me) planned an incredible agenda of things that were must see and others that would be nice.....and we saw it all. We walked many miles and were exhausted flying home, but would do it again in a heartbeat. We both agreed that we would love to go again and take our teenagers. 

Allen's sister, Rebecca, was on time picking us up at the wrong airport. Once she realized her error we met up and drove us to Gettysburg, while we slept......