Visiting Washington D.C.
I think I killed my quads yesterday.
We took the two older children to downtown D.C., planning to visit the Lincoln Memorial. If you’ve ever been to D.C., you know that the monuments are deceptive in distance. They’re grouped on the same stretch of land, but I swear, we walked for three miles. My four-year-old daughter started out skipping, excited to see the Washington Monument.
After the first half mile, the skips turned into slow walking. She was more interested in the bottle of Gatorade than the White House.
My son was disappointed that we weren’t planning to go up to the top of the Washington Monument and sulked a little. By the time we reached the new WWII Memorial, both kids were eyeing the fountains as though they wanted to sit down and dangle their feet. If you’ve never been there, it’s really beautiful, with lots of fountains and a circle of pillars with each of the U.S. states written on it. There’s also a wall of gold stars for those who died, and the Memorial is divided into the Pacific and the Atlantic battles. Some of the quotes were wonderful, but my favorite quote was actually from the Korean Memorial which we saw after the Lincoln Monument: “Freedom isn’t free.”
So true.
Later, I took pity on my daughter and carried her for part of the walk. She’s my itty bitty girl, just over 30 pounds. But of course, I had to then let my son have a turn. I opted for a piggyback ride, and let me tell you, I felt every one of his 50 pounds. Holy cow, my leg muscles are still aching. Let’s just say that I carried him for about 100 yards, and I was done. 
I’m still feeling that one.
There aren’t many options for lunch on the Mall, but behind the IRS building, just behind the Natural History Museum, it leads to the old Post Office which has a Food Court. Definitely worth the walk for the choices. I’m not much on hot dogs from a cart. 
We finished off with the Natural History Museum. I’ll confess, one of my favorite exhibits is the gemstones. Who doesn’t love diamonds and emeralds? My daughter picked out her favorite diamond necklace, but my son was far more interested in the mummies. 
I think it’s my favorite museum because of the diversity of exhibits.
Still on my list of things to see is the inside of the White House. I know it’s getting more difficult, but I’d love to see it one day. How about you? Have you ever been to D.C.? What was your favorite thing to see?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 8:16 am | Viewed 1447 times
beth Says:
We don’t go as often as I’d like and so I’m desperate to see the new(ish) Native American Museum. I’ve also not seen the WWII yet. I’ve never been a big fan of the Natural History — I think I prefer American History, if only because they have Julia Child’s kitchen(!) and the huge flag and the pendulum. Who doesn’t love an enormous pendulum? Oh. And the First Lady Dresses. *drool*
Lynellen Says:
See, who needs expensive exercise equipment when you can get plenty of muscle building just by carring kids around.
Melissa Marsh Says:
Ever since my Dad went to D.C. last summer, I’ve wanted to go. But I opted for England instead this year.
Still, I definitely want to visit in the future - especially the WWII memorial!
Ellen Says:
OH YES I’ve been to DC. Four times to be exact and just once I’d like to go by myself. The times I’ve been were on a school bus escorting teenagers.
The only advantage is that the school paid all my expenses. But it was exciting to see and we even got in a few places where the public rarely gets to go (even less now due to security). I love the American History Museum, Air & Space Museum and I want to see the Native American Museum. We also got to see the National Cathedral and I think that is the only time the kids were actually quiet the whole trip. We also took them to see Vicksburg, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Philadelphia on the same trips.
Tori Lennox Says:
I’ve only been once and I had such a horrible cold at the time I didn’t much enjoy it. We hit the Lincoln Memorial which was surrounded by scaffoldiing which I managed to blur out of the pictures. *g* We drove past the White House but I couldn’t get any pictures. We hit one portion of the Smithsonian, though I’m not sure which one. It was the one with Archie Bunker’s chair.
I’d love go back sometime when I’m healthy.
Heidi Dahlquist Says:
I love D.C.! My favorite museum is the Natural History Museum. I’m a sucker for looking at the gems, especially the Hope Diamond. And I really fancy the emeralds.
My second favorite part in the museum is the mummies. I am really interested in them and Egyptian History. Hopefully, I’ll make it up there this year!
Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah Says:
This may be cheating (since I actually live in the DC Metro Area) but I love the National Gallery.
shannon Says:
We were in DC the lat week of July. Our hotel was in walking distance of the mall, down at the end where the Botanical gardens are located (the gardens are my favorite). My husband and I decided to make that same walk with 4 ranging in age from 3 -16. Holy Cow was that a LONG HOT walk. We made it all the way there but on the way back we caught the metro at the Smithsonian stop. I was definitely sore the next day.
The kids favorite things are the metro, air and space museum, and natural history museum, OH yeah and the Duck tours.