Following the wedding, we drove to Washington DC and spent 4 days seeing all the sights. We stayed at hotel close in (Foggy Bottom) called the River Inn, which allowed us to walk to sights and see a lot! It was suite with a kitchen so we cooked all our dinners other than one to stay on budget. It was a great trip. Unfortunately Grace got sick 1 day so she and I stayed back a the hotel that day, but other than that, we all saw and did a lot! Hopefully the kids realize how much they have to be grateful for in our great country, and appreciate all those who have made so many sacrifices to give us these freedoms!!
Arriving the first night, we checked in to the hotel and then walked to the National Mall first. Then we walked to see several of the memorials at night.
For Memorial Day Weekend, this very cool flag, made of dog tags from the soldiers who lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism, was set up in front of the Lincoln Memorial - we found my cousin Jesse Samek's name right away, and said a prayer for him!! Thank you Jesse for your service and sacrifice -we miss you!!
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Day 1 (Monday Memorial Day): We walked through the mall to see it in the daylight. Then we visited the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, watched the National Memorial Day parade down Constitution Avenue, and then visited the Smithsonian Museum of America History.
Museum of Natural History
The Hope Diamond
Parade time
It was raining on the parade :-( but still very cool and fun!
Museum of American History
Day 2: (Grace sick) Shawn and Boys toured the U.S Capital and Library of Congress, visited the Smithsonian Museum of Art, saw the Supreme Court and Mall monuments, and went to the top of the Washington Monument
US Capital
Supreme Court
Library of Congress
Smithsonian Art Museum
View from atop the Washington Monument
Vietnam Veterans War Memorial
Day 3: White House (seen from outside-couldn't get tour) and visitor center, Scout Monument, Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum, Ford's Theatre (museum, theater, Peterson house and aftermath exhibit), and Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
Scouting Memorial
Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum
It's a huge hanger of all sorts of air craft, from helicopters to the very first air planes, to all periods of military planes to space shuttles - very cool place!
About to go on a simulator
The Shuttle Discovery - the longest serving and most accomplished space shuttle
The pistol that killed Lincoln :-(
The box where Lincoln sat
The bed he died in the Peterson house
A sampling of all the books written about President Abraham Lincoln
Stopping for a treat
Walked by this cool place
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum - currently under renovation, only 8 of the galleries were open but those were very cool!
Columbia Apollo 11 Command Module
Day 4: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (attended mass in the crypt and then toured all of it), Smithsonian National Zoo, Arlington National Cemetery, Chinatown dinner, ice cream on the Wharf.
The crypt where we attended morning mass
For many beautiful alters and shrines!
A lovely statue of every American saint
The National Zoo
Arlington National Cemetery
Grave of JFK
Tomb of the Unknown soldier
Changing of the guard
Chinatown
The Wharf
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