BulldogTom Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 Good Morning All, First, and update. My youngest son will be graduating from High School in 2 weeks and has been named Class Salutatorian. He will be attending UC Berkely in the fall. MIT's loss is Cal's gain. He will also be continuing his internship at NASA AMES Research Center this summer. My oldest son continues at San Jose State and has set the curve in 4 of his 5 Engineering Classes this semester. Since transfering into San Jose State from Junior College, he has recieved an "A" in every class he has taken. Enough with the braggin'. You all know I am "Super Dad" when it comes to my kids. To reward my youngest son, we are going to Washington DC on vacation for a week. We plan to spend at least a day in the Air and Space museum, have a tour of the Capital set up, and have requested from our Congressman tours of the White House, Supreme Court, Bureau of Engraving and Library of Congress. We will also get to Arlington and the Hall of Freedom. Any other things that you think are a can't miss when you go to DC? Thanks Tom Hollister, CA 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacun Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 You could do this while in Washington, but you might not be as lucky as those people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcb39 Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 My husband was just there in Oct on the Honor Flight. It was one of the most moving experiences of his life. Be sure to see the Veterans Memorials. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklcpa Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 If you are planning to see any of the war memorials, I'd recommend you see the Korean War Memorial. I found that one to be very moving and eerie. It is a highly polished wall with images of soldiers etched into it, and also has a squad on patrol of 19 free standing full sized soldiers whose images are reflected in the wall. The reflections almost looked like ghosts among the men etched on the wall. I get chills thinking about it. ETA - what you have lined up is great. We love the Air & Space Museum. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacun Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 The Capital Wheel opened today. http://nationalharbor.com/capitalwheel/ From that Wheel, you can take 3 ferries to somewhere (including Alexandria and Mount Vernon) You can grab a duck at Union Station, which is cool http://www.unionstationdc.com/info/sightseeing http://www.dcducks.com/ PS: You can also visit Pacun. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcjenkins Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 Try to see Monticello if you can, it's fascinating. Of course, you could spend all days at the Smithsonian, easily! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILLMAS Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 Have you considered taking a tour of the Freemasons or Masonic sites. I've been in DC once but didn't know they existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 I am not sure if you will be able to get tours of the White House or the Capital building since the sequester. Maybe they have reinstated it. If they have, it should be a great tour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted May 23, 2014 Report Share Posted May 23, 2014 The Holocaust Museum is amazing. Any of the memorials. I'm from IL and enjoy the Lincoln. Viet Nam wall is great. I lucked out with one of those visiting WWII vets flights at the WWII Memorial when I was there, complete with a full-dress Marine playing Taps and current soldiers escorting the vets and a flag ceremony for each service. I went around thanking all for their service. I was in tears. That group was from Chicago; if my Dad had still been alive, he'd have been there. A tour of the memorials and area at night is a beautiful perspective. Once with a group of women, we left the group taking a tour bus and struck our own deal with one of the private tour guides to take us around. He knew things we didn't know about, took us where ever we asked, and knew people to sneak us into tours that were booked up. I agree with all the above ideas. Oh, and go by the IRS !! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 The others have pretty much said it all. My cousin Jim Brady runs the Holocaust Museum (thank you for your words, Lion; I'll pass them on to him!) so that's on my must-see list. Monticello. Mount Vernon is astounding, I am told by friends who saw it just a few months ago. Piece of trivia for you about the Washington Monument: ( 1 ) you'll see if you look carefully that the marble is in two colors -- this is due to an interruption in construction (and supply source) because of the Civil War (and a lack of funds) and ( 2 ) at the top, facing upwards, are the words "Laus Deo" (praise God), where no human can see them. Washington was a deeply religious man. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcb39 Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 If you are planning to see any of the war memorials, I'd recommend you see the Korean War Memorial. I found that one to be very moving and eerie. It is a highly polished wall with images of soldiers etched into it, and also has a squad on patrol of 19 free standing full sized soldiers whose images are reflected in the wall. The reflections almost looked like ghosts among the men etched on the wall. I get chills thinking about it. KWM wall.jpg KWM men walking.jpg KWM reflection.jpg ETA - what you have lined up is great. We love the Air & Space Museum. The KWM was my husbands. He came home with an entire book on it. They say if you see it at night you will really get the chills. The establishment of the Honor Flights for Veterans is one of the greatest things ever done. He was reluctant to go, but he will never forget or regret that he did. Hope he takes me there someday. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted May 26, 2014 Report Share Posted May 26, 2014 The Korean War monument is also noted for realistic statues of soldiers (although, about 3/4 size, but you'll forget that quickly) instead of some smooth-faced generic statues; all ethnicities, etc, that could be your sons or neighbors or fathers. You walk among them. I think they ran out of money or space, so the polished wall was designed to multiply the number of soldiers and as mentioned create some ghost-like soldiers for those who did not survive. Catherine, tell your cousin that the Holocaust Museum is amazing. There is a children's section, if you are taking young ones; but even that tells the story honestly. In the main museum, some of the most intense exhibits are over a wall; so if you have young children too short to see over the wall, YOU get to decide if you want to lift them up to see, which also puts you right there to talk to them about what they're seeing if they need it. Schedule time to decompress afterward. In good weather you could sit in any green space. We were told to find the food court in, I think, the Agriculture Department building. It looks like offices and not open to the public, but when you tell them at the desk you want to eat at the food court, they send you back. My son who was in eighth grade and hubby and I picked our own food and gathered at a table and were quiet for a very long time, just processing what we saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted May 26, 2014 Report Share Posted May 26, 2014 Lion, I will tell my cousin of your comments when next I send him a note. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richcpaman Posted May 27, 2014 Report Share Posted May 27, 2014 The Air and Space Museum has the Udvar-Hazy Annex out near Dulles Airport. It has all the stuff they can't get downtown, and is really great. I would recommend dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill. It is on 15th street, one block east of the White House. Old DC charm... Make sure you eat in the old dining room. The *new* dining room is like a Holiday Inn. You have all the Smithsonian Museums on the Mall. Decide which ones you are interested in, and then go to them, you could get lost in any of them and burn a lot of time... However, the Hope Diamond is AMAZING. Check out the original documents of America at the National Archives. Actually quite interesting.... The Newseum on Pennsylvania Ave is 4-5 blocks from the White House, and then 10-11 to the Capitol. It has one of the best front porches in Washington. A walk up Penn Ave from the Capitol to the WH is a study in contrasts. Where are you going to stay? Traffic can be hideous. And parking expensive, and the Metro is plenty crowded during rush hour. If you have a rental car, then take different routes into and out of town each day. Massachusetts Ave, Connecticut Ave, Georgia Ave, North, East ad South Capitol Streets. You can "see" the different DC's that way. There in nothing but the Museum Shops and Roach Coachs on the mall to get something to eat. You have to walk two or three blocks to sit down and eat, but if it was my son and me, we would hit the Roach Coaches. There is some real selection there... Its about a mile and a half to walk from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. Remember that. My wife still calls it the "Death March"..... Really, its about what you are interested in. I like to "imbed" myself in the local culture, eating in local restaurants, walking the streets, seeing the off beat stuff. And playing golf.. There is no finer place to trace the roots of our country, and how it developed. Rich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted May 27, 2014 Report Share Posted May 27, 2014 I've stayed in MD and in VA and ridden the Metro. And, drove with a bunch of sorority sisters making a reunion of it. Also taken buses to Georgetown from our hotel to get to some fun pubs and restaurants. Took a tour bus in from a hotel; it stopped at major sites where you could get on and off any of the tour busses at your convenience. But, mostly walked around DC. The roach coaches do offer a wide selection of meals and snacks. Stay late to see things lit up, and avoid the evening rush hour. Take comfortable shoes, two pairs to alternate. All of the monuments have their charm, as do the museums. Map out what you want to see. Is it the FDR that has a bit of a "town" to walk through with people/statues standing in line for a soup kitchen? The National Cathedral is gorgeous and has organ concerts which you can hear all the way out on the lawn if you're picnicking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grmy2h Posted May 28, 2014 Report Share Posted May 28, 2014 If you are interested in George Washington or Robert E Lee, both birthplaces are located a couple of hours south of DC in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on the Potomac River. They are only a few miles from each other. http://www.nps.gov/gewa/planyourvisit/index.htm http://www.stratfordhall.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tax Prep by Deb Posted May 28, 2014 Report Share Posted May 28, 2014 If you like Abe Lincoln be sure and check out the Ford Theatre. I learned more history regarding his assassination than I ever did in school. It was actually one of my favorite spots. Also take time to enjoy the beauty! Coming from the Central Valley in California, I loved all the green, trees, and for the most part lack of fences around homes. It was a totally different world in DC and Virginia. (of course of lot has probably changed since I was there. It's probably been 10 years or better, but would definitely return if circumstances allowed!)Deb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogTom Posted May 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2014 Thanks for all the suggestions. We will not be driving. We will get the metro pass for the week. I have been warned about driving in DC and we have decided to use the metro and walk. Good Excercise. Never thought about the Ford Theater. Will add that one to our list. Mount Vernon is a possibility, but we are trying to stay near to locations that are on the metro lines. We are staying in Alexandria, about a half mile from a metro station. We got a hotel room with a kitchenette so we would not have to spend so much on restaurants. Plan to only eat out a couple of times on the trip. Mostly packing sack lunches to take with us on our day trips. Love the suggestion about the Udvar-Hazy Annex. Do you know if you can get there on the metro? My kids are both engineering students and they want to work in Aerospace. I think they would did that annex. Thanks Tom Hollister, CA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in Virginia Posted May 28, 2014 Report Share Posted May 28, 2014 It has probably been 30 years since I was there, but I remember the National Zoo as being one of my favorite places to visit in DC. More recently, I went with a school field trip to the museums and national monuments Plenty to do and see, I am sure your family will have a great time and the only problem will be that it will go by so quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richcpaman Posted May 29, 2014 Report Share Posted May 29, 2014 The Udvar-Hazy Center is out near Dulles and you *may* be able to get to it from the new "Silver Line" of the Metro. Do not think it is open to the public yet, but soon... There is probably a bus from downtown Alexandria to Dulles, however. Traffic isn't that bad, if you are from California, but the road system has a lot of one way streets, and "you can see it, you just can't get there from here..." area's. It is easy to take the Metro to Reagan National Airport and rent a car for a day for some of the longer trips. Someone mentioned the tourist bus system, you can buy a pass for that and see all the tourist sites around the Mall. It also goes to Arlington National Cemetery and to Mount Vernon. Plan a trip to Arlington. I *think* online, you can find out who might be interred each day. The "pomp and circumstance" of a burial is deserved for the private to the general, but there are a lot more things going on as the rank increases, and is quite a show. Notwithstanding the solitude you can find in the corners of the place.... Lots to do. Talk more about what you are interested in. Andrews Air Force Base (Now Joint Base Andrews) has Air Force One, but has a huge Open House usually around Flag Day weekend, something to do if you and your son are interested in getting up close to the military vehicles... One other thing... Bags are searched EVERYWHERE. Carrying your lunch and other stuff in a back pack? Can get annoying every time to enter someplace. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in Virginia Posted May 29, 2014 Report Share Posted May 29, 2014 One other thing... Bags are searched EVERYWHERE. Carrying your lunch and other stuff in a back pack? Can get annoying every time to enter someplace. Rich And that reminds me - I know that a few places we went to when I went with the middle school field trip, the boys wearing boots had to remove their footwear to make it through the metal detector. Rich's point about the bags is a good one, and I would avoid large metal objects on your clothes (belt buckles, shoes with a metal shank) because of the metal detectors at a lot of tourist sites. I am assuming they are still in use; I don't get to DC as often as I would enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogTom Posted May 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2014 Plan a trip to Arlington. I *think* online, you can find out who might be interred each day. The "pomp and circumstance" of a burial is deserved for the private to the general, but there are a lot more things going on as the rank increases, and is quite a show. Notwithstanding the solitude you can find in the corners of the place.... Rich Rich, When I was in the Coast Guard, I had the honor of performing at a couple of the ceremonies for veterans as a member the the Ceremonial Honor Guard. It is a very moving experience, especially folding the flag and delivering it to the loved ones. I always felt so inadaquet when I handed over the flag. Still gets me choked up. Tom Hollister, CA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogTom Posted June 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 The Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, National Mall and Smithsonian Air and Space museum were Frikkin' Awesome!!!!!! I could not believe the number of names on the Vietnam Veterans memorial. Puts things into perspective. Tour of the Capital today. Tom Hollister, CA 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted June 9, 2014 Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 Yes, you see that wall as you're approaching it and it just keeps getting bigger as you walk and finally looms over you. Enjoy your day! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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