2019 DC Adventure

In 2017, my friends Cathy and Pat and I were planning a girl trip to DC. We made a list of all the things we each wanted to see or do and soon realized that there is no way we could see/do it all in one trip…..unless it was a very long trip!!! So, we decided to make it an annual trip – we’d take the train down on Monday, stay Tues – Thurs, and take the train back on Friday! Perfect! Enough time to cram in several things and not be gone too long! The first year – 2017 – all three of us went and we did it in May and got a lot of the basic things out of the way. In 2018, sadly, Pat couldn’t make the trip, so Cathy and I went and we were there during peak cherry blossom time – spectacular! This was our third year and all three of us were together, again – in October, this time! All three trips were fun and exciting in their own way and we saw new and different things each time……and repeated a couple things that Cathy and I did in 2018 and really wanted to share with Pat! We found it odd that there were massive amounts of school tours so early in the school year, but still managed to get in and out of the places we wanted to go with little lines or waiting, so that was good! It was a painful trip for me — my knee and back were not willing to cooperate! I think I’d just been doing way too much in the months leading up to it and this was the trip that they decided they’d had enough……so, I missed out on a couple things I wished I could have participated in, but that’s OK — the trip was still fantastic and I really enjoyed the things I did get to see…..and, luckily, there were three of us, so my issues didn’t stop anyone else from going and enjoying what I couldn’t!

October 21-25, 2019 – my birthday week!!!

Our train pulling into the Rochester Amtrak Station — I do love traveling by train! It makes for a VERY long day, but it is an affordable, relaxing and comfortable way to get there! We’re going to look into maybe flying next year — we can take Southwest into BWI Airport and then take the train to Union Station……we’ll see how it goes!

Union Station in DC is an awesome train station……lots to do there and it is huge and beautiful!!!

Once we arrived, we took a taxi to our hotel – we always stay at Hotel Harrington – the location is perfect! It is an older, historic hotel, but they have a “room for 5” which has three beds at a great price and, like I said, you can’t beat the location – right in the middle of everything!

Our first day, we went to the National Museum of American History……lots of cool stuff to see, there!

The D-Day Flag

Glinda’s wand!

Bat Mobile from the first Batman movie!

I had to take this photo because I had just been to Muhammad Ali’s grave site in Kentucky a couple months before this!

Archie and Edith’s chairs from All In The Family!

As we were walking that morning, there was a spot where we could see the Washington Monument to the right……

And, the Capitol Building to the left!!!

We had planned to go to the Capitol Building the next day – had reservations for the tour and everything……but, I got a text while we were at the American History Museum saying that most of the building would be closed to the public until Friday (the day we were leaving) because of the preparations and services for the  Lying in State of Rep Elijah Cummings, who had passed away a couple days prior. So, we decided to cancel and put it on next year’s list…….didn’t want to go and not see things like the Rotunda and other parts that were going to be closed. We’ll do it when we can do it right! 🙂

 That first afternoon we spent at the Holocaust Museum this trip……such an emotional visit…….

This exhibit was Daniel’s Story — the life a a young boy just prior to and during the Holocaust – this was his home before!

His room, before……

And the room his family lived in during…..

And a scene from a concentration camp…..

Makes you think……

It is our duty to speak up…….

By the time we left the Holocaust Museum, it was pouring rain, so we got on the Metro and went back to the hotel to get dry and warmed up……went down for dinner and called it a day!

The building on the corner where we picked up the Metro near our hotel…..Day Two morning – we took the Metro to the National Mall…..

We revisited the FDR Memorial….Cathy and I saw it last year when we were on a Cherry Blossom bus tour, but we were rushed through it and Pat didn’t get to see it, so we definitely wanted to be sure to do it this year, again! It is one of the best memorials on the National Mall – one you don’t want to rush through! It spans each of his Presidencies and all that happened in America during his administrations and even includes First Lady Elinor Roosevelt! It is laid out like a “journey” of several “rooms” that you walk through! A MUST see!!!

Commemorating his Fire Side Chats

The Bread Lines of WWII

The plight of the poor in America at the time……and there were LOTS of his quotes written in the stone throughout the memorial

The creation of jobs in his “New Deal” economic programs – shows examples of various jobs!

His funeral procession

After we left FDR, we strolled around the tidal pond…..so peaceful and beautiful!

This is Pat entering the WWII Memorial – this is another amazing memorial on the National Mall – the newest one! It wasn’t there (or wasn’t done – not sure) the first year we went. Cathy and I spent a lot of time there last year and we wanted to be sure Pat had a chance to see it! Cathy and I were pooped, so we sat and waited while Pat walked through it! Another MUST see!!! Tom Hanks was instrumental in making this happen……and it is so amazing!

While we were waiting, we got to see a mounted policewoman ride by!

Stunning horse!

After lunch, we went to the National Museum of Natural History — Pat wanted to get some dinosaur stuff for her grandson! My knee was shot, so I sat outside while they went in! They made me wish I had gone in when they told me all about it, but I was happy sitting outside on a gorgeous day – soaking up some sun! I sat on the wall along the steps up to the entrance and was joined by a group of 5th graders from south somewhere – I think Tennessee??? Maybe……anyway I had a lovely conversation with a young girl who sat next to me!

I was also joined by several birds who perched around me to enjoy the sun, too!

We passed this guy just up the street a ways! Quite the unique drummer! 🙂

We always like to plan to see a show or two in the evenings – Ford’s Theater (where Lincoln was shot) is a favorite place to go, but there wasn’t anything that interested us playing there, this year. So, we went to the Kennedy Center and saw “Shear Madness” – a great comedy / murder mystery! Here is Pat out on the terrace overlooking the Potomac River where we went to view the sunset before the show! (Both Pat and Cathy are camera shy……I have to get sneaky and steal a photo when I can! hehehe)

One of the workers inside told us we just missed the best of the sunset, but it was still lovely…..we spent quite a bit of time out there before going in to the cafe for a drink and then the show!

The famous Watergate Hotel seen from the terrace at the Kennedy Center

There were several rowing teams finishing up their runs – it was fun watching them!

Rowing on the Potomac!

The steeples in the distance are the National Cathedral in Georgetown — Cathy and I were there last year and had the honor of hearing the reading of Martin Luther King’s last sermon given there before his death – we were there during the MLK Day week! (By the way — his memorial on the National Mall is another MUST see — we saw it the first year we were there and it is awesome!)

Day three morning, we took a bus tour out to Mount Vernon…..

We drove thru Old Towne Alexandria, which was really lovely. We had three hours “on our own” at Mt Vernon with a specific time to go thru the mansion. So we went through the Education Center, first – loved it – lots of history and information. Then we had lunch at the Mt Vernon Inn and had a trio of soups that were INCREDIBLE – a peanut soup with lots of peanuts and chestnuts, a roasted tomato basil bisque, and a butternut squash soup with spiced cream and candies pecans……all three were sooooo good! 

The Educational Center was incredible…….so much I didn’t realize about George and Martha Washington!

This was cool…..and spooky…..it follows you as you walk by……yeah, a little creepy, but cool!

George, Martha, and their children.

He was a tall man, but she wasn’t much taller than I am!!!

Then we went to the mansion, which is a long walk from the rest of the complex and stood in a long line – I was already in a lot of pain (as I said, this was a very painful trip for me), so the standing in line after the long uphill walk did me in and I couldn’t make it thru the house – I got to see it up close and the stunning view of the Potomac from the back porch, but then left my friends and went back to the gate to wait for them and our bus…..they did part of the inside tour and gave up, too – said I didn’t miss much. It was hot and VERY crowded with school tours and the best part was the Educational Center and  seeing the mansion from the outside! So…….we’re glad we went, but wish we knew the mansion part wasn’t necessarily worth it!

Washington’s view of the Potomac from his back porch!

This church was in Old Alexandria and is the church that Washington and his family worshiped in — the tour didn’t stop there, but the guide said it is worth the trip back to go inside. Maybe we’ll put it on the list for another year!

Then since I had hit my brick wall and was at my limit for pain, I went back to the hotel and slept a couple hours while Cathy and Pat went on to the American Indian Smithsonian – they said it was wonderful – wish I had seen it – it is my one big regret from the trip, but there was no way I could have! 😢 Maybe we’ll revisit it another year so that I can see it, too! When they got back, we went down for my birthday dinner (did I say that we were there for my birthday???) and then packed up so we’re ready for our early morning train back home. It was a short, but great trip….we’re already thinking about what will be on our list for next year’s Annual Girl’s DC Trip!!! 😊

This was above the escalator in the Metro……I thought it was cool!

I caught this shot through the windshield of the taxi on our way to Union Station the morning we left – sunrise over the Capitol Building!!!

Well, what-da-ya-know??? I’m finally all caught up on the Adventure posts — that’s the last big adventure of 2019!!! Next week is Christmas and then we’ll be ringing in a new year – a new DECADE! WOW!!!