Trip to DC!
So the last weekend of June we (me, Ron, William, my bro Cy, nephew Dom and my Dad) went to Washington for vacation. Well really the reason was because our cousin was retiring from the military and was having a retirement ceremony at the Pentagon. We wanted to go see her and the Pentagon so we decided to make a couple of days out of it. The kid road in the car with my Dad, Cy and Dom on Thurs morning. Ron and I had a relaxing train ride to DC, well eventually! We packed our stuff and sent it in the car so all we had to take was a few things. Some of that stuff was our ID's (William's included) so we could get into the Pentagon. But sadly (stupidly) I forgot them all at home!! We were heading down the escalator to the train and Ron says don't forget you have to show your ID on the train. SHIT!! I forgot our passports and William's birth certificate at home!! Ok decision time either get on the train and NOT go to the Pentagon or reticket and go home and get them. We decided to send Ron home to get them and I stood on the really long line to reticket. $90 and a 1 1/2hr later we were on the Acela to DC. Ok Ron forgave me but he was pissed! But we got to DC and took the Metro to the hotel in Arlington and still got there well before the car. They got stuck in traffic then lost in the city.
The pentagon was interesting. And yes they did need to see 2 pieces of ID for a 4YO. But we got in and waited for our group. We could take pic in the holding area and gift shop but that was it. We went on the tour. Saw the 9/11 memorial and some stores and a few pic on the walls and the court yard but ehh that is about it. William fell asleep and we didn't have the stroller so that was fun. Then we went to the Hall of heroes for the ceremony. It was nice got escorted out and went back to the hotel. The next day we did the air and space and took the tour of the Capitol. The last time Ron and I were in DC there was no tour. You just went in and looked around. But now it's all timed and escorted. Kinda sucked really. Oh well. Then Sun we went to see some of the memorials. It was ok but we got off at the wrong metro stop and waked way way to much in the heat. It was dang hot. Anyway the kids whined but we saw the Lincoln, the Vietnam, Korea and WW2. Loved the WW2 one and 1st time I've seen it. Finally went to look for food and found something open after much walking. Then went to the White House. William tried to climb the fence but damn no one came running with guns in hand. Then back to the hotel. Ron left for NY and we took an evening tour (air conditioned bus yippee!!) of the rest of the memorials. I really liked the FDR one. To bad Ron missed it. It's new and so we didn't see it our last visit.
Anyway it was fun for me and Dad however my nephew Dom and Bro decided they are confirmed beach people and were not all that happy about not being able to at least swim in a pool (none at our hotel) on this vacation so they said they are glad they saw this stuff but will not be back. Whatever. I will take William back one day. Here are a few pics. Click on any to see the whole gallery if you would like.
Ron at the Pentagon
William at the Pentagon
William & Ron at the Capitol
Dom and William at the White House
William scaling the fence. I thought he was doing it at the WH but not sure. I was waiting for him to get yelled at or guns pointed at him but no!
Crabby patty and Mommy at the really great FDR memorial
The pentagon was interesting. And yes they did need to see 2 pieces of ID for a 4YO. But we got in and waited for our group. We could take pic in the holding area and gift shop but that was it. We went on the tour. Saw the 9/11 memorial and some stores and a few pic on the walls and the court yard but ehh that is about it. William fell asleep and we didn't have the stroller so that was fun. Then we went to the Hall of heroes for the ceremony. It was nice got escorted out and went back to the hotel. The next day we did the air and space and took the tour of the Capitol. The last time Ron and I were in DC there was no tour. You just went in and looked around. But now it's all timed and escorted. Kinda sucked really. Oh well. Then Sun we went to see some of the memorials. It was ok but we got off at the wrong metro stop and waked way way to much in the heat. It was dang hot. Anyway the kids whined but we saw the Lincoln, the Vietnam, Korea and WW2. Loved the WW2 one and 1st time I've seen it. Finally went to look for food and found something open after much walking. Then went to the White House. William tried to climb the fence but damn no one came running with guns in hand. Then back to the hotel. Ron left for NY and we took an evening tour (air conditioned bus yippee!!) of the rest of the memorials. I really liked the FDR one. To bad Ron missed it. It's new and so we didn't see it our last visit.
Anyway it was fun for me and Dad however my nephew Dom and Bro decided they are confirmed beach people and were not all that happy about not being able to at least swim in a pool (none at our hotel) on this vacation so they said they are glad they saw this stuff but will not be back. Whatever. I will take William back one day. Here are a few pics. Click on any to see the whole gallery if you would like.
Ron at the Pentagon
William at the Pentagon
William & Ron at the Capitol
Dom and William at the White House
William scaling the fence. I thought he was doing it at the WH but not sure. I was waiting for him to get yelled at or guns pointed at him but no!
Crabby patty and Mommy at the really great FDR memorial