Washington DC

I had been to Washington D.C. before, but only on business and didn't get a whole lot of time to look around.  Not that three days is enough time to see everything, but we sure gave it a try.

Neighbor Mike and I decided over a few beers in my drive way that since neither of our wives were interested in going to Washington D.C.  that we should just go.  So...we did.

After we flew into Regan National, we checked into our hotel.  We then took the subway to the Smithsonian station and began by just getting our barrings.  We walked over to the WWII Memorial.  It was very nice, but I noticed that none of the fountains were on.  It was cool how you could walk toward the back of the memorial where a fountain (not working) was and be almost eye level with the reflecting pool. 

From there we walked to the Vietnam Memorial.  Even the most obnoxious group of teenagers were quiet when walking along the wall. 

We then walked up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, took a couple of pictures and then over to the Korean Memorial.  We thought about walking over to the Jefferson Memorial, but decided against it since there was no easy way over there.

We then decided to go to the American History Museum.  When you first walk in you see this huge flag hanging on the wall.  It was the flag that hung from the Pentegon after the September, 11, 2001 attacks.  I was suprised to see there wasn't more from those events.  We walked down the hall that apparently is a replica of a portion of the White House.  There was a lot of things that belonged to the first family all the way back to George and Martha Washington.  There was also a room dedicated to the first ladies and their inagural gowns.

Two areas that I really enjoyed were actual items throughout American History, like the table and chairs that Gen. Grant and Gen. Lee sat at Appomatox (sp?) court house at the end of the Civil War.  The other was whole wing dedicated to items from America's war.  My favorite article in there was sword that was surrendered to end the American Revolution.

While touring that area the museum closed so we didn't get to finish that day.  We were wiped out anyway and ended up taking the subway back to our hotel.