The weather was good to us as long as we stayed in the shade today. Our hotel room has a kitchen in it, so we hit up the Trader Joe’s across the street for breakfast foods and packed a picnic lunch to eat at Mount Vernon. The videos were really great. Pat Sajack as a narrator cracks me up. The kids wanted to take the National Treasure behind the scenes tour, but we opted out because we felt like there was enough to see with our general admission tickets (that weren’t cheap).
I feel very grateful to be visiting the nations capital. It feels bigger and grander than I imagined, and even though I feel so small and insignificant against all the history and massive momuments and things to learn, I also feel like I’m a part of it. Being here gives me a place and a fresh swell of patriotism in my heart.
The little guys did exactly as expected for a museum at nap time. Sometimes, they just lose it over totally bizarre things, and being tired or in a new place increases the frequency of episodes. We have seen some doozies this week, but all things considered, they’re doing well. A couple other children are also struggling with the anxiety of experiencing a lot of new things. I brought some sensory activities and a weighted blanket and those are getting a LOT of therapeutic use among the family and helping.
Anyway, Mount Vernon was George and Martha Washington’s family estate. George spent his final days here and died in the bed with Martha by his side. The entire property is breathtaking. The gardens, outbuildings, the views of the Potomac River from the great big porch, the big bowling green lawn, the livestock pastures. Everything is perfectly manicured and is a colonial time warp. A floutist even wanders the property creating a lovely patriotic soundtrack of background music. It’s just way better than anything I had imagined. I’m really happy we added this stop to our itineray. Yes t
George and Martha’s tomb
Anyway, Mount Vernon was George and Martha Washington’s family estate. George spent his final days here and died in the bed with Martha by his side. The entire property is breathtaking. The gardens, outbuildings, the views of the Potomac River from the great big porch, the big bowling green lawn, the livestock pastures. Everything is perfectly manicured and is a colonial time warp. A floutist even wanders the property creating a lovely patriotic soundtrack of background music. It’s just way better than anything I had imagined. I’m really happy we added this stop to our itineray. Yes t
George and Martha’s tomb
After Mount Vernon the plan was to hit up a Smithsonian, or visit kabob palace as recommended by friends who’ve lived in DC. But then, a Cafe Rio delivery car drove by us and it was like a high speed car chase. “What?! They have Cafe Rio here? Let’s go! Forget about the Smithsonian!” And that’s just what we did. I loved driving through the streets of Alexandria and the beautiful buildings there. DC is the cleanest and prettiest “big city” I’ve ever visited.
We tried to get to the MLK Memorial, but the walk from the closest parking was ridiculous for our tired bunch, so we walked along the river to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial instead.
We ended the adventure with a free concert by the United States Marine Corps Band right on the steps of the US Capital Building. It was surreal.
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