Day Six--April 2nd

After navigating that awful downtown Philadelphia traffic we arrive at our hotel. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott, which was located right across the street from this beautiful building, City Hall. An amazing structure.

What's the first thing you do when you go to Philadelphia? Get a Phili Cheesesteak sandwich ofcourse!

There is much debate on who has the best steak in town, but we just went to the one that was most convenient to our hotel, Rick's Cheesesteaks in the Reading Terminal Market. Mmmm...

Old City Hall
The Liberty Bell

After seeing the Liberty Bell we went across the street for our tour of Independence Hall. In this room George Washington witnessed the signing of the US Constitution. Recognize this room? It is the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The table and chair on the raised dais is the original chair that Thomas Jefferson sat in when he signed the Declaration of Independence.
Independence Hall

Carpenters Hall, where our founding fathers of the First Continental Congress met.

Believe it not, this is not a church! This is Macy's in downtown Phili. After doing our sight-seeing Bruno, Nicole and I went to Macy's to buy swimsuits so we could go swimming at the hotel. When you first walk into the store it's like any Macy's but then when you walk into the center where the makeup counters are it opens up to this amazing atrium-like space. I thought perhaps it had been a church at one time, but we learned that it was an original department store from back in the late 1800's. They have someone come in every day at 7:00 to play the pipe organ. We never got to hear it, but seeing it was very impressive.
The pipe organ.

Day Five--April 1st

We left Wash DC behind and drove up to Gettysburg, PA. Arriving a few hours before our scheduled tour we checked into the hotel, and walked the town. This train station saw President Lincoln arrive on November 18, 1863. The battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, occurred July 1-3, 1863. 51,000 were killed, wounded or missing during the 3-day battle.

Opting for a personal tour guide to drive us in our car, we were able to sit back and relax and be amazed at the history around us. Nicole's interst of the Gettysburg battle and fields was evident in this picture. She slept for most if the two-hour tour.

Our guide, explains to Bruno and the boys the significance of the area known as "Plum Run" and the Devil's Den. (I was in the car while Nicole slept)
South Carolina monument. The battlefields are littered with over 140 monuments and markers that mark the location of where certain brigades and battalions fought during this 3-day battle.
Original canons.

Cidori Farm, original from the battle.
Battlefields
Battlefields

"Four score, and seven years ago..." President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg address
.....was given at this exact location on November 19, 1863. This monument, a tribute to the more than 3,500 union soldiers buried at the cemetary. Lincoln's Speech memorial at the National Cemetary in Gettysburg.

This is the Philadelphia monument, the largest monument on the battlefields. The monument holds tablets of every brigade and company that fought in the 3 day battle. The tablets bare the names of all those who "fought with dignity". Apparently many soldiers returned 50 years later at the dedication of the monument and removed the names of soldiers who did not "fight with dignity". There are many names on the tablets that have been scraped off.

Day Four--March 31st

Today we visited the other Mount Vernon.....George Washington's home. It was very pretty, and the docents were great at giving information. The view from the porch looking at the Potomec. George Washington's tomb is on the property.

After touring Mount Vernon we stopped in Old Town Alexandria and had lunch. What a cute little town! Apparently George Washington spent a lot of time here in the local tavern, that still stands today.

Day three--March 30th

After the Natural History Museum, and lunch, we headed to the Air and Space Museum. Poor Nicole had diahrea and so she and I spent most of the time in the bathroom. Frankly, I thought it was boring, but Bruno and Marcus liked it. They went in a flight simulator and let Marcus fly. We called it a day after the Air & Space Museum.

We got to the museum right when it opened so it was not crowded. The elephant in the rotunda is quite impressive, and we all looked forward to seeing the dinosaur hall. We watched an IMAX movie called "Dinosaurs" that was pretty cool. Nicole had never gone to an IMAX movie before and she really liked it.

Our first trip to "The Mall". After getting off the subway we were headed to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. But stopped to take pictures of the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

Day Two--March 29th

On Saturday morning at 10:30 we had an appointment to tour the White House. Tickets to tour the White House are really hard to come by. You have to submit your social security number, and passport number 2-6 months in advance. Well, I didn't know this. I contacted Rick Larsen's office three weeks before we left. I figured there would be no way we would get in, but we did!! We were pretty excited about it. But honestly, it was a bit of a bust. Once you get through security (NO CAMERAS allowed) you stand in line and herd along into the State Dining Room, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, East Room, and out the back door. There is no one telling you about the rooms, you have to read the pamphlet they give to get any information. But at least we can say we did it.

After the White House we went over to the Spy Museum. Another bust. It was kind of expensive to get in, and they let so many people in there that you can't get close enough to the exhibits to do any of the hands on stuff. There was a lot to see, and you could spend hours there, if you're inclined to do so. After the spy museum we took the subway back to the hotel, because my back had gone out that morning and it was killing me!

First full day--March 28th

After the Changing of the Guards Bruno called and said his flight from New Orleans was being changed and he would be into Reagan at 7:30pm instead of 11:30pm. Yah!! The kids and I found a big mall to hang out in while we waited for him, then just went to the airport and picked him up. Alex and Nicole both fell asleep on the way back to the hotel.

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns

White headstones as far as the eye can see.
John F. Kennedy's grave

We decided to head back to the hotel on the subway, get lunch, and then drove over to Arlington Cemetery.

After the Capitol tour we walked over to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence, etc. The line was so long we decided to save that for another day.

The Capitol, taken from the steps of the Library of Congress.

The Old Supreme Court Chamber used from 1810-1860.
The Old Senate Chamber used from 1810-1859

The kids and I had a 9:00 meeting in Representative Rick Larsen's office for a tour of the Capitol Building. This is a picture of the ceiling in the Rotunda, and the relief paintings that circle below the windows. Spectacular.

View of the sunrise from the top floor of our hotel. Our hotel had breakfast every morning in this room with a killer view. You looked right over Fort Meyer and Arlington Cemetary, into the City.

Our DC trip--at the airport March 27th

After a long delay our plane finally arrives. Nicole can hardly wait to get on the plane. It was a very comfortable ride, lots of leg room and Nicole did fantastic!! Upon arriving at Dulles at 9:30 pm their time it was time to find the car rental place. We got the car, then found our way to the freeway. I was not prepared for the toll booths!! First one I came to I threw what change I did have into it and most of it fell on the ground. Alex was sure we were going to get pulled over and ticketed. The next day we saw this "Fast Pass" thing on the window that all you have to do is slide it open and it charges the fare to the car. Go figure! We made it to the hotel, got checked in and quicjkly realized there was no place to eat. We ordered pizza to be delivered and it finally came after midnight. We were exhausted. We stayed at the Arlington Residence Inn, nice place with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.