When we visited Washington DC over Memorial Day weekend, we had the opportunity to visit “the wall” on Memorial Day, a very popular day for veterans to visit as well.

The tributes placed along the base of the wall were poignant reminders of so many lost in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial is built near the reflecting pond, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. You can see the Washington Monument in the background here.

And like most visitors, we read soldiers’ names engraved on the wall.

Thank a veteran today…

Washington DC series:
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Archives - Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway - Metro

Other Torch-Passers:
VA Kids - Website with Lessons about Veteran’s Day

During our recent trip to Washington DC, we didn’t rent a car, and had no problem navigating public transportation. For the kids that’s part of the adventure, and they enjoyed reading the subway maps and helping us remember which stops we’d get off on. I appreciated the cleanliness and architecture we found in the Metro’s tile-floored platforms.

Using public transportation, we were able to get back and forth from the airport, and travel all the way to Mount Vernon, from our Hotel Harrington. We took the Metro Rail’s Yellow Line Train to Huntington Station in Virginia, then caught the Fairfax Connector bus (#101) to Mount Vernon . The Metro and bus together took about one hour one-way and only cost about $4 round-trip for each of us.

There’s also a DC Circulator bus that travels around the National Mall all day long. It only costs $1 per ride and you can get off and get on anyplace on the National Mall route.  It’s a frugal way to get your first view of the city too.

And although it’s pricey ($25 each per day,) renting bikes is an healthy and fun way to see the monuments on a beautiful day.  I wouldn’t recommend the tandem bike I rented with my husband though.  It was a little scary when he zigged and I zagged in traffic!

Bottom line?  I recommend skipping the car rental in DC.  Use public transportation!

Washington DC series:
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Archives - Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway - Metro

We all got a lesson in respect when we visited Arlington cemetery on Memorial Day weekend. Although I believe it’s always a very serious place, it’s perhaps even more somber on days specifically designed to honor soldiers who’ve given their lives to keep us free. We walked among dozens of other people as we made our way to the Tomb of the Unknown Solder. But you could hear even the soft shuffle of our steps because it was so silent.

The normal changing of the guards was altered on this day, to bring forward wreaths that had been given to honor the fallen veterans. We witnessed a constant procession of these wreaths, in awe of the precision practiced by the soldiers. What an honor to be one of those selected to guard this memorial.

Washington DC series:
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Archives - Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway - Metro

Located on the National Mall in Washington DC, the National Air and Space Museum was one of our kids’ favorites. It was the hands-on displays that interested them the most. This display quizzed the kids on types of aircraft.

This video-game synthesized the experience of landing a plane on an aircraft carrier. Craig could have joysticked all day long.

And this display allowed the kids to pretend they were gunning an enemy plane.

Great museum, and like everything on the mall, it was free.

Washington DC series:
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Archives - Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway - Metro

During our trip to DC, we visited very few art galleries simply because we were already exhausted every day, and I didn’t think the kids would appreciate them the way I wanted them to. But the sculpture gardens were a hit. There are several outdoor art exhibits scattered around the mall area and we loved them. The sculpture above is a perspective house, and as you walk by it, the perspective changes so that it looks like the house is spinning. It is absolutely amazing to think a person can make that happen. We experienced a similar thing at Mount Vernon with the jumbo impression of George Washington’s head. No matter where you move, his eyes still watch you.

Both kids wrote a wish on this wishing tree. Yoko Ono is the artist. The wishes are periodically taken down and sent to her. I’m pretty sure Craig’s wish had something to do with candy.

These globes are scattered near the capitol, and it was fun to look at the different environmental themes. Darla is hamming it up next to the “hydropower” globe.

This jumbo vintage eraser was a scavenger hunt item for us. We’d seen it in a travel brochure, and despite having never seen a real one, the kids were insistent we find it. This led us to trek to more sculpture gardens than we may have otherwise visited.

Washington DC series:
View from Washington Monument
Mount Vernon
National Archives - Declaration of Independence
Sculpture Gardens
Arlington Cemetery - Unknown Soldier
Washington DC Subway - Metro