July Adventure, Part Four

Ok last vacation post I promise.  Not much to say, we just headed north to New Jersey and had a wonderful relaxing rest of our vacation.  I didn't really take that many more pictures (I know unlike me but...).

The Jersey Shore was great.  Warm, but not too warm, sunshine, and a great view.  We even saw dolphins, I didn't get my camera out in time , sometimes you miss out on a good shot by just enjoying the moment. 

We spent our last night exhausted in the hotel room watching the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics. 

July Adventure, Part Three

We started our last day in DC at the Library of Congress, main building.  I had read that it was one of the most beautiful buildings in DC.  Which I would totally agree with. 

The main room,

The Staircase,

ceiling,

down corridor hallway,

 All I can say is WOW. 

A quick stop at the National Botanical Gardens 

This looked gorgeous, but was way too hot for some over heated and thirsty tourists

We did do the Art Museum later,

Which was a work of art itself.

One last glimpse of the Smithsonian Castle

And we called it a day with a beautiful sunset.

On our way out of town the next day, we drove  out of our way to go to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center, in Virginia.

 This houses so many more planes and rockets,

 and my favorite

 The actual Discovery Space Shuttle,  the shuttle that flew the most missions. 

July Adventure, Part Two

We were kinda lazy the next day, got a late start and then blindly followed the GPS 35 miles out of our way, but eventually ended up in down town DC, meeting up with Mary, Michael, and Michelle.   Hit a couple of brew pubs there Gordon Biersch, and Capitol Brewing Company.   

We walked around a little (despite the rain) found a Forever 21 for the girls (in a really interesting building)

Saw Ford's Theatre where Lincoln was shot. 

     Not what I was expecting, I might have walked right by it.  Very ordinary looking.  We were too late to do anything inside but I did learn Lincoln died right across the street at a boarding house where a doctor was staying and he told them to take Lincoln there so he could work on him after he had been shot.   

   

   

 Then back to DogFish for dinner.  Here's a group shot thanks to our waitress.

Our next day we started out at the Aquarium.

This one is cool, the fish blends in so well with the coral I had to look twice. 

Then we walked around some,

had some lunch, went to the National Archives to see the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.  

Reminded me of  the movie "National Treasure".  It's not exactly like that, it is very dark in there and the Declaration is very faded, very hard to see. Of course no photographs.    I read somewhere that it had been by a window for several years.   Another cool part of history that is being preserved for years to come.  

On to the Old Post Office.  You can ride an elevator to the top and get a great view of the city from there.  I would never have know about it, if I hadn't bought this

book, "Very Washington DC" by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler.  I bought it mainly because of how it looks, illustrated with water color  drawings/paintings.  But I ended up loving it because of its content.  Little bits of information about DC.   It reminds me of a little scrapbook all  about Washington DC. 

 The View from the top of the Old Post Office observation deck

We then said Goodbye to the Mary, Michael and Michelle.  They headed back to New Jersey, we were going to spend a little more time in Washington, then go stay with them a couple days before heading home. 

The sun came out for a great shot of the Capital Building.

We were all getting tired by this time after a long day of sightseeing, we needed dinner then rest. 

July Adventure, Part One

A few weeks ago we set off on our July Trip, not very prepared, with no real set plan, other than our location.  Life had been very hectic lately, allowing us no real time to plan our trip, we knew the basics, hit Washington DC the Smithsonian, so Amanda could visit the museums, she's really into history, loves going to museums, so we thought what a better place for her.  We had been there when she was six and she didn't remember too much about them.  So off we went.   We even changed our minds at the last minute and decided to fly instead of drive. 

Deciding to fly at the last minute meant rethinking how I packed.   I resisted the idea of only taking a carry on bag when we flew standby to London a couple years ago.  I mean how was I going to fit everything I needed into that little (22 x 14 x 9) carry on!   I was always an over packer, taking anything I might possibly need.  But after taking several trips with just a carry on, I really love it.  You are forced to think about everything you pack taking just what need.  Don't get me wrong all the soaps, shampoos and lotions we need are a BIG challenge, but if we are lucky   there is usually a Target or Walmart close by.   Sometimes you find you should have taken something else, but you get by and survive and still have a great time, which is the most important thing of all. 

We headed to our hotel, The Wyndham Garden Hotel in Gaithersburg, Maryland, near the end of the line for the Metro (DC's subway system).  That is the only way to get around, no traffic (which is horrible there, well at least in this Midwest girl's opinion)

The DC weather was actually calling for some rain  later while we were there,  (Rain, I think that  falls from dark clouds in the sky, I'm not sure its been so long).  The day we arrived had some sunshine so we headed in to walk around and take some pictures, with a little sun at least. 

The Washington Monument (closed at this time due to damage from the recent earth quake)

of course  had to see The White House

The WWII Memorial

Then much to my disappointment the Lincoln Memorial with the "Reflecting Pool"

Construction (notice the orange fences) was every where in DC, good for the area but not good for pictures.    But you make the most of what you've got, right?

On our first full day of vacation we started out at the Air and Space Museum

Everything from air balloons, to air planes, rockets

 and space ships.

Next on to the Natural History Museum,

What an impressive first sight inside the door.

Of course what woman wouldn't want to see this?

 The Hope Diamond (115 carrots) Wow!

On to the American History Museum, my favorite. 

This has objects of more recent "history", objects relating to events  I had either heard about or lived through in my life, you know makes them seem more real to me I guess. 

This isn't it but, I got to see the flag that inspired the "Star Spangled Banner".  They keep it  inside a very dark cool room to preserve it, allowing no photographs.  It is huge.   I never would have imagined it being so big, and like in the drawing above pieces are missing where people wanted souvenirs, how sad is that?

Dorothy's red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz", not as impressive as in the movie, just shoes with sequins. 

The first Apple Computer, this I do remember.  I have always been fascinated by computers.

Of course I had to stop to look at the old camera , really makes me appreciate my little pocket size camera that I was taking all of these pictures with. 

All sorts of other pop culture objects, very fun. 

I LOVED the First Ladies Dresses, so fun to see the styles change through the years, and just the fact that someone decided to preserve their dresses is amazing. 

Everything thing from Mary Lincoln's Dress, and before, to

to Michelle Obama's dress

We were tired when we headed back close to our hotel so Andy could eat (and drink) at Dog Fish Head Alehouse.