Posted on 06/29/2013 3:32:26 PM PDT by usconservative
Taking the family to Washington DC for the Fourth of July. We'll be there starting July 2nd through 5th. Staying 2 blocks from White House. (No, I won't say anything remotely smart-ass/smart-alecky here.)
I want to see the following:
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery. #1 on my list is to pay my respects to those who've made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country.
#2 The National Archives where our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and the 1297 version of the Magna Carta are all stored.
#3 Lincoln Memorial
#4 Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (Family served in that war, they thankfully came home.)
I wouldn’t know. I don’t study Kennedy and his dalliances that much!
There are several sites in DC but I think just 1 where you can go sit in the canal boat.
May be. But if you went to the Marine Barracks at 8th and I, you could be at the first Marine base and see the most amazing and inspiring young Marines and experience one of the most moving displays of patriotism in the District. And you could sit down too. LOL
I’m particularly fond of Gunston Hall (George Mason’s house). It’s about 12 miles from Mt Vernon by road.
Hola cause museum for sure!”
Ottbmare mentioned the Capitol Fourth concert at the West Front of the Capitol the evening of the Fourth of July.
They usually do a dress rehearsal the night before which will likely be open to the public. That may be an option.
Seconding PUGACHEV’s and Albion Wilde’s recommendation for the National Portrait Gallery. It put faces to names. Painters have idealized portraits since time began, but there were a surprising number that portrayed people in all their fallible humanity, warts and all.
The Hope Diamond is a rock. A shiny rock, but still a rock in the middle of a claustrophobia-inducing crowd of people.
Definitely bug-off spray for the fireworks on the Mall - the one and only time I went I got eaten alive.
A definite yes to the Korean War Memorial on the mall.
The other best memorial is the one for FDR (on the road to the Arlington cemetery). See it for the beautiful use of stone, waterfalls, and sculpture. Very different than any of the other memorials.
The last time I visited D.C. with my family was in 1998. So many wonderful historical things to see. At that time, it still felt like there was an America.
I don’t mean to change the tenor of this thread, but this 4th of July, I just can’t shake the feeling that it is a memorial-funeral service for a country that was once the greatest in the history of the world, rather than a celebration of an existing great nation.
The words of our Declaration, the Preamble to the Constitution, the great speeches of our leaders from the past, the words to our patriotic songs sound empty and hallow. Not that the words are not true or meaningful, just that they once WERE true about America, but about an America that exists no more.
I find myself watching a lot of classic films because they remind me of a time when America was still America, but it also depresses me because I realize all of that is just a distant memory.
I love America as founded, I just don’t have the heart to celebrate this 4th of July as it just doesn’t seem true anymore.
Wife also suggested Newseum, I decided we'd pass on that.
I didn't realize there's so much to see in D.C. I mean, I knew there was alot but not this much!
Do you think I can stuff secret, confidential papers down my pants and walk out like Sandy Burglar?
I LIKE THAT A LOT. Thank you!
Just have to figure out the right time to drop that line into a Political conversation with someone from the dark side.
Good question. He was a highly trained operative. Are you?
The Spy Museum is definitely cool, but it’s not free. It’s $15.00 for kids, $20.00 for adults. We spent about 5 hours and could have stayed a couple more. It’s open 9-6.
You only have a couple of days. You’re staying at a really well situated hotel. Don’t even THINK about taking the car out unless you try to squeeze in a trip to Mt Vernon (say on your last day on your way outta town). You might even consider parking in an outer DC ‘burb and taking Metro in. The hotel is 1.5 blocks from a Metro stop.
From your hotel you can walk to the Mall that contains pretty much anything you’d want to see in one short trip. You can even walk across Memorial Bridge to Arlington Cemetery. (that’s not a bad vantage point to watch the fireworks, tho you then wouldn’t see the concert at the Capitol). I’m assuming you all are pretty serious walkers. The last thing you’d want to do is drive, and catching a cab would be virtually impossible.
If it were me, I’d take a section of the Mall area each day. Maybe start at the West end of the Mall (more properly, West Potomac Park) and work your way East to the Capitol over the four days.
Go to Arlington, cross back to the District, take in the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean and WWII Memorials. If you can, arrange a State Dept tour. It’s on the other side of Constitution Ave from the Lincoln. Sit on Albert Einstein’s lap at the statue on Constitution Ave @ the Natl Academy of Sciences (ON Constitution between Lincoln and State). That’s plenty for one day.
Then take the next section which by 7/3 would include the Folklife Festival; The Washington Monument is closed, but the Museum of Am History and Natural History are along in there. Depending on the progress you make you could continue to the National Archives, National Gallery of Art, and X the Mall the Air and Space Museum and American Indian Museum.
It’s an awful lot to see in a really short period of time. Think of it as a tasting, and plan a longer stay in the future.
Enjoy all the great Freeper suggestions, but don’t forget to follow Nancy Pelosi’s advice to celebrate the passage of Obamacare on the fourth of July!
Life, Liberty and Happiness! Nancy isn’t too worried about the Pursuit, that takes too much work when you’re an Artist or a Photographer.
Also, I haven’t seen the Marines’ Evening Parade but my son has, and he thought it was fabulous. He is a teenager like your boys.
Did you know there’s a Wolfgang Puck restaurant at the Newseum?
Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking miles upon miles.
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