The Art of Visiting Washington DC

Part of my summer's design is planning road trips with my kids.    This year we found ourselves in Washington D.C. 

10 REALIZATIONS AFTER A WHIRLWIND TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C.

1.  Everyone in Washington D.C. thinks they are super important, so expect lots of tinted windows.

2.  The Capitol tour is worth the hassle of emailing your representative. 

• This was a quite a process for me.  First I emailed my representative and got tickets.  Then I changed my travel dates.  Oops -  I was told there were no tickets for my new dates.  So I sulked.  And then moved on.  Out of nowhere I got an email with tickets!  Government in action.

THEN

NOW

3.  It is possible to get star struck by a politician (as opposed to sickened or disillusioned).  

• I walked by John Lewis who was sitting outside the Capitol on a rascal scooter.  I wanted to tell him how my students LOVE his graphic novels about the Civil Rights movements, but I was too shy.  

4.  The  United States Mint's machinery looks like it was last updated in 1972.

• I was surprised to see that money was shrink wrapped into currency bricks.  I would never want to work there. 

See what I mean?

5.  Allow at least a half a day to wander around the National Portrait Gallery. 

• We had a time crunch by the time we got to the Portrait Gallery.  So we jogged through it on a scavenger hunt to find the Obama's official portraits.  NOTE:  Remember all the controversy surrounding Obama's unconventional portrait?  Have people forgotten about Bill Clinton's portrait??!  It was crazy and I felt the spirit of Jerry Garcia shine through it. 

6.  Anyone who thinks war is a good idea should visit the Vietnam War Memorial.

• We visited the War Memorial shortly after Father's Day.  Many people had left letters for their dads at the wall.  The letters and photos were heartbreaking.

Holy cow, Batman!  Look at those cranky kids!

7.  The Batmobile, currently parked in the lobby of the Museum of American History, will lift the spirits of weary, hangry children.

8.  Expect traffic jams due to protests, motorcades of "very important people with tinted windows," and lots of cars.  
Many times walking was faster than calling a Lyft.  

Watching people study here is magical.  How do I get a library card?

9.  The Library of Congress will take your breath away, even if you aren't a reading specialist.  (If you are a reading specialist, you may want to pack your inhaler.

• If you happen to be leaving the Library of Congress during a downpour, here is a helpful hint - The numerous gift stores do not sell rain ponchos and their umbrellas are too boring to spend 15 dollars on.  Just get wet.

10.  The pandas at the National Zoo are totes adorbs AND hilarious.  

• Did you know they eat bamboo for up to 12 hours a day?  That is 28 pounds of bamboo.  

Prairie Eydie