We are traveling to Virginia the last week of August for a wedding. We have 2 extra days and we were going to use those to visit the Mall and perhaps go to Monticello. We are waiting to start school until we get home. I figure, start the school year with a kicking &#%*field trip :lol: I would love to make it more then just site seeing. I think it would be fun to have a scavenger hunt at the mall (find the monument, write a fact, something). But would love it if I could find something already done. KWIM? Any ideas, suggestions, sites, etc? I will even take ideas of other things to do that aren't listed above. We only have two days, which is really 1.75 days to do things. Plus we have twin toddlers to tag along so we can't unfortunately do everything.
I don't know where the wedding is exactly, but if its in DC, I'd probably just stay in DC. I really want to take the kids to Monticello too (we passed the exit this summer going to St. Louis but couldn't stop since DH had very limited leave time for our quick trip to see my family). Anyway, its in Charlottesville and that's not right near DC and would suck away your previous 2 days. If you're going to be near Charlottesville for the wedding then that's a different story. We haven't taken our kids into DC yet (we been here 18 months) but I'm hoping to go this fall. I really wanted our DS to be just a bit older since we live here and its just 3+ hours away. No real suggestions. I haven't been in 20 years (except to take DD to an appt at Walter Reed Medical Center and that's outside the downtown).
Have you seen or heard about the Museum of American Frontier Culture? We visited it b4, it's pretty cool. They have people pretending to live their lives in actual homes from Europe and American frontier times. But we didn't get to see the actors. It's in Staunton. The website is frontiermuseum.org
The wedding is in Fairfax and that is where we would be staying. We were planning on taking Metro in for one day and then driving to Charlottesville to see Tommy's place There is a very good chance we could be moving to VA this winter, so perhaps we will save Monticello for a later time. DH really wanted to go to the zoo. Unless it has changed ALOT, I really do not think it is much different then any other zoo we have seen before. I will read up on the Frontier museum. Thanks! Editted to add: Just looked up Staunton and that is about the same distance out. We may save that for later as well. Though it does look really cool!
I hope you have a great time! We are kicking off our new year with a bang too. We are leaving on the 23rd for a Smoky Mountain vacation! We have a home rented in North Carolina and will take the kids rafting and hiking and whatever else suits our fancy. We get back on the 31st and will begin school on the 2nd.
I would spend my time in the Smithsonian.. we could have spent a month in the different buildings! When we were there (3 years ago now) we spent a day in Arlington.. we walked the entire cemetary, my uncle is burried in there.. little did I know that since he is in there I could have driven in until we had gotten parked in the parking lot that charged a fortune! But anyway.. the Changing of the Gaurd is one of those things that you should see at least once in your lifetime!!! Very beautiful! Also Kennedy's grave. The Wall is amazing, the monuments are cool.. the Lincoln is much more entertaining than the Washington (we didnt go in the Washington.. too long of a line). A parking hint.. Union Station is the cheapest in city parking we found, then we walked to The Mall.
I would LOVE to go to that part of the country. You guys are so lucky. What an awesome vacation. Maybe someday. Angie
