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.)
Ummm, have I done something to offend you or something? Chandra Levy, Vince Foster thought it was nice too and look what happened to them!
It’s either near the Vietnam Wall or the WWII Memorial.I can’t recall which.”Haunting” doesn’t even begin to describe it.
I strongly advise calling your hotel, and asking to speak to the concierge. Mention to him when you plan on being in the area, and the sites you’d like to see, and ask him for advice as to which days of your stay to go visit what. Many years ago when I was there helping with fireworks, most of the mall area was closed down on July 3rd, and you seriously had to plan if you wanted to visit museums on opposite sides of the mall.
If you are driving, make sure you pay attention to local commuter websites, and absolutely note down where traffic cameras are placed. You might actually have the best luck going to Arlington in the morning of the 4th, and should expect little access to the Mall area, but of course the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Memorial are open at most times.
Plan on getting to the Air and Space museum early, and spend quite a bit of time there. They’ll probably love it.
Wife wants to do the Bureau of Engraving and Printing .... she hears they’re pretty busy making money over there.....
Too bad you won’t be seeing politicians adorning lamp posts.
0 a.m.–11 a.m.
Declaration of Independence Reading Ceremony
Presentation of colors by the Continental Color Guard*
Performance by the Fife and Drum Corps*
Remarks by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero
Dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence by special guests including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Ned Hector (portrayed by historical reenactors)
*Continental Color Guard and Fife and Drum Corps provided by U.S. 3rd Infantry, the Old Guard
You will have a great time. We went in 2008, while the R’s were still in the White House, and spent and entire week, we were on the go from at least 8 to 8 every day. We did everything but the White House tour. At that time only groups of 10 or 12 plus were allowed. 4th was our only rainy day but we toughed it out anyway. Was amazing all the police presence for the parade, on every vehicle and horse and foot and type of transport imaginable.
**SNORT!!**
I'd choose which ever museum(s) you decide to visit, allocating yourself the better part of a day for each one.
Yes we saw this, hard to catch it and still get a good spot for the parade. Timing is tough but you can do it.
The Korean War Memorial is on the Mall, not far from the Lincoln Memorial.
I second the motion to visit Mt. Vernon if at all possible, it is a wonderful place.
You need to get tickets, free, to B of Engraving & Printing, Washington Monument (if they are back in operation after earthquake) and the Holocaust Museum. They run out of tickets fairly early for all three, get them early and then do something else until your allotted time.
Excellent advice! I'm assuming the hotel concierge will also be able to tell us about DC's mass transit systems and how to get around on them?
If you are driving, make sure you pay attention to local commuter websites, and absolutely note down where traffic cameras are placed. You might actually have the best luck going to Arlington in the morning of the 4th, and should expect little access to the Mall area, but of course the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Memorial are open at most times.
Yep, we're driving in, good advice on the commuter websites (will google those to find them.)
I think you also mentioned that the Mall is pretty much shut down on the 3rd, does anyone reading this thread know if that's still the case? If so, that puts a big dent in our tourism plans...
The Spy Museum and the NRA Museum — free.
I’ve never been to the Spy museum but my grandkids loved it.
I’m not a huge gun fan, but I loved the NRA museum. My husband and I stayed all day. The exhibits are interesting and beautifully done. I believe it is in Arlington, just outside DC.
Also, don’t miss Mt. Vernon. I understand that it has been refurbished since I was there about 10 years ago. Any of your kids who have been subjected to the public school brainwashing meme that “George Washington was ill-educated and couldn’t spell...” will be blown away by seeing all that he and Martha had to manage to keep that farm running & profitable.
If you are interested in period furniture, you should see the DAR Headquarters/Museum. It’s free too, as I remember. There are multiple rooms that have been donated by State chapters and furnished in historic style that replicates some important point in their history.
Valuable info. Wife's making a note to call the hotel concierge tomorrow to get tickets. TYVM!
Ok, have the Spy museum on the map we have. Oldest son who wants to go into law enforcement wants to see that ... (don't know if we'll have time.) Where's the NRA museum? Don't see that on our map. Our oldest son (17) would love to see that.
Hopefully, you won’t see that Armed Million Man March that a certain Second Amendment activist has been calling for in D.C. on July 4. I certainly hope they called off that spectacle. It wouldn’t help our cause in the least.
The buildings around the mall are open, and major cross streets are open, but I do not know if the lawns themselves are open for pedestrian access from the 3rd - 4th outside of scheduled events. It just takes a little bit of planning or walking to handle it, and the hotel should be able to tell you the local conditions.
That sounds wonderful. Good for you for being a good parent. I live in Massachusetts, and we will be staying home.
Oops, you told me in your post where the NRA museum is, TYVM!
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