The Mall in Washington, DC

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We dawdled this morning before heading to DC to see the Mall and the memorials. We checked early (around 9:30) and there was still parking available at Vienna/Fairfax Metrorail Station, but by the time we got there (after 11:00) all lots were full. So we headed on in to West Falls Church Station and managed to get the last parking spot in the parking garage. That's a lot of cars; Fairfax has 5,169 spaces and West Falls Church has over 2,000. Tomorrow we should head out earlier. So anyway, we got to the station and a very nice lady showed us how to get tickets from the machine and how to get a Smartrip card, which you have to have to get out of the parking lot. We got on the Orange Line train and off at the Smithsonian no problem. We walked down to the Washington Monument and while Kerry checked on tickets to go up (none available for today) I went into the info center and got a bucketload of stamps in my passport.

We walked up to the Washington Monument anyway and got nice pictures of the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. We then went to the World War II Memorial, very moving, then through Constitution Gardens, past the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. All those names of all those young Americans lost, it was a very emotional experience, especially since it was our generation.

At the Lincoln Memorial I was pooped out, so Kerry and Ethan went up to the statue of Lincoln while I cooled off by the Reflecting Pool. Before we could get to the Korean Veterans Memorial, it started raining. We just sat under the trees on a bench until it quit, getting cooled off and rested before resuming our visit. We didn't go to the Jefferson Memorial, but could see it from the West Potomac Park. We walked past the DC War Memorial, the John Paul Jones Memorial and the Washington Monument again on our way to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, which was fascinating.

Exhausted, we got back on Metrorail and headed back to Falls Church and our car. The train was crowded, but everyone was polite, and it was a good ride. Once we got our car, however, we had a heck of a time finding our way back onto I-66, but finally managed to get back to Deanna's. A really great day.

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Photos

Washington Monument
Washington, DC

World War II Memorial
Washington, DC

Comments

[Barbara]

You had one busy day on Tuesday. Are you heading back to DC today???? There is so much to see.

[Pat]

OMG
How wonderful you getting to see Washington, DC - the last time (the only time) was just after Watergate, Bob and I went - din't get to the Smithsonian and have always wanted to.. Maybe another trip with the Turner man is in my future? Have a great time and keep sending pictures! Love you lots!