[Travel] Taking A Family Vacation In Washington, D.C.

This picture kind of sums up our summer vacation to Washington, D.C. My son, being a goofball, bouncing off the walls and tables and everything else around him.

It was crazy, in a good way. My kids are 6 and 5 and I was worried how they’d do with the six-hour car ride. We took a trip to see their Gigi (my grandma) a year and a half ago, which was also six-hours and I thought I was going to lose my mind. The whole “Are we there yet?” thing is real! Why didn’t anyone tell me? (I ended up telling them that every time they asked if we were there yet, it made the car go slower. LOL)

But this time? They were amazing. They both stayed awake the whole time. And I was the grouchy one wondering when we’d get there! I brought our Samsung Galaxy Tab and, using the mobile hotspot feature (my favorite on the device), was able to use it to watch movies on our iPad, which has no data plan. It made a long car ride much more bearable. When we got to the hotel, we were excited to see that we picked a great Residence Inn in Pentagon City. It was a great rate (something like $89 a night) and overlooked the Pentagon. It was one block away from the Metro and gave my kids their first taste of what it would be like to live in an urban area. They are suburban babies through and through. Our goal was to see and do as much free stuff as possible. That led us to the Smithsonian museums. Considering their age, my husband and I thought the kids would be happiest at Air & Space and the Natural History museum. They had a great time and enjoyed being able to see all the aircraft and dinosaur bones. It reminded me that they are growing so quickly, because they could actually read the signs and were almost guiding themselves through the museum.

We look like a bunch of kids. Why am I so short? LOL

Then we had the bright idea to see the monuments. Now, I might be out of shape or maybe it was just the backpack full of snacks or maybe it was the 90 degree heat, but I was dying! Lawd, I wanted nothing more than to sit on a beach with a tropical drink, instead of making the slow, long march to the Lincoln Memorial.

Tired and sweaty, we made it

At the Jefferson Memorial

My kids didn’t quite understand “all these statues” but it was good to expose them to a bit of American history. I always feel patriotic when I visit D.C., but being there right before the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington made me feel like I don’t do enough to appreciate the sacrifices of those who have come before me. I made a promise to continue teaching my children at home, not solely relying on their teachers to fill them with what they need to know.

But really, this trip showed me how much I enjoy it when I turn off the laptop and go immerse myself in family life. I love traveling with my kids and hope to do more of it soon!

At the Jefferson Memorial