First Family Vacation - DC Trip!

We took our first official family vacation to Washington, DC a couple months ago and it was amazing! We were visiting friends who live in Virginia and were only a metro stop away from DC, so for one full week we got to see all the sights and take in the culture. This has been a trip we've been wanting to go on for awhile and it's been such a blessing.

On our way to the airport!

Getting some energy out before boarding.

Finally boarded the plane and waiting to take off. Thanks to extra advantage miles we got to upgrade to first class so there was plenty of leg room for Stella to roam around. This picture cracks me up because it looks like she's enjoying a cocktail...it was actually water.

She FINALLY fell asleep on daddy. A 3 1/2 hour flight feels like eternity with a wide awake toddler.

First stop on our trip? Fredericksburg, VA. Such a cute and quaint little town with so much history. Here we stopped at the James Monroe museum and memorial library.

Next stop, George Washington's mothers house.

 

The backyard was beautiful.

  

 This is how she spent most of the day. Something about being outside all day and in the fresh air put her right out.

  

The Rising Sun Tavern, Washington's younger brother's home.

 

The next day we went to Baltimore, MD so we could visit the aquarium and have fresh crab cakes.

 

There were a couple ship tours that Clint and Collin went on. The friends we were vising, Matt, Becky and Collin, were able to come with us to a bunch of these places and play tour guides for us. :)

Of course we had to eat lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.

 

Love all the water.

 

After lunch we went to the aquarium, this is how Stella spent most of that visit...wallowing on the floor.

 

Yes, that is a leash backpack she's wearing. I have no shame in it. This girl is faster than a cheetah on crack and if this is how I can ensure her safety and not wonder off then by golly I'm going to do it!

 

The weather was so nice.

  

On the metro heading to DC! Stella did surprisingly well on the train.

 

First stop, Arlington National Cemetery. This was one of my favorites. 

The grave site inscription before getting to President John F. Kennedy's eternal flame.

 

The eternal flame over the grave of President John F. Kennedy.

  

Miles and miles of head stones.

  

 Arlington House, Robert E. Lee memorial.

  

We actually got to see the changing of the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was amazing to watch. The dedication these men have to their country and fellow man is awe inspiring.

  

The back of the tomb.

 

After leaving the Arlington National Cemetery, we went to the Lincoln Memorial. I LOVED all of the monuments and memorials.

 

The Washington monument!

 

Proud to be an American.

 

On our way to lunch walking through Washington College we came upon the fraternity and sorority houses and I found the A-Phi dorm. Couldn't help but take a pic, AOE!

 

After lunch, we saw the WWII memorial. It was unreal. That's pretty much how I would sum up our entire trip...unreal.

 

All smiles on our way to dinner. And why wouldn't she be? She slept through most of the day, but hey I'll take it a sleeping baby is a happy baby.

Had dinner in Alexandria, this was another very cute and quaint town.

 

We devoted about two days to seeing all the monuments and memorials. Here we are inside the Jefferson memorial.

The next day we visited the Air and Space museum and the Holocaust museum. The Holocaust museum was both sad and powerful. It was 3 floors dedicated to the beginning, middle and end of the Nazi era. I highly recommend it for everyone to see. There's so much detail and information that I had no idea about and for the people who endured it...I can't even image.

 

After that, we went to the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing! Got to see how all the c-notes are made.

 

That's Collin in front of the new 100 dollar bill. We got to see it before it was released to the public, and we got to meet the US Treasurer. She spoke to us before the tour started which was pretty cool.

 

And the Capitol. 

The last couple days we took the Double Decker bus tours to see the rest of the sites. This is totally the way to go. You get to ride the buses all day (depending on which tickets you buy) and it drops you off and picks you up at specific spots all around DC. Plus, we sat up on top of the bus and had amazing views of the city. After the third day of walking this mama was done. I don't think I have walked that much in my entire life.

I can't say it enough, this trip was such a great trip. Worth every penny. Can't wait to go back when Stella gets older. It was perfect timing too, not only was it our first official family trip but we took it the week before I started my new job at McAfee. I got to relax, take it all in and really enjoy my family before starting a new beginning and new chapter in my life. I felt refreshed and revitalized.