Washington DC

With Husband on vacation this week, we decided to take a quick trip to Washington DC.  I think this trip went fairly well because we were very realistic about what we could/ couldn't get done.  With just 2 1/2 days there, we planned to do one museum each day.  It actually worked out well, but we did have some very tired little tourists at the end of each day.

We left on Friday afternoon, and drove the 5 hours to DC.  Our hotel was in Virginia, so we did have to weave our way through Beltway traffic.  It was an exercise in terror!  I haven't been in traffic like that since leaving California.  DC drivers, you are very angry!

We took the Metro from VA into DC, and it was easy and relatively cheap.  Weekend parking at the station was free, but Metro tickets were $18 round trip (ages 4 and under are free).  While this is not inexpensive, because the museums are all free, it was a fair trade.  It was nice to be dropped off right on The Mall.   

TIP: We stayed in Fairfax, at a hotel that was really close to tons of restaurants and shops (yes, I made a Target stop!).  It was about 1/3 the price of staying closer to DC, and only about 5 miles from the Metro station.   

The Washington Monument is closed due to damage from last summer's earthquake.  

It was still cool to see it from a distance. 

Our first stop: 

Most surprising observation: the number of foreign tourists!  We expected everything to be busy, but not to be packed with European, South American, and Asian tourists.  America, you need to explore your nation's capitol!

TIP: Get to the museums when they open at 10am.  That way you'll be done around 2pm, and can walk right by the huge lines of people waiting to get in.  Also, no food or drink is allowed except for bottled water. 

The Spirit of St. Louis

After the A & S museum, we walked down The Mall to The Capitol Building.

We <3 America!

The next day we stopped by the White House, and then went to The Museum of Natural History.

Bones, bones, bones!

Monday was our last day, and we had to finish by about 2pm to drive home.  So we headed NW to the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles airport (part of the Air and Space Museum).  It was AMAZING.  1/3 the number of tourists, and the hangar setting really enhances the atmosphere of the planes on display. 

TIP: GO THERE.  $15 for parking (per car), but free entrance to the museum.

(SR-71 Blackbird)

(notice the name on the plane??)

AND - they have the Space Shuttle Discovery on display.  It was so, so cool to see this up close.  

We can't wait to go back to DC and see even more next time!

Weekend Getaway

I am a homebody, so when proposals arise to go exploring or check out a new city, I am usually reluctant to participate.

This is mostly because travelling with young children is challenging at best (and mind-numbing at worst).

I admit it, we are the world's most AWFUL hotel guests.  We are loud.  There will be crying at some point (usually in the middle of the night).  No one gets to nap.  There are never enough towels.  And someone is always complaining about the food.   But, once we commit to it, we COMMIT.

So, in the spirit of adventure, we took a drive to see our new hometown.

Finally!  A Chick-fil-A within driving distance!

Yes. They enjoyed the Cable TV. 

Near our new hometown is the Fenton Art Glass factory.  

My Grandmother was a collector of Fenton Art Glass, and gave us a beautiful pitcher for our wedding.  I don't recommend you visit with children under the age of 4.  Trust me.  

Of course I had to pick up a turtle to add to my collection.  

After a day exploring our new hometown (First impressions: small, well-kept, Willamette Valley-esque, damp, stay on the Ohio side), we headed up to Columbus to have a little fun & meet up with family.  

Despite the chilly temperatures (but still warmer than Michigan!) we headed to the Columbus Zoo.  

The gorillas were nice & toasty inside.  

The aquarium was open & the tidepool was doing a brisk business.  

The tigers were VERY eager to let us know they saw us.  

On our way out of town, we HAD to stop at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.  It did NOT disappoint.  

Most of the offerings were a bit exotic for the kids, yet they still managed to gobble down their chocolate/ vanilla scoops with sprinkles.  I had Salty Caramel, Brambleberry Crisp, and Wildberry Lavender.  I'm glad that it will be hours to drive to Jeni's, as I might otherwise be there every day until I sampled every item on the menu.  I think a birthday pilgrimage may be in order.... after all, what goes better with a summer birthday than ice cream??  

I Want to Go to There

We are officially at the 30 day mark. 30 days until the moving truck comes and we pack up our earthly belongings, bound for Michigan and another fresh start.

Iowa has been on my mind this past week. I've so enjoyed my experience here. This two years' time has flown by on the wings of prairie winds and winter snowflakes. I am so glad that I was able to get out and explore a few small parts of this great state. I love Pella and the Tulip Festival, delighted in exploring downtown Des Moines, and enjoyed my treks across vast tracts of farmland while on my way to and from Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

Although there is still much I would like to see in Iowa, one attraction has recently captivated me to the exclusion of all else.

Mason City. I know, I had no idea where this place was, or what was so special about it until I caught a snippet of a show about Frank Lloyd Wright. For a number of years I've had a superficial interest in Wright's work. I admire his aesthetic and appreciate his attention to detail in both his external designs and internal fixtures. When he designed a house, he didn't just craft the exterior, but made it a cohesive whole by also creating the furniture, carpets, windows, doors, decorative elements, etc., etc. Amazing. While living in Arizona, I was privileged to tour Taliesin West several times and I graduated from Arizona State at the Wright-designed Gammage Auditorium. I have always wanted to see some of his other buildings, but time and schedule have yet to allow this - until now.

You see, Mason City happens to hold the largest amount of Prairie School architecture outside of Oak Park Illinois. The Park Inn Hotel is the only remaining hotel designed by FLW. The Stockman House has been fully restored and is open to the public.

I feel a roadtrip coming on. After last week's marathon drive, 2 hours in the car (one way) is the last thing I look forward to. But I think I'll make an exception for Frank.

PS - I am not (completely) insane. The title of this post is from last night's repeat episode of 30 Rock.