Return to D.C. and Then Some

For now, I think I've seen almost everything that I want to see in Washington D.C. - almost, for now. Oh, I'd go back and re-see some things but the few things still on the list can wait. Yes, we visited in 2010 with both our daughters; and then again in 2016 with Kim. However, in between 2016 and the trip last year (May, 2018), DC added two new museums that we really wanted to see - the National Museum of African American History and the Museum of the Bible (both of which have made TripAdvisor's Top 10 DC Museums) and we learned that the FBI Building had a new tour - that was a surprise bonus during my planning. So, back we went - along with 3 days south to Williamsburg and some of its surrounding sites.

The first of the two new museums to see was the National Museum of African American History and Culture. While I enjoyed seeing so many accomplishments by African American, it was somewhat overwhelming because there was so much to see. However, it well worth seeing and I'm glad that we have added this to the list of Smithsonian museums.

Scott with Jesse Owens.

Chuck Berry's Cadillac - of course, I love his taste in colors.

In case you can't read these 1943 words from Langston Hughes from the picture below:

You tell me that hitler

Is a might bad man.

I guess he took lessons

from the ku klux klan...

Cause everthing that hitler

and mussolini do,

Negroes get the same

Treatment from you

I ask you this question

Cause I want to know

How long I got to fight

BOTH HITLER-AND JIM CROW.

Be sure to take in the DC view from the upper floor windows!

The other museum we wanted to visit was the Museum of the Bible. Scott really enjoyed this one (as did my mom, who visited last month). I liked it and was glad I got to go. Scott remarked about how amazing it is to actually be looking at artifacts that Martin Luther had owned. You also get a great history of our Bible. You will see history, artifacts, and biblical culture when you visit. We also did the Washington Revelations virtual tour - dizzying, but I liked it.

In case you can't tell, the signature is Martin Luther.

While there, we visited some of our favorite spots again. Arlington National Cemetery never gets old. This time we paid to take the guided bus tour and it was worth every penny of the price. We saw much more of this 624 acre cemetery than ever before and learned much more about it.

Each grave was getting an American Flag for Memorial Day weekend.

This was the 6th time that I've seen the changing of the guard and it never gets old. Photos and videos come no where near experiencing it. If you are ever in DC, go see this. I consider it the #1 thing to do in our nation's capital.

Headstones go on and on and on... over 400,000

The US Air Force Memorial as seen from Arlington Cemetery. It's relatively new to DC (2006).

Another favorite - the US Marine Corp Memorial. It's located across the Potomac River almost directly from the Lincoln Memorial and whenever I've been there, it's never crowded. Don't miss it!

Across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial.

We parked at Costco everyday to take the subway into DC. There is a walkway to the Pentagon so we went to see the 911 Memorial there. There are tours available of the Pentagon but they have to be requested online 14-90 days ahead of time. I tried 90 days out and several more times to no avail. They fill up fast and groups tend to get them quickly.

In 2016, we were on a bus for a night tour of DC (click for a link) when it caught on fire outside of the WW2 Memorial. End of tour! This time, we had a rental car so I conducted my own night tour. I had been on one when I was a teenager and thought Scott really needed to experience this too. Of course, I love night tours so my motives may not have been purely altruist!

While in NYC in 2017, Scott looked and looked for a place that served Shawarma. We were never at the right place at the right time. This restaurant was right around the corner from our Airbnb so he finally got one.

After 3 days (more DC below - we went back for one last day), we went south, 153 miles and a forever drive (traffic is awful on the East coast), to Williamsburg, VA. On the way, we stopped at Yorktown. I love to read about the Revolutionary War and biographies of the Founding Fathers so this was very exciting to me. 

I tried hard to imagine George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Marquis de Lafayette, and our troops "turning the world upside down"!

Hamilton and Lafayette seized redoubts 9 and 10 (below) and paved the way for the defeat of the British.

Below are pictures of Colonial Williamsburg, founded in 1699. Many of the buildings are from the 18th century. This description from Google Maps is sums it up well:

Williamsburg, a city in the U.S. state of Virginia, was capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780 and played a significant role in the American Revolution. It forms the “Historic Triangle” together with Jamestown and Yorktown. Its heart is Colonial Williamsburg, a historic district and living-history museum where actors in period costume depict daily Colonial life in the streets, stores and workshops.

I enjoyed seeing old instruments at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. It also includes art, era toys and furniture.

Painting by George Gilbert

The USS George H.W. Bush at the naval base in Norfolk, VA. We don't have many pictures from the tour of the naval base since we had to remain on the bus but we did enjoy it.

Another highlight for me... this is from the 23 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. It's not a great picture because there's almost no way to really capture what is happening. You're driving along and it looks like you might crash into a ship when suddenly you descend into a tunnel. This happens twice. It's a bridge, tunnel, bridge, tunnel, bridge! I loved it! Many more "bridge thrills" on this post.

Cape Charles, VA - across the bay from Norfolk.

We returned to DC for one last day before an evening flight back. We were really glad we did because the FBI Experience is fantastic. You have to book several weeks in advance through your congress person. You don't actually go into the work area of the FBI building like you could before 911. It's a more museum like area. While leaving security/gathering area to cross over to the experience, you pass through a large courtyard (no pics allowed) where you see part of the outdoor exercise and training facility. Below are some pics with a reminder to take a picture of where you park in the garage, anywhere you go, especially as you get older!

Outside the building

We got to watch FBI police (that's just for the building itself, FBI agents are not police) shoot at their range. If you get there at the right time, you can watch as agents do their re-certification.

Picture of Quantico - FBI training facility

One of the interactive experiences - I'm looking at a painting, trying to find the hidden camera. Scott is on the other side taking a picture of the video of me not finding it. He eventually talked me to it.

Photo taken as one of the Twin Towers fell on 911.

I didn't know anyone. Better yet, I wasn't on there.

Boat where one of the Boston Marathon terrorist was found.

I'm not a foodie. I don't usually take pictures of my food. Sometimes there are exceptions, like when you have a spicy chicken sandwich on a doughnut. Then you take a picture! It was very good. I had a doughnut for dessert too.

This turned out to be much longer than I intended. If you made it this far - thank you!