D. C. Trip - Day 4

Thursday morning we decided against the hotel breakfast that the kids would refuse to eat and just checked out. By the light of day, we realized that Lynchburg, VA looked like it would be a fun place to explore. Our hotel was actually located right at the end of their Historical Downtown Area where there were many fun looking shops, including what looked to be an old car museum. We actually found an indoor farmers market and decided we would stop there for breakfast. I was a little disappointed that the bakery was not open yet, but there were a couple of diners that were open for breakfast. The best part was when we asked what was on the breakfast menu and were asked in return, "What do you want for breakfast?" So we all had our breakfast made to order. The kids and I walked around the booths while we waited for breakfast to be ready. It was fun and relaxing. My 9 year old daughter even stopped to talk to a doll clothes seamstress and was given a sewing demonstration.
We left Lynchburg after breakfast and headed to Charlottesville, VA, home of the University of Virgina and it's founder, Thomas Jefferson. I remember visiting Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Home, with my family when I was in High School. It was impressive to me then, but coming back when I have a longer attention span and a greater understanding of modern conveniences made Jefferson's Home even more awe inspiring. Everything about the house and grounds fascinates me. All things had a purpose and a place whether it was in his home or on the grounds. The vegetable gardens and vineyards were planted meticulously for consumption as well as educational purposes. The gardens are maintained the same way that Jefferson and his household would have maintained them. The house has many little details that Jefferson put into it that reflect his personality and love of learning; the clock/calendar in the entry, Jefferson’s study with all of his books, the polygraph, the alcove beds built in between the rooms, the dinning area with the dumbwaiters for food and wine, the parlor's conversation pieces all the way down to and including the floor, the cellars, the breeze way built under the house that connects the privy and other essential rooms to the main house, the cold storage, bath/laundry house, etc. The home is under constant renovations in order to restore everything back to its original state down to the paint color.
On a more personal note, the most exciting part of our visit was when our 2 year old decided that she needed candy right in the middle of the house tour. She had seen me put the bag in my pocket and decided she didn't want to wait until the end of the tour to eat. Skittles went skedaddling across the floor and of course under the large armoire. Thank goodness for agile kids and kind Samaritans willing to dig Skittles out of small cracks and crevices before we got too many dirty looks from the tour guide. The Monticello workers were glad to see the back of us considering the Skittle Skedaddle, Ben insisting on carrying Sarah on his shoulders despite constant "warnings" from the staff, and my son wanting to tell a personal story every time they asked for questions.
The house and grounds are much the same as they were when I was younger, but there is now a separate visitor’s center with a café for a quick lunch or snack, a much larger gift shop for spending money, a larger parking lot for the parking of cars, and a very inspired Discovery Room. The kids got a chance to explore what life would have been like in Jeffersonian times. They even have a website so everyone can play along at home.
What the toddler enjoyed: the open spaces, being able to run around a little in the under area of the house, the discovery area, the service bell under the house and of course the Skittles.

Our D.C. processional...

We will be staying in Rockville, MD for our 6 days in D.C. We chose to stay outside of D.C. proper to save a little on the hotel stay. My sister-in-law, who lived in the D.C. area for a summer, suggested we do this and use the Metro to access National Mall. Our family of 4 can get 7 day unlimited Metro passes for $188 and have full access to Washington D.C. for our entire stay.
During our time in Maryland, we planned to spend most of our days in Washington D.C. with a side trip on Sunday to visit friends in Virginia. Our first thoughts were to spend our 5 allotted days all at National Mall. This is definitely doable considering the number of museums and memorials that are located there. The fact that admissions to most places are free also made that option very attractive. But once we realized the possibilities that the Metro pass offered, we looked for other options.
We debated visiting Arlington National Cemetery. It is such an impressive sight, very awe inspiring. It would also be a chance to really give our kids an idea of how many men and women have died in service to our county, our rights, and our freedoms. A friend suggested that it is much more impressionable if you find a person from your own family history that is buried there. Arlington National Cemetery is just a short distance from National Mall and has a Metro station nearby.
We talked about going to The Pentagon. Friends told us that the 9/11 Memorial is something to see. Part of the memorial can be view from the outside, but there is another part that can only be seen when touring the inside of The Pentagon. By the time we were thinking of doing the tour, all of the reservations for the entire time we were in D.C. were gone. If you plan on doing this tour, try to make your reservations as soon as you can.
We did decide that we needed to visit the National Zoo. We believe it will be a fun break for the kids to see living things for a day. The National Zoo is run by the Smithsonian Institute, so like most of their facilities, admission is free. If you are choosing to dive your own car, there is a parking fee. If you are using the Metro, there is a station located just outside the entrance.
We also decided that we wanted to see all or most of the memorials located at National Mall. When I mentioned this to a friend, she suggested that we see some of them at night. Most of the memorials have 24/7 access. However, Rangers are only on duty from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. for questions and if your kids are like mine, they like to ask people questions. Another important tidbit is that if you plan to go to the top of the Washington Monument you must have tickets. Admission is free, but you must have a ticket in order to reserve your time. Tickets can be obtained online for a small processing fee. Order these as soon as you know you are going to reserve your spot or they might sell out.

Proceeding on...

To drive straight to Charlotteville, VA, after a day touring in North Carolina, would leave no time that night to actually visit Monticello. We tossed around the idea of staying another night in Winston-Salem, NC, but that might make our drive the next morning a little lengthy. So, a decision was reached to find a mid point for the night. A stay in Lynchburg, VA would give us a shorter drive that night. A little drive the next morning would give the kids a chance to really wake up before the explorations began. When we were finished in Charlotteville, our extended stay hotel in Maryland would be a little over 2 hours away.