In the middle of watching this movie … we had a brilliant idea … let’s plan a trip to Washington D.C.! The kids would love the museums, it’d be educational, etc., etc. Seemed like a good idea at the time. But as it got closer, I thought, “Really? D.C.?”
Turns out we had a great time! The best was the baby thinking we were going to see “night at the museum” … not the movie … but actual events of the movie playing out at the museum. Pretty cute {if I do say so myself!}.
As we reminisced about our memorable D.C. trip, we couldn’t help but entertain the idea of our next family excursion. Hawaii emerged as a tempting destination, with its breathtaking landscapes and endless opportunities for exploration. Imagining ourselves cruising along scenic routes on rented scooters added an extra layer of excitement to our plans. With the smooth hum of dc motors for scooters propelling us forward, we could already envision the thrill of discovering hidden gems across the islands. The anticipation of tasting fresh island cuisine and feeling the warmth of the tropical sun only fueled our eagerness to turn this dream into reality.
So are you ready for a whole lotta photos? I decided to give my SLR a break and brought along my point & shoot instead. I’m so glad I did. It was good for me, for my eyes, and truly let me just enjoy the experience with my family! Can I also just say … I find it humorous {and have noted the same with other photographers}, that we feel the need to mention when we aren’t taking “professional” photographs. i.e., with a point & shoot or our phones. Just sayin’ …
Okay, first … CJ totally spoiled all of us! He sent me my favorite … freesia! And the girls all got a small bouquet of flowers, along with some candy, a stuffed animal and snacks … Taylor’s basket was complete with a tiger beat mag!
And the hotel left the girls a cute gift snack … love Winter’s spelling and of course Pipper! ;)
Our next day in DC, we headed to the “night at the museum” … the infamous {at least in our family} Smithsonian!
Miss teenager brought a friend along, and they were coolio as ever in their 3D glasses for a viewing of The Wild Ocean, or something to that affect.
The next day we visited the Air & Space Museum … HUGE! The kids really loved it … and the teenagers got glimpses here and there when they looked up from their phones long enough for a peek!
And what visit to DC would be complete without a visit to the house of our President?
Taylor took a class trip to DC last May … not too impressed. But what she did remember and was hoping she could show us, was a man who kept a 24 hour watch outside the White House. This is so super sad, but I can’t remember what his cause was. I feel horrible about that … sorry!
But anyway. He was there. And the girls were fascinated by him. And we donated something to his cause.
My girls in the park across from the White House.
Sunday morning, we decided to start our day with a walk to the local fish market! OH! how the girls loved it. Can’t speak for the teenagers … they found a bench close by, but far enough away from the smell.
After the fish market, we headed for the Jefferson Memorial.
Of course, across from that, is the Washington Monument and we couldn’t help but add a little Wisconsin “cheese” to our visit! ;)
side note: as you may be able to tell, this is the first time we’ve done these poses and obviously weren’t quite sure how to “play” right!
And here’s our crazy gang!
Look ma! I really was on vacation! ;)
Okay, and this sort of cracks me up! This is the epitome of my family. Here we are without a care in the world, all lounged out in front of the Jefferson Memorial … with every stuffed treasure we own! {well, not really … but still!}
And yes, the hubs wears high, dark socks. Even with shorts. Don’t judge.
And then … I was super excited when I saw this booth on our way to the Vietnam Memorial. They were selling all kinds of military badges and buttons. We picked up quite a few in honor of our servicemen … most importantly, of course, our very own Brett.
The girls seemed more interested in our visit than I thought they would … it was neat to see …
The Veterans Memorial was such a humbling experience. To see all these names of men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. Absolutely amazing … humbling. I am grateful.
And last of the photos. Albert. Albert and my girls.
And if you’re still with me … I’d like to share a little bit of our traveling-with-kids secrets … quite honestly, don’t make it a marathon. I mean, I know traveling can cost a small fortune … but is it really worth it if everyone is miserable?
Here’s what I mean {and I’m not judging, if it works for you fine … but I’ve seen plenty of experiences where it clearly isn’t working, so I’m merely suggesting and alternative thought} … and not to suggest our kids don’t get cranky and irritable … oh my word, they sure can … but here’s what we do to keep it to a minimum.
Okay, like I said, don’t make it a marathon. Figure out what your most important points of interest are, and make sure you keep those your priorities. You really don’t have to see every single point of interest do you? Depending on the ages of your children, they aren’t going to care … or remember. And hey, even miss teenager was happy when we got back to the hotel at the end of the day!
I’d much prefer the kids remember a few points of interest and what a great time we had … then trudging them through the full city and arguing and being cranky.
I also think keeping time at restaurants to a minimum is key. Bring along some cereal or breakfast bars so you’re not doing 3 meals a day in restaurants. If your kids are anything like ours … that sort of puts them over the edge.
So what does our schedule typically look like? We get up on our own schedules {which is relatively early, if you’re not a teenager that is} and head out around 9:30-10:00 in the morning. Spend a couple of hours sight-seeing. Then have lunch.
After lunch, we’ll spend a few more hours, then head back to the hotel for a couple of hours to relax or unwind. If the hotel has a pool, we’ll go swimming … otherwise, let the girls watch a movie.
Then we’ll usually head to dinner … depending on where we are, we might see another sight … and then head back to the hotel to get everyone rested for the next day.
I know I can be a major taskmaster … but even on vacation, I try not to stray from bedtime or our routines. I think being lenient on bedtimes can set you up for failure … again, who wants unrested, cranky kids on vacation?
Anyway … not sure why, but felt the need to share.
I know we travel a lot, so our kids are pretty easy-going and adaptable. But for some reason, I think especially given all the museum touring … this last trip really had me thinking about what great travelers our kids were and wondering why. The above was my conclusion and I thought I should share it with y’all! ;)
Here’s to your next adventure!
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