Day 7 in D.C.: National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History

I had heard on (national) news that the Reflecting Pool contraction was complete and it was refilled, so since we had some time, we decided to go there first on Day 7, a Friday. We walked over to the Lincoln Memorial and saw that it was only partially filled. It's a very big pool, so it definitely hadn't been filled in 24 hours.\

Partially filled, not yet green with algae :-)

We walked to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, which was a little over a mile from the Lincoln Memorial, but it was on wide sidewalks with shade. It had definitely warmed up from the previous weekend though so we were glad for the A/C in the museum! Like all of the museums we visited this trip, it was free to get in, and this one, we didn't need a time-stamped entry. We just walked through security and we were in! Felicity was most looking forward to this museum.

Entrance to the Star Spangled Banner

Our first stop was to see the Star-Spangled Banner, the actual flag flown during the battle that inspire Francis Scott Key to write the poem that would become our national anthem.

Maya Angelou's typewriter

We loved the exhibit with the First Ladies' outfits--this was Felicity's highlight of the trip. 

Hillary Clinton's inauguration dress

Michelle Obama's outfit

There was a big pop culture exhibit, which was very fun.

R2-D2

Outfit from the Hamilton musical

Prince

Dorothy's slippers from the Wizard of Oz movie

Elmo! Oscar the Grouch!

Selena

Kristi Yamaguchi's ice skates

The kids enjoyed a Virtual Reality trip under the sea!

Lego Statue of Liberty

We ate lunch in the cafeteria--I had a maple bourbon chicken thigh, and it was REALLY good! After lunch, we looked around at the gift shop and decided to head  back to go swimming. We definitely didn't see everything at the American History Museum, but the kids were fading--we got to see MANY sites and museums on this trip, and we were tired. I think if/when we come back, we will go to this museum first, while we're fresh!

The kids and Zach and I had a blast swimming with our friends! It had finally warmed up to go to the pool!

Brady ready to swim!

For our last evening in Washington D.C., we decided to go to Old Town Alexandria to eat seafood with the Pattersons. We ended up at Fish Market Restaurant and sat on the patio. The food, drinks and atmosphere were delightful. Old Alexandria is such a cute area!

Kentucky mule

Trying calamari. He ate half an order of crab legs!

I love good oysters

First time to try oysters. She didn't like it, but I am proud of her for trying.

I can't even express how delicious this seafood pasta dish was. Fun fact: Seafood pasta is my favorite food in the entire world.

Felicity and Wilder shared snow crab. Yes, I know, it's alaskan and not local, but look at them eating stuff off the menu!

Our crew. Josh worked nights the last few days so he didn't come with us, but we had a great time!

Exploring the boardwalk

Such a cute area

Patriotic building

This was our last full day in Washington D.C. Next up, Day 8: Headed home.

Day 6 in D.C.: National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Udvar-Hazy Center - it's in a HUGE hangar

Thursday, our main goal was to see the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport (Udvar-Hazy Center). This was the museum wilder MOST wanted to see on this trip!

It's way out of the way from the rest of the museums, but with traffic, we didn't want to drive/take an Uber. So we went from the Ballston stop on the silver line to Dulles. From there, we had to take a commuter bus around to the museum. I had been avoiding bus transit because of traffic, but this was the only option. We stood around with like 12 other people waiting for the bus, but after 15 minutes past when it was supposed to get there, we ended up booking an uber anyway!

The museum is HUGE - it's two hangars with three stories of planes from the Wright brothers through modern planes, everything from parasailing to the Blackbird, and a bunch of spacecraft. Super cool.

Waiting for the metro

Excited!

The Concord was Wilder's No. 1 thing he loved seeing the entire trip.

Wilder LOVED Dusty Crophopper from the Pixar Planes movie for years and years. He has mostly outgrown that love, but this was a little like seeing a Disney princess in real life.

I'll be honest, Dusty was my most favorite part of this museum, lol. Mom memories!

Felicity and I could not get over this adorable "Sky Baby" plane. SO cute.

THE plane that dropped one of the bombs that helped end World War II. No big deal.

The Discovery shuttle was in the "space" hangar of the Air and Space Museum

We had lunch at the museum's Shake Shack!

Cosmic Concrete

Steep escalator

After visiting the Air & Space Museum at Dulles, we took the Silver line all the way back into D.C. to visit my friend Linette. We met in a mom group for women with due dates in November 2013 (both our firstborns). We have been friends ever since! This is by far not the first time we've gotten to hang out in person, but it was the first in her city. We got cold brews and chatted in between end of school events for her, reviving our tired museum walking feet. :-)

Fancy hot chocolate

I was delighted to pick up a journal at the Air & Space Museum. I like to journal about all our trips (before I blog about it!) but I've enjoyed doing it in journals I get from those trips. I looked in so many stores, and every single gift shop, and couldn't find one I liked. FINALLY found one at this museum.

So happy with my journal!

That evening we got Thai takeout with our friends and just relaxed! We walked 10-12,000 steps a day on this trip, sometimes more, and the kids were SUCH troopers. With just one full day left to go, we were getting a bit tired. But this museum was so great, I'm so glad Wilder got to be in his element.

Sweet Jake

I will never turn down pad see ew

Brady and Zach, BFF

Jake was giving Panda vibes

Next up: Day 6: National Museum of American History