July 2 = Day 6

Synopsis:  86.5 miles driven; 2.5 hours on the road; 3.3 miles walked - not including distances walked in any sites; Washington, DC to Westminster, MD; Visited Jefferson Memorial, 2 Smithsonian Museums (Castle and American History), US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Fort McHenry

Again, no breakfast at our hotel so we grabbed something next door at Burger King around 6:40 this morning. We had already loaded up the van so we headed off to DC for the morning. We parked at the Tidal Basin park near the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and the Jefferson Memorial (FREE, right where we wanted to be and available). Lisa and the kids ran to the Jefferson Memorial (which I also planned to do) while I went to the BEP. By 7:40 am, when I got in line, the line already was half the length of the building. By 8:00 am, when they start giving out the free tickets, the line was already around the corner of the building. I got our tickets and then caught up the Lisa and the kids who had already returned from the Jefferson Memorial and went to the Smithsonian Castle.

We toured the Smithsonian Castle and saw some great things there although it is the smallest of the Smithsonian. There is a great introductory video (with Ben Stiller) that is shown there. We then walked to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Lisa and I are charter members and annual supporters so we got to go through the member line - in fact, we were the first 7 people into the Museum. Lisa and I have been there before but the kids have not. We had a great time educating them on history and their own attitudes and understandings of people.

After the USHMM, we went back to the Smithsonian American History to knock out the 2nd and 3rd floors we hadn't gotten to yesterday. We closed out our time in DC by taking the tour at the BEP. It's a great tour and well worth getting the tickets for. The kids loved the sign "Tomorrow only, free samples!" We got in our van and headed out of town. Both our printed directions and our GPS told us to take MD-295 to Baltimore instead of I-95. What a mistake! Perhaps it is better on other days but we lost 30-40 minutes in traffic on that route compared to the open traffic we saw on I-95.

In Baltimore, we visited Ft. McHenry. What a great site! We saw the original Star Spangled Banner on display in the Smithsonian American History that morning and now we were visiting the fort where it was flying. The fort is a very wonderful and educational display. We got there just in time for the flag raising display - what a great experience (Jordan got to help). If you go, visit the fort first and then attend the movie. The movie ends and they pull back the curtains so you can see the fort while they play the Star Spangled Banner. Very stirring!

Another hour on the road and we are at our hotel. Lisa is doing some laundry, I'm blogging and the kids are getting ready for bed. Thanks for reading!

Hotel Deal of the Day: No deal tonight, we had to pay for our stay at the Days Inn this evening. $98.13