I take each of my grandchildren to Washington, D.C., on his or her tenth birthday. Why Washington and why 10 years old?
I was a history and political science major in college, so that’s what I know and what I like. Therefore, I can be a resource to the kids. Learning how our government functions and becoming exposed to the wealth of historic monuments, museums, and government buildings seemed to me to be a natural fit for a 10-year-old. What better way to learn about our country's history than in our nation's capitol?
Ten-year-olds are the greatest. They're curious, eager to learn, eager to please, and old enough to understand and appreciate what they are seeing. They haven't yet entered that pre-adolescent stage of being a smart aleck or know-it-all, and they seldom talk back or give Grandpa any lip. What could be better than that?
So far, I have made four trips, two with granddaughters, Rebecca and Juliana, and two with grandsons, Matthew and Andrew.
The trips with the two girls were one month apart. I thought about taking them together but my daughter Rita, the mother of Rebecca, told me, "Dad, don't do that. They'll shut you out." So in April of 1998, I took Rebecca. One month later, it was Juliana's turn. I'm glad I did it that way because it worked out great.
A trip to Washington entails one common denominator: Be prepared to do a lot of walking and standing in line. Depending on where you stay, you can ride buses and the Metro, but sometimes taxis are a necessity. Each trip, I stayed at a different hotel. Those nearest the Mall, such as the L'Enfant Plaza, are convenient to everything.
It probably is worth an all-day ticket on the Tourmobile bus if only to visit Arlington National Cemetery and observe the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. A succession of buses makes a complete circle of the sights between 9:30am and 4:30pm. You can get off one bus, and on the next, as you go from one place to another.
Making arrangements with the office of your Member of
Congress or
Senator is a must for tours of the Capitol and the White House. When I went with Rebecca, Juliana, and Matthew, prior to September 11, 2001, you could come and go pretty much as you pleased — almost everywhere. But when I took Andrew in 2006, the security everywhere made it an entirely different type of trip. So, be forewarned that patience is a virtue.
You can plan your itinerary in a number of different ways. My suggestion would be to spend one day at the monuments and Arlington National Cemetery, and another day at the Smithsonian museums around the Mall and the National Archives Building, where the original copies of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg Address are housed. Also, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (“We make money the old fashioned way, we print it.”) and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum are next door to each other and well worth a visit.
It’ll only take half of your third day to see the Capitol, the White House, and — if it’s in session — the Supreme Court. The highlight of my trip with Andrew, whose birthday is in early November, was getting to hear a case being argued before the Supreme Court. As a retired attorney, I found the aura and decorum of the courtroom impressive. So did Andrew.
“Wow!” he said, “Did you see all the judges sitting up there in their black robes?"
 Photo courtesy of The Freer Gallery of Art |
It also was interesting to compare the trips because of the kids' different tastes. Rebecca loved the Asian collections at the
Freer Gallery of Art, while Juliana enjoyed the Inaugural Ball Gowns of the First Ladies displayed at the
National Museum of American History. The boys liked the
National Air and Space Museum, which the girls only tolerated. They all liked the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Choose a clear day to go the top of the
Washington Monument because the views on all sides are spectacular, but get there early because the lines form rather quickly.
 Photo by Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum |
In the evening, the
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts offers free concerts of some kind or another in the Grand Foyer at 6:00pm. The Millennium Stage performances are streamed live online, so your kids can watch at home at the same time as their children are watching live with Grandpa.
In September 2007, I'm off again with David. And, in seven years, I hope to take Ansley. The weather, your budget, and the interest and patience of the kids themselves often govern where you go and what you see — and when you quit. You have to go with the flow, and roll with the punches; but the more you do your homework, the more fun you’ll all have.
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