Our trip to Washington, D.C. was one of the most memorable and informative family vacations we have ever taken because of all the fun and eye opening experiences. We visited the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Crime Scene Investigation Museum, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Natural Science, International Spy Museum, the Capitol, and the White House. When we visited the Women in Military Service Memorial and the Arlington Cemetery, we saw the Changing of the Guard which was a really patriotic and over-the-top experience for me.
Although I was aware of all the soldiers killed in action, the reality really set in after we saw all the graves and names written along the memorial walls at the Veterans Memorial. At that moment, I realized how great the price of freedom really is; especially being a military dependent of Iraqi war veterans. This memorial was yet another reminder to me of all the sacrifices military personnel make every day.
My love for the arts made our trip to the National Gallery of Art a wonderful and inspirational experience that increased my appreciation for the various forms of art. As such, I really enjoyed the opportunity to gaze and admire the great works of art upon the Gallery’s walls.
Our visit to the Crime Scene Investigation Museum was interesting and informative because we learned a lot about criminal investigations. We saw exhibits of famous criminal cases such as the notorious Bonnie and Clyde as well as a model of a crime scene investigation lab.
Since I like natural science, one of my favorite experiences in D.C. was our visit to the Museum of Natural Science. I enjoyed the exhibits of ancient creatures such as mammoths, dinosaur fossils, and prehistoric insects. The exhibits with the Earth’s internal activities on display were interesting, but I was more fascinated by the exhibits which displayed beautiful collections of rocks, minerals, and gems. On the other hand, I was disappointed with the Smithsonian Institution because something just seemed to be missing and it wasn’t as spectacular as I had imagined.
When we visited the International Spy Museum, I learned more in depth details about events that shaped our country’s history. Before this visit, I didn’t know that secret agents had previously worked behind the scenes in order to influence the turn of events in history. When we viewed the exhibits that discussed how espionage worked, it really enlightened me to the fact that history textbooks don’t always tell the whole story. Nevertheless, I must say that when we left this museum I was very impressed. This trip has changed how I look at new information, inspiring me to dig deeper.
We were very excited about our visit to the White House and Capitol building because of their symbolic meaning to our country. Initially, we were overjoyed to simply be within ten feet of the White House. Then, it soon felt like we were in a whole new world once we toured the inside of it! We were simply awed by the breathtaking grand rooms and the interior décor within the White House. Since it was almost dark, we didn’t think we’d see many of the Capitol building’s architectural details. However, we were surprisingly impressed to see how picturesque the Capitol building looked at night.
Overall, our entire trip to our nation’s capital was a bundle of new experiences we will always treasure. Our family’s Washington, D.C. vacation was filled with wonderful memories that will never be forgotten.
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