My mom is pretty much a nomad these days, and she's always off on some adventure. The five of us used to tag along where we could. But, it's hard enough for the five of us to eat dinner together these days. Instead we seem to be tagging along one at a time. Calib is going to Italy with her, Clint and Jess in December. Peyton is going to the Carribbean with her, Cort, and Holly. Meanwhile, I got to tag along for a trip to DC.
But when she offered to fly me up, I decided I could go a few days earlier and not only was it cheaper, but I could see Allison, Nate and Layla for a couple days before she arrived. Last time I went to see them, I posted a picture on the Mall and one of my friends from way back when at Cedar Point, Brandy, informed me she had just moved to Baltimore, and I should let her know next time I'm back around.
I actually ended up flying into Baltimore, and Brandy so kindly offered to drive me over to Nate and Allisons. We got to catch up, we nabbed some dinner together and I got to hear all about her adventures. It was awesome, and SO nice of her to take time out of her day to give me door to door service.
Layla was alseep by the time I arrived, but I did get to see her the next morning. You guys, look how big she is! Now you know, I am not a baby person. But I'm totally a Layla person. She's the most chill, sweet baby I know!
Fun trade off, I get to watch her while Allison cooks me dinner- and Allison is a REALLY good cook. She made these pita chips that were AMAZING. Before I left I told Asa I hoped Allison cooked because she's so good at it.
Every morning, I would send a self taken Layla picture to Asa. (We're together so much that when we're not, I really miss him- you know, we're codependent like that).
And Beau remembered that I'm the lady that walks him, so we went on lots of walks while I was there. I'm willing to bet I'm his favorite visitor.
Also worth noting, I forgot about fall. Like, I know fall is a thing that happens. But, I didn't even think about leaves changing colors and being able to see it this trip up north. When my plane touched down and I saw all the colors, I was so excited. They weren't at peak color or anything, but it was still really pretty!
It did rain most of my first day there, but that was ok because I just wanted to hang out with Layla and Allison anyway. But the second day I was there we went on a little field trip down the street to a cute little park with a nature center and trails around a pond.
We even spotted a few turtles sunning themselves!
There's also a playground, so we took Layla down to play. She loved the little kids area with the slide. Look how cute she is!
They also have these super cool "mommy & me" swings. I feel so old whenever I visit Layla because I'm like 'wow, look at all this cool baby stuff they didn't have when I had babies!'
Thursday morning I took Beau on one last walk.
And hung out with Layla while Allison got ready to take me out to the metro.
The metro isn't too far from Allisons, so she dropped me off and I rode it all the way to the airport. I love the metro, probably because I live in a city that super lacks public transportation- and the metro is so easy to use. Allison hadn't been on it yet, but she talked about maybe meeting me in DC on Friday so I sent her pictures to show her how to use it- and how empty it was.
I met up with mom at the airport- my metor arrived the same time her plane landed- and we took a taxi to our hotel, the Westin Georgetown. They weren't quite ready for us to check in though, so we dropped our stuff and went walking toward the Mall, stopping for lunch at some cute little french place.
Basically the name of the game for the next two and a half days was 'Corinne walks everywhere', which is cool. I got my step count in for sure. We went down to the Blair House, which is right across the street from the White House.
But you can't get all that close to the White House because they're building a bigger fence. Oh, the jokes.
There were a couple of sets of protesters in front of the White House. Some kids for climate change, some Veterans for better healthcare, a guy with A "Build the Wall" sign, and a guy just standing there with a Bernie 2020 sign. I guess there were way more protesters on Capital Hill, but I only ever stayed on the back side of the Capitol Building. Bummer too, I could have apparently seen Jane Fonda and Ted Danson get arrested in their plight to bring attention to climate change.
And then we kept making our way to the Mall area.
We happened upon the Old Post Office. I had been up in the Tower before it closed, but mom had never been.
Unfortunately, the Old Post Office is now the Trump hotel. Blah.
I feel like Benjamin Franklin would not be thrilled with a statue of himself being right outside a Trump property.
The observation tower, though, is still owned by the National Park service. So you can go up in the tower through a seperate enterence and not actually enter the hotel. You can see it from the elevator and the Balcony though. (It is behind glass, so you can't cause a scene or anything if, you know, some people might do such a thing).
Once you get up to the top of the tower you have quite the view of Washington DC, albeit behind some glass and bars.
Also, does anyone else find it funny that Trumps hotel is right next door to the IRS building?
We continued on our way, going through the Victory Garden.
And we headed into the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This is a fairy new museum, and until recently you had to have timed tickets to enter. But, October isn't a crazy busy season so they were allowing walk ups.
We were on a limited amount of time, though, because we did have tickets for something else. But, from what I did see of the museum it is super cool. We went on the second floor where you'll find a while wing dedicated to sports. They had things from Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan and Jim Brown amoung others. Each person has a corner of information, a tv screen with a video and some memorabila.
Carl Lewis also donated all but one of his ten Olympic medals to the museum. The other one he burried with his father.
Everything is so well done, and so engaging in this museum. It offers a lot of information, and in a very modern way.
Oh, and you guys! Look, this is almost exactly like Hayden's desk in his room he got from the coal cellar at my grandma's house.
We didn't have too long in the museum because we had gotten timed tickets to go up into the Washington Monument! First of all, the monument had been closed for years after an earthquake, and just recently reopened. Until October 10th, you had to go get up early, stand in line, and hope to nab some tickets for the day. But, on October 10th they started allowing you to reserve tickets online up to 90 days in advance. I just happend to notice this a few days before, so I was online right at 10am on October 10th when they released the tickets and got some for my mom and me.
I had never been inside before. It's not a huge space, as you can imagine. You go through security and then this big vault like door and then wait for the elevator in a very tiny, but ornate, lobby.
The elevator takes you up 500 feet to the very top of the monument where you can look out the very small windows to see all of DC.
The views from up there are something else. It was once the tallest structure in the whole world. Today, it still remains the tallest structure in DC.
But you also get to see what the inside of the monument looks like from the inside. Apparently the whole thing is held together by gravity and friction. There's no mortar or anything used here. That's sort of crazy, and a little unnerving when you don't find that out until you're basically all the way up there. But, I mean, it lasted this long.
After looking out the windows, you can go down one flight of stairs.
There you'll find a little museum of sorts to tell you all about the monument.
Fun fact: When the cornerstone was laid, there was a whole slew of famous people there: James Buchanan, Abrahama Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Dolley Madison and Alexander Hamilton’s widow, Betsey Hamilton, and the current President, at the time... your man, my man... James K. Polk!
While you can't really touch the inside of the monument because it is all behind glass, they do have a little peice they invite you to touch.
And then you get back on the elevator to head down at 490 feet.
The elevator doors on both sides light up, two different times as you go down, to see the inside of the monument. While you can see it from the outside too, on the inside you can certainly see where they started building the monument and then stopped for 22 years. (They didn't have enough of the same stone left, so they had to change stones and there is a slight difference in the color).
But also, each state has a stone that faces the inside of the monument. Some are small and simple like Colorados. New York of course, went all out, their's is the largest of all the state stones.
Back on the ground you head out a different vaulted door. It's a cool thing to do- and I highly recommend it. I just love the Washington Monument. But, who am I kidding? I love them all. I'm such a nerd like that.
After our tour of the monument, we made our way over to the Natural History Museum.
To the recently opened dinosaur wing! This was closed forever, too, and it just opened back up this summer so we wanted to go check it out. It does not disappoint.
The exhibits are cool, it's modern and exciting and not boring in the least bit. You can also see the lab in which people are working away at various tasks and in a fun addition they all have little notes in front of them so you can see what they're doing.
Of course, if you're a Sattler and you're at the Natural History Museum you have to find yourself a moose.
We had just a tiny bit of time before the museums closed at this point so we wandered down to the US Botanic Garden. I love this building, and it was all decorated for fall.
Plus all the different plants are fun to see.
They were closing though, so we got out of there and headed over to the capitol building. Was everyone aware there is a statue of James Garfield there? I didn't think I was, but when I mentioned it to the boys, they were like 'you say that everytime we go past there'. I think this is what getting old feels like.
I had tickets to tour the Capitol, but they were cancelled because of Elijiah Cummings funeral. So we just walked up to take a few pictures of the building.
I hadn't been this close to the Capitol since the inguaration.
The views of the building are always stunning, but so is the view of the rest of Washington from there.
We made our way to Union Station after that.
Where we nosed around the shops a bit and had ourselves a snack.
Our feet were tired by now, and the sun was starting to set- so we took a taxi down to the Lincoln Memorial. It's always gorgeous down there, but particularily at sunset.
And of course, everytime I'm there, I have to find the spot where MLK gave his "I Have A Dream" speech.
There's just something very cool about the Lincoln Memorial at night when it's all lit up.
Our hotel was abotu a mile from the Lincoln Memorial so we walked back, past the State Department and George Washington University.
The next day my mom had her conference, so I headed out without her. Nearing the White House I encountered a guy with a sign that said "Honk to thank the Whistle Blowers", and LOTS of people were honking.
I had hoped if I walked around to the back of the White House I could get a picture of it- since the front was all blocked off to build the higher fence, but you really can't get anywhere near it these days, so I walked up past the Washington Monument.
The day before the American History Museum seemed to be the only one with a long line, so I decided to do that one right when the museums opened at 10. This museum is one of my favorites, it's always got some old classic things to see- but it also rotates stuff fairly often so there's always something new to see. Kermit and Piggy were off display, but I did see the Sweedish Chef for the first time!
They had also moved the Ruby Slippers into it's own little wing, and they added Glinda's wand.
I was there so early I was the only person except for security in the whole presidential wing!
So I got to see Grant's buggy and Taft's coat without anyone bumping into me.
And of course, the hat Abraham Lincoln wore to Ford's Theater.
But there's always other fun things too, like a whole case for Impeachment! Think they'll add that Ukrainian phone call transcript to this one?
They still have all the president street sign names.
But, I did notice something new- they have locks of all the president's hair up to Franklin Pierce!
Which, oddly enough, was in the case with all the presidential toys.
And what visit to the presidential wing would be complete without some campaign buttons and some encouragment to get out the vote. (Are you guys gearing up for the Candy Bar Election of 2020? Because we are!)
Downstairs of course you'll find the Flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner.
And something new from the last time I was there- a Super Hero section!
Allison and Layla were planning on meeting me Friday, and it was Allison's first trip on the metro, so I didn't want to stray too far from the Smithsonian stop so I could meet her. I decided to stay on the mall for lunch, and if you have to be ON the mall for a meal, the National Museum of the American Indian is the place to be.
Plus the museum is so pretty inside and out. So it's worth a pop in. It's usually one of the less crowded museums too.
My eyes were bigger than my stomach but I ordered three "sides": squash mac 7 cheese, green beans, and FRY BREAD! The fry bread comes complete with honey and cinnamon and it's like $3, so go get some and live in carb heaven.
I thought about heading over to the National Archives, but I stopped by the sculpture garden instead.
And by then Allison texted me that she was just about here, so I popped a squat on the grass and hung out.
I was so proud of Allison for doing the metro and coming out to meet me. If I remember anything about having babies, it's that getting anywhere with a baby is HARD. To navigate public transportation for the first time with a baby isn't easy either. But she made it.
She was there to check out the dinosaur hall in the Museum of Natural History, so I was able to check it out a little more throughly this time.
Plus we wandered through and saw the mummies and the gems too.
After wandering through the museum, we made our way down to the gift shop and got some dinosaur magnets (Allison and I both collect magnets so we often end up as magnet twinsies when we go somewhere together!) and then we walked the mall just a bit and I showed her all the cool places she could go just from that one metro stop if she wanted to do it again.
Then I walked her and Layla down to the metro and said goodbye. I think they have plans to come see us in February. I forget my whole family hasn't gotten to meet Layla yet. We're pretty much buddies though.
After I said goodbye, I took one last spin around the mall to enjoy the view.
When I was ready to take the metro back to the hotel, there were tons and tons of National fans going to the game on the opposite metro. They've never been to the World Series before, so it's very exciting for them to finally be there. Also, they have the president mascots, so I love them for that! When I got to the top of the metro, people were selling lots of world series stuff.
There were lots of little signs of support all over the city too.
Once I got back to the hotel, my mom was all done conferencing so we walked down to Georgetown to nose around.
We found some fun little kabob place for dinner, which was delicious.
And we went to Georgetown Cupcake!
We found a fun kitten cafe!
And we went shopping at the Amazon bookstore.
Georgetown is so old and cool, with it's old buildings and brick sidewalks.
That night we split our chocolate ganache cupcake!
We were both flying out of DC at about 1 pm so we decided if we got up early we would have time for the zoo. The buildings don't open until 9 am, but the grounds open at 8, so we took a taxi up there around 8.
Because you don't need to go into the buildings to see the panadas!! Plus, basically the only people there were people with fancy cameras trying to take some pictures.
Plus when you get there that early you find the animals getting their morning check ups. We got to see 28 year old Gunther getting checked out (and having his teeth brushed!) The keeper told us all about him, and we were like the only ones there- which is also cool about being there so early.
Then at 9 am we could go in the buildings. Our time was limited and if I could just pick one building to go into, it would for SURE be the small mammals building!
We caught a possum getting his breakfast (a hard boiled egg- complete with a shell!) and of course I had to see the naked mole rats!
But then they also have all these cool little creatures I've rarely even heard about, if I heard about it at all! Like the brush-tailed Bettong.
And Degus!
And a Sand Cat!
On our way back up the hill (and ma,n this zoo is a trek up and down the hill!), we stopped to check out the elephants who hadn't made their way outside yet.
Look at him being all chilll, just leaning his trunk on the wires.
I suggested on our way out we swing back past the pandas to see if we could get any better pictures.
And success!! They were having their breakfast of bamboo!
Thanks for taking me to the zoo, mom!
We got back to the hotel and had our breakfast- cupcakes from the night before. They almost wouldn't give me the pumpkin spice one, because they said it wasn't as pretty as they liked. I swore I didn't mind, so they obliged.
We took a taxi back past all the monuments and to the airport.
Where we had Ben's Chili Bowl for lunch.
We did do a little nosing around the gift shops too, and mom bought me a couple of magnets to take home. Mom was traveling out of a different terminal than me, so we parted ways. I won't see her again until February.
My plane arrived right on time, and I headed home.
Asa picked me up from the airport and we had an early dinner at Walk Ons. It was okay, but I'm not rushing to go back. I'd try it again, but I'd probably get something else next time.
That's it from here!
Next Up: Asa starts his new job on Monday, so we're gearing up for that!
