Day 7 in Washington DC Saturday Oct 10

We are back in California, resting after a day traveling from San Francisco to Porterville visiting with Mo's sister and her husband who are visiting here from Colorado. Didn't want to miss the chance to spend some time with them. Tomorrow we will head home to Jamestown, traveling up HWY99 one more time. I wonder if I will ever really escape this particular road that I se

em to travel on one way or another. But the Comfort Suites in Visalia is pretty nice and I am catching up on our trip journal and reviewing photos.

Things we learned on this visit to DC:

• Don't bring a car, use the public transportation that is excellent and workable.


• Understand that even if you think you have time to do several things in a day, the scheduling may limit your options. Pick one important thing for each day and work around that.


• Wear really comfortable shoes and plan to walk a lot.


• If you want to see the White House, make your reservations with your congressman 6 months in advance.


• If you want to see congress in session, do the same.


• Lots of stuff is free and some isn't, but you won't have time to see everything, so do the free stuff.


• Go in October when it is cool and uncrowded, rather than spring when the cherry blossoms are blooming and everyone else is there too, or summer when it is killer humid and hot.


• The Smithsonian could take every single minute of time you have available, and it requires time to absorb all there is. Burnout can be an issue with "one more amazing museum" waiting.


• Virginia is a good place to stay when visiting rather than downtown DC


• Take the time to tour the Capitol.


• The Washington Monument takes planning. The tickets are handed out early in the day and go fast. You will have to come back and actually go up the obelisk whenever there is available space. Get in line early because you will enter the elevator 8 at a time, no matter what time your ticket says.


• Alexandria is worth the extra time to really enjoy.


• Arlington Cemetery will require a commitment to walking hilly terrain to reach the lovliest and highest hills, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.