Washington D. C. Tour - August 16, 2005
“It’s the ONLY way to see any big city!” This statement was declared over and over again as our Dayton Tour to Washington D.C. progressed throughout the day. Comfortable and carefree, we leaned back in our seats and watched the landscape go by in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and D.C. without a thought for the traffic as our driver, Tom maneuvered the bus effortlessly and our tour guide, Susan, narrated nearly every mile of the 70 plus miles. So much more interesting than driving yourself and my beloved partner, Phil, who was less than excited about going in the first place, has (at last) become a believer.
We paid $65 per person. At first that seemed a bit expensive but when we thought about it and realized the price included our plush round-trip transportation and any admissions as well as our bountiful buffet dinner and tip in Thurmont, Maryland on the way home it was a bargain! Once we arrived, our morning started with over an hour in Arlington National Cemetery (where JFK and Jackie are buried with two of their babies beside the Eternal Flame) riding a tram with a guide pointing out all the famous people interred along the way and we watched the ceremonial “changing of the guard” at the Tomb of the Unknowns (Formerly The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier). Back on the bus we drove by and got a good look at the outside of General Robert E. Lee’s former home on the hill that he never returned to after the war. We visited the Iwo-Jima, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean War and World War II Memorials and spent 2 ½ hours in the Smithsonian Institution of our choice (most of us on the tour chose The Museum of American History) where we also had a great lunch in the bright and clean cafeteria on the lowest level.
Later, sitting up so high on the bus, our huge windows gave us perfect views in the afternoon as we drove by the White House, the recently renovated Washington Monument, our nation’s Capital, Ford’s Theater and the house across the street where Lincoln died (both perfectly restored), the Supreme Court and Library of Congress buildings, the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial and the magnificent Washington National Cathedral. Like most cities with a real winter, the construction mess is everywhere as contractors work in the muggy heat to complete their various projects before fall but with Tom driving (and no need to worry about a place to park) we managed to overlook these inconveniences including the heightened security (post 9-11) that was evident everywhere.
On our way home we stopped for a wonderful dinner and tried hard not to fall asleep as we snuggled into our seats for the ride back to Pennsylvania and each group was returned safe and sound to their motel or campground where we’d been picked up in the wee hours that morning. The four of us were their last stop and we arrived home at 6:30 PM, tired but filled with wonderful new memories!
“It’s the ONLY way to see any big city!” This statement was declared over and over again as our Dayton Tour to Washington D.C. progressed throughout the day. Comfortable and carefree, we leaned back in our seats and watched the landscape go by in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and D.C. without a thought for the traffic as our driver, Tom maneuvered the bus effortlessly and our tour guide, Susan, narrated nearly every mile of the 70 plus miles. So much more interesting than driving yourself and my beloved partner, Phil, who was less than excited about going in the first place, has (at last) become a believer.
We paid $65 per person. At first that seemed a bit expensive but when we thought about it and realized the price included our plush round-trip transportation and any admissions as well as our bountiful buffet dinner and tip in Thurmont, Maryland on the way home it was a bargain! Once we arrived, our morning started with over an hour in Arlington National Cemetery (where JFK and Jackie are buried with two of their babies beside the Eternal Flame) riding a tram with a guide pointing out all the famous people interred along the way and we watched the ceremonial “changing of the guard” at the Tomb of the Unknowns (Formerly The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier). Back on the bus we drove by and got a good look at the outside of General Robert E. Lee’s former home on the hill that he never returned to after the war. We visited the Iwo-Jima, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean War and World War II Memorials and spent 2 ½ hours in the Smithsonian Institution of our choice (most of us on the tour chose The Museum of American History) where we also had a great lunch in the bright and clean cafeteria on the lowest level.
Later, sitting up so high on the bus, our huge windows gave us perfect views in the afternoon as we drove by the White House, the recently renovated Washington Monument, our nation’s Capital, Ford’s Theater and the house across the street where Lincoln died (both perfectly restored), the Supreme Court and Library of Congress buildings, the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial and the magnificent Washington National Cathedral. Like most cities with a real winter, the construction mess is everywhere as contractors work in the muggy heat to complete their various projects before fall but with Tom driving (and no need to worry about a place to park) we managed to overlook these inconveniences including the heightened security (post 9-11) that was evident everywhere.
On our way home we stopped for a wonderful dinner and tried hard not to fall asleep as we snuggled into our seats for the ride back to Pennsylvania and each group was returned safe and sound to their motel or campground where we’d been picked up in the wee hours that morning. The four of us were their last stop and we arrived home at 6:30 PM, tired but filled with wonderful new memories!
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