Reunion Planning: Sightseeing

Over the next three months I'll be posting information related to the 2008 Herrmann Family Reunion here. First up are some lists (thanks to Keith) and ideas (thanks to Jill and Stephanie and Laury) for things you might be interested in seeing, along with my own comments.

Keith sent the following links: the 15 Best Places to Go with Kids in the Washington DC Area and the Best Museums for Kids in the Washington, DC Area.

First on the 15 Best Places list is the National Zoo, which Stephanie mentioned as a good outing for the little ones. It is a big zoo, good first thing in the morning (in June, the grounds open at 6 AM, the buildings at 10 AM) as it might be too much in the summer afternoon heat. Certainly kids will love it.

Also on the list is the National Museum of Natural History. Laury noted that there is a new butterfly exhibit and a new butterfly pavilion (which requires tickets except on Tuesday, when it is free) now at that always popular museum.

Another Smithsonian, the National Air & Space Museum, is on the list. (Stephanie said that Kevin may want to take Ben to see the airplanes and spacecraft there.) New there is the America by Air exhibit.

The National Postal Museum is near Union Station. When it was still relatively new, Kevin and Stephanie and I went there on a cold February day way back in 1994.

The Best Museums list includes the College Park Aviation Museum, which is smaller and closer (and less crowded) than the Smithsonian. We had a good time when we took Colleen and her Renuart cousins there when they were younger.

Both lists include the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (one of Jill's suggestions). According to their web site: "Free tickets are required for all tours from the first Monday in March through the last Friday in August, on a first-come, first-served basis. The ticket booth is located on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street). We offer same day tickets only. The Ticket Booth opens at 8:00 a.m."

And the lists and Jill suggest Mount Vernon , which is south of Washington near Alexandria, Virginia. That would be a good day trip for anyone interested. We haven't been there in years, but I believe that they have a new museum and visitors center.

Jill had some other suggestions: the National Museum of American History, which has many interesting exhibits and some big trains, but it is unfortunately still closed for renovations, which are supposed to be complete this fall. One can take an elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. This requires tickets that can be picked up for free first-come-first-served first thing in the morning or reserved in advance for $1.50 per order.

Mom and Dad expressed some interest in seeing the World War II Memorial. I went there with Michael a couple of years ago. Though not kid friendly in my opinion, it is impressive and right in the middle of the Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.