Washington DC

Last week Andy and I went to Washington DC for a little getaway with Tabitha and Jonathan.  We had such a great time together, and the trip flew by.  I always hate when you plan things, and then in a blink of an eye it is over.
We got to D.C. on Wednesday afternoon.  We were able to check in, and then we went over to Capitol City Brewing for lunch before heading to Ford's Theater.  Our tour through Ford's theater was neat, and we all came out learning something new about Lincoln.  That night we went to a place called Matchbox for dinner.  It was close to our hotel, and recommended by our neighbors who used to live here. After dinner we bundled up and walked around to see the memorials.  So neat to see at night, and much less crowded.  I loved the Korean war memorial, and of course seeing Lincoln.
Thursday morning we were up early to get to the White House for our tour.  We went through about five security clearances before going inside.  I enjoyed getting see the rooms that I have heard so much about all my life.  When we finished we had a quick break to go get our stuff since you can't take bags in the White House.
On our way to the Library of Congress we stopped at the Old Post Office to go up into the bell tower.  This is free, and not well known.  Great views of the Washington Memorial and the Capital.  Very quick and breathtaking.
If I can give you one piece of advice, it would be to not do the Library of Congress tour.  They were dividing us into groups for the tour and two tours would be using the steps, and one was using the elevator.  Andy wasn't listening, and then stood up and volunteered us for the elevator group thinking they said stairs.  The lady doing this tour talked about philosophy for an hour and a half.  Tab and I could not look at each other because we would start laughing and have to walk away.  Hands down the worst tour I have ever been on, and we wanted to bail when they all got on the elevator, but Jonathan was the good guy and told us it would not be nice.
After this tour was over we ran over to our representatives office to have a capital tour.  This tour was absolutely amazing after the last.  The girl giving the tour is from Overland Park, and going to college out there.  She hopes to be president one day, and she would have my vote.  Very sweet girl who showed us so much of the capital.  I'm truly going to be looking out for her.
By the end of this tour we were exhausted.  We went back to the hotel to rest a bit before going out to Alexandria for dinner that night.  I think Alexandria was probably one of my favorite nights.  We walked down little streets all decorated for Halloween, and we fell in love.  Tabitha would walk right up to the windows to take a peak inside these houses.  She said the people left their blinds open so people could see inside. Maybe they did, but I wasn't going to have my face in their window.😂We ate at Feed and Grain which was really good, and then were off to the speakeasy called Captain Gregory's.  It is hidden behind a wall in a donut shop.  We had a couple delicious drinks, and finished it with a donut before leaving.  Such a fun night.
Friday morning we slept in, and I think we all needed it.  We took the metro out to Arlington Cemetery to see the changing of the guards, and Kennedy's grave.  We would have loved to spend more time walking around because it is really an amazing place, but we had a tour at the Pentagon to get to.  On our way back we saw a funeral procession coming down the lane.  There was a carriage  with the coffin driven by horses.  You kind of forget that it is still actually a cemetery in use.  It was neat to see everyone stop as it went by. 
The Pentagon tour was really interesting, and it was nice to see the 9/11 memorial out there.  I never realized that it was a city inside there with stores, dentists, doctors, restaurants.  Really anything you need is there.  They have 27,000 people who work at the pentagon each day.  Pretty amazing.  After the tour we went to get some Shake Shack for lunch before going to the National Archives to see the Magna Carta, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.  We then stopped at a fun little bar called Succotash for a drink to toast another busy day.
That night we went to Georgetown for dinner.  It was raining so we didn't get to walk around as much as we would have liked but we found a neat little bar in an old house I think.  It was cozy on a rainy night.  We then ate dinner at Fishers Farmers Bakers.  So good!  Tab and Jonathan thought it was the best meal of the trip, but I think Andy and I beat it on the last night.  After stuffing our selves we went back to our hotel to rest before the next day.
Saturday was raining and yucky outside so we spent the day doing Museums.  We hit the Holocaust Museum, Natural History, American History, and Air and Space.  Again, we went back to the hotel completely worn out.  We got ready for dinner and met up with a guy that Andy works with and his wife.  We ate at a place called Lincoln.  It was good, but after the night before it was just kind of blah, but the restaurant was really neat looking.
Sunday was our last day together and we spent the majority of the day at Mount Vernon.  This was so low key, and the perfect way to end our trip.  We ate lunch in Alexandria on our way back to D.C at an Italian place called Mia.  When we got back to the city we went to see the Vietnam Memorial and then went by the White House.  They were setting up the south lawn for a halloween party for service men and their families.  Tabitha stopped every family dressed up to ask if they were going to the White House and how excited they must be.  Such a cool experience for those kids.  We stopped at The W hotel for a rooftop view of the White House.  The weather was beautiful, and the views were great too.  It was neat to see all of the secret service up on different roofs watching.  We then walked on to our place to get ready for dinner.  We ate at Old Ebbitt's Grill for last night together, and then capped off the evening with drinks at the Old Post Office.  Amazing time with these two, and I was sad to see it come to an end.
The next day, Andy had to work, but he got me a massage at a spa while he was away.  I can't even tell you how good that felt.  I then walked around the Tidal Basin to see the Roosevelt, Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Memorials.  When Andy got back from work we went to Dupont Circle to walk around a bit, and then we went to a bar called Churchkey for a drink before dinner.  Another neat little area in Logan's Circle.  That night we went to Founding Farmers which is owned by the same company as Farmers Fishers Bakers.  This was by far the best meal of the trip, and Andy and I think they may have me beat on their apple pie.  So yummy!  We then walked by the White House and monuments one more time before going back to our hotel.  This trip was exhausting, but oh so much fun.  Some great memories were made with great friends.