Whew...we had such a great DC Staycation week, and we are finally caught up enough to share our wonderful experiences!
Wednesday, August 18th (Happy Anniversary to us!): We travelled to Colonial Williamsburg, our farthest destination of the entire itinerary. Unfortunately, weather did not cooperate with us, and we battled storms and humidity all day long. We raced from indoor site to indoor site, trying to beat the pounding rains. Unfortunately, the kids couldn't touch or do much once we got into the houses/public spaces. Maybe in a few more years... Highlights of the day: Eating a yummy meal in an old-fashioned tavern and picking out Katie's new toy horse from the gift shop.
Thursday, August 19th: One of the high points of the entire week, we visited nearby Great Falls National Park on the banks of the Potomac. Dubbed one of the best set of natural water falls in the Eastern US, it did not disappoint. Even the kids were in absolute awe by what they were seeing. Before and after seeing the falls, we played in the Visitors' Center (where Katie got to pet a snake!) and all around the grassy picnic area. We then drove into Arlington to try out Ray's Hell Burger for lunch. This is the gourmet burger joint made famous by President Obama's two visits (once with the visiting Russian president). We thought the food was so-so, but then again, who needs to pay an arm and a leg for a burger?
Friday, August 20th: We finally travelled into the city to visit Capitol Hill's Eastern Market. A slightly different take on a farmers' market, this indoor/outdoor market boasts excellent fresh meats, sea food, baked goods, flowers, and produce. Bonus for us: there was a wide-open gymnasium at the far-end of the market where kids could play. Needless to say, Katie and Michael got some energy out while the parents took turns shopping for tasty things. After a yummy bite at a nearby dive Mexican restaurant, we strolled all around Capitol Hill, reminiscing about our former city-dwelling lives. As posted earlier this week, we slipped out that evening for a fantastic anniversary dinner.
Saturday, August 21st: This was a potentially sour day, that turned around rather quickly. We left the morning free so that the kids could relax and nap and we could catch up on laundry. Early afternoon, we drove into the Northwest side of the city for lunch at a pretty well-known pizza spot, 2 Amys. This place is notorious for its long waits, so we weren't surprised that it took us about a half-hour to get seated. What did surprise us, however, was the RATHER LONG wait (probably about 30-45 minutes) it took to get any service whatsoever. With Michael at his breaking point, we had to somewhat angrily ask the waitress for our food "to go." What a lucky break for us, actually. We took our lunch over to the lawn of the National Cathedral, and had a pizza picnic in front of one of the prettiest places you could imagine. The kids loved running/crawling around the massive grounds, and Katie did a great job collecting 27(!) acorns for the squirrels. We took everybody inside for a peek at the "church princess castle" and then ended our day.
Sunday, August 22nd: We went to church as usual in the morning and then headed to the Arlington County Fair for some good, old-fashioned carnival fun. Katie loved the rides and Michael loved the spectacle. All in all, a good way to end the week.
As mentioned below, Traci had the most wonderful weekend catching up with old friends in Chicago/Notre Dame. She started her trip by hanging around in the Chicago suburbs with her buddies, Chad, Lisa, and twins Drew and Sydney (6-years-old). Special thanks to them for their wonderful hospitality (my own suite!), great laughs, and yummy food. She then went on to Notre Dame with old college roomies Carolee, Amy, and Maggie. They spent countless hours reminiscing about simpler times at their old haunts (CJs, Roccos) and walking around campus, agog at all of the changes. They even sneaked their way into the locked doors of their old dorm, Walsh, to relive the experience of the un-air-conditioned dormitory. Certainly our most special time was our visit to the tiny grave of Henry, Maggie's son who passed away in February. He will never be forgotten and he made an extraordinary weekend even more special. Carolee, Amy, Maggie, Henry, and Morgan - thanks for everything...I haven't laughed, cried, listened, and talked that much in a long time. Until next time...
