East Coast Extravaganza - Part 2 - Wash DC, July 2-6, 2022

 *****2022 East Coast Trip *****

       *****Part 2 *****

Washington DC.  What a great place.  I’ve been here many times, lived here two summers, but it still astonishes me all there is to do and see.

The best part was spending 6 days with my brother Pentti and his wife Amy.   

*We had to take this picture because Anikka wanted to see Pentti in his police “outfit”.

- Sunday, July 3rd - 

Anikka’s favorite animal is a Panda so it was necessary that we go to the National Zoo.

We were lucky enough to see them playing in their outside enclosure 

then when we went into the panda house they had just gotten the food ready and we were able to see them eating.

Of course, the girls NEEDED a panda stuffie. 

We walked around the rest of the zoo...

...then went to one of our favorite restaurants, Cactus Cantina for late lunch.  BEST homemade tortillas ever.

The National Cathedral is just down the street so we stopped by on our way back to Pentti’s.

The girls also learned how to use the DC Metro.

- Monday, July 4th -

We spent the day relaxing at Pentti & Amy’s.  Amy’s Mom (Mrs. G) came for lunch.  Amy makes THE best meatballs and “gravy” so we enjoyed the leftovers. Mrs. G also brought a craft to teach the girls which entertained them for awhile.

In the evening we picked up Roy Rogers fried chicken dinner and went to watch the fireworks from a marina on the Potomac River (Virginia side). We had a perfect view of the the Washington Monument and the fireworks. Thanks to Pentti for arranging the parking for us (unfortunately he was working and not able to join us).

- Tuesday, July 5th -

We spent the whole day on the Mall.  We did ALL the things...16,500 steps...so tired.

We started at the Museum of Natural History 

Then went to the Museum of American History where we saw the Star Spangled banner and the flag that inspired the song.

From there we walked to the Washington Monument...

then around by the Vietnam Memorial 

where we had ice cream on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

After dinner Pentti drove us back downtown to see the memorials all lit up.

And we went to a few stopped by a few that we hadn’t seen during the day.

What an exhausting day. 

- Wednesday, July 6 -

For our last day in DC we decided to go to Mount Vernon.  We were surprised by how much we all liked it.

then we met Madison in Old Town Alexandria for dinner and gelato.

5 days in DC is not nearly enough time to see everything but it was a great first trip there for our girls.

Next up, 5 days in NYC...