DC: Iwo Jima Memorial + Netherlands Carillon

Our final stop with the Dicksons was a visit to the Iwo Jima Memorial (Marine Corps War Memorial) in Arlington. We picked up yummy sandwiches from Taylor Gourmet and had a picnic near the memorial and then walked over to the Netherlands Carillon. It was a good chance for the kids to run around in a wide open space (and not get yelled at for climbing on statues like they did on the mall the previous day). It was sad to say goodbye to our friends, especially since the kids were just getting warmed up to each other and having such a great time together. We made the drive home Saturday night, stopping at Sonic for a shake break.

DC: National Air and Space Museum (Udvar-Hazy Center)

Our hotel wasn't too far from the Udvar-Hazy Center (the annex for the National Air and Space Museum, and in my opinion, the much better of the two to visit) so we headed there Saturday morning. The place is so huge and houses and impressive collection of aircraft. It was fun to go into the observation tower, something we hadn't done before, and watch the planes land. I remember standing on the Wilson Bridge a few years ago to watch the space shuttle Discovery fly over DC so it was fun to see it up close. 

Getting tired and hungry.

DC: monuments and memorials

After lunch we headed to the Tidal Basin to see some memorials. We started at the FDR Memorial and walked around the Tidal Basin to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial. It was fun to be back at the memorials (although pretty crowded) but it was a lot of walking for the kids and all they really wanted to do all day was go back to the hotel and swim, which we finally did.

It was tight, but we were excited to find an open parking spot that fit both of our minivans. 

Amelia loved trying out Ella's mermaid tail.