Top Ten Highlights of our DC trip

Our trip to Washington DC was lots of fun. Ray enjoyed his conference and I had no problem keeping myself occupied while he was busy. We also had time before and after the conference to do some sightseeing.

I just wanted to mention some of the highlights - it took me a while to narrow this list to 10!

1. Taking a Riverboat Cruise on the Potomac River

2. Staying at the Westin site of the conference and being pampered by a great staff

3. Riding the Metro - so clean and easy to use

4. Eating great food including ice cream on the National Mall on a gorgeous spring day

The National Mall

The Capitol from the other side

5. Touring the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

6. Visiting Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon

  

7. Visiting the National Botanical Gardens

National Botanical Gardens

8. Shopping on King Street in Old Town Alexandria, VA including fibre space (a yarn shop) and The Torpedo Factory Art Center 

Items made from old lottery tickets at The Torpedo Factory

Flowers on King Street

9. Touring the Library of Congress

Inside the Library of Congress

10. Being part of the welcoming ceremony for an Honor Flight at Reagan National Airport. 

We had just arrived in terminal A to await our flight home. A military band began to play and everyone in the terminal gathered. As the 34 Austin Texas area veterans of WWII were brought off of the plane one by one, mostly in wheelchairs, the band played the various songs of our Armed Forces.  We, the hundreds of gathered people, clapped, cheered, took pictures, and felt honored to be a part of this. Members of the military many ranks greeted the veterans and escorted them out of the airport.  It was very moving for everyone! It took over 1/2 hour for everyone to get off of the plane and after the last veteran had left the terminal and the band stopped playing, the crowd still clapped and cheered. Totally Awesome!