A couple weeks ago, I decided to renew my old habit of going into DC once a week to take advantage of the long list of incredible attractions the city offers. My boys are finally both in great ages for museums. They are happy in the stroller for a while, and then happy to walk/wander for a while. I’ve decided that Friday is our day, and these last few weeks have been awesome! If you’ve never visited Washington DC, you likely are unaware that all of the Smithsonian Museums are free (as is some of the parking around them, if you know where to look!) I’ve been to almost everything before, but exploring without financial investment makes it a whole lot easier to commit to visting everything again!
I’ve also been trying this new thing where I take pictures with a real camera instead of just my iPhone:)
Natural History Museum
The real highlight of this last visit to the Natural History Museum was the butterfly exhibit! We hadn’t ever been inside (becuse you do pay for a ticket because it is a special exhibit.) All three of us were fascinated. This huge butterfly landed on Milo, and didn’t want to leave! We finally let it crawl over to my hand, and I passed it off to the docent!
On the way back to the car, we wandered through the Sculpture Garden. Milo jumped out of the stroller and asked me to take a picture of him with the bunny statue. Then, when I had the camera out and ready, he would only look down. Weird. He did the same thing at the next couple sculptures, begged for a photo, then acted like ” Oh, mom, another photo of me, really?!” Pretty hilarious.
Milo was in heaven in the Air and Space museum. The first ten minutes he kept saying “Look, mom! An airplane!” about every.single.airplane. in the place! Have you been? There are a lot of airplanes. After wandering for a good while we came to this fun interactive zone. Here Milo has the air blower that helps imitate windspeed and air pressure…
…and what it feels like to stick your head outside the window of an airplane.
Baby Eliot got lots of practice for his new trick, pointing at things. He basically followed his index finger around the whole museum. Always headed toward something awesome.
On the way out, I nonchalantly glanced up at the ceiling and felt a surge of patriotism as I saw the blue circle with the white star indicating the American Airforce (in 1942-1943, according to wikipedia). When we visited, I was in the middle of reading Unbroken, and was absolutely enthralled with the story. It was really cool to be able to see a piece of the story as I was reading it.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Last week, some good friends joined our adventure and we walked through the sculpture gardens before visiting the Hirshhorn Museum of contemporary art. The weather has been absolutely wonderful here lately, so we’re taking full advantage!
There are some really amazing things in the Hirshhorn. And some really wild things. Like that giant naked man statue (Untitled, Big Man by Ron Mueck). Eliot is wondering what on earth is happening over there. Milo told me “That guy need to put his pants on, right mom?” Yes, but he probably just got out of the bath… Overall, I am thrilled for the boys to be introduced to different things, and talk to them about it.
One of the main installations right now is called Belief+Doubt by Barbara Kruger. It is awesome. Giant phrases like “Belief+Doubt=Sanity” and “You want it. You buy it. You forget it.” cover the walls and floor. I loved reading her interview about the exhibit, and a quote of her’s “Art should make you say ‘Huh? Wow!’ instead of ‘Wow! Huh?’” I definitely saw some “Wow! Huh?” at the Hirshhorn, and lots of pieces I simple loved, too.We are really lucky to have so many fantastic sights nearby, and free.
Today we’re heading to the National Arboretum (I’ve only been once before and fell in love!) with a picnic lunch. It will be the perfect way to begin another weekend. Then, tomorrow we’ve got plans to pick apples (so I can make a winter’s worth of applesauce like I did two years ago. Milo was so tiny!)
I hope you all have a great one, too.
ps If you live around DC and want to hang out on a Friday in the District, let me know. We’d love to meet up!
pps I just noticed Milo is wearing the exact same tee in all three of these outings: his “soccer shirt” gifted to him by beloved Uncle Ben. He asks for it every single day, and most of the time it’s in the laundry. I guess by Friday it’s either clean, or he wants it bad enough I pull it out for him! Funny. I think today it actually is in the laundry.
13 Comments
It’s so awesome you are going to try and go into the district one a week!! There really are so many amazing attractions in DC. The photos of your little guys in the butterfly room made me so homesick!! We love the natural history museum – i think it’s my favourite
Though i also love the museum of the american indian (i’m a sucker for all the beaded garments).
Anyway, i’m so glad you’re enjoying it all!! You’ve defintley made me miss my old town XOXO
We wish you were here to come join the fun! xo
does he watch when dave takes the pictures you post on here of your outfits? it looks to me like he is mimicing your poses. looking down at your feet, looking off to the side… i went back to look at your pictures just to be sure… this little boy loves his mama and is just a copycat. TOO CUTE.
Haha, that’s actually kind of funny! I take most of my photos myself with a tripod (since it’s usually dark by the time I see Dave every day…) Most of the time the boys are just running wild while I do it, so he totally could be just watching me! Great, now I’ve got a little mock-model on my hands:)
Oh my gosh….we were just there last Saturday on our East Coast Road Trip! It was so much fun, there is so much to see…I wish would would have had a few more days to explore. You are very lucky to live near a place with so much to do, and I am glad you take advantage!!!! Can’t wait to see more of these adventures….and I’ll have to let you know when we post our DC post on Monday
i wish we were still there! i had such big plans for last summer, when my youngest guy was finally old enough too to head out and about on adventures. too bad we moved right before the summer.
Hi.
This is the first time I’m commenting on your blog, but I’ve been following you for a while. I love your sewing skills and your photography!
I live in Maryland and I noticed you said there is free parking around the Mall. Could you give your secret location away? My uncle, who uses a cane, is coming to DC on Monday and I would like to take him to at least one of the museums, but I couldn’t imagine being able to find parking. Any help/directions you can give are much appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi Danna! Welcome to the comment section! I love hearing from readers, so feel free to comment whenever you’d like:)
It’s not really a secret, just not well known, that there is free three-hour parking along Jefferson and Madison (which are the streets directly lining the National Mall on the inside of Constitution and Independence). All of the spots are parallel parking only, and according to the signs the parking officially begins at 10 am, however, if you arrive anytime after 9:15 am there will be very little chance you’ll get one. People begin parking there as early as 8:45ish. I usually start with Jefferson (which is one-way headed towards the Capitol) and take the first spot I see. If there aren’t any there, I turn L on 3rd, then turn L again to head down Madison (which is one-way headed towards the Washington Monument). If I’m there by 9:15-9:30 am I usually find a spot. The boys run around on the grass until the museums open at 10 am, and then we’ve got free parking until 1pm! It’s a great set up.
After 9:30 am, there is free parking all along Constitution from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. That’s a great second-choice, just a longer walk if you plan on seeing the museums.
Good luck!
How I wish I loved near all those incredible museums!!
duh. come visit.
I’ve been meaning to go the Arboretum for all four years that I’ve lived in DC, and haven’t done it yet! Definitely love the sculpture gardens and free museums, though, when I make it to them. The monuments at night might be my favorite, however.
I’m at work during the day, but if you’re ever interested in company after 5 on a Friday, it would be fun to actually meet someone who writes a blog that I read, as I haven’t done that yet!
I know I’m delayed in this but…. I found you through Oh Sweet Joy today and had to say hi. I live in Shirlington, work in Chevy Chase. My husband and I are pregnant with our first baby (a boy!). He’s coming in seven weeks and hopefully not later than that but it would be fun to meet up with another blogger in the area!
Hey Cady! How fun you found your way here! I’d love to get together sometime soon. My little boys will give you a taste of what life might look like in a couple years! I’ll email you when I get home from my trip, and we can plan a get together!