A couple of weekends ago, we took the kids to the Smithsonian Natural History of Museum. We hadn't visited it in awhile and DD6 wanted to see the dinosaur exhibit and the gem and mineral exhibit. So we headed out early and arrived at the National Mall about 30 minutes before the museum opened so we could secure a three-hour free parking spot in front of the museum. The kids played tag, and hide and seek with us while waiting for it to open. Not many places to hide along the Mall except for the trees.
We got in line at the entrance with about 5 minutes to go. There was a couple making their first visit to DC from Atlanta in front of us, who was also very nice enough to offer some gum for the kids. DS2 LOVES gums. What 2 year old doesn't, right?
The doors opened, went through security, and we entered the atrium.
We headed straight towards to the dinosaur exhibit since this area always becomes the most crowded later in the day. Sort of like racing towards Dumbo when MK opens at WDW although I've heard FPs now have eliminated the need for that.
Boy, did I get schooled by DD on dinosaurs. I would walk up to a fossil exhibit and say "Hmmm, let me see what this one is called" while squinting my eyes to read the display, but before I could even read the first word, DD tells me "Daddy, that's a parasaurolophus because it has a long crest and a duck bill!"
She of course learned all this from a PBS tv show called "Dinosaur Train"
Even I knew the name of this one!
Next we headed upstairs for the minerals exhibit. Part of the exhibit includes a simulated mining cave with certain minerals embedded in the rocks. DD and DS loves it because it makes them feel like walking into a real cave!
They also had an exhibit about the Chilean miners that were rescued a couple of years ago. The Chilean government (or whoever owns the item) also donated the actual rescue capsule they used. I still remember watching that very moving moment live on my computer when the capsule pulled out the first survivor.
We made our way to the gem exhibits with all kinds of colors on display. This was DD's favorite part.
And of course, the Hope Diamond. Is it bad that whenever I see this display, all I can think of is the movie, Titanic?
Afterwards, it was time to grab a quick lunch at the museum cafe. We were looking for one of the elevators on the rear end of the exhibits when we came across this.
What's that you ask? Why, it's Titano-Boa of course! Yikes. Don't think I really needed to see that one. We got some food for the kids. Food prices tend to be on the over-priced side in the Smithsonian museums but since the admission is free, it doesn't bother me as much. After lunch, DD picked out a book about gems from the gift shop and DS picked out a book about dinosaurs. On our way out of the museum, we quickly passed through the Ocean exhibit.
And while waiting for the kids on their potty break, I found this totem pole tucked away along one of the staircases. Thought it was an odd location for an exhibit since this particular stairway doesn't see much traffic.
We got back in our car before our three hour parking was up and drove back home.
The train also has wifi so I could do some live posts from the train with my iPad as well. 
Not being able to share and watch my kids reactions to the Happiest Place on Earth is obviously the biggest minus for this solo trip. 
I remember thinking that the cartoon and human characters interacting with each other was the coolest thing ever.
Well those pictures are gorgeous! Looks like they have added a few more memorials since I went in the 80s 
. And they are definitely cool at night.
