Travels With Teens: Take Two “I Can Organize This Trip in My Sleep!”BC Dee in DC Roti & Fini p. 40

[natebenma]

Am I 1st? I'm never 1st
Can't wait to hear all

and congrats for first posting honors!!!

 

[natebenma]

Going to be lazy... I technically already welcomed everyone to the original Teens report, so I'm going with a group

I've never been to DC so I'm interested to hear all about it. Seems like it was an adventure based on what you've said so far.

How many pictures with all four of you? I'm going to say 5.

Two items, I got nothing... Maybe a gaming device and some type of food.

Yes you make to the tour with just a few minutes to spare.

No your room isn't ready yet.

I'm going to say it has to do with pandas but I don't know what.

Coolest thing I've seen at a zoo is probably some monkeys getting it on which I don't know if that classifies as cool but oh well. I guess I could also say getting some awesome close ups of animals on the safari at animal kingdom my past trip that's always cool. There were a lot of babies on the safari as well.

You forgot to charge the battery.

I will have suggestions and advice for a DC trip throughout the resort. This was my 4th time there (family trip when I was 14 while my dad had a business trip), Mark and I went in July for our 5th wedding anniversary (HOT!) and we had the trip in 2010 with the boys. It is really an amazing destination with so much to see.

Got your answers!

Monkeys up to monkey business and animal closeup and babies are definitely cool!

Great start Dee and I'm loving the then and now photos

Ok I'm going to kick off the competition but bear in mind I've never been to Washington so any knowledge I have is from watching The West Wing and they didn't visit the zoo

Step count for day 1 =9872
1) 3 photos of all 4 of you
2) Guide book - Touring DC as a party of 1 ( was he intending to ditch you all) and Swiss army
Knife by mistake
3) Yes
4) No
5) Baby elephant's 1st public appearance
6) the face of the school kid I'd lost 10 minutes earlier
7)you forgot to charge it and forgot to bring charger :0

I knew before the trip I wanted to get a then and now White House photo because the first one is one of my favorites from the trip.

I loved the West Wing!!!

Got your answers!
Love your answer about the Guide book! And ha ha on finding a lost kid.

I always enjoy then and now pics, your sons are so handsome, and totally grown up. Bittersweet

The only question I will answer, because I am a bad guesser...ok I'll answer two.
One family photo
Coolest thing I've seen at a zoo was at AK I saw the baby gorilla at a week or so old

Thanks for your kind words about the boys. Isn't it amazing what a difference 5 years makes!

Got your answers.

Awwwww- baby gorilla!

Here and ready to read about your trip. The Dis does not have a Panda emoji....I love The DC zoo and happy to hear you got out to see the Space Shuttle.

No guesses?

Thanks for your comments about the Space Museum before the trip. I was not feeling it, but your encouragement helped.

 

[natebenma]

I am going to guess zero.

a small pen knife and an item of food

Since it seems impossible to make an 8:45am tour when you land at 7:30 and have to walk six blocks, the logical side of me says no way Jose. But since you asked the question it makes me wonder if this is a trick question and the real answer is yes. But then maybe you would think that we would think it is a trick question and answer no. So my answer is that I'm immune to the effects of iocane powder - wait - wrong quiz. I'll say yes, you make it.

No, but that does't matter since you probably didn't expect it to be.

you saw a baby animal being born.

The coolest thing that I can think of was the way the two baby gorillas at Animal Kingdom were playing. It was adorable.

The battery died.

Got your answers!

I love your reasoning on whether we made it to the BEP tour! Psych!


TWO baby gorillas! AWWWW!!!

 

[natebenma]

Washington DC! no time for rest in that schedule, I can't wait to read your TR. The night tour was a highlight for us, I hope you enjoyed it too!

Thanks for joining in!!!

I can't wait to write all about the trip. I didn't do a report from our 2010 visit, so lot's of pent-up ideas.

 

[natebenma]

Who does???

That is awesome!!! I don't get to DC often, but I always try to slip that night tour in if I can.

Sadly, I do get to go to DC once every few years, but I'm often too busy to get to do much of the tourist stuff during the day. I've had countless tours of the Captiol building, and with some great access really, because I've been led around either with the staff of a Congressman or Senator. Once my Congressman actually took about 6 of us and gave us the tour himself. But really, that's about it. Never been up in Washington Monument. Never been on a White House tour. Usually about the only Smithsonian museum I get a chance to visit is Air & Space because it is about a 30 second walk from the hotel I'm usually staying in and I can get there when I have a spare hour or 2.

0

Sunscreen and shampoo.

Um... no.

Yes

A panda playing and eating bamboo. Because really, where else have you ever seen a panda?

Well, DW's cousin is a zookeeper at the Indianapolis zoo and he works with the elephants. He took us backstage for an up close and personal visit with a couple of the elephants. So there's that.

Because you forgot to take the lens cap off.

I have made the comment about not having a camera more than once!

I'm sure that everyone has something to learn about using their DSLR cameras, but I know quite a few folks here on the DIS who could give lessons! One actually does @teekathepony

That's a shame that you don't get much of a chance to do tourist things when you are in DC. Someday you will make a trip with the kids and do all of that.

Or you could do what my dad did. On a business trip, when I was 14 and my brother was 13, he put us on a Grey Line all-day tour. At the end of the tour it was just my brother and me, and the bus driver said "Now I am going to take you to places most tourists don't get to see" and he drove us to a sketchy neighborhood where he picked up a friend or family member. The bus was late returning to the hotel and my dad was freaking out.

Yeah, maybe don't do that!



Got your answers.

Backstage elephants are a TOTALLY cool experience!

 

[natebenma]

Yay DC! I haven't been to DC in a while, so I'm excited to see/read all about your trip!



Three.



Based on my brother's TSA experiences, I'm going to go with a book and some food.



Hmm... this is tough without knowing which airport you flew into. I'll go with yes.



No.



A baby panda! Just being a baby panda. It doesn't have to do more than that.



I've never been a big zoo person, so I'm just gonna go with ... I've fed goats. At a petting zoo.



You brought the wrong lens.

Thanks for joining in!

I clarified that we flew into DCA/Reagan National, the closer airport.

Got your answers.

Not to be a one-upper, but part of my job is feeding goats. Every week at Farm Friends and when we have other school groups at the farm where I work, it is my job to take the kids to feed the animals.

Fun Fact: While they don't actually eat EVERYTHING (they will lick tin cans to taste them, but not consume them), goats are not allergic to poison ivy, so there are businesses that rent out goats to help get rid of nasty plants in their yards.

 

[natebenma]

Colonel Mustard in the library with the candelabra.

What did I win?

~NM

You won Professor Peacock in a mankini

THAT was EXCELLENT!
~NM

Both of you!

 

[natebenma]

Oh yay! Another adventure with Dee's family!

I'd love to visit Washington someday, so I'll be following along with great interest.

Can't believe how much your boys have grown up!

Thanks for following along.

I know, right! I can't believe they are both teenagers now!

 

[natebenma]

My guesses

1. Family pictures: 1

3. Late by 10 minutes but able to join next tour.

4. Room not ready till 6 pm.

7. Didn't charge battery.

Got your guesses! Thanks for reading.

 

[natebenma]

Sounds like a great trip! I've only been to DC once and it was brief, but I've always wanted to go back.

I'll play along.

1. 2 family photos

2. The 2 items in the backpack were a pocket knife and a food item, possibly the gross jelly beans from the school trip.

3. If you flew into Dulles, that seems like you would be cutting it pretty tight, so I'll guess you were a little late.

4. No, the room was not ready that early when you got there.

5. Coolest thing you saw at the zoo was the baby panda.

6. I don't know if it's the coolest, but one of the funniest things I've witnessed at the zoo was a monkey flinging his poop at the visitors. Gross, but pretty funny.

7. I've got to go with the dead camera battery answer.

Thanks for reading and playing!

Got your answers.

Need clarification on your monkey story, which is indeed cool! Was there a partition between the monkey and the guests? Bonus points if it was a class trip and the poop was hurled at teens!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Both of you!

Whaaaaatttttt we wuz only joking though NM sent me her address so I could post her prize!!
Anyhow I fed her that line about researching posting methods and whether or not there'd be a fee for package delivery/pickup so she wont hassle you (or me) for her mankini man for a week or so

Now you said that you and Mark went to DC for your 5th anniversary and" it was HOT". This begs the question what was hot? You & Mark (no doubt about it)? The weather?? I'm thinking both

 

[annie170]

Regarding my zoo story, no partition, just the cage like rails. No class trip, just a family one. The poop was continually being flung at one man in particular. It's like the monkey was mad at him for some reason. My husband, kids and I laugh every time someone brings it up.

 

[Ninja Mom]

Whaaaaatttttt we wuz only joking though NM sent me her address so I could post her prize!!
Anyhow I fed her that line about researching posting methods and whether or not there'd be a fee for package delivery/pickup so she wont hassle you (or me) for her mankini man for a week or so

Now you said that you and Mark went to DC for your 5th anniversary and" it was HOT". This begs the question what was hot? You & Mark (no doubt about it)? The weather?? I'm thinking both

I'm thinking that Dee would find somebody way hotter if they were wearin' a Mankini, jus' sayin'.....

~NM

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I'm thinking that Dee would find somebody way hotter if they were wearin' a Mankini, jus' sayin'.....

~NM

Literally laughing and crying at the same time! Kids think I've lost the plot! Then again what else is new?

 

[mickeystoontown]

I finally had a minute to come over and catch up and now you're donw with the group trip and on to another trip with the family. You are one heckofa woman to plan such amazing trips and chaperone.

As far as the family trip goes, I'm looking forward to reading all about your adventures. The boys sure have grown up since your 2010 trip.

 

[natebenma]

So I have been whining over on my other report about catching up, blah! blah! blah!

Hope to post a new update tomorrow. I have been nagging Nate to send me a couple of pictures from his phone and he is being a pita! He told me I keep asking at the wrong time and I need to make an appointment.

Maybe I'll make an appointment to cancel service on his phone...

Whaaaaatttttt we wuz only joking though NM sent me her address so I could post her prize!!
Anyhow I fed her that line about researching posting methods and whether or not there'd be a fee for package delivery/pickup so she wont hassle you (or me) for her mankini man for a week or so

Now you said that you and Mark went to DC for your 5th anniversary and" it was HOT". This begs the question what was hot? You & Mark (no doubt about it)? The weather?? I'm thinking both

Although she sent you an address, I'm not sure they accept mail at "The Institution"

Regarding my zoo story, no partition, just the cage like rails. No class trip, just a family one. The poop was continually being flung at one man in particular. It's like the monkey was mad at him for some reason. My husband, kids and I laugh every time someone brings it up.

That's hilarious!!!

I'm thinking that Dee would find somebody way hotter if they were wearin' a Mankini, jus' sayin'.....

~NM

Heck, it was so hot in DC in July that I would have worn a mankini!

Literally laughing and crying at the same time! Kids think I've lost the plot! Then again what else is new?

"Lost the plot!" LOVE IT!!!

I finally had a minute to come over and catch up and now you're donw with the group trip and on to another trip with the family. You are one heckofa woman to plan such amazing trips and chaperone.

As far as the family trip goes, I'm looking forward to reading all about your adventures. The boys sure have grown up since your 2010 trip.

They really have grown up a lot! What a difference 5 years makes.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Tuned in to this just now after ranting about my ungrateful
offspring, sorry," wee Angels" to my poor hubby on the phone. You made me smile with your cancelling phone service appointment so thanks for that. You've brightened my day

 

[natebenma]

Monday April 18- Arrival


The alarm went off at 3:00 am. We had a 6:00 am flight from Logan airport to Reagan National/DCA.


The car service was scheduled to arrive at 3:45. We have used this car service for 25 years, probably around 50-60 times between family vacations and business trips. They have never failed to show up.


Yet I worry.


Every.Single.Time!


But at 3:35, the car pulled up and we arrived at the airport around 4:20. Plenty of time!


We checked 2 bags. We had booked our trip before Jet Blue instituted baggage fees, so we were grandfathered in and did not have to pay for them. Plus, we had seats in rows 3 and 4. Jet Blue loads the plane from the back forward, so we figured on this short commuter flight, most people would probably have carry-ons only and overhead space would be scarce. We were correct. Many of the last passengers on the plane had to have their carry-on bags gate-checked if they didn’t fit under the seat.


Mark and I shared a backpack, Nate had one and Ben had packed his.


Line at TSA security checkpoint was not bad. They were sending people to different lines. We chose poorly. Our line did not move. At all. I couldn’t figure out what was going on.


Finally it was our turn to put our bags through the scanner.


We went through the metal detector.


No problem.


Mark’s bag came out of the scanner. Then Nate’s bag.


That’s weird. Ben’s was in between the two bags.


Problem.


A few other bags from people who were behind us in line came through.


Then they pulled out Ben’s bag and said “Who does this bag belong to?”


I went over to the table with Ben.


First, they were checking the bag of a woman in front of us. She was deaf, and the agent kept asking her questions like “Is there anything sharp in your bag?” and she was signing back but he didn’t understand. I don’t know sign language, but I do know she was ticked off the way they were taking everything out of her bag and then putting it back in carelessly.


Then it was Ben’s turn.


First, they pulled out the two books he had packed and flipped through them.

THAT could be a problem. I don’t know why he brought this. Especially since it weighs about 10 pounds!


Mark came over just as they were swabbing a small box from Ben’s bag.


“What’s in there?”


“Exploding Kittens”


The TSA smiled, and nodded his head to one of his coworkers to check it out.

For those of you who don’t know, Exploding Kittens (and sometimes Goats) is a card game that I got Ben for Easter. A friend on the DIS recommended it when I was talking about how Ben brought Apples to Apples on the class trip.


I am not sure how long it took us to get through security, but we found our gate and the boys headed off to get something for breakfast.


About 10 minutes later, they started boarding our plane, which was smaller than the ones we usually take since it was a commuter plane. Seats were 2x2 instead of 3x3.


As I mentioned, we had seats in the front and they were loading from the back, but I started texting Mark and Nate to let them know what was going on.


5:21 Me: They are now boarding. Small children, rows 20 and higher.

5:23 Me: Rows 15 and higher

5:23 Nate: We are fine for now?

5:23 Me: Have you ordered?

5:24 Nate: Should we come? We are almost done.

5:24 Me: If you haven’t ordered come

5:24 Me: 5 and higher


At that point I saw them coming to the gate so I met them and we boarded the plane.


When we were onboard, the pilot, Moose came out to talk to the passengers, introducing himself and his co-pilot Bud and to thank everyone for flying with them. We thought that was a really nice touch.


Other than that, the flight was uneventful and quick.


Nate took this really great picture as we were landing

We touched down, early, sometime around 7.


We went to the baggage carousel and waited just a few minutes for our luggage.


We went out to grab a cab. Cabs were lined up and there was a guy out there helping to hail them over (is that called a valet?). The next cab in line was a regular sedan and then behind that was a van. There are 4 of us and two suitcases. I told the guy we wanted the van. He said the car was next.


Too bad!


The cabdriver was not happy, but there was a single lady right behind us, so it is not like he lost a fare.


I forgot to time the ride, but I want to say it was around 20 minutes from the airport to the JW Marriott and bellman put our luggage on a trolley.

We got to the check in desk and there was one person ahead of us. I checked us in and the desk clerk said “Let me see if there is a room ready”

.

.

.

“Room 742”


YES!!!


The bellman followed us up to the room and we checked out our surroundings for a few minutes. We all hit the bathroom.

This was the view from our room. The indoor pool is to the right of this picture.

I glanced at the clock- it was a little past 8.


We needed to leave to make our way to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for our 8:45 tour.


I inherited a horrid sense of direction from my dad. Mark’s is not much better.


But he has a GPS on his phone.


I hate his GPS!


When we were in Maui, and were trying to get to the Times Marketplace to shop, it took us on a long, square route, but if we had just asked someone at the hotel, they would have told us to walk straight across the lawn and we would be there.


We were following the directions to the BEP, and it seemed to be taking us too far in one direction. Then we lost the signal. Mark said “I think we need to go this way” I pulled out a map and said we should continue walking down the road we were on.


I got the skeptical comment “If that’s what you think” and mental comment “You better be right!”


We walked past the Washington Monument. The line is people waiting for same day tickets to go up into the monument. We were very thankful that our state Representative was able to get us timed tickets for Tuesday!

We found the BEP and the ticket booth, but that is not where the tour was starting. The guy at the booth gave us directions to the other side of the building, through an alley between the BEP and the Holocaust Museum.





We got there about 10 minutes before our tour was supposed to start, which is when they advised us to arrive.



***************************************************************

Bureau of Engraving & Printing Tour


I took this tour when I went to Washington with my dad and brother.

Mark and I went on our 5th anniversary trip.

We took the boys because that’s what you do. Tradition.

This was not the best thing we did all week.


Once our tour started, we were lead into the waiting room with a lot of displays.

Then you watch a short movie that describes the history of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing and takes you through the process. Then you go to 4 different windows in the BEP to watch the process just described.


Photos are absolutely prohibited while you are touring the BEP.


The boys’ favorite part was seeing a sign that said “I just printed up my lifetime in earning in two minutes”


We left somewhat underwhelmed, but when Nate & Ben take their kids to DC someday, the tour will likely be on the itinerary. Tradition!


After leaving the tour, we noticed we were not far from the Jefferson Memorial. This memorial is pretty far from the Mall where you find the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the War memorials. You have to walk around the whole Basin to get there. On our last trip, we were exhausted after our walk over there from the other memorials, so it made sense for us to take the time to walk over and visit the Jefferson now, but instead, we just crossed over into a park area and took a few pictures across the Basin.

The next important thing for us to do was to get something to eat, since we had a rushed breakfast at the airport. We decided to walk back to our hotel (6 blocks) to go to the food court there.



We walked back past the Washington Monument and by the future Museum of African American History

Once we arrived back at the JW Marriott, we exited the hotel through a set of double doors in the lobby and found ourselves in a very plain looking hallway. There are posters up for the food court, but it doesn't say how to get there or the hours. None of us remembered how to get there, even though we had a couple of meals here on our trip 5 years ago. We walked past an elevator that takes you to the parking garage and came to a pair of doors. We tried to open them, but they were locked. Since it was around 10:30, we thought maybe they were closed for breakfast and it was too early for lunch. They had really screwy hours when we went last time- they closed early on weekends because there aren't many people in the city then.

So we doubled back to the Starbucks in the hotel lobby.

After eating, and more importantly, getting some drinks with caffeine, we walked the couple of blocks to the Metro that would take us to the zoo.

We planned to use the Metro a few times on our trip, so we went to a machine to purchase 4 reloadable Smart Cards. We put in our credit card, followed the steps and the transaction errored off. Tried it again. Same thing. Used a different credit card. Still got an error. As we were doing this, a mechanic came by and said “This machine is not working.”


OK. A sign would have helped…

Once we moved to another machine, we were all set.


We got onto the train and made it to the Zoo stop.


Signs were good directing us where to go, but it was 4 blocks from the stop to the zoo 4 long (hot) blocks.

I expected it to be closer.


But there were a lot of gorgeous homes and streets along the way. It reminded me a little bit of the Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston.

*******************************************************************

Continued in Next Post- Smithsonian National Zoo

 

[natebenma]

Smithsonian National Zoo- continued from previous post

“We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too!
We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo”


Smithsonian National Zoo Webite


I figured the first thing we should do is check out the pandas since they are the big draw here. That way, if they weren’t out at this time, we could see the other animals and come back.


I took some pictures with my Canon DSLR along the way. Snap! Snap! Snap!


When we came to the pandas, I took a few pictures, then I pulled out my phone because it has a pretty decent zoom:

(Photo by Nate)

We continued on, viewing elephants, cheetahs bison, reptiles, going into the small mammal exhibit.


Snap! Snap! Snap!


A few times, I switched over to my phone.

Then we got to the lion exhibit, we saw a group of lionesses together.

Then I spotted a single lioness up in a corner between a rock outcropping. Eating a whole rabbit!


I was fascinated to see this and I took a bunch of pictures.


Snap! Snap! Snap!


That is the COOLEST thing I have ever seen at a zoo.


Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!


I am getting some really great pictures!


Then, I notice a warning on the display of my camera:


No memory card.


I must have forgotten to put the card back in the camera after our Yellowstone trip. I didn’t think the camera would let me take pictures without a card in and I am surprised that it took me so long to notice the message.


GRRRRR!!!! %$*&


I took a few more pictures with my phone, but the photos are in shadow, and my family was moving on because we had been at this exhibit so long.

I usually carry extra memory cards and batteries with me, so once I noticed the problem, I added a card to the Canon, and we were on our way again, but I was really disappointed because I knew I had lost an excellent series of photos.


The rest of the pictures are taken with the DSLR:


Lions and Tigers and Bears (in Trees). Oh My!

This was the cutest thing! 2 baby bears playing and then climbing a tree. We were fascinated and a little scared as the bear climbed higher and higher up the tree

And back to my phone. Just in case…

Another picture from the American Trail:

*******************************************************************************

 

[natebenma]

Zoo- continued


At this point, we were really hot and really tired. But Nate still wanted to see the Great Apes and the Amazon exhibit.


Which were in opposite directions.


We headed first to the Amazon. What a great exhibit!

There are some pretty funky things that live in the Amazon River. We all decided we wouldn’t be swimming there any time soon.

Rays

Piranha

Arapima



There are signs warning people that there are animals that are not enclosed in this exhibit. To prove the point, this bird flew down and landed right in front of us, startling Mark

We then, quickly, visited with the Great Apes.


It REALLY smelled bad in there!

That concluded our visit to the zoo.


I had spotted the restaurant I wanted to go to across from the Metro stop. I’ll review that in my next update.


Contest Questions:


On the way back to our hotel, we would be coming close to Ford’s Theatre.


Do we take a tour? (10 points)
To clarify, Ford's Theatre offers a variety of tour options depending on the time of day, including different combinations of: Walk through of Ford's Theater, One-act play " One Destiny ", tour of Ford's Theatre Museum and walk through of the Petersen House, the house across the street where Lincoln died. You can't do any of these things without booking a tour, $5 per person, no matter how many of the activities are included.


We end our day by having dinner at the 1331 Grill at our hotel. Here is the menu.


I didn’t capture the steak section. That is what Nate had. For 10 points each, guess the other 3 things we ordered. You don’t have to say who got what. We all shared bites of the things we ordered.

I am off to work for the day, when I return, I’ll give a points update for the contest.


Next Up: The Big Drool, y’all!