So I flew back to Indiana to fetch her and we returned to DC via Amtrak. This was Madeline’s choice of transportation and it was fun to ride the train back – for the first eight hours…the next six hours were a bit much, but we made it just the same. Really, we did have a good time riding the train and most of the time was spent traveling at night so overall the time went by rather quickly.
Captain Mark met us at the train station and our DC adventures began. While I rested, Mark and Madeline explored the National Mall and Madeline was excited and thrilled by her first look at the White House. She loved seeing the league serious games of kickball and softball being played on the grounds of the National Mall. On their way back to the boat, they stopped at the Jefferson Memorial which was located almost diagonally across the Washington Channel from our slip.
The Jefferson Memorial
We were as close to the Tidal Basin as one can get nowadays with a private boat and each evening we could sit on the boat and see the back of this monument. Of course, it would have been better to see Tom, but we walked over several times both during the day and in the evenings to pay our respects. Like the Lincoln Memorial, this monument is a wonderful tribute to one of our greatest founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson was such a multi-talented man: statesman, inventor, scholar, orator, and president. He contributed so much that it would be difficult to determine in which area he gave the most to the United States. The Capital Yacht Club is very conveniently located to a Metro (mass transit) station, the Smithsonian Castle, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial and the National Mall. We could not have been in a more centrally located spot from which to visit the sites in Washington. This is the view of our marina from the Washington Monument.
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
This was the first of the Smithsonian Museums that we attended. We all enjoyed very much traveling through space and time. Our generations were showing in that Captain Mark and I could remember and visualize with clarity each of the US space exploits while at the same time Madeline commented on how long ago each of these events took place.
The National Zoo
I am not sure who was most excited about going to the zoo as we were all looking forward to seeing meerekats, lions, tigers and bears – panda bears that is, of course. We were up early and on our way as the elephant washing starts promptly at 10:30a and this was something we did not want to miss. This has to be the best zoo that I have ever attended. Since Chicago has two wonderful zoological parks, that is quite the compliment. The National Zoo has a wonderful collection of animals but also the grounds are laid out in a way that is pleasing and easy to walk without repeating paths. The exhibits are geared to both children and adults and staff was accessible and very informative. 
Smithsonian Natural History Museum
I will confess right up front that I am totally spoiled by the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and while the Smithsonian Natural History Museum is outstanding; nothing can top the Field Museum. Again the exhibits were aimed at both children and adults. The insect and reptile sections were way above average in both quality and quantity of exhibits and of course, there was the Hope Diamond which is certainly something to behold. The one area where I must admit that the Smithsonian was superior to the Field was in the cafeteria – never have I seen such a great array of foodstuffs than at this museum = YUM! 
The National Archives
This is the one place where both Madeline and I were disappointed. We waited for what seemed forever to be crowded and shuffled along to see the most important historical documents in our nation’s history. I think what disappointed us both, but not Captain Mark, was that we could not really “see” the documents as they were faded with time, the handwriting was very difficult to read and the glass through which we were looking was so thick that we could hardly make out what we were seeing. Madeline and I both agreed it would be a better use of our time to purchase a book to read these important documents than spend the time in line to “see” them. On a side note, I have an exhibit in the National Archives vault of very special things and believe it or not, it is knitting. I, along with fellow knitting guild members, were invited to the White House by President and Mrs Clinton in 1998 when our knitted item was placed on the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room. After the knitted mitten/hat ornament was taken from the official tree, it was placed in the vault of the National Archives for posterity.
The Spy Museum
This was a family fun place to visit and a cute break from all of the serious things there are to see and do in DC. It was a little pricey but it was different while being informative. As one would expect, it is full of all sorts of spy gadgets, disguises and intriguing stories about real life spies. There is lots and lots of information about the Cold War, the CIA and the KGB. There are also fun facts about real spies in history and a great exhibit of James Bond, Wild Wild West, Get Smart and all of the media spies through the years. Capitol Hill
Arrangements were made for us to meet with a staff member from the office of Congressman Mark Souder, who represents Indiana’s third congressional district. Our guide for the tour of the House of Representatives portion of the Capitol Building was James Wegmann. A college student working as a summer intern, James was both entertaining and extremely informative as he took us in and around the Capitol Building. He presented the historical and current legislative information in a manner that made the details interesting and thought provoking. He was full of funny antidotes and unusual facts about the building and historical figures. What impressed us the most was the way James was able to direct his conversation to Madeline so as to retain her attention and infuse her with enthusiasm for the history of what she was experiencing. Even though Congress was officially in recess, several members of the House of Representatives remained in DC to protest the Congressional adjournment during the energy crisis. We were lucky enough to be granted access to the floor of the House and to be able to sit in the seats where the Congressman sit during session to view the speeches made by the Congressmen who remained to protest the lack of action being taken to end the energy crisis. This was a wonderful experience for us all, as we will probably never in our lives be given to opportunity to be on the House floor. 
Native American Museum
The newest addition to the Smithsonian family is the Native American Museum. Honoring the heritage of the Native Americans of the United States, this museum has four floors dedicated to unique Indian artifacts. What is unusual and most refreshing about many exhibits in this museum is that the curators have allowed the individual Nations to create and maintain their own exhibits. This allows us to see what is the most important aspect or the most critical message wishing to be expressed by each Native American Nation. Architecturally, the building is simple and yet powerful in that the main entrance faces east so that it may capture the early morning sun. The grounds are reflective of crops and plant life vital to Native American livelihood. Last, but hardly least, is the restaurant that serves only Native American food. HOW (get it?) coolis that?
Bar Hopping
We had to watch Michael Phelps swim after all...or at least that is the story we gave Madeline's parents as the reason we had to eat dinner at the brewery.
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