Day One: How much can we pack into one day?

This is my fourth year doing this trip, and I can't remember a day that was as busy as day one of this year's tour.  The first day of touring always brings special challenges for our kids.  They need a little time to adjust to the pace at which we move. No casual sightseeing here.  There is far more to see in DC then we can ever hope to get to in a week.  Not being deterred, we are determined to include as much as we can.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is that the kids don't get nearly as much sleep on the first night (last night) as they will during the rest of the trip.  Some of them were paying a little extra today for that extra socializing last night.  No worries. They'll make that adjustment tonight.

Other then a tour of the Capitol Building and a visit to the National Archives, today could be called memorial day.  We kicked off this morning with a visit to the Jefferson Memorial.  Standing under the towering 26 ft. figure of Thomas Jefferson provides students with a great initiation of the enormity of Washington, DC memorials and buildings.  Its location on the tidal basin also offers wonderful views of DC landmarks like the White House and Washington Monument.

We then tool the short ride over to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.  I think that kids are always surprised at how much they enjoy this stop. An expansive display that focuses on the highlights of FDR's presidency.

Working our way around the tidal basin, our next stop was the brand new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.  The designers of MLK have created a masterpiece.  The memorial looks pretty small from across the water, but enormous when standing in the middle of it.


One of the most moving stops on our tour each year is Arlington National Cemetery.  As a history teacher it is sometimes difficult to impress upon 12 and 13 year olds the importance of honoring the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform.  A visit to Arlington drives home that message perfectly.  After experiencing the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, four of our kids led us in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring the Unknowns.  I and the other chaperones were honored and proud to be part of that experience.  Please take a minute to check out the video.



Next, we headed over for a quick stop at the National Archives to check out the Charters of Freedom exhibit, including originals of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.  It's one thing to work with these documents in class, it's something all together different to have the signatures just inches from your eyes.  Sorry. They no longer allow photography in the Archives Rotunda.

After lunch and some shopping at Union Station, we hopped over to the U.S. Capitol Building for a guided tour.  I love to watch my students walking through the Capitol rotunda and staring at its magnificent ceiling.

Next, we took the two mile drive to the opposite end of the National Mall for a tour of the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War memorials.  Like Arlington, the Vietnam "Wall" always has an impact on the kids. Walking by the 58,272 names of servicemen and servicewomen that died during that conflict drives home the cost of war and freedom for our kids.

A addition to this year's trip, dinner at Buca di Beppo was a nice way to round-out a hectic day. We wrapped up day one with a quick stop at the U.S. Marine Corp Memorial (Iwo Jima) and the Air Force Memorial. Whew!

I'm beat! We have another full day planned for tomorrow, so I'm hitting the sack . . .

For a collection of pics taken today, click here.