D.C.

Our visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corps this morning started with some hands-on fun for Cassie.  Fishing and dress-up!

The rest of the museum is more somber, detailing the history of the Marine Corps in all of the wars up until 1975.  We appreciated how well the exhibits flowed from one to the next, and in chronological order.  Our Marines are so brave!  Makes me even more proud of my son (thank you for your service, Arnold!  I love you!).  After an hour or so, I'd had enough war so we moved on.  

After a delicious lunch at Kramerbooks in Dupont Circle (recommended by Mr. D), we set out to visit the giant pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Needed to walk off that vanilla salted caramel cake!  Many of the animals seemed to be sleeping this afternoon.  The outdoor play areas for the pandas and the gorillas were empty, but we did get to see them inside.

All that walking was a perfect excuse to get on the Metro and ride all the way to the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  We were able to spend a lot of time walking around inside this Cathedral.  Amazing.

The National Portrait Gallery and the Museum of American Art were our last stop for the day.  So tired from all the walking!  A little more to see in D.C. tomorrow, and then we might go north.