DC Trip Day 3

Washington DC Day 3:

We decided to take it a little easier after the first two full days of hiking. Steve had always wanted to travel to the top of the Washington Monument, so we went extra early to make sure we could get two of the 2,000 tickets that are given out each day to go inside the monument. The ticketbooth opens at 8:30 each morning and tickets for the day are available on a first come, first served basis. We got there about 9:15 and there were only tickets left for the lunch time tours. On day one we were there at noon and all the tickets were already gone. After we went up into the Washington Monument, we checked out the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, where they make all paper currency. We got to see how the presses make US money. It was a neat tour. We rounded out our day by visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Highlights:

The spectacular view from the top of the Washington Monument, even though the weather was overcast and gray.

Watching fresh, crisp $20 bills rolling off the printing presses and being bound into stacks of tens of thousands of dollars (very impressive sight to see).

The McDonald's milkshake for lunch (it was unbelievably hot even though it was overcast).

Seeing the original Wright Brother's Flyer and a lot of other neat Wright Brother's material.

Getting just a peek at the best exhibits from the Museum of National History (which is closed for renovation until 2008 ~ we were really looking forward to visiting that museum in particular, but they had a lot of the neat memorabilia at the Air and Space Museum).

Eating dinner in Chinatown at an authentic Chinese restaurant.

Lowlights:

Field Trippers running everywhere in the Air and Space Museum and being way too noisy while we were trying to watch the IMAX movie.