This year, instead of our usual Thanksgiving traditions at home, our family decided to do something completely different—take an RV trip to Washington, D.C. We’ve talked about visiting the nation’s capital for years, and Thanksgiving week finally felt like the perfect time.
We packed up the camper and set out on a nine-day trip full of history, learning, laughter, and sweet time together as a family. Along the way, we were able to stop and visit friends, explore some of the most meaningful places in our country, and see God’s faithfulness woven into every single day.
Here is a day-by-day look at our trip—one I know our kids will remember for the rest of their lives.
Friday, November 21
And we’re off! We pulled out of Tifton around 8:30 a.m. and headed toward Momeyer, North Carolina to see our friends Brandon and Natalie and their kids, James, Selah, and Hazel. We arrived around 7:30 that evening, tired but excited for the weekend ahead.
Saturday, November 22
We spent the day visiting and relaxing at Brandon and Natalie’s house. That evening we all went to Cracker Barrel in Rocky Mount for supper.
Sunday, November 23
We went to the church Brandon is now pastoring—Momeyer Baptist Church. It is a beautiful church with the sweetest people. We loved meeting other brothers and sisters in Christ. Saying goodbye to the Martins again was hard, but we were so grateful for the time together.
Next stop: Cherry Hill RV Park in Washington, D.C. We rolled in around 6 p.m., got settled, ate supper, and watched National Treasure in the camper. Cozy and perfect.
Monday, November 24
Our first full day in Washington, D.C.—and what a day it was! I was genuinely impressed with how clean and safe the city felt. It is the cleanest and safest-feeling big city I’ve ever been in.
We started the morning at Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House. After that we drove to Old Town Alexandria for our guided walking tour and lunch. Alexandria was absolutely beautiful—it felt like walking through a movie set.
That afternoon we went to the top of the Washington Monument. The views were incredible. Later we did the Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour and got to see so many monuments glowing in the dark. All of our guides were wonderful—helpful, knowledgeable, and engaging.
We were also still enjoying the sweetness of our weekend with the Martin family. Being able to visit Brandon’s church before heading into the city made the whole trip feel extra meaningful.
We ended the night exhausted but very thankful.
What We Learned Today
• Ford’s Theatre is where President Abraham Lincoln was shot in 1865. He died the next morning in the Petersen House across the street.
• Old Town Alexandria dates back to 1749 and still looks like a colonial port town.
• The Washington Monument stands 555 feet tall and is the tallest stone structure in the world.
• The Lincoln Memorial has 36 columns for the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death.
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall lists more than 58,000 names and was designed by a 21-year-old college student.
Tuesday, November 25
What. A. Day.
We walked over 40,000 steps in two days, and my legs definitely felt it!
We started at the Library of Congress, then headed to our Capitol tour, and wrapped up the afternoon at the National Archives. Every stop was fascinating and surreal to see in person.
At the end of the day, we were able to visit the People’s House, then walked over to the White House to take a quick picture—just before the rain started pouring. Perfect timing!
Alexandria from the day before was still on my mind. It truly felt like a movie set.
What We Learned Today
• The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with over 170 million items.
• The Capitol is home to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and is topped by the Statue of Freedom.
• The National Archives houses the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
• The White House has been the home of every U.S. president since John Adams and contains 132 rooms.
Wednesday, November 26
This was my favorite day of the entire week.
We began the morning with the Arlington Cemetery tram tour, which was incredibly meaningful and humbling. After lunch we spent the afternoon at the Museum of the Bible. I was so thankful they were hosting the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit while we were there—seeing that in person felt very special.
We ended the night at Ford’s Theatre to see A Christmas Carol. It was the perfect festive ending to a beautiful day.
What We Learned Today
• Arlington Cemetery sits on what was once Robert E. Lee’s family property and now holds more than 400,000 graves.
• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24/7 by elite Sentinels who follow an exact and precise routine.
• The Dead Sea Scrolls are some of the oldest known biblical manuscripts and confirm the remarkable accuracy of Scripture preservation.
Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day
Happy Thanksgiving! We spent the day at Mount Vernon, and it ended up being so special. We had lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn, and the best surprise of all was learning that the mansion had just reopened for tours the day before. Perfect timing, and we felt so grateful to be able to go inside.
What made the day even better was finding out that Mount Vernon is pet-friendly, so Milly got to come along with us. She couldn’t go inside the restaurant, of course, so she waited in the truck during lunch, but she enjoyed being with us on the grounds the rest of the time.
We definitely missed our normal Thanksgiving traditions and our family at home, but it was sweet to spend the holiday together—walking the grounds, seeing Washington’s tomb, and taking in the history of such a significant place. Even though it wasn’t our usual Thanksgiving, it felt peaceful and memorable.
We ended the evening back at the camper, warm and cozy, watching Christmas movies—the perfect start to the holiday season.
Friday, November 28
Our last full day in Washington—and it was a cold and windy one! Definitely colder than this South Georgia family is used to.
We spent the day exploring two Smithsonian museums: the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. We also did a little souvenir shopping. We had planned to go ice skating at the Sculpture Garden, but it was simply too cold and windy.
All week long, I was amazed at how safe and clean the city was and how friendly everyone seemed. What a wonderful trip from beginning to end.
What We Learned Today
• The National Museum of Natural History holds more than 145 million specimens, including the world-famous Hope Diamond.
• The National Museum of American History houses the original Star-Spangled Banner and Julia Child’s actual kitchen.
• The First Ladies exhibit showcases gowns worn to inaugurations and state events throughout history.
Saturday, November 29
We woke up early, packed up, and drove to Denton, North Carolina. Since we didn’t get Polar Express tickets this year, we chose to visit “Christmas on the Farm”—and it ended up being the perfect choice.
The farm is owned by a Christian family who focuses the entire experience on Jesus being the reason for the season. There was live entertainment, delicious baked goods, Christmas lights everywhere, and a train ride that told the Christmas story through beautiful scenes. There was also a little history area that reminded us of the Museum of Agriculture in Tifton. It was a warm, meaningful way to end our trip.
Sunday, November 30
We left early this morning for the final stretch home. As I type this, we’re still on the road and expected to arrive around 4:30 p.m.
He also showed His kindness in small ways—like parking. Navigating a fifth wheel with a Ford F-450 in Washington, D.C. is no small task, yet every single day we found parking. More than once, people moved cones just so we could park. Small things, but such big blessings.
One piece of advice for future travelers: if a museum offers a guided tour, take it. Most museums are free, so paying for a guide is completely worth it. The kids learned so much more because they had someone explaining things in a way they actually listened to.
Next week it’s back to normal life—school, work, sports, chores—but this trip was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. I think the kids will remember it forever. I know I will.
No comments:
Post a Comment