The Best of the Capital: Discover D.C. With Your Grandchild

3:00-5:00 p.m.: Join us at the Road Scholar table in the hotel lobby to check in with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leaders and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:15 p.m. The Group Leaders will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures, lead field trips, performances and hands-on experiences. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach, public transportation, and walking. Your knowledgeable Group Leaders will provide you with all pertinent information. We will have meals at the hotel and local restaurants, and a period for you to explore local cuisine on your own. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At the hotel.

After dinner, to prepare for our visit to Mount Vernon tomorrow, we will welcome George Washington himself, who – via a historical re-enactor – will discuss his vision for our developing nation and his road to becoming the first president of the United States.

At the hotel.

To start off our day, we will board the motorcoach and head to Virginia for a field trip to explore George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon, a National Historic Landmark, where we will explore the mansion with a knowledgeable expert. We’ll learn about the history of George and Martha Washington’s beloved home and how Washington personally supervised its design and expansion. From MountVernon.org: “In 1754, George Washington began residing at Mount Vernon, a 3,000 acre estate and a house that likely approximated 3,500 square feet. By his death, Washington’s Mount Vernon consisted of about 7,600 acres and an almost 11,000 square foot mansion.” After our exploration of the mansion, we will go on an expert-led walk that will highlight the daily lives and contributions of the enslaved people who built and operated Mount Vernon.

At Mount Vernon.

After lunch, we will board the motorcoach for our visit to historic Old Town Alexandria. Alexandria was the oldest district of D.C. until it was ceded back to Virginia in 1846. George Washington conducted most of his business in Alexandria and even owned a home. Washington, along with our other founding fathers, frequented Gadsby’s Tavern, where we will go on an expert-led exploration and learn about some of the historic conversations that shaped our nation. Continuing our time in Old Town, we will visit Stebler-Leadbeater Apothecary where we will learn about the various different herbal botanicals and medical equipment used in colonial times. While at the apothecary, we will get to roll up our sleeves and mix our very own lotion. After walking in the footsteps of the founders, we will walk to the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront for dinner.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure, we will have the evening to explore Old Town Alexandria independently. The Group Leaders will discuss transportation options for heading back to the hotel.

At the hotel.

We will embark on a walking exploration of the most notable monuments in Washington, D.C. with the Group Leaders. We will board the Metro and head to the National Mall where we will see and learn about the history of its development, from the Washington Monument as a centerpiece connecting the Capitol building and White House to the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. We will end at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, where we will board the motorcoach and head out for lunch.

At a local restaurant.

Continuing our walk through history, we will head down to the east end of the National Mall for visits to the Capitol Building and National Archives, which embody our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Our first stop will be the Capitol Building, which began construction in 1793 and has been built, burnt down, rebuilt, extended and restored over the centuries. It houses our legislative branch, where our U.S. Congress meets to write the laws of our nation. It is surrounded by key buildings such as the Library of Congress, U.S. Supreme Court and the Senate and House office buildings. From the Capitol building, we will stroll down Constitution Avenue to the National Archives, the home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Did you know that the Declaration of Independence is sealed in the most scientifically advanced housing that preservation technology can provide? The National Archive and Records administration, as a part of the executive branch, preserves and maintains documentation of government and historical records.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. Your Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. From the Archives, you can turn in any direction and explore incredible views and landmarks of Washington, D.C., including a short walk to the White House. Later in the evening, you are welcome to join our Group Leaders back at the hotel for a showing of “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” which highlights several of the sights we will see tomorrow.

At the hotel.

We will board the Metro again and embark on field trips to two highly intriguing Smithsonian Museums. The Smithsonian consists of 21 museums, including 11 that are housed on the National Mall, and the National Zoo. Our first stop will be at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, which is the most popular of the Smithsonian Museums, welcoming over four million visitors per year! We’ll be greeted by museum educators and given an overview of the museum with printed materials to lead us through the highlights of the museum. After our exploration of the Natural World, we will regroup and walk over to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the second most popular Smithsonian museum.

At the National Museum of American History.

After lunch, we will be able to explore the National Museum of American History which houses nearly two million objects that demonstrate the complex and deep history of our nation. This visit is self-directed at our own pace, and the rest of the day is open for independent activities. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. You can think about visiting more museums, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture right next door, or journey a few blocks down the road to Ford’s Theatre and learn about the legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Free time.

On your own.

Following some independent time, we will regroup at the hotel and take the Metro over to the National Building Museum. Originally constructed as the Pension Building in the late 1800s to house the U.S. Pension Bureau, it has severed as a space for some of D.C.’s most noteworthy events, including inaugural balls. In 1978, Congress deemed the building a national treasure to preserve the building. After its restoration, it reopened in 1985 as a nonprofit education institution with its inaugural exhibition, “Anatomy of a Bridge: Seven Steps in Constructing the Brooklyn Bridge,” and was renamed the National Building Museum in 1997. While at the museum, we will enjoy a docent-led exploration and hands-on activity with museum educators. From the museum, we will take a walk to dinner through Judiciary Square, which features the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends.

For our final field trip, we will walk over to the Treasury Building near the White House. We’ll hear from a local expert about the individuals that have witnessed the history of our nation from its founding to the present day with a spooky D.C. ghost walk through the streets surrounding the White House and Lafayette Square. Upon our return to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!