The kids and I took to the East Coast for Spring Break this year and put a lot into a week. We were lucky enough to have Aunt Joyce join us for some of the week and hope she had as much fun as we did. THANK YOU !!!!!!! You will also see Will as one of our main stops was the Naval Academy where he will be starting his final year in the fall. For some reason the pictures downloaded out of order so stay with me....
One of the most pleasant surprise stops that we made was Fort McHenry. We took the Water Taxi from Inner Harbor. This is Jenneth trying to break into one of the two jail cells that they had.
A view of two of the buildings at the Fort.
Tristen trying to push one of the cannons.
Jenneth and I with the Fort in the background. Holy Smacks it was a windy day especially right there off the water.
The three of us at The Fort.
Me and the sign....The kids were done taking pictures !!
The kids and I on the Water Taxi for Inner Harbor. Now that we know how to work the "system" we have figured out to get all over the place.
The original Canons.
One of the shelters...
This was a bunkhouse for the Officers.
One of the storage shelters for the gun powder.
The kids and I did the tours of the 5 boats/ships/submarine's in the Harbor. This was the Constellation, the last all sail ship built by the US Navy.
This was one of the 4D films at the National Aquarium.
This was a neat area next to the water that has all these different structures that you can play music with. Really creative and fun.
This was a slide there as well...
Jumping to Annapolis. We did a Pirate Cruise with Will that turned out to be great fun.
Cousins !!!
Such troopers...Little did we know that this specific Pirate Cruise was for a younger crowd. We are glad we did it though....it really was a good time.
The plus side of the Pirate Cruise were some things of the Academy that we got to see on the water. These are the learning ships that the Midshipmen train on.
We also got to see the Academy Sailing Team practice.
And the coolest sight was the SEALS Training. I know there are real terms....but this was the 36 hour training for those that want to join the SEALS program. One of Will's roommate's was on one of the boats. Really cool to see them in action.
And ending the Pirate Cruise was their celebratory drink after finding the Treasure in the water.
This was on the Constellation. There are cannons on both sides of the ship on this floor. Really neat how they do it.
Back to the Pirate Cruise....
Will and I on the Pirate Cruise..
Jenneth shooting the cannons on the Pirate Cruise.
This is how the sailors slept on the Constellation. You would be amazed how short the ceilings are in this ship...The men couldn't have been that much shorter back then.
Tristen at jail cells in Fort McHenry.
We learned about Screw-pile Lighthouses. They build them out on the water and then literally screwed them into the floor of the water like you would a screw.
Now jumping to The Naval Academy. This is a display that shows what rank you are when you enter your plebe summer through Commissioning. Show knew there were so many different ranks or titles that you could graduate with. Granted they all graduate as an Officer... Pretty Impressive.
This was the first boat that we did a tour of. Strong suggestion....if you get one of the older retired Navy men, let them tell you all they can. It was truly amazing the stories that they share. This ship is the last surviving warship afloat from Pearl Harbor.
Tristen was testing out the beds...I told him this is what they were going to sleep in at Cooperstown.
One of our many selfies...This was Baltimore
The three of us atop the Chesapeake
After our tour...The Chesapeake was a Lightship.
Engine room of USS Torsk
Before we head down into the sub.....this was the submarine that sank the last two Japanese Warships at the end of World War II
Had to do a bit of education here. The kids thought they were fishing chairs.....These were on the Chesapeake
Here we are back at Fort McHenry
Jenneth and I on the Water Taxi again.
Aunt Joyce with us at Naval Academy
Another photo of the kids at the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse
I know you can't read the small print, but everywhere on Campus you saw this saying. I thought it was really neat.
Will took us on the "back lot" tour.
This is underneath the Chapel at the Academy. For the life of me I cannot remember the name of the guy who is laid to rest....UGH !!!
Tristen and his Idol....Big Cousin Will.
Now we have Washington D.C. Tristen was taking selfies with Abe.
This was a great find...We had walked QUITE a ways to find some restaurants that were on Trip Advisor and low and behold, they were no longer. UGH !!! This was a happy accident and we had a great meal.
This was taken from the top of Abe Lincoln Memorial
Here we are !!!!
Aunt Joyce and her two side kicks. Tristen was a sponge with Aunt Joyce's knowledge. There was a volunteer who told us some really cool things about the statue of Abe himself in the chair and his surroundings....Neat stuff to hear if you are there.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
This was the famous Martin's Tavern, where the President's have dined and have specific booths. Such as booth 3 where JFK proposed to Jackie. Thanks Aunt Joyce for the great find !!!
National Air and Space
This was a great area for the kids to do experiments etc....Perfect for Jenneth to reboot after just looking at stuff, as she would say.
Aunt Joyce gave Tristen this Fantastic book that has quizzes, find it, notes section, etc. It is for all the Smithsonian's there in D.C. If you take a History buff like Tristen this book is a MUST !!! We had the hardest time with one of the "find it" items: The Sputnik, but we finally found it. Thanks again Aunt Joyce, it is a book that he'll have forever.
The National History Museum was a bummer for me, but only because I have such good memories of it as a child. Many of the exhibits were closed for renovation and the majority of the animals are now skeleton's only without their skin. The kids thought it was great as they remembered it from the movie Night at the Museum.
One of Tristen's favorite exhibits.....The Hope Diamond.
We found the Naval Academy Stadium when we were just driving around Annapolis.
Jenneth's first taxi ride....Washington D.C.
Poor Jenneth even had to take a turn carrying the backpack...
The four of us....What a great group.
Can you say rain???? It was pouring and Aunt Joyce had brought ponchos (thank goodness) I had umbrellas and coats, but with the wind, the umbrellas weren't a help.
This was a restaurant in Annapolis the first night Aunt Joyce joined us. I was looking for a good place to get some good seafood at a local place. Shocker....the places that we went looking for from Trip Advisor were no longer open. UGH !!!
If you are in Annapolis and have the time, go over the bridge to St. Michaels. I wish it were warmer as I would have stayed the entire day. It is this little town on the bay that is so well kept. For those of us here in Indy, it would remind you of Brown County but a bit larger and on the Chesapeake Bay. Will had heard about The Maritime Museum there and had always wanted to go.
Another picture of TZ at the Stadium
Aunt Joyce with the kids in Annapolis.
Will took us to the Naval Academy Museum and Jenneth got a free ride.
Naval Acadmey
Aunt Joyce and Will
Aunt Joyce took us to the old Post Office Building in D.C. It was going to close the next week as Trump as bought the building and converting it into a hotel. Anyway, you go to the very top (the bell tower) of the building and can see all of D.C. You could have gone up an elevator, but no the kids convince me to take the 162 steps up to the top............and back down. Worth the view.
On our wandering ways through D.C. we came across Chinatown. Tristen said this is a must see on our next trip. He didn't understand why there was a Hooters on the corner but everything was in Chinese.
The Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery
Had no idea we were there during part of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Lucky accident on the dates that we were there. Had to take a picture of the trees.
We took the tour bus at Arlington.
This was the very first day of our vacation...Will and Tristen got haircuts. Nothing like a little cousin bonding.
Here we are back on St. Michaels having lunch outside.
This is inside another Screw Pile Lighthouse.
The four of us at the Maritime Museum. It was worth every penny. Oh wait, we got in free because Will is considered active military. THANK YOU !!!!
Tristen and Will mapping out the course
Will and Jenneth being silly
It's hard to tell, but they had these jackets of different captains that you could put on and these three were not playing the part well.
Tristen trying his hand at crabbing..
Jenneth pulling up her crab trap.
Tristen and I were trying pull up Oysters. We did get some, but I think they put them there so you can feel like you did it..
This was on the must do list of eating. It is Double T's and all the locals eat there. Holy Smacks the food is Amazing and huge !!! We will be back next year.
We toured the State House in Annapolis.
Back again at Maritime Museum
This is the Pride of Baltimore. We saw it on one of many ventures with the Water Taxi. Apparently it is a huge deal for it to be back in the Harbor. We were leaving just as a huge Pirate Festival was about to begin.
The kids and I at the entrance to National Aquarium.
What is vacation without a stop at the local baseball stadium. This was Jenneth and Tristen's first Major League game. I had never been there so wasn't sure what seats to get. We had great seats and thank God we were under the awning as it rained the entire game.
The kids received certificates for their first visit to Orioles Park
TZ was not impressed that he never had a chance to catch a fly ball.
That is the Aquarium to the right.
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