Mt. Vernon by boat

Oscar didn’t want to get up, mommy didn’t want to get up, and

daddy didn’t want to get up this morning.  We got dressed in the dark and got Oscar dressed as he laid in bed, grunting.  John carried him to the metro station and then he woke up enough to make the change to the green line and mommy then ran to the

wharf to make sure we got our tickets in time.  We were one of the last to board, but got to hang out downstairs in a lounge that was empty so that Oscar could announce things that we were passing just like the tour

guide was doing.  We were able to get a sandwich, chips and a drink for reasonable prices that were pretty good.  When Oscar said that he wanted to go to Mt. Vernon while we were in Washington, I

started pricing day trips there.  The bus was $100 a person and Oscar was not free.  The boat down the Potomac with entry to Mt. Vernon was $50 an adult and Oscar was free.  So, even having to get up early, that was a no brainer and this was the

 way to go for sure.  We got to see things down the river banks, the gorgeous houses, move around wherever we wanted and see Fort Washington, planes taking off and landing at Reagan airport, helicopters out of the base by

us, and eat without wasting any of the trip.  When you come up to Mt. Vernon on the river, it’s even harder to understand how this man who built a house like a king would have with a commanding view of everything would give up

  power willingly.  I think that Americans take for granted that George Washington was one man in a million who would give up power like that.  And he owned every bit of land that we passed on the journey from Alexandria to Mt. Vernon.   A lot of land.   We were given our

 house tour tickets and able to see some things before going in.  I didn’t know that the house had sand on the wood boards to  make it look like stone, but it did.  The education center had a 4D movie of the revolution that was free and we went in to have flashing lights strobing as bombs and guns 

 went off, wind blow through and actual snow when Washington crossed the Delaware.  That was really cool.  We had time to go through the gift shop, see the animals, tombs, slave memorial and then head back to the pioneer farm and the boat.