My Dad had to attend a conference at the University of Maryland last week, so he and Mom decided to fly up to DC early to visit me and Trav. Although their visit was just one week shy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, we still had a fantastic (and eventful!) time.....
It was fun hanging out with President Obama and the First Lady.....at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum! However, we had a bit of a scare when Travis realized he lost his wallet. We were so thankful when a very honest employee discovered it and returned it! We also visited the U.S. National Arboretum, which was a first for both me and Travis. It is a bit off the beaten path, but is a neat place to explore and get away from the throngs of tourists that visit the city this time of year. Unfortunately, it was a bit premature for many of the spring flowers and plants, but I think we all really enjoyed being outside and seeing something different.
The best part of the park (in my opinion) is that it is home of the National Capitol Columns. These huge columns were an original part of the U.S. Capitol, but were replaced after the construction of the massive Dome in 1864. 
