{Beta Club Trip} Washington, D.C. - Part I

Sweet M got to go on her 8th Grade Beta Club trip to Washington, D.C., and it was such a treat. B's to New York City was unfortunately cancelled because, well, it was in 2020, and L's, also to New York City, wouldve been last year, but even more unfortunately, her class didn't show enough interest... She was BUMMED, and I was for her, as well!

But, on to the trip that DID actually happen...

Though M has been to Washington, D.C. numerous times before, as we used to go annually (pre-2020) for the Army Ten-Miler (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), I strongly believe that taking trips without parents/family is so very important and offers a whole new, and extremely valuable, level of learning/figuring things out. 

Day 1 - Wednesday, April 17 

M and her class left early in the morning and started their trek north.

Their first stop was at the North Carolina Zoo before continuing on and making a college visit stop at Duke University, where everyone purchased Duke sweatshirts!

From there, they continued on to their hotel to get some rest.

Day 2 - Thursday, April 18

After breakfast, the group headed over to Arlington Cemetery...

Though we visited back in  2015, its been almost a DECADE since M has been there... WOW...

{October 2015}

After lunch, they hit some of the Smithsonian museums...

My kids especially like to send me pictures of dead animals (because they know how much I just love loathe taxidermy)...

Also, presidential pictures (I actually do love those)...

After dinner, they took a tour of the monuments and memorials at night!

I think M got some GREAT photos!

Her favorite president...

and, back in the day...

{October 2012}

It was full day!

{Beta Club Trip} Washington, D.C. - Part II

Walt Disney World - Day 5

 While we had every intention of hitting Animal Kingdom first thing and using early entry to our advantage, trying to beeline it to the Avatar Flight of Passage ride, we didn't quite pull it off... 

Today was check out day with everyone else finished with parks. We really wanted to pack up our room, check out, and load our car before leaving, and even with that tall order, we did make it in to the Africa section of the park right on time for our 8:15am character brunch reservation at Tusker House Restaurant...

where (just like back in 2011) we dined with Mickey, Donald, Daisy & Goofy!

After brunch, we moved into the Asia section of the park and got in line for Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain...

{this was B's first roller coaster back in 2011}

After we all rode it once, the kids took advantage of the single rider line and rode a couple more times back to back...

while Hubby and I waited...

From there, we headed over to the Dinoland, U.S.A. section of the park for some nostalgia...

We rode the TriceraTop Spin...

and took a picture by The Boneyard playground...

before heading back to the Asia section for a spin on the (not so much today - brrr) popular Kali River Rapids ride...

{I promise we're smarter than we seem - ha!}

Well, maybe not... The kids then rode it again a couple more times... Ha!

From there, the girls and I got in line to meet Moana, while the boys went on a search for the ever important Dole Whip...

Success...

times TWO!

After delivering Dole Whips to us in line, the guys went back over to the Asia section of the park so B could ride Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain once more...

and once we finished up with Moana, we snapped a quick picture at the Tree of Life...

before hightailing it back to the Africa section of the park to get in line for the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride where Hubby and B soon joined us...

We saw zebras...

{these cute creatures were my favorite}

giraffes...

elephants...

flamingos...

lions...

ostriches...

and others...

After the ride, we bid farewell to the park and headed over to Disney Springs for a late lunch/early dinner (err, road trip fuel?) at Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'...

where everything was delicious...

and the perfect exclamation point to end a fabulous trip!

Until next time, Disney...