Skip to main content

Day Four Monticello

We woke up quite early, which was our intention, but it wasn't until we were on the road that we realized the clock in the hotel room was set for an hour earlier than it was and the alarm went off at 6:30, which was really 5:30. So we were up and out and when we looked at the clock in the car we were surprised to find that it was only 7:00 am. So that meant we had time to find a McDonalds for breakfast and be at Monticello in plenty of time to get on the earlier tour.

We loved Monticello, what a beautiful place. Because we were so early, it was cool enough to also do the garden tour and the plantation life tour. We walked down to the cemetery on the way out and on down the path to the visitation center. There we spent quite a bit of time deciding what treasures to remember it by. I came home with another charm for my bracelet.
After viewing the movie, walking through the gallery and all in all soaking up the atmosphere, we headed down to Michie Tavern. Here are Frank and Haley in front of the sign at the front door. We had a really wonderful authentic and huge lunch there, for what was rather reasonable for an authentic tavern experience. Then up the road, although we were significantly more full, to Ash Lawn Highland, home of James Monroe. What a beautiful drive!! We did not take the tour here, but simply took these pictures and looked around and stretched our legs in this beautiful area.

The beautiful drive up to Ash Lawn higland. We then hit highway VA20 towards Washington DC. Our hope was to also visit Montpelier home to James and Dolly Madison. Well after all of our gallivanting during the day, we arrived at 4:30 at the gate and although they close at 5:00, they wouldn't let us go up and just take some pictures without paying the full admission. We decided it just wasn't worth it and that you can't do everything in one day. But to stand even in the drive ways of three former presidents in one day is pretty amazing in and of itself! And you just couldn't beat the back roads drive. I did happen to get these pictures of the newly restored Montpelier Train Station just up the road though.



About an half hour out of the Montpelier area, I discovered that I had only booked our DC hotel for two nights instead of three. Which was disappointing because I had used up most of our points to book what I thought was three nights. Frank assured me that everything would work out, and of course he was correct. We were able to purchase the necessary additional points for a very reasonable sum, considering the hotel would have cost $340 per night. We were delighted with the location and the accommodations at the JW Marriott on Pennsylvania ave. When you walked out of the hotel, and turned to the left and walked one half block you were on the Elypse. So, all in all quite a local. Because of Frank's continual dedication to gathering points with Marriott brands throughout his travels we were once again on the special concierge level which helped tremendously with meal costs.

In the evening, we walked around the White House, watched the fire flys on the elypse and took silly perspective pictures of the Washington Monument. Then we crashed into bed, but not after making sure the windows were open so we could see the same monument peeping in at us all night. Love DC. I'll post these pictures on the next post.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Super Bowl Love Story

In late August 1996, I attended a bridal shower tea for my sister in law to be, Melanie Hull.  Her Aunt Shirley had created a beautiful party out on the back lawn, flowers and china and everyone in girly dresses. But most lovely of all was Melanie. I fell in love with her dress. It was my dream dress. Floral print. Georgette. Flowy. Bell/Cape Sleeve. Tea Length. Perfect Tea dress. I “pinned” it in my mind. That’s what we had to do back then. I knew that if I ever married – and hopefully that dashing Frank – that was the dress I wanted for my bridesmaids.  Furthermore… I had always hoped that if I could, I would provide the dresses for my bridesmaids. I had been in a couple of weddings and the expense was always difficult. It seemed like kind of a boobie prize to me. Hey, my dearest friends in the world, please be in my wedding so I can shove you over the precipice and into debt. Oh and make sure you check out my bridal registry! In January 1997, I was pretty h...
1 comment
Read more

Weekend Treasure

  Here are some stock photos of the love seat, chair and ottoman we purchased on Saturday at the auction.  These pictures don't really do the set justice.  But we have determined that the retail price for these now discontinued pieces was $1899.  We topped out our auction at $500.00, so after sales tax and the 15% auction fee, we did pretty well.. paying approximately 1/3 of retail. As an added bonus, they were sold to us as "durahide" which means fake.  Frank and I used to say that Nogahide should have been named NOTaHide.  But after looking them up, they are 60% leather.. the parts that don't matter -the back, are not.  BONUS!  They are now all safely home and put away... where you say?  Where could you possibly have put all these lovely pieces of furniture? Oh, I forgot to mention that they are for the cabin.  The hope is that mice will be thoroughly repelled by the very idea of gnawing on cowhide.  And besides that, they ...
6 comments
Read more

The Fourth

The Fourth didn't feel much like the Fourth here in Hawaii.  We were very surprised!  New Years Eve is a huge time of fireworks all around the beaches and everywhere you go.  But the Fourth, not so much.  We could have gone to one of three large fireworks shows on the islands, but we didn't feel like fighting traffic and people.  We opted for a drive around the island to explore new sights and places.  We drove through Hale'iwa town and investigated some kayaking rental places for later in the week.  We headed on up the island and around to the Turtle Bay area.  Years ago, my folks were blessed to be able to use a condo over in this area and always came home talking about the shrimp trucks.  If you know, or knew my folks, you probably know they aren't really "taco truck" sort of people.  However, we stopped at fumi's and picked up 2 pounds of fresh uncooked shrimp.  Never frozen, people! Heads, tentacles, and eyeballs still i...
Post a Comment
Read more