What follows is a condensed account of my recent trip to Washington, accompanied by my wife and two children. I've skipped some of the less interesting events, saving you from enduring a detailed outline of our day-to-day activities. Hopefully it will inspire you to explore this wonderful city yourself and help you to avoid gunfire and long lines.

Day 1
3:00pm - The combined efforts of Airtran and Amtrak have transported us nearly a thousand miles and delivered us into the bowels of Washington's Union Station. A grand station from a bygone era, most travelers seem more concerned with getting in or out, rather than stopping to enjoy the stunning Beaux-Arts architecture or consider the historic significance of this iconic landmark. Sucked into the current, we find ourselves stranded the painfully long cab line, congested with commuters and weekend vacationers.

7:00pm – The brochure promises a different view of the city after dark, which is exactly what we get. Although I've seen most of the monuments before, somehow the combination of moonlight and stars cast a solemn light over the weathered marble and rock, producing a golden glow in the warm evening air. It's almost if they've come to life and started to breath.

Day 2
10:00am – I purchased our tickets for the Washington Monument tour online, which seems to have been a good idea. As we sit in the sun, waiting for our designated admission time, I watch as the ticket booth gives the same bad news to tourist after tourist. Although the tickets are free, there is usually a long line each morning and the tickets go quickly. I wonder if scalping tickets is illegal and how many yen I could get?

Unfortunately, my wife gives in to her somewhat claustrophobic nature and opts to skip the crowded elevator ride to the top. Since single tickets aren't worth much on the black market, I give it to a ticket agent, who offers no refund. The view from the top is spectacular and the kids spend most of the time trying to pick out mom on the lawn below.

11:30am - The “hop on / hop off” trolley offers a great way to get around, so we spend the day getting a handle on the layout of the city and checking out the monuments in the daylight. The trolley drivers all offer a slightly different narrative, each with it's own twist. As it turns out, we find ourselves on a trolley with our moonlight tour driver, who offers some great tips.

Day 3
7:00am – Today starts out very early and we're met with a driving rain storm. Normally, I wouldn't be out in this type of weather, but today is different.

When planning this trip, I knew that the White House was only open to group tours and then only with a special pass from a Congressman or other Washington insider. Since I seem to have no connections that fit the bill, I had reluctantly given up my search for the elusive tickets. An unexpected return call, from one of my earlier inquiries, landed us four slots on the 7:30am tour as members of some unknown group. I was hopeful that we wouldn't be forced to blend in with a non-English speaking, senior citizens group from Japan, but decided I didn't really care.

The tour information sheet outlines the extensive security measures and basically instructs us to leave everything behind. Cell phones, cameras, recording devices, purses, combs, pens, guns, fireworks and martial arts weapons are just a few examples from a long list of items which, if found on your person, will win you a special visit with the Secret Service. Unfortunately for us, umbrellas are also on the list and the rain is coming down in buckets.

Standing in single file along the fence bordering the South Lawn, my son notices the short, wrought-iron fence as the only barrier dividing us from the Presidential grounds. In that inquisitive eleven year old tone, he asks me how far I think he could make it, if he jumped over the fence and made a run for the back door. I only smiled, kids can be so naive.

After standing in the rain for about twenty minutes, we begin to make our way towards the initial security check point and dryer ground. The tour only includes a few rooms on the main floor, but it's still a thrill to see them in person. As we make our way out of the State Dining Room and into the Entrance Hall, we come upon a small boy being attended to by several White House staff and medical workers. It seems that the overwhelming sight of so much history and grandeur caused him to lose his breakfast all over the marble floor. It's not funny, but my wife and I agree that he'll have a great story for his friends back home.

10:00am – Utilizing the Internet again, I ordered our tickets to tour Ford's Theater online, but it doesn't seem to matter much here. The narrow street is congested with no less than eight tour buses and swarms of children in matching, brightly colored shirts. Fortunately, the rain has cleared and our wait is a dry event. As it turns out, touring the theater and the adjacent Peterson House, requires braving two separate lines, but both are well worth the wait.

1:00pm – The northern route of the trolley takes us to Washington National Cathedral, which offers stunning views of the city and architecture that rivals any European cathedral I've seen. We manage to blend in with a school tour group and get a great history of the cathedral. I notice that the tour begins with about sixty kids, but dwindles to just a few interested visitors by the end. I guess school field trips aren't any more fun now than they used to be.

7:00pm – Without a car, we opt for restaurants near the hotel and find a great micro-brewery just a few blocks away. Even the kids love the menu, so I get to enjoy a local brew and a great dinner.

Day 4
9:00am – A call to our Congressman's office had scored us, not only an official appointment, but also a Congressional pass to tour the Capitol Building. Weaving our way through a sea of yellow-shirted school children we attempted to hear our tour guide and learn a little bit about the building. Even with wireless headphones we have a difficult time hearing but enjoy the tour completely.

11:00am – A short walk down the street lands us at the Rayburn Building for our meeting with Congressman Young, which is over in about twenty minutes. Given his harried scheduled, I thank him for taking the time to speak with us and for helping my son complete one of the requirements for his Boy Scout Citizenship Badge. We head back up the street for a tour of the Library of Congress.

2:00pm – Having spend the better part of the past four hours inside the library, we are somewhat puzzled by the level of activity and security in the streets around the Capitol. Writing it off to everyday stuff, we walk down the block to catch a cab back to the hotel. Our cab driver apologies for not being near the front door as usual, but explains that he wasn't able to get any closer with all of the post-shooting frenzy.

I didn't catch what he said right away, but it finally hit me. What shooting? My wife and I share a horrified look as he details the shooting at the Holocaust Museum and how it has set downtown D.C. into “lock down” status. As we drive by dozens of police cars and gaze at the number of helicopters hovering overhead, I remember my cell phone. I had ignored a call during our tour of the library and had forgotten all about it. I check the number and recognize it as my sister's work number. She must have seen the news and tried to call. Knowing that she must be frantic by now, I call to let her know that we're okay.

It's funny how time and circumstances can change your priorities and point of view. My wife and I were in Northern Ireland in 1996 when the IRA bombed a military base and hospital in Lisburn. It was extremely scary, but somehow the presence of our kids during today's event made it just a bit more real and frightening. We decide to spend the rest of the day at the most secure place we can find and head for the National Archives.

Day 5
9:00am – Another early day as we intend to cover several of the Smithsonian Museums today. We skim through the Natural History Museum and the American History Museum, which takes up most of the morning and early afternoon. On a tip from a trolley tour driver, we go over to the Museum of the American Indian for the best food so far. We round out the afternoon with a visit to the Air & Space Museum where we find the expected crowds and school groups.

5:00pm – Enticed by a barrage of flyer's and advertisements, we decide to stop by the International Spy Museum. It's not one of the free museums, but well worth the money. The exhibits are full of spy gear and information about covert activity during the Cold War, including a primer on how to spot “dead drop” locations used by spies to exchange information. There is even a car from a James Bond Movie and great exhibits on WWII intelligence methods. It wasn't on my original itinerary, but I'm glad we made the stop.

7:30pm – I finally talk the family into trying out a great looking Asian restaurant near the hotel. The restaurant is packed with some type of corporate function, but we find a table away from the noise. I manage to talk my kids into trying something new, which is the highlight of my last day in Washington. We enjoy a wonderful dinner and retire back to the hotel for a late morning flight home.