USVI-On-Line

soxfan22 wrote:I agree with Cypress...Wouldn't catch me anywhere near DC these days if I could help it.

I'm also unsure as to why, if the boy is interested in Revolutionary History...Why DC? Go to Boston...Walk the Freedom Trail, visit the Old North Church, go show him Boston Harbour and teach him about Taxation Without Representation (or, hand him a copy of the WSJ)...Take a ride up the street a bit to Lexington and Concord...Go to Faneuil Hall...Take a stroll through Bunker Hill...Boston Common...Hell, go have lunch at The Bull & Finch Pub (aka Cheers).

But DC? They're getting enough of my money.

sox, and cypress girl-frankly i don't care what you think about DC, if you have something RELEVANT to add then that would be nice. however, I wish you wouldn't hijack this post for your own purposes--SOX, my son has been to concord/boston (it's where i grew up --so we do that LOTS)
he wanted to go to DC, and as it is the nations capitol WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THE POLITICS OR NOT we are going. frankly cypress, i would say that manhattan has more shysters than DC these days.
SO anything relevant in terms of sight seeing is much appreciated. the other BS is most certainly NOT

My 16 year old daughter did a trip to DC with the National Student Leadership Conference and loved it. If your son has access to that, I would highly recommend it. They have professional tour guides who are extremely knowledgeable young adults, fun, and very responsible. I would highly recommend it. My husband, older daughter and her friend, left her with the tour guide at the airport and met up with her when our trip ended. It was great for all of us. I'm sure my youngest learned much more about DC than the rest of us, being on our own. But our congresswoman, Kay Bailey Huchinson, got us a nice tour of the Capital. I understand they don't do that much anymore. According to Harry Reid, there is some kind of overpriced underground thing to keep the stinky tourists away from the important folks. (Had to throw that in for a little fun.) Don't hate me. I'm really not that bad. I have witnesses..........right girls........back me up.......PLEASE....PRETTY PLEASE????

The New Tourist Center at the Capitol was built in response to a gunman who shot and killed a police officer as he was making his way through the halls of the Capitol. I was there that day feet away when it happened.
It was also to keep the tourist out of the cold when standing in line to enter the Capitol. It really is a nice addition, a must see if you get a chance to tour it.

Sandy

now that, cypress, was helpful--my son is too young to do what you suggest--but we have tried to get tours thru our rep as well (we asked late so it probably won't happen).
i am hoping we have a great time seeing all the lincoln bicentennial stuff. (he's started in on the civil war too--his grandpa is a re-enactor, but of napoleonic wars--so i think he comes by this naturally)

DCphoto wrote:The New Tourist Center at the Capitol was built in response to a gunman who shot and killed a police officer as he was making his way through the halls of the Capitol. I was there that day feet away when it happened.
It was also to keep the tourist out of the cold when standing in line to enter the Capitol. It really is a nice addition, a must see if you get a chance to tour it.

Sandy

oh wow, yikes. is that okay for a kid to see?

My wife and I haven't been to DC in quite a few years. The last time we were there was probably '99 or so (maybe before then)...Anyway, the Holocaust Museum was nearing completion or had just recently been completed. It was quite sobering, but a great educational experience.

As for your comments...I was only offering up what I would consider a much better experience in terms of Revolutionary History.

Oh, and if your son hasn't seen the HBO mini-series "John Adams"...I can't recommend highly enough.

Loria, they also offer a Jr. Nat. Student Leadership Conf. I'm not sure how old you have to be.......maybe Jr. High age. My daughter went when she was about 11, so that's why mom and dad had to tag along.

It also looks good on college applications when you need to come up with all the "special stuff" you've done, besides SAT scores and high school ranking.

soxfan22 wrote:My wife and I haven't been to DC in quite a few years. The last time we were there was probably '99 or so (maybe before then)...Anyway, the Holocaust Museum was nearing completion or had just recently been completed. It was quite sobering, but a great educational experience.

As for your comments...I was only offering up what I would consider a much better experience in terms of Revolutionary History.

Oh, and if your son hasn't seen the HBO mini-series "John Adams"...I can't recommend highly enough.

thank you sox,
Will has seen parts of john adams (and it is super) he has also seen 1776 and the washington miniseries and he reads a TON of stuff --his favorite present last year for christmas was a collectors edition model of the north bridge with british soldiers and minute men and militia ( you have to realize my house as a young person was across from colonel barretts farm --he had all the guns hidden in concord --the brits came--but couldn't find them) as well as david mculloughs "1776" which is a really wonderful book with lots of copies of original documents and the like. he studies this stuff with intensity----then there's the NHL......he studies that too..... all i can say is anyone who challenges him to hockey trivia is a goner!

cypressgirl wrote:Loria, they also offer a Jr. Nat. Student Leadership Conf. I'm not sure how old you have to be.......maybe Jr. High age. My daughter went when she was about 11, so that's why mom and dad had to tag along.

It also looks good on college applications when you need to come up with all the "special stuff" you've done, besides SAT scores and high school ranking.

good to know--thanks for that info. i think you are right that they have to be 11 or so--I am not sure our district does this, but I will actually ask them as I really think hat Will would really get a great deal out of that experience--do you know how your school got involved?

Yeah, I've got nothin' in a hockey debate. Lets see...I might be able to name the "original six", but beyond that, it's not so good for me! Baseball, basketball, football...ask me where any guy that plays any of those sports went to school - I could tell you. But hockey? I know nothing! I do enjoy watching playoff hockey though - which IMO is night and day from regular season hockey. Hey, the Bruins have a real shot at a Cup this season!

Actually, we didn't find out about it from the school. They didn't even have any info on the program. I think Haley's name got onto a list somehow, due to some standardized test she took or something like that. They contacted her my mail and we persued it on our own. NO one from her school went with her so I did a LOT of investigating and they sent me a list of referrals of kids from our area of the city and state that had been the previous year or so. I called a dozen or more parents and got nothing but positive responses. I was very nervous at first, but as I researched the organization, I found it to be very credible and now I'm glad she did it. I can't say enough good things about her experience and the things she got to do and see that normal tourists would never be exposed to.

Yes, It is very nice. It was built because of what happened, but it was needed. It is all underground so it does not take away from the Capitol itself.

Sandy

DC, that had to be a truly terrifying experience for you. I am not sure how one comes thru something like that.

RE: Holocaust Museum. I would really think long and hard before taking a 10 year old to the holocaust museum. It is an AMAZING but extremely sobering experience. I have been twice and both times it was very difficult for me as an adult. My uncle, who is a massive history buff, went with us one time and he was surprised by how powerful and moving the experience is.

It is the only museum I have been through where the entire crowd is almost silent as they move through the exhibits.

I am thinking my daughter won't be ready for it (she's extremely sensitive to the plight of others and would worry about it for weeks after) until her teens. Just my two cents.

Loria
As a photo journalist I have scene a lot in my 20 years, from the early days as a newpaper photographer and now a freelancer. I've covered murders,car accidents,plane accidents, 911, etc. One thing that has always kept me going is knowing that maybe if I showed the world my photos is it would prevent another one from happening, also my camera acts kinda like a shield for me. It filters the impact a little, I know it does not make sense, but it does for me. I love what I do for a living, It not so much about the money as I feel sometimes I can make a difference. Like this week, I'm working for the National MS Society on Capitol Hill. I photograph people in the weelchairs and walkers taking on Congress for thier funding into research. That is why I can sleep at night.