Spring Break Trip - Day 6

We woke up this morning (still at Fort Belvoir Lodging) and decided that we wanted a change of pace - it's time for some nature and hiking!  With that in mind, we drove up towards Glen Echo, Maryland, and found a nice park called the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park. It was designed (with the help of George Washington) as a way to transport goods from the interior of the new nation down to the ocean (it really didn't work out). We saw lots of turtles, big snakes and birds. The kids enjoyed the warm air and we didn't rush. Later in the day we stopped in to see the home of Clara Barton and took a tour. Brenna is always talking about being a doctor someday - and she has read a few books about Barton. We walked around a park in Glen Echo for a little bit but everything was closed. Just before dark, we drove out to Dulles and visited the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Annex - lots more aircraft (including a Space Shuttle). The kids liked the tower and radar mockup (you can listen to actual radio communications and watch the screens). We got to watch some flight operations at Dulles. This was my first time there and I liked this addition to the Smithsonian. Dinner at TGIFridays - big hit with the kids!  We made it back to Fort Belvoir quite late and did some packing.  Only one more day before we have to go home...