This summer has been… different. Not only have the boys chosen not to go to camp, but it has rained nearly every single day. And it’s not a refreshing rain – it just makes everything feel humid and oppressive. We are feeling a little stir crazy because of it.
After a nice 3 mile tempo run (went surprisingly well considering the humidity), I decided we needed to get out of the house. We headed over to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum. We’ve probably been there at least once a year (or more) since it opened, but it never gets boring.
Like most of the Smithsonian museums, Udvar-Hazy has free admission. Unfortunately, they charge $15 to park. Since it would cost me close to that to use the metro and it’s way cheaper than the entrance fee to many non-Smithsonian museums, the $15 doesn’t bother me much.
There are three reasons my kids prefer this location to the one downtown:
- It’s never as busy as the Mall location.
- Even when it’ s busy, it’s so big you don’t notice.
- The planes. OMG, the planes. The place is HUGE!
Shoo has been addicted to watching the Military History channel, as well as any you tube videos he can find of WWII planes. Visiting Udvar-Hazy was the perfect activity for him. The most amusing (and kind of annoying) part was how much he knew about each of the planes from that era. (He’s obsessed with the Red Baron. I kept making him mad by telling him that Snoopy shot the Red Baron LOL). Coincidentally, I was in the middle of reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, which tells the story of runner Louis Zamperini who fought in B-24s in WWII and was a POW in the Japanese camps, so it was interesting to see planes from the story.
We saw our old favorites: the R2D2 mailbox, La Cucaracha, the Mothership, and, of course, walked every ramp in the place.
We also saw two new things: the behind the scenes work area and the Space Shuttle Discovery.
It was particularly cool to see the shuttle since the boys had seen it being flown there when it passed by their school. (Yes, I hate the summer heat and I hate the traffic, but DC does have its perks…)
Because taking the kids to the museum was WAY cheaper than sending them both to camp (we won’t discuss the lack of time I have to actually blog, run errands, or do my paying job), we had lunch there (wish they had something besides McDonald’s) and we watched an IMAX movie after we wandered the whole place. The movie we watched, Fighter Pilots, was interesting to all of us. I had to keep closing my eyes, though, as I got motion sickness from the in flight sections.
After the movie, we went up to the Observation Deck, which was the only time all day that things felt busy.
All in all, we had a pretty awesome day! If you are going to be in the DC area, I highly recommend it! (Just as an FYI, it can be reached by bus from the airports and metro.)
thanks for posting on this! i actually worked at NASA and helped coordinate the shuttle flying and now I work at the Smithsonian 🙂 always nice to know it is appreciated 🙂
becca recently posted…Keep Calm and Soldier On
We used to live 10 minutes away! I miss it so much! My family and I loved going there.
Lisa @ RunWiki recently posted…Positive Track workout
I sometimes get cabin fever too! Good for you for getting out of the house. Sounds like a great outing. And education too.
Mom’s Home Run recently posted…10 bad tips for beginning runners!
I LOVE Udvar-Hazy! When I first moved into the area, we rented a townhouse very near there. In fact, I could see the observation tower from my running route. We still live close by, just not in viewing distance. If you go after 4 pm the parking is free, and its open until 6:30 in the summer. My boys are younger and two hours is about all we can handle if I am by myself, so that is perfect for us. We are there often.
I’ve lived in DC for a grand total of 10 years here and there, but have never made it to this museum. The shuttle puts it over the top- I would definitely be geeking out over that one. Awesome!
Ashley @ Twynmawrmom recently posted…Running my sister’s run
That museum sounds incredible!!! We have only been to the ones around the Mall area. I think my boys would enjoy it and I know my pilot husband would be in heaven!! Now we just need a trip to DC!!
Kim recently posted…Music and Running
Sounds like a great day with your kids. I used to love playing tourist at home with my kids.
Andrea recently posted…First Tri of the Season Race Report
We go about once a year too, though we are now at the stage that the kids just want to run run run and look but there is no time to read any signs without losing a child among the planes. We went a couple of weeks ago – the Discovery looks so much different than the Enterprise -you can definitely tell it went to space!
I wish I could take my son there one day. Who knows, it might just happen.
Johann recently posted…Rhodes Ultra Preview
We missed out on that when we were there. We couldn’t figure out how to get to it using public transportation. :-/
Lisa recently posted…June Tally
Looks like a cool place to visit. Wish I lived closer.
Visiting from SITS.
Patty@homemakersdaily.com recently posted…Mounds Bar Cake
I was in DC in February and I did get to see the Smithsonian, or at least some of it, but I would have liked to have seen this too. I’m so geeky, I just love museums and stuff like that.
Adrian recently posted…Adventures of a Scout Mom