EPIC Lai Family Trip-- PART 1 WASHINGTON D.C.

My family recently took a very long road trip literally across the United States, and drove almost 9,500 miles/ 15,300 km in two months. I testify that it is way too much driving. But at least we had some major family bonding time.

Also, we traveled across the United States. How many people can say they've done that? I think my family has traveled to more states than even some Americans. Washington D.C. => New York => Ohio => Missouri => Illinois => Nebraska => Wyoming => Utah => Tennessee (where we dropped off one of my sisters for graduate school) => Nevada => Utah (my dad flew home to Singapore from here) => Ohio => Kentucky => Tennessee => Utah => California. 

Anyway, here are some highlights from our trip, beginning in Washington D.C.

This was my 3rd time going back to Washington D.C. this year (woah!), but this time I returned with my mom and one of my sisters. We went to the major Smithsonian museums, the Library of Congress, the Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, and visited the National Monuments.

Above: the Arlington National Cemetery; below: the requisite Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and White House.

I have to put in a plug for probably what is still my favorite Smithsonian -- the highly underrated Renwick Gallery. The pieces in the museum will make your jaw drop as long as you read the descriptions that accompany each piece. They will help you understand what you are viewing, and then your mind will 💥.

My mom and I also visited Ford's Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It was my first time there, and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, despite the $3 admission fee (I'm spoiled by the free Smithsonians).

This is the theater box where Lincoln was shot...so historic!

Also, this:

A tower of books written about Abraham Lincoln. No kidding. I think only God has more books written about Him. It was thus ironic that the plaque at the bottom of the tower quoted Lincoln as saying, "Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all." 😅 Wonder what Lincoln would have said about these books. 

A few days later, my father and youngest sister flew to join us, and we attended the Washington D.C. temple as a family since...never! I just realized that this was the first time all five of us did a temple session together. 

The Visitors' Center also had a (relatively) new miniature temple model for visitors to see the interior of the building, with the real temple situated in the background. 😍

We ate at Shake Shack for the first time. The fries were okay, but the burgers were fantastic! We loved it so much, we went back again. We didn't get to try their famous frozen custard and shakes, but you bet we will next time.

Surprise, surprise but we met up with a couple from Singapore who now live in Maryland, and also the son of an old family friend from Utah. It was great to see all of them again, especially the family friend. My parents had not seen him since he was a little boy, and now he has a son of his own! 

It was also in D.C. that my family rented a mini-van. It was my first time driving a mini-van (heavy and huge), and driving in D.C. I finally understand why people complain about D.C. drivers because their complaints are ALL TRUE! It is terrifying to drive there. I'll just stick to the terrible-but-at-least-I'm-not-fighting-traffic D.C. public transportation system. 

Finally, I have to give a shout out to the Airbnb we stayed at. My family enjoyed the place, and it was reasonably priced considering that it is in Washington D.C. It is far from the National Mall (where the major sights are), but it was cheap to uber to the closest station (Fort Totten), then take the  20-30 minute train ride into the city. The host was attentive and helpful. Great place for a family!