We departed on Friday evening and drove in miserable rain all the way to DC. Made a stop outside Baltimore at Nick's favorite diner, the Mountain View Diner, for some fish and a bucket of mac-and-cheese. Then continued on to our hotel in Old Towne Alexandria where we struggled to park but otherwise arrived without event.
Saturday we met up with Brad and ventured into the Mall to the American History Museum. Being the weekend for cherry blossoms, the volume of people only increased as the day went on, and we escaped with our sanity by mid afternoon having coaxed a pizza sub from a packed Potbelly off the main run. Nick took an afternoon nap while Brad and I had drinks at Theismann's near the train. And of course then we ate more, having pizza at Bugsy's along the water in Alexandria, and then a nice walk back.
On Sunday we started with breakfast at Bob and Edith's Diner, then Nick rested while I went to the Nationals game with Brad. Game was a nice rest, aside from the annoying people around us, and Brad's ability to drown a hot dog in pickle relish until it was ready for an eating contest. We then met Nick back in Crystal City at the Sports Pub to watch the MSU/Auburn game. This was Nick's first time taking the train on his own so he got a little adventure.
We packed up early on Monday and drove to Virginia Beach to the Air Museum, which was buried in a remote area, but very much worth the trip. The grounds had multiple hangars, and all of the planes were fly-ready. The WWII era hangars brought in from Germany and then replicated in lumber from France were very cool to see. Nick was essentially the co-tour guide, as each time the gentleman directing the tour couldn't recall something, he looked at Nick who filled in the details. We stayed on the beach for a couple days, but it was too windy to walk with the blowing sand, so our walks were mostly along the boardwalk and streets. I got my cucumber margarita at Las Palmas, which was incredible food, to wind down another travel day.
Last day we toured downtown Norfolk (after eating, again, of course... pancakes at Pocahontas Pancakes!), walking the USS Wisconsin, and taking a boat ride down the river to see the Navy Shipyard. While the site of the ships was amazing, the highlight of the tour was still Nick and I getting misdirected out a locked door and stuck in a restricted area trying to get back in. The events were poorly organized, but the sites themselves were worth the trip. And one more meal, we finished with a 'wave' pizza at Dough Boys along the beach.
Nick was helpful in driving us home while we went out of our way to avoid storms throughout the Midwest. Longer drive, but uneventful.
