Last Day in Washington D.C.

Day Seven: We made it to the International Spy Museum before opening. After reading the three-star review in The Unofficial Guide to Washington D.C., I went in with low expectations, and only because Robbie really wanted to go. Rob loved the FBI tour he took years ago, and this was the closest thing to that, so I planned on going for their sake, but ended up really enjoying it. It was high-tech, interactive and fascinating. And we loved the gift shop. No photos were allowed inside, so this one photo seems disproportionate, compared with the hours we spent here.

We stopped for lunch at High Country BBQ, which was good.

Then we spent our remaining hours at the National Gallery of Art, which Robbie endured for our sake. We didn't have much time, so we just saw the highlights in the West Building.

Then headed over to the East Building through the underground tunnel.

Even the moving walkway is a work of art, called "Multiverse" by artist Leo Villareal.

I loved the East Building and the modern art there. Here are a few favorites:

We took one last shot on the Mall:

Then stopped by the hotel to pick up our bags. I had tried getting a hotel on priceline.com for less than $200/night, but was unsuccessful. So it was more than we wanted to spend, but the Capitol Hill Holiday Inn was a great location and a nice room.

Because of the time difference, we were able to leave D.C. at 5:00 p.m. and still arrive home by 7:30 p.m. The kids were excited to see us, even though they had a great time with the Kyles and both sets of grandparents. Souvenirs included Smithsonian "Mood necklaces" and bags for the girls, and personalized dog tags and airplanes for the boys. The boys also got t-shirts and books from the International Spy Museum, and we got a money notepad from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for them to share.

It was truly a fabulous trip, and I loved our opportunity to spend time with just Robbie. But I think one of the benefits of travel is that it helps you appreciate home even more. It's good to be back. I love my family.