Return to DC - Mount Vernon & Washington

We made our earliest start to a day today, with wake-up calls at 6:30am & departure time at 8:00am.
We loaded & boarded our van, then began the long drive back towards Washington DC.  After around 2hrs 15minutes we arrived at our destination, Mount Vernon.
The family home of George Washington, Mount Vernon is still home to my of the original buildings that the first President knew, including his mansion.
Our visit began with a model of the house, & a movie introducing Washington's life...

Next we began exploring the estate grounds, then entered the mansion itself...

Having made good time this morning we had plenty of time to explore the grounds, visit the gift shop & have lunch.
Then we drove into Washington DC, with a short detour through Old Town Alexandria to see the cobbled streets & George Washington's 'town house'.
In DC we made a stop to see the White House...

...and with some extra time we decided to make a visit to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.

Next it was time for dinner, & another new experience for many - a Chinese feast in Washington's Chinatown.

We finished our day with an evening tour of some of the inspirational monuments to great Americans - veterans, Presidents, statesmen, etc - that surround the National Mall.
Amongst the monuments we visited we that honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr...

... & President Abraham Lincoln.

Finally we checked-in to our Arlington hotel for a one night stay.  Tomorrow we will end the tour with visits to Arlington National Cemetery, the Crime & Punishment Museum, & the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.