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Washington DC
Non Voyage: A Capital Celebration Where You Need DC to Be
If the new administration has your family dreaming of our nation's historic roots, a trip to Washington DC is sure to inspire the next generation of public servants. We continue our week of big-city non voyages in the nation's capital with activities and food that will help families recreate the DC experience without breaking their wallets.
- The National Mall is lined with some of the best museums in the world, and one of the most popular is the National Air and Space Museum. Teach your budding astronauts about the history of manned space flight and then have them create their own rocket ship that will transport them to the moon. Rockets can be built out of blocks, cardboard or with any scraps you have lying around.
- The International Spy Museum is one of the most unique places to visit in DC, where children and adults alike can learn about the CIA and FBI's covert operations and the techniques used to keep the nation from harm. Recreate the experience with a backyard scavenger hunt where lil ones can search for hidden treasures and practice their detective skills. Don't forget the trench coats and magnifying glasses to make them feel official.
- Even in the age of email, everybody still loves to get mail and the National Postal Museum shows kids how their letters get delivered. Visit your local post office and have the kids pick out their own stamps and mail letters to their family and friends. See if the postal workers will allow your tots to view the sorting machines in the back too.
- It's hard to imagine what life was like before cars, computers and modern conveniences, but Mount Vernon, George and Martha Washington's home, does just that.
Front Page: Holocaust Museum Closed After Deadly Shooting
- The US Holocaust Memorial Museum will be closed today to honor the security guard gunned down by a white supremacist yesterday. — CNN
- The World Health Organization has declared swine flu a pandemic. — AP
- US retail sales were up for the first time in three months.
Washington DC Named Fittest City
While running for president, Barack Obama's commitment to working out daily made headlines. Looks like his influence is rubbing off since our nation's capital was named fittest city.
Not usually thought of a health-conscious place, Washington DC, took the top ranking by the American College of Sports Medicine in their second annual American Fitness Index (AFI).
Picture It: Time to Plant the Garden
A jet-lagged Michelle Obama slipped on brown-and-white gardening gloves (no, we don't know where to find them) and went to work on the South Lawn's garden yesterday. With the help of 25 beshoveled schoolchildren, she planted perennials, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. If all goes well, the assistant chef said the White House could be serving blueberries by June.
Do You Want Your Legislature to Legalize Gay Marriage?
Today was a big day for gay marriage proponents. Vermont's legislature overrode the governor's veto to legalize same-sex marriage. And in Washington DC, the district's council voted to recognize same-sex marriages issued in other states.
Spotted: Clouded Leopard Cubs, Up Close and Personal
Spring has sprung, and I can't resist passing along all the cute baby animals I've seen this season. Recently spotted (ha!) were two endangered Clouded Leopards born at the National Zoo. The cubs are being bottle fed to protect their small size from big mama yet, even at one-half pound and not even a week old, the lil ones have quite the loud voices so watch below and see!
In Bloom: Cherry Blossoms Open in DC
The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off this past weekend in Washington DC, and runs through April 12. It marks the 96th anniversary of Tokyo's gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the capital city. Cherry blossom festivals are held all over Japan, and the flower heralds Spring, represents love, and illustrates a basic tenet of Japanese philosophy: perfection is fleeting (love, too).
HIV/AIDS Crisis in US Capital — Three Percent Infected
Three percent of residents in Washington, DC, are infected with HIV or AIDS, a number that officially makes the illness a "severe epidemic." The rate, highest in the US, mirrors infection rates in Uganda and parts of Kenya, and it's higher than West Africa's.
The District's mayor and health officials are discussing a marketing campaign to push prevention and testing.
Picture It: Service With a Smile
Michelle Obama volunteered at Miriam's Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides case management, housing support, and meals to homeless people in DC. Yesterday's meal was donated by the White House in a new effort to highlight the work of local nonprofits. The first lady urged Americans to donate food and, if that's out of reach, time.
Protesting the Weather: Climate Change Activists Storm Capitol
Activists braved the cold and snow yesterday to participate in Capitol Climate Action Day. The day of civil disobedience focused on getting the capitol's power plant to ditch coal for natural gas. Participants cut off access to the plant's entrances and refused to leave when asked.
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