Trip Journal 2014
Explorica Information
Trip ID: Nicholson-3582
Number of students: 80
Trip Journal
The first-ever Palms Class Trip began early on the morning of Saturday April 12, 2014.
76 students took the trip, along with 8 teachers and administrators: Mr. An, Ms. Anderson, Ms. Cuda, Ms. Garret, Mr. Lalazarian, Ms. McCarrell, Ms. Powers, and Mr. Nicholson, who organized the trip.
Day 1: Our Trip Begins (April 12, 2014)
The tour directors are Mike Morgenthal and Antonia Grace. Mr. Morgenthal has been a tour guide for students since 2003. He's visited 48 of the 50 states in the U.S. and 32 countries around the world.
We arrived in the Washington DC area and boarded our coaches for the beautiful ride through the countryside on our way to historic Gettysburg. We had a great dinner, then watched the sunset before heading to the hotel to rest and get ready for the rest of the tour!
Mike Morgenthal on the Empire State Building Observation Deck
Tour Director Antonia Grace
Fun on the bus
Day 2: Gettysburg and DC Monuments (April 13, 2014)
We began our day with a tour of the historic battlefield at Gettysburg. We then spent time in the Visitor Center, watching the film and visiting the amazing Cyclorama painting. After grabbing lunch, we boarded the buses and drove to Washington DC! Our first stop was the White House, before visiting Ford's Theater, one day before the anniversary of Lincoln's Assassination. After a great dinner, we spent some time visiting the mind-blowing monuments of Washington DC, including the Lincoln, MLK, FDR and Jefferson memorials. It was a great day!
Gettysburg
The White House
Ford's Theater
The Petersen House
Lincoln Memorial
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Washington Monument
World War II Memorial
Day 3: National Zoo, Smithsonian Museums, and the Spy Museum (April 14, 2014)
Our first stop was at the great National Zoo, checking out the pandas, the elephants and big cats. We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting several of the great Smithsonian museums including Natural History, American History, and Air and Space. We had a great Italian dinner then visited the very cool Spy Museum. A nice day!
National Zoo
National Museum of Natural History
National Air and Space Museum
International Spy Museum
Toasts to the Palms Chaperones
Day 4: National Archives, National Portrait Gallery, American Art Museum, and Holocaust Memorial Museum (April 15, 2014)
Our day began with a great visit to the National Archives to see the charters of freedom. Next up we spent some time at the amazing National Portrait Gallery and American Art museum. We followed that with a stirring visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. We then had a great dinner in Old Town Alexandria. A great day.
National Archives
National Portrait Gallery
Dinner at King Street Blues
Day 5: War Memorials, Einstein Memorial, Kennedy Center, Capitol Hill (April 16, 2014)
Our day began with a great visit to the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, as well as the Albert Einstein statue. We then had a great guided tour of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. We had lunch inside the stunning Union Station, then walked up to Capitol Hill to check out the Supreme Court, Library of Congress and the US Capitol. After dinner, we visited the World War II Memorial, and even glimpsed the Presidential motorcade on the way back to the hotel!
Albert Einstein Memorial at the National Academy of Sciences
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Supreme Court
Food Court
Library of Congress (Thomas Jefferson Building)
United States Capitol
Day 6: Arlington Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Robert E. Lee's house, JFK Memorial (April 17, 2014)
What better way to spend our last day, than to take in the honor and valor of Arlington National Cemetery. We stood in awe at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, visited Robert E. Lee's former home, learned how a plot of vengeance created the cemetery and viewed the JF Kennedy Memorial. Because we flew out of different airports, some of us went to the African American Civil War Museum and others enjoyed the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum. We have taken in many sights, sounds, and experiences; learned about our heroes that prepared the way before us; discovered by example, a little of what it means to be an American, being willing to serve our country, our community, our neighbors, our families. We have had a wonderful time together. We hope everyone returned safe, a little bit exhausted and a whole lot inspired.
What better way to spend our last day, than to take in the honor and valor of Arlington National Cemetery. We stood in awe at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, visited Robert E. Lee's former home, learned how a plot of vengeance created the cemetery and viewed the JF Kennedy Memorial. Because we flew out of different airports, some of us went to the African American Civil War Museum and others enjoyed the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum. We have taken in many sights, sounds, and experiences; learned about our heroes that prepared the way before us; discovered by example, a little of what it means to be an American, being willing to serve our country, our community, our neighbors, our families. We have had a wonderful time together. We hope everyone returned safe, a little bit exhausted and a whole lot inspired.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum
Day 7: Home!
The Palms traveling 8th grade students all made it home safely on April 17.
Mr. Nicholson reported that the students had a great time and learned a lot. He said that it was an experience that they will never forget!