For our last full day in DC, it seemed fitting that we go and see Mount Vernon, George Washington’s personal estate.
We arrived, got parked and headed into the Visitor Center. With the purchase of your admission ticket, you get a handheld audio tour device, this ended up being the kids’ favorite part of our visit (the twins referred to them as ‘phones’ because they were vaguely phone shaped/sized.)
Each device has a scanner, and as you tour the estate there are little sensors all over that you can scan, and the devices plays an informational clip about the site that you are at.
Another thing that they have for kids is a little scavenger hunt type/puzzle thing. At certain spots (which are clearly marked on the map of the estate) you have to read the sign and then fill in a word that was left blank on the scavenger hunt. And then at the end, you have to use all the words you gathered to fill in a final word. And if you do that, you get a prize. It was pretty cool.
To be honest, I stopped listening to my audio device after a short time because it was all too much to juggle: stroller, kids, the kids 5 listening devices, water bottles, maps, pencils, taking pictures, scraped knees, etc.
I figured I’d be happier not knowing everything than I would be if I listened and tried to manage everything. Plus I could listen to it later if I was really keen on it.
After the visitor center we made our way up to the estate itself. And I decided to just follow the scavenger hunt clues in order because it took us on a pretty comprehensive and comprehensible tour of the grounds. There were SOOO many outbuildings, we would’ve definitely missed things/gotten lost if we’d just wandered around on our own.
The first place it took us was over by the greenhouse and the gardens around the greenhouse.
Having a Greenhouse was a huge investment of time and manpower. Especially because it housed tropical plants, which had to be kept within an acceptable range of temperatures year around. And so keeping it at the right temperature during the Virginia winters was intense.
After the greenhouse, we saw the quarters for all the enslaved people who lived and worked on Washington’s estate. And several of the outbuildings and workshops: cobblers workshop, spinning room, curing room, etc.
After we had been to several spots, certain parties were beginning to exhibit symptoms of hanger. So, we went around the back of the mansion, where we had an amazing view of the Potomac, and we sat in the shade and had snacky time.
(Note: We did not actually do a tour of the mansion itself. Clara and I would have been into it, but I don’t think it would have been all that fun for the rest of the group, and by the transitive property of fun, it probably wouldn’t have been that fun for anyone in the end.)
After Snacky time we made our way to the garden, but made a couple small stops along the way
“Rustication is a technique designed to shape wooden siding to appear to be stone. This is done first by notching the faces and beveling the edges of weatherboards to give them the appearance of cut stone blocks. Next, the siding was painted with oil paint. Finally, sand was thrown onto the wet paint, creating a rough stone-like texture.” From the website 
The children were tickled by “the necessary”
And then we got to the kitchen gardens. George Washington was unusual for his time in that he was very hands on with all the agricultural aspects of his estate and farm. There were 4 gardens on the estate.
The gardens were extensive and beautifully arranged too. George Washington was #gardenergoals then and now. The kids and I talked about how we are all excited to have a garden again sometime.
All the produce that is grown at Mount Vernon is donated to the local food bank.
After the garden, there were a couple more outbuildings like carriage house and the laundry building. (I have never been so grateful for a washing machine and dryer in my life not to mention detergents, bleach and stain fighting stuff.)
And then we went over by the Haha Wall.
A ha-ha wall is a wall that is dug into the side of a hill. Its purpose is to keep domesticated animals safely in the pasture but to not interrupt the sightline with fencing.
Our last stop of the day was George and Martha Washington’s tomb. It was in a lovely spot.
After paying our respects (well, at least some of us did 🙃), we made our way back up the hill and then back toward the Visitor Center.
When you get back to the Visitor center, it turns out that there is a little museum too! Totally didn’t know that. I figured that we could just go through really quick.
However, we walked into the first room, and Isaac immediately set off an alarm (by going somewhere he shouldn’t have). I told him he couldn’t go back there. And then, he did it again, while laughing maniacally. So, yeah. We had gotten to that point.
I decided that it might be good to cut our visit a bit short and end on a high note. Rather than pushing too hard and having it end in tears (mine and everyone else’s).
We made our way back to the car, loaded up, and started driving home. And the twins were literally asleep within 5 minutes. No surprise there.
This was a really fun way to end our time in Washington DC.
And honestly, I am rather proud of myself for undertaking such an intense adventure without Jonathan, without Jonathan being home, and during packing/moving time.
