Weekend Excursion to VA

It's less than a year until we move, and I've really been feeling the pinch to get in some East-coast tourist attractions. This area is so rich with history. I asked Derick if he would be ok with a weekend trip north to mark a few things off of our list - he was in, so we took off.

We left home early Saturday morning and headed straight to Charolottesville, VA to Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. I had been as a child but remembered nothing more than how the outside of the main home looked. It was a great history lesson for all 4 of us.

We finished up the tour in the late-afternoon and headed to our hotel. We had dinner at a restaurant in The Corner at the University of Virginia. After dinner, we headed back to the hotel for an evening swim and all crashed early.

Sunday morning we were up and out again before 8:00. Our first stop (after Waffle House) was the Appomattox Courthouse National Park. I was expecting an empty field, but we found an entire restored village. We watched a movie, meandered through the museum and walked around the grounds. Above the family is picture in front of the Appomattox Courthouse.

Here we are in front of the McLean house, sight of General Lee's surrender to General Grant in April, 1865. Wow. This was cool.


My favorite part of the trip (and our quickest stop) was the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. If you know anything at all about D-Day, this place will move you. I dare say if you don't know anything about D-Day, this place will inspire you to learn more. It was beautifully done with a huge area divided into 5 sections to represent the 5 beaches in Normandy.

Then, a marble landing craft was open into the water (below) with sculptures storming the beach. One is dead with an open Bible by his head, one is holding his gun over his head in chest deep water, and two are making their way up the beach. All the while, water is spraying up in the air to give an idea of how the soldiers were getting fired upon the whole time.

Also, there is a wall (cliff) with soldiers climbing it. It's truly incredible and thought-provoking. My description and pictures can't begin to do it justice.