Pinewood DC 2023 | FindPenguins

Date ascending

Bill Bates Pinewood DC 2023
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 19, 2023, 12:49pm
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: 630 ft
- United States Virginia Albemarle County Simeon Patterson Mountain 38.008713, -78.46376838°0’31” N 78°27’50” W
Day 3
Michie's Tavern
September 19, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
From Monticello , we continued our journey to the famous Michie's Tavern, a historic 18th-century tavern. We were treated to a hearty Southern feast, featuring fried chicken, mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes, black-eyed peas, biscuits and cornbread and ending with peach cobbler. Needless to say, the meal was quite excellent! 😁

Now, powered up, we are back on the road, bound for Washington DC, excited to explore our nation’s capitol.Read more
1 like
Bill Bates Pinewood DC 2023
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 19, 2023, 8:47pm
- 🌙 68 °F
- Altitude: 52 ft
- United States Washington, D.C.Washington Thomas Jefferson Memorial 38.88142, -77.03657538°52’53” N 77°2’12” W
Day 3
Hello, Washington DC!
September 19, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 68 °F
We've arrived! The pace of our trip will pick up considerably as now that we have made it to Washington DC. Our schedule here is chock-full of exciting activities, marking a shift from the relaxed start to our trip.

We began our DC escapade with visits to the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History, two of the many Smithsonian museums. The students had a fun time exploring in groups, which made it a bit challenging to snap photos but certainly enhanced their museum experience.

Next on the itinerary was a much-needed dinner break at Pizzeria Uno where we indulged in the classic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. It feels like we are always eating on these trips!

The real magic began after we were done with dinner. We visited three memorials as the sun went down - the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. Seeing the memorials at night is spectacular.

For those following along on the itinerary, you’ll likely see some deviations. A trip itinerary is nothing more than the hopes and dreams of what can happen in a perfect world. 🙂 When we have an appointment, we must make it. Otherwise, we’ll adjust the day to fit our needs and flow. Mrs. Bates is the absolute best at tailoring the trip on the fly to to ensure the best possible experience. She is a seasoned expert!!!

Though we spent a large portion of our day on the road, every moment off the bus was packed and I still managed to get 15,000 steps in!

We are winding down for the night. Tomorrow offers a later start, giving us a moment to recharge before embarking on a full day of adventure. 😁

FindPenguins limits each post to 20 photos and 2 videos. In our Facebook Group there are more pictures.Read more
2 likes
Bill Bates Pinewood DC 2023
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 20, 2023, 9:35am
- ☀️ 68 °F
- Altitude: 92 ft
- United States Washington, D.C.Chinatown Ford's Theatre National Historic Site 38.896822, -77.02610838°53’49” N 77°1’34” W
1
Day 4
Ford's Theater
September 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Today, we began our day with a visit to Ford's Theater, a significant historical site where the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth happened. Fords’s is still a working theater and years ago it was on the itinerary to see a show there. These days we have a better time at a very popular dinner theater that we will visit tonight.

During our visit, I stumbled upon a charming piece of history involving Lincoln's son, Thomas, affectionately known as Tad. In 1863, Tad befriended a turkey that had been sent to the White House to become Christmas dinner. Not wanting to part with his new companion, Tad named the turkey Jack and boldly interrupted a Cabinet meeting to request a presidential pardon for him - a heartwarming tradition that is upheld to this day! I have been to Ford’s many times but I inly just learned this wonderful story today!

Following our time at the theater, we ventured across the street to the Petersen House, the solemn site where Lincoln passed. Here we saw the gun Booth used in the assassination and the very bed where Lincoln succumbed to his injuries. It was a moment of reflection and the students seemed to understand the significance.

After that solemn experience, we lightened the mood by bringing the kids to one of their favorite pastimes. Shopping. We visited a pretty decent gift shop, as gift shops go. 😉Read more
Bill Bates Lincoln’s little known side hustle! 🤣
9/20/23Reply
2 likes
Bill Bates Pinewood DC 2023
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 20, 2023, 12:09pm
- ☀️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 56 ft
- United States Washington, D.C.Southwest L'Enfant Plaza 38.883695, -77.02587838°53’1” N 77°1’33” W
Day 4
The International Spy Museum
September 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
From the somberness of Ford’s Theater, we headed to the International Spy Museum! When we arrived, we were introduced to the world of spy raft and intrigue when we were handed new identities and tasked with completing a mission.

We navigated through exhibits that vividly brought to life the history of espionage, with a special spotlight on the fascinating array of spy gadgets and disguises that captured everyone's imagination.

Adding to the excitement was an interactive exhibit that was a huge hit with the kids. Picture this: a spy trying to avoid capture, stuck hanging from a skyscraper. But this was no ordinary challenge; the bar shook unexpectedly and wind blew in their faces. The goal was to hang on for 60 seconds. Enough time to avoid capture. Some students did better than others. 😉 I've posted a few videos to give you a glimpse.

This was a really well done museum. It was a great mix of educational displays and interactive elements. The kids really enjoyed it, and of course, the gift shop!

FindPenguins limits each post to 20 photos and 2 videos. In our Facebook Group there are more pictures.Read more
1 like
Bill Bates Pinewood DC 2023
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 20, 2023, 1:53pm
- ⛅ 77 °F
- Altitude: 56 ft
- United States Washington, D.C.Franklin McPherson Square Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Statue 38.898556, -77.03646138°53’55” N 77°2’11” W
Day 4
Hard Rock Cafe & White House
September 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
Lunch was at the Hard Rock. I haven’t been to a Hard Rock Cafe in a long, long time. I don’t know if it had the same impact as it once had, but the kids enjoyed the food. 🙂

Visiting the White House was an interesting experience! We could not get a tour this year, so we stopped for a photo op. There was a very small protest happening. Maybe 12-14 people were protesting the use of fossil fuels. Pretty subdued. We discussed The First Amendment and how it protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest. Seeing small protests in DC is not surprising or unexpected.

We had just got to the White House fence and taken a group photo when the Park Police swooped in and closed the street. We quickly got to the adjacent park, 20-30 feet away. The Park Police arrested a few protesters, who went peacefully and quietly. We were surprised because it was a peaceful-looking protest, and we hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

The events brought some excitement to our quick photo stop.Read more
1 like
Bill Bates Pinewood DC 2023
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 20, 2023, 2:41pm
- ⛅ 79 °F
- Altitude: 72 ft
- United States Washington, D.C.Washington Holocaust Memorial 38.886775, -77.03272238°53’12” N 77°1’58” W
Day 4
The United States Holocaust Memor
September 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
After our short White House visit, we made our way to the Holocaust Museum. The museum chronicles the rise of the Nazi party, the devastating impact of the Holocaust, and its chilling aftermath. Personal stories, artifacts, and powerful images fill the exhibits, painting a heart-wrenching portrait of this unspeakable tragedy.

The Hall of Remembrance offered us a silent space to process the profound lessons around us. Throughout the visit, it was evident how deeply our students were affected. They approached each exhibit with a seriousness and maturity that underscored the powerful impact of the museum's message.

Although the museum encourages taking pictures and videos, I kept my photo-taking to a minimum. I expect the experience will remain with the kids long after we have left.Read more
1 like
Bill Bates Pinewood DC 2023
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Sep 20, 2023, 7:55pm
- 🌙 66 °F
- Altitude: 325 ft
- United States Maryland Howard County Sebring Symphony Woods 39.208888, -76.85852839°12’32” N 76°51’31” W
Day 4
Toby’s Dinner Theater
September 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 66 °F
We ended the night in Maryland at Toby’s Dinner Theater. We were treated to a performance of Sister Act. It is a show full of upbeat music and positive energy! 😁

Understandably, no pictures were allowed during the performance. Toby’s is a theater in the round, meaning the stage is in the middle of the room, and seating is all around it. Since it is a dinner theater, we started with an extensive buffet in the center of the room, right on the stage! The kids were very happy with the food choices and dessert. An interesting touch was that our wait staff were the actors in the show.

Our students are the perfect audience. They reacted to the show the way the actors hoped for! Laughing, gasping, cheering, and more!

It was a great experience, and the kids loved it. One thing is for sure, this trip is full of amazing memories. 🙂Read more
1 like