Travel & Vacation: Butterfly Garden at Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
A butterfly getting a drink from the purple flower
While in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History we visited the Butterfly Garden. Getting into the Museum was free, but it did cost I believe $5 to get into the Butterfly Garden. I wasn’t sure if it was really worth it, however, Jake insisted that the girls should experience it at least once.
Both girls LOVED it! Brina was convinced she could stay there the entire day. It was really neat seeing the butterflies so close and having them land on you. Karlie didn’t mind them landing on her shoe, backpack, or clothes, but when they landed on her skin she didn’t like it. We spent a good amount of time in the Butterfly Garden which was completely enclosed with a variety of plants, flowers, and of course butterflies. If you get a chance to go through it with your kids I highly recommend it.
Waiting in line for the Butterfly Garden!
Brina thought it was hilarious that the butterfly landed on her camera!
Karlie with one on her leg. “Mom, it feels funny can you get it off!” She was not a big fan of them crawling on her skin, but for some reason they liked her legs, ha!
Brina loving it!
Oh no, it’s on my leg again! Mom! For some reason they liked Karlie’s legs!
One landed on the tip of Brina’s finger!
Karlie holding her hand next to the butterfly to see if it will crawl onto her hand.
Fascinating!
I was busy taking pictures when Brina informed me that I had 2 on my shirt!
One butterfly was checking out Brina’s colorful headband! She said she could feel it moving and it was tickling her ear!
The butterflies really liked Brina. She loved this activity!
Karlie’s backpack was a favorite spot for butterflies to land!
Hey, look at this one!
Karlie trying to encourage the butterfly to walk up to her hand so it wouldn’t be on her leg anymore!
This butterfly has a death wish…. I went to take a step when a butterfly decided to land on the bottom of my shoe. I had to hold my foot into this position until one of the workers came with a paint brush and get the butterfly off the bottom of my shoe! Thankfully I noticed before stepping down!
Jake took this picture on the outside of the butterfly garden. Sweet Karlie taking a picture of the butterfly in front of her!
Brina showing Daddy one of the butterflies that landed on her fingers. This is a little cloudy because it was taken through the canopy, but still really cute. She was so excited to show her butterfly to her Dad!
Travel & Vacation: Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History
Standing at the banister looking down on the elephant and floors below.
The girls were thrilled to go to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History. Brina especially loves anything associated to animals. Since we did the Smithsonian Institution of National Air and Space Museum yesterday we thought this will be a great next adventure. Thankful for some fun times together!
Touring the National Museum of Natural History
OOOOOOOUCH Karlie! This one has a lot of teeth!
Brina and Jake checking out the armadillo shell!
Doing their names with stamp calligraphy
Having fun exploring with my Brina Bee
Brina reading the sign and soaking it all in
Learning more about animals
Wow! Some cool looking animals!
One big giraffe
Checking out the fun displays
They had a huge elephant in the middle foyer of the building.
Touching a piece of rock from Mars…..fascinating!
Karlie thought this rock was so cool
Whoa….look at those rocks!
The Hope Diamond is a 45.52-carat dark blue diamond. It has traveled from India to France to Britain and now the United States. The Hope Diamond is also described as the “most famous diamond in the world.”
It looks like the elephant is coming toward them!
Super excited to visit the Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History
Travel & Vacation: Exploring Washington, DC – Trolley Ride, Sightseeing, and Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial
Brina all smiles and ready to go for the day.
Our second day exploring Washington DC. We were up early again so we can pack in a day full of fun. Our first stop was the Union Station where we parked the van and caught a ride on the trolley. We soaked up all the cool sights as we made our way through town. Thankful for our time together!
Karlie all geared up with her camera ready to take some pictures while on Washington’s Old Town Trolley!
Washington and Jefferson Monuments reflecting on the calm and peaceful Potomac River.
Karlie thought it was hilarious that several USPS mail drop boxes were painted to look like Sponge Bob. The reason the post office made the mail boxes to look like Sponge Bob was to encourage kids to write more letters. I wonder if it is working?
Riding up the escalator so we can head to the next adventure!
Karlie walking around the Marine memorial and soaking in all the sights around her.
Our family at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial in Washington DC. It was a super sunny day so all our family pictures were a little cloudy with a rainbow on the memorial.
The Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial in Washington DC is one of my favorite. It shows great pride for our country and team spirit among the Marine soldiers.
We were able to cover a lot of ground in Washington, D.C. thanks to the Old Town Trolley taking us around. It was a well worth the cost because it was a fast and easy way to get through the city to all the major sights. Plus we didn’t have to waste time finding parking at each place or walking everywhere. On the second day we went further out in the morning to Arlington Cemetery than on to the Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History, Iwo Jima, and more! We packed in a lot of fun, learning, and sight seeing on our second day in Washington D.C. It is a great place to explore with the family!
