Natural history museum

Immense opening atrium where you can meet Henry the lifesize elephant. Fantastic mamal exhibition with animals from all around the world. Journey through time and see how humans evolved. 

Mummy exhibition is a little disappointing. 

Washington DC

So many places to see. We have decided to take the Big Bus tour - for the next 48 hours. Can we see it all? 

Georgetown first....

Beautiful small boutique shops and cafés, very old and varied architecture. Washington has put together allsorts of different looking buildings together. And it works 

Then Einstein !!

There is a wonderful monument to the great scientist I got to sit on his knee !

He is straight across the road from one of the most magnificent monument I have ever seen. Always wanted to see the Lincoln memorial after watching Night at the Museum 2 

I was left speechless 

Omni shoreham hotel

Beautiful hotel, very grand x

Day 1

8 hours on a plane - good range of movies but all I wanted to do was sleep. Don't think 5am start agrees with me!!

Bye bye rainy Manchester 

Smiling faces ready and waiting to fly!

Here we go!!

All packed and ready to go. Are there really 2 five am's in the day!!!

Manchester airport her we come.

3 days to go - very excited!!!

Well there are 3 days to go!! all the tickets are here and filed. What is left to do? Packing!!!

What will you need for 3 weeks on the trip of a lifetime? Remember you can't take the kitchen sink!
T-shirt, shorts, swimming costume (don't forget the sun tan lotion)

I started to pack weeks ago - siting with half full suitcases trying to be organised. Well the time is here and we need to be packed.

Which camera to take?
How to keep the kids entertained on the long flights?
How do you keep cool and safe?

Never mind all that, we are going to Washington - going to see the pandas, Smithsonian museums and Lincoln memorial - can't wait to sit on those steps.

Keep coming back for photos and updates. Happy Summer holidays! 

11 days to go

Things are hotting up.... 11 days to go and thinking about packing and planning the trip. Where are we going? Here is a map to show where we will be stopping

• Washington DC
• San Francisco
• Hawaii (Oahu) 
• Las Vegas
• Grand Canyon

Anybody ever been before or any good ideas for things to do?