Page 29 - Marilyn

Every year, the President presents the State of the other parents of teens. I would love to hear from you, at
Union speech to the American people from the Chamber the above e-mail address, about all of your travel experi-
of the House of Representatives. Perhaps your teen ences with your teens. Tell me about your best trip and
watched the televised funeral ceremonies for President your worst, but especially explain why the trips turned
Ronald Reagan or President Gerald Ford and witnessed out that way. Tell me your ideas, gimmicks, threats,
the practice of “lying in state” in the Capitol Rotunda. punishments anything that might help the poor parent
who is dreading a family trip with a teenager. Together,
Touring the Capitol is very easy to plan. Check the Capi- we may save a parent’s sanity!
tol website for all the information you need.
So, until next time, keep traveling with your teens!
So, when your teen’s Civics teacher requires him to
watch the State of the Union speech next January,
will the fact that he stood in the gallery and looked out
across that August gathering place change his perspec-
tive? You bet! Remember: “I’ve been there.”

Finally, the Supreme Court, at the top of the Judicial
branch, hears and rules on cases within the hallowed
halls of its own building near the Capitol. The media
rarely shows us more than the front steps or an artist’s
rendering of the judges on the bench, but there is much
more to this majestic, inspiring edifice.

Depending on the time of year and with some advanced
planning, you and your teen may be able to sit in the
courtroom as the Supreme Court justices hear oral ar-
guments or release orders and opinions. The days and
times are tricky, so be sure to study the website when
you plan.

How often has this building been featured
in news stories on major cases or demon-
strations about controversial issues? The San Diego Woman
next time your large screen TV shows a
group loudly enjoying its First Amendment
rights denouncing or praising abortion, sup- 29
porting or condemning illegal immigration,
or whatever the issue du jour, your teen
can proudly proclaim, “I’ve been there.”

These sites are the most obvious places directly con-
nected to the three branches of the U.S. government,
but Washington is filled with a multitude of interesting
places tied to various governmental functions. Consider
also visiting the Library of Congress, the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, and the National Archives. We
were fortunate to live in northern Virginia near Wash-
ington for three years. Even with that long amount of
time to explore, we were unable to visit every place we
wanted to see. So, when scheduling your family’s trip,
plan with priorities and expect to return for additional
exploration. In a future column, I’ll talk about some of
the classic attractions as well as several lesser-known
points of interest.
For now, put aside your political apathy, forget your
partisan persuasion, and visit the nucleus of our govern-
ment. After you’ve visited Washington, e-mail me about
your trip. Give me some helpful tips to pass along to
May/June 2008