Hi Creative Bosses!
I had been wanting to attend the National Museum of African American History and Culture since it opened. However, I hadn’t had much luck with getting advance tickets and I have zero patience to wait in line. Then one day something told me to try and get group tickets and boom! I was able to score twenty. Of course, my group was only four people at the time, but that’s another story.
The tickets were for Sunday, February 9th, which was perfect as it allowed me to experience the museum with my children during Black History Month. I decided this would be the perfect time to bring my family together to make it a quick family gathering (we had never done anything like this before), plus I get my twenty people. The problem was it was the Sunday right after my girls’ night and I knew I would be completely exhausted. I literally went from Red Rooster, ran home to get a bag, and drove to D.C. in time for our 11 a.m. group slot.
I lucked up, as I was able to get K.D. (kids’ dad) to drive while I slept most of the way (as much as my kids would allow me to, that is).
Here Are 5 Reasons Why Our Day Trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture Was Amazing:
Reason One
Nothing brings family and friends together like a fun day outing. You get to catch up, have some laughs, share memories, and bond over an activity or experience. I was able to bring together some of my family members who I have never shared an experience with, as well as new friends and older friends that I hadn’t seen in a while. And we were able to catch up without missing a beat. This showed my children that we can blend people from all walks of life, bringing them together for a fun occasion, even if only for a short time.
Reason Two
Day trips are always fun because you get to leave your city and experience something new. Not only did we see the museum but we also drove through the area to see the White House, the Washington Monument, the Library of Congress, and many other historic D.C. buildings. You also get to connect with your children and spend quality time outside of the everyday things you do.
Reason Three
Recharge. Recharge. Recharge.
Day trips, while quick and blurred, give you a minute to regroup from your day-to-day routines and responsibilities. Inside the museum there is a waterfall where you can throw coins into and make a wish. I remember reflecting on what I would wish for if I knew it could come true. Then I remembered how peaceful and serene waterfalls are. Life moves so fast that you forget sometimes to just stop and look up to see where you are in life.
Reason Four
Save money. Day trips are a great way to reduce travel costs. You don’t have to worry about luggage, hotels, spending a ton on food, etc. My daughter made us T-shirts that we ordered from Amazon for less than $5 each and we threw on some jeans and sneakers. We packed some water bottles and snacks and hit the highway. We live in Westchester, New York, so we stopped midway for breakfast at a Dunkin’ Donuts. We ate lunch at Sweet Café in the museum. The meal was kind of pricey but you’re paying for the experience and the location. Afterward, on the ride home we didn’t have to stop for anything but gas, and I grabbed a bag of chips. The museum is free. We opted out of buying anything from the gift shop. We rented a car to save on mileage, and had only food and gas costs. We spent roughly $200 to $300. We had a family friend tag along with her son, so in total we only spent about $100 each. Which isn’t bad for a day trip for six people.
Reason Five
Being at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and seeing the world in the 1400s really put a lot of things in perspective. You spend a lot of time complaining about this and that or wanting more from your life that you forget how blessed we are. In one of the exhibits you can see a shack that many families shared with no bathroom, no beds, nothing but walls and a roof. As you climb the levels of exhibits the years go on and by a certain time period you see the faces of families go from suffering to happiness and joy. I remember telling my aunt, Wow, how can they be so happy with so little? She answered that back then freedom was enough to make anyone smile, even if you lived in a shack with few clothes, and little food and money. I am forever humbled.
Happy Reading!
