The Road to the Winter Classic 2012- Maryland/DC leg

After we found out about our trip to the Winter Classic, we had just a few days to make plans.  We have family in Maryland and thought it would be great to not only see Philly, but go spend some time experiencing the east coast since we were being flown out their anyways.  Since we are both in school getting our masters degrees (my husband as an Athletic Trainer, and I as a communication studies major), cross country trips are usually out of the question. It was my husband's 30th birthday on Dec 23rd and of course Christmas Eve and Christmas with family.  AND, we left the next morning at 5am!  What a whirlwind!

We flew in to DC, then drove to Maryland and were pleasantly surprised to feel that the weather was not much colder than California.  After hanging with the family for a day, my brother-in-law who works for NASA (Goddard Space Flight Center), agreed to give us an insiders look at the campus.  He showed us a speaker that NASA uses to test equipment that was over 10 feet tall!

 We also got to see a test chamber that can hold a space craft as large as a school bus.  I took Flat Sharkie with me, not only to show him the world, but to help take a bit of San Jose (and the Sharks) with me!

Sharkie the astronaut! 

The next day we took the Metro to DC and got to experience the nation's capital.  It was 28 degrees when we left the house.
28 DEGREES!
For this California couple that was too cold, but we donned our sharks gear, bundled up and headed out to see the Korean and Viet Nam war memorials as well as the Lincoln and Washington monuments.

 Sharkie at the Lincoln Memorial. 

 And at the White House.....

 And getting ready to see the Declaration of Independence...

 We also got to see the Constitution and Bill of rights.  We had a great time seeing pieces of our nation's and the world's history.  We even met a young sharks fan in line at the National Archives (and a Wings fan, who got stared down only because you can't yell in the museums!). As we headed back to Maryland, we were excited to get the opportunity to see another historic city!