The White House is a splendid venue. Everyone should visit there if possible. If the timing is right and you don't have a criminal record, there's a fairly good chance your Congressman or Senator can get you admitted to tour the White House. This was my third trip; the first for Kelly and the girls.

The WH is beautiful, in a simple way, grand, and elegant, but not really overbearing or fancy. We were there as President Obama's motorcade was to go to Capitol Hill to meet with the Democrat caucus regarding the health care bill. It was neat to see the motorcycle patrolmen gathering and getting ready to escort the President. We didn't see his departure. We were admitted before he actually left the building. (And there wasn't any announcement "Barrack has left the building.")

You go through more security to board a plane in Springfield, Missouri than you do to enter the White House. At least that's the way it felt. Stand in line a bit, walk up to the gate, give them your name, they check that you are on the list and then wave you through. One simple metal detector later, and you walk into the East wing.

The tour consists of the East wing, the China room and Library, the Blue room, Red room, Green room, the State Dining Room, and the cross hall. In a way the rooms were a bit garish---colorwise that is. And the furnishings are so old that it really does feel more like a museum than a useful room you are standing in.

We stood and visited for quite a while with the Secret Service agents. They answered questions about the Service and the Presidential Protection detail. When our questions got too specific they just replied that they couldn't answer that.

We could take as much time as we liked, and we did, leisurely strolling out the North entrance for a glance at the West Wing before walking across the lawn to the gate.

If you find yourself in Washington, I'd encourage you to make every effort to visit the White House.

Ford's Theatre---where Lincoln was shot---is still a working theatre. Quaint in size and elegant in appointment, you can walk up and stare into the box where Lincoln sat; it's only a few feet off the stage so that idea of Booth "leaping onto the stage" wasn't really quite as great a leap as the story makes it sound.

It's easy to get into Ford's Theatre and the house across the street where Lincoln died. Admission is free. I'm glad I went. I've been there. I've done that. And I wouldn't do it again.

National Archives is where the original Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are found. It's kind of cool to be inches from the actual piece of paper that Franklin & Jefferson signed, but time has so faded the ink that you can't read much of it. This is kind of one of those things that you feel like you must do. So do it. Then you'll have it done, and you won't have to do it again.

The International Spy Museum is kind of a cool thing. Everything you ever wanted to know about spies and espionage is here. I'd recommend you visit this place once. The most interesting parts were the stories of contemporary spies whose names you and I know, who'd gotten caught and given up their freedom for the rest of their lives for selling out their country. Seemed kind of stupid to me. Go see it.