Christmas at Mount Vernon

The weather in DC is weird, in a really, really great way.  It was 60 degrees in early December and the landscaping outside of National Geographic looks like this:

 These flowers survive all winter - FLOWERS!

I bought the annual pass for Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate overlooking the Potomac, partially so I could easily take visitors there, but mostly so we could go look at the sheep whenever we wanted. 

It turns out that Christmas at Mount Vernon may very well be the best time of year to go.  Not only are they all decked out with trees representing each room in Washington's mansion, but they ship in a camel to commemorate the 1787 Christmas when Washington paid 16 shillings to have an exotic pet on hand for his guests to admire.  It's clear that much of what Washington did was simply for show.  I think he would have much rather been farming than entertaining, but those are the breaks when you're trying to form a brand new country and want the capital to be named after you.

Poor camel - 60 degrees is probably cold for you.

There was another surprise: THE actual turkey that President Obama pardoned this year for Thanksgiving.  He will live a long life with another pardoned turkey in a hut almost as big as our apartment.

 I also enjoyed seeing the 16-sided barn that Washington invented to process his wheat.

 16-Sided Barn

The view of the Potomac is amazing.

Alison watches the geese.

 This gingerbread Mount Vernon replica was created by the head White House Chef.  I stood for a long time wondering if anyone would really miss one of those chocolate sculpted trees.

Mount Vernon

Since it's not run by the National Park Service, I suspected Mount Vernon, George Washington's Estate on the Potomac, would be either lame or over-commercialized.  It was only slightly over-commercialized, but it is a great day trip if you've been all over downtown DC already.

 Washington's Mansion

The cost is $15, but you get to tour Washington's mansion, see his tomb, view several gardens, enjoy a brand-new state-of-the-art museum, and be oriented by Pat Sajak in colonial dress.  They also have a farm with animals and a distillery where Washington made a ton from his homegrown whiskey, but we didn't make it that far.  Instead, we were thoroughly schooled in the awesomeness that was our first President.  Nathan was right when he pointed out that the museum was "not exactly balanced".  For instance, an entire room was devoted to Washington's dentures, with no mention that his teeth came from slaves (they were not wooden).  They did talk a lot about the slaves he kept, but continually reminded you that they were freed upon his death.

 View from Mount Vernon

That tree (near the middle) existed during Washington's time.

Lower Gardens - Stocked with heritage plants set-up the way they were in the late 1700s

Upper Garden & Greenhouse - Washington had lemons and oranges year-round

I don't think there is much you can complain about when it came to the personal and political life of George Washington (his wife burned all but three of their love letters to avoid them becoming public in the future).  He was a pretty good guy with hundreds of towns, schools, and monuments named for him.  His true brilliance really came in stepping down voluntarily after two terms.  He could've been King, but decided to set a precedence that only FDR ignored.

Rest in peace Washington, you have a very nice estate, although crowded during tourist season, on which to spend eternity.