Up Close and Personal at the White House

One part we left out of our DC Trip was our visit to the White House.  I figured it would be nearly impossible to get a White House tour. So, I never tried.  When we were walking around on Saturday afternoon, we noticed a huge line of people outside the White House.  It turns out that the grounds of the White House were open to the public that day.  Twice a year, the White House opens the south lawn to the public.  You have to get a ticket but they're free.  The National Park Rangers were handing them out and we were able to get tickets.  So, here's some pictures of our "up close and personal" tour of the White House grounds.

Our ticket to get in.  We had to wait in line about 30 minutes and then go through security (same as the airport) and then we got to roam the grounds on the south side of the White House.

Just beyond those gates is the grounds of the White House.  

We got to walk up the driveway leading to the South Portico.  There were pictures next to all of the trees that previous Presidents had planted.  

A family picture just a few feet away from the South Portico.

So close that you could almost touch it.

Here's the view standing in front of the South Portico looking south across the lawn towards the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Monument.  The lawn directly behind Evan and Alex is where Marine 1 (President's Helicopter) lands.

Here's picture of where the President gives many of his public addresses outside.  On the left side of the picture, you can see the Oval Office.  They had the lights on and you could even see the desk just inside the windows.  40' from the Oval Office is probably about as close as I'll ever get!

A picture on the south end of the South Lawn looking at the White House.