Thanks to Bev for the heads up to not waste any time trying to get a White House tour!
Expectations and reality can be so deceiving.
We went to tour the White House last week. I have been hounding our congressman's office since December 12, 2008 to get tickets to go. I'm not sure what I expected, but I thought I would be wowed by the history of it all and by all the things I would get to see. There lies the problem.
Going through the White House tour was very lackluster. I did get chills going through the gate. The problem: It took more time to go through security and to walk around the side entrance than to actually go through the White House. When we finally got in, there was a guard that gave us a little brochure and then we were left on our own to go through maybe 5-7 rooms. We saw some pictures and then saw the blue room, green room, red room and a couple of other rooms, then before we knew it, we were at the front door and on our way out. We had to figure everything out for ourselves.
There were packed boxes, stacked chairs, and people standing in front of where we couldn't go. I know it doesn't mean much to the people that go through the hundreds of rooms of the White House everyday. But us, this is all we get to see. Couldn't they make it special? I had to stop once I realized we were at the entrance of the White House. The entrance I've seen so many times. I went back and just took in the thought of it all. I stared at the people on the outside of the gate.
For many people, this is our only personal view of inside the White House. While I appreciate the history and importance, it could have been better. It could have taught me something. Grabbed me with information. Left me walking out there as an even more proud American...or was that my responsibility?We left.
We went to Luray Caverns and the White House can take a few tips from them. They gave us microphones and a recorder. Every time we got to a spot with a sign, we punched in a number and were told a great, age appropriate, story. We saw a lot and learned a lot. What a way to show visitors around and teach them something, too.
Moral of the story: Don't raise expectations or your visitor will be sourly disappointed, making the memories a little tainted.
The house you promote online should be the house people will actually see when they get there. Tell them what they are seeing and let it be amazing.
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Tina Merritt and Assoc. can be reached at email: tina@tinamerritt.com or 757-287-6338.
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