Travel through the life of the Kennedy’s

Everybody knows the Kennedy’s. During our trip to the East Coast of America we got interested in the Kennedy’s and the legacy. JFK was the 35th President of America from 1960-1963.

Cape Cod
When we went to Cape Cod there was unfortunately a rainy day, but we still wanted to explore. We searched what to do inside and we went to the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum. Here we got carried away to the history of the Kennedy’s and it made us more curious about their lives. The Kennedy’s had a deep connection with Cape Cod and spend many holidays in Cape Cod. A real family home where the Kennedy’s went sailing, swimming and where Jack Kennedy took the children by golf car to the candy store.
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, 397 Main St, Hyannis, MA 02601

Boston
We continued our journey to Boston. JFK grew up in Brookline, Boston and graduated cum laude at Harvard. We searched for the JFK Library and went there by bike. When we arrived at the JFK Library we first got an introduction movie. Continued with a tour through his campaign and election time to become president, which followed into his life in the Whitehouse. There is as well an exhibition of presents their children received from all over the world. Also, JFK’s boat, the Victura, is presented prominent in front of the library. You also see a part of the life of the First Lady, Jackie, in the Whitehouse. In the Whitehouse Jackie dedicated her time to refurbishing and got old antiques back to the Whitehouse, these were lost or stored elsewhere. JFK Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston MA 02125.

We walked our way along the beach towards the city where we got ourselves another bike and cycled to the city. The following day we cycled to Harvard. Got ourselves a delicious breakfast at Tatte Bakery & Cafe, 1288 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138.
We walked back towards Charles River, where everyone was running, skating, sailing and kayaking, except us.

We travelled by train towards Washington. Travelling by train to Washington takes about 7 hours. We stopped in New York at Penn Station and travelled further to Philadelphia and our last stop was Washington D.C.
On the 8th of June 1968 a 21-car brought the body of Robert Kennedy, brother of JFK, to his last resting place from New York Penn Station to Washington D.C.’s Union Station. Accompanied with 700 mourners, who went for the ceremony in the St. Patricks Cathedral, into the train. During its journey to Washington D.C. crowds of people went to the tracks to get a glimpse of the train. He is buried close to his brother JFK at the Arlington National Cemetery.

When we arrived at Washington D.C.’s Union Station we dropped of our luggage at the Harrington hotel and straight went to the Mall. We also headed towards the Whitehouse, but there seemed to be an important delegation at the white house because we couldn’t get close. At our last day we did get a bit closer to the Whitehouse and had a delicious lunch on the Terrace outside of the Washington hotel close to the White House.
Earlier we went to the Arlington National Cemetery, by bike. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to park our shared bikes at the Arlington National Cemetery therefor we had to get to a close bikestation and walk back to the Arlington cemetery. The Arlington cemetery is so big and everywhere you look you see the white gravestones. A little bit uphill is the presidential memorial gravesite of the Kennedy’s with the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame.

During our journey you didn’t read much about the assassination. Not that you should give that a public, but they both died so young. Thanks to Jackie and the family the legacy of Jack and Robert is still there.

After our visit to the United States, I was still curious, and Netflix showed the movie Jackie, which got my attention. A real must-see movie to see a part of the life of Jackie after the death of JFK, right after the assassination on JFK until his funeral.

The Kennedy family got through a lot of tragedies and misfortunes. Despite all this the family lives on and the tradition of visiting Cape Cod is still alive. It seems they have around 11 houses.