For the Obamas, an Overnighter at Camp David

 President Obama, now appears to be in the swing of things, now experiencing travel on the Presidential helicopter to Camp David. President Obama and his family and a few of their friends make another historic trip, to a famous retreat also used by prior Presidents.
The Naval Support Facility Thurmont, popularly known as Camp David, is a mountain based military fortress in Frederick County, Maryland used for high alert protection of the President of the United States.
First known as Hi-Catoctin, Camp David was originally built as a camp for federal government employees and their families, by the WPA, starting in 1935, opening in 1938. In 1942 it was converted to a presidential retreat by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and renamed U.S.S. Shangri-La. Camp David received its present name from Dwight Eisenhower, in honor of his grandson, Dwight David Eisenhower II.^[1]
The camp is very isolated and quiet. The compound consists of several cabins hidden throughout the woods, connected only by small mulch walking paths. These cabins are all named after various trees, plants, and flowers. There is only one main road on the compound, essentailly cutting the camp in two parts: one side in which the Marines and Naval personnel live, eat and train; and the other side consisting of all the guest cabins and presidential recreational facilites.
The following information is directly from a blog called 'The Caucus'.

February 7, 2009, 4:40 pm

For the Obamas, an Overnighter at Camp David

By Jeff Zeleny

 

President Obama and his family, including, from left to right, Malia Obama, Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama and Sasha Obama and her friend, trekked across the South Lawn to board Marine One, which would bring them to the presidential retreat at Camp David. (Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters)

 

The Obama family took its first ride together aboard Marine One on Saturday afternoon as they left the White House and headed for an overnight trip to Camp David.
“Nice day, huh?” President Obama said, turning his head toward a handful of reporters who were on hand for the family’s departure shortly before 4 p.m. “It’s a beautiful day.”
With his economic stimulus plan headed toward a vote in the Senate as soon as Monday, the president held a series of meetings with advisers in the White House on Saturday before gathering his family and taking the short ride to the presidential retreat in the Catoctin Mountains in nearby Maryland.
Michelle Obama led the way across the South Lawn, followed by their two daughters, Malia and Sasha. (Sasha also brought a friend for a sleepover.) Marian Robinson, Michelle’s mother, also boarded the helicopter, followed by the president.
It is the third weekend for the Obama family in the White House. On Friday evening, they attended a performance at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The plan for Saturday evening, aides said, is a quiet night exploring their new playground at Camp David.
The family is set to return to the White House on Sunday afternoon.