This Weekend's Events Oct 27-28

Every Thursday I will endeavor to list as many family-friendly happenings in the area for the coming weekend. Please feel free to add any I may have missed.

Maryland

• Maryland Renaissance Festival - Annapolis, MD  http://www.marylandrenaissancefestival.com/
• Disney on Ice, http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/
• Glen Echo Fall Frolic - Oct 27, http://www.glenechopark.org/fall-frolic-2012-0
• Halloween in the Garden - Oct 27, Solomons, 11-4pm http://www.annmariegarden.org/annmarie2/content/halloween-garden
• Fall Festival/Halloween Celebration - Oct 27, Bethesda, 11-2pm, Bradley Shopping Center
• Halloween Celebration -  Oct 27, Rockville, 2-4pm, Thomas Farm Community Center
• Halloween Haunt - Oct 27, Bethesda, 4-6pm, Beall House
• Spooky and Not-So-Spooky Skate Nights, Oct 26-27 Cabin John Ice Rink, Wheaton Ice Rink
• The Spooky Magic of Joe Romano, Oct 27, Black Rock Center, Germantown, http://www.blackrockcenter.org/show/show_items/view/160
• Hallowmarine - Baltimore, National Aquarium 10-2pm http://www.aqua.org/visit/baltimore/calendar/hallowmarine?EventID=%7b4F1C6786-F2D5-4328-A726-6839B23E4CC2%7d
• Baltimore Dog Festival - Howlaween Dog Costume Contest - Can Company, Baltimore, 1-5pm, http://crossstpartners.com/Howl_0_Ween.html
• Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival - Oct 27, Baltimore, 3-9pm http://www.creativealliance.org/halloweenparade
• O.C.Toberfest - Ocean City, https://www.facebook.com/events/154077294738661/

Virginia

• Air & Scare - Oct 27, Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly https://airandspace.si.edu/events/airandscare/
• Fall Family Harvest Days at George Washington's Mount Vernon http://www.mountvernon.org/calendar/view/2012-10-27/5034?utm_source=WashPostGOG&utm_medium=300x250&utm_campaign=FallHarvest
• Vienna Halloween Parade - http://www.viennahalloweenparade.org/

Washington DC

• Kids Euro-Festival http://www.kidseurofestival.org/
• Boo at the Zoo  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/Boo/
• Kennedy Center NSO Family Concert Spooktacular - Oct 28, http://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=NNFCA
• Washington International Horse Show - Verizon Center, http://www.wihs.org/

World of Montgomery Festival

Montgomery County, MD thirty years ago (when I lived here), as I recall, was not a very culturally diverse place. However, Montgomery County, MD today, is a melting pot of culture and diversity, with the largest immigrant populations being from China, India, Ethiopia and El Salvador. The World of Montgomery Festival, an annual event, celebrated that diversity today by sharing food, music, dance, and art from these countries. 

The Kids International Discovery Museum created an "International Village" with an interactive experience for the children in the heart of Wheaton/Silver Spring. The event was kicked off with a Parade of Nations leading to the area where large tents were set up, each representing a different country. The kids were given a passport which they had to complete to get a prize, and in the passport was a Scavenger Hunt, where there were pictures of items you had to find and identify . Also included were questions whose answers could be found in posted country data. Lastly, passports were stamped as each child entered the country tent. Even the adults could be found getting in on the action.

Inside each tent, the countries were well represented by artifacts, pictures, music, and people in native costumes. Some tents had fun, hands-on activities like coloring, painting and calligraphy. I think the kids liked the India tent the best because they got to try on the saris and turbans.

 

Chinese Art

Indian Treasures

El Salvadorean Art

There were stages on each end of the complex, which offered non-stop performances throughout the day. Women in brightly colored saris, little Chinese girls with frilly dresses and pompoms in their hair, and Ethiopian men and women dressed in native garb all entertained us with their traditional forms of dance, in addition to story tellers and musical bands. The perimeter of the area was lined with restaurants, food stands and food trucks selling popular dishes from the various countries. There were chef demonstrations from each country and even a Pupusa Cook-off (traditional Salvadorean food).

The weather was perfect for the event and I think fun was had by all. I look forward to going back next year.

Kid's View: "I thought it was fun because it was kind of interactive, they were giving out free stuff and there was a scavenger hunt with a prize at the end. The prize wasn't that great, it looked like something you got out of a cereal box, but we had fun doing the hunt anyway. In India we got to try on Indian clothes (and I look really cute in a sari) and my mom forced us to take pictures. I ate Chinese food and my cousins ate Salvadorean food. I think I would go back next year if my mom wanted to go back."

This Weekend's Events - Oct 20-21

Every Thursday I will endeavor to list as many family-friendly happenings in the area for the coming weekend. Please feel free to add any I may have missed and to add your feedback about events you've attended.

Maryland

• Potomac Day - Oct 20, 11-3pm, Intersection of River Rd and Falls Rd, hayrides, scarecrow making, etc
• Bethesda Row Art Festival - http://www.bethesdarowarts.org/
• Halloween Howl - Oct 21, Cabin John Shopping Center, 1-3pm Hayrides, scarecrow making, etc
• Meet Curious George and Kay Dee Puppets - Oct 20, Potomac Library, 1:30-3:15pm
• Fall Apple Festival, Wheaton  http://parkpass.org/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=35746
• World of Montgomery Festival - Oct 21, Wheaton, http://worldofmontgomery.com/
• Croydon Creep Halloween Festival - Croydon Creek Nature Center, Rockville http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/sports-rec-locations/croydon-creek-nature-center,1086113.html 
• National Wildlife Federation Hike and Seek - Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/misc-events/national-wildlife-federations-hike-and-seek,1241242.html?wpisrc=nl_gogkids
• Russian Festival -  Baltimore, http://russfest.org/
• Maryland Renaissance Festival - Annapolis, MD  http://www.marylandrenaissancefestival.com/

Virginia

• Disney on Ice - Fairfax  http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/150048CCE64A57E7?artistid=1742147&majorcatid=10003&minorcatid=22
• Woodstock Autumnfest - http://www.virginia.org/listings/Events/WoodstockAutumnfest/
• Loudon County Farm Color Tour - Leesburg, http://www.loudounfarms.org/default.asp?ContentID=1
• Cirque Chinois - The National Circus of China - Oct 20, Fairfax http://cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/1088/ , Oct 21, Manassas, http://hyltoncenter.org/calendar/225/
• Halloween Cookie Decorating - Oct 20, Alexandria, 1-2:30pm, http://www.sugarcubesweets.com/events/kids-class-halloween-cookie-decorating/
• Zoo Boo, Reston Zoo, http://restonzoo.com/zooboo.html
• Centreville Day, Oct 20, http://www.centrevilleva.org/index.cfm?action=c10&id=1830

Washington DC

• Kids Euro-Festival - http://www.kidseurofestival.org/
• Stargazing at the Air & Space Museum Public Observatory - Oct 20, 6:30-8:30pm http://airandspace.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=4395
• Girl Scout Day at the National Building Museum - Oct 20, http://www.nbm.org/programs-lectures/programs/2012-programs/october-2012/girl_scout_day_1.html (morning session), http://www.nbm.org/families-kids/scouts-and-youth-groups/ (afternoon session)
• Spy Museum - Secrets of Disguise Workshop - Oct 20, http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/things-do-see/calendar/event/operation-undercover-secrets-disguise-workshop

The National Zoo

I love zoos and I especially love the National Zoo. Unfortunately I think I've ruined it for my husband and daughter. You see, I have memories from when I was a kid, running up and down the hills, taking pictures in the big Os of the Zoo sign and of course, the animals. So, in an attempt to share my memories of this zoo with my family, every year when we would come to Maryland for Thanksgiving, I would drag them out to the zoo.....in the cold.  The first few years they humored me, went along quietly, even took pictures in the same big Os in the zoo sign, and I think they actually enjoyed themselves but, in recent years I've been getting a full-on rebellion at the mention of the word 'zoo'. As a result, I now have to wait for unsuspecting victims, ...er... I mean house guests to visit so I can suggest going to the zoo.

I love the exhibits, that it's open year-round, and that there are indoor animal houses to make even your winter experience pleasurable. The park is separated into areas such as Amazonia, where the multi-colored poisonous frogs are both creepy and cute, the Asia Trail where the famous pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are simply adorable, the American Trail where the playful otters will entertain you, the Great Ape House, the Mammal House, the Great Cats area, the Reptile House and much, much more. My favorite is the Reptile House. They give me the heebie-jeebies but I find them fascinating....as long as they're secure behind a pane of glass. It will easily take you a whole day to see everything in this zoo and I highly recommend it, whether you have kids or not.

 


Be prepared to do a lot of walking...up and down hills. I suggest parking at the bottom of the zoo and use your energy to work your way up the main hill at the start so that at the end of the day when you're exhausted, it's all down hill. Parking is $20 for the day, entrance to the Zoo is free, and the cost of food is reasonable (more than McDonalds but less than Disney World).  You can also take the Metro Red Line and exit at either the Woodley Park/Zoo/Adam's Morgan or Cleveland Park stations. The Zoo is halfway between both stops but it's an uphill walk from Woodley Park and a level walk from Cleveland Park.

Kid's View: "The zoo is cool, even though my mom dragged me there like 10 thousand times. My favorite things to see are the pandas because they're really cute. I hate the hills though, because I always get a cramp. My mom loves the reptiles but I don't like them at all and we both love the giraffes. I think it's funny when  they stick their tongues in their own noses."

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

International Spy Museum

Your mission.....should you choose to accept it.....is to visit the International Spy Museum!
Lipstick pistols, James Bond's Aston Martin, spy letters, secret gadgets and more, are all here to see.....

This museum is packed with things to see... and do... and read. There are activities to test your spy skills, to teach you about secret codes and how to break them, and even some duct work for the kids to crawl through on their own little secret mission. You will learn the history of famous spies and the roles they played and hear from the experts about the cyber world. I admit, I got a little bored with all the reading, but my husband and daughter really enjoyed themselves. (Those two will sit and watch James Bond movies over and over and over again)

 



It takes about 2 hours  to go through the museum unless you buy one of the special spy packages that they offer like Operation Spy or Spy in the City. We have not tried either of these packages, however, my daughter's Girl Scout Troop went there and they had a special package where they met with a "Master of Disguise" who dressed them as spies and sent them on a special mission in the museum. (I don't know if this is something done only for Girl Scouts or maybe groups and parties too)

The Spy shop is very cool. Lots of gadgets, t-shirts, accessories and other spyware. They also carry a line of Spy vs Spy products (remember Madd Magazine?), which is what we opted for.

I don't have any pictures to show this time because they don't allow picture taking in this museum. Also, this is a popular museum so I suggest going on a weekday or going early if on the weekend. This museum is not free and is not on the National Mall. It is near the Verizon Center so plan to pay for a parking garage or you can take the train to the Gallery Place/Chinatown station.

If you've always been intrigued by the life of a spy, then this is the place for you!

Kid's View: "It was fun! I liked seeing the James Bond car and climbing through the vents. I like that you got to assume a different identity and had to try to remember all the details about it."

http://www.spymuseum.org/

Memorials by Day or Night

Whether you want an afternoon out or an evening stroll, a walking or segway tour of the various memorials in the National Mall are a beautiful sight.  They remind us of the heroes who have fought for this country and the freedoms that we have, and not just the famous fighters but the everyday Joe who has put his life on the line for the lives that we are able to live today.

On the west end of the National Mall, the Memorial area is flanked on one end by the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial on the other.  In between, you will find the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and a few scattered smaller ones like the DC War Memorial, the John Paul Jones Memorial and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial. Across the Tidal Basin, there are the Jefferson and FDR Memorials (but a slightly longer walk to get to these).  There is a reflecting pool that stretches the length of the area and Constitution Gardens, a beautiful area with a lake where you can lay a blanket on the grass and take in the scenery. http://www.nationalmall.org/maps.php

Without going into detail about each of them, let me just say that each memorial by itself is beautiful, not only in what it stands for but how it is displayed. But, when you tour them all and see the hundreds of thousands of names engraved, or the multicultural faces etched, or the resonant words carved in the marbles of the memorials, that's when it really hits home how lucky we all are. Although the kids enjoyed the tour, I'm not sure they grasped the significance of the memorials completely but I feel they did learn something from the experience. Our last visit was a sunny Sunday afternoon family outing in the park but we've been there several times at night too and felt perfectly safe.  I think the World War II Memorial is the most beautiful at night.


The whole area is lit up at night and open to visitors (with security) until about 11pm and everything is free, so you can break them up into several visits or put your walking shoes on and take a tour of them all.

Kids View:  "I thought the day trip was fun because the weather was great and we could walk around and explore but some of it was kinda boring.  I really liked going at night and the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial were my favorites because they were really pretty all lit up and we put our hands in the water at the big fountain."

 

 

 

 

This Weekend's Events - Oct 13-14

Every Thursday I will endeavor to list as many family-friendly happenings in the area for the coming weekend. Please feel free to add any I may have missed and, if you attend any of these events, please come back and give us your feedback. (Thumbs up or down?)

Maryland

• Maryland Festival of the Arts, Silver Spring, MD  http://www.paragonartevents.com/maryland/
• Oktoberfest at the Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=774&TOC=107;84;99;774;
• Montgomery Village Great Pumpkin Race and Fall Festival, Gaithersburg, MD http://montgomeryvillage.com/The-Great-Pumpkin-Race-and-Fall-Festival~421711~11912.htm
• "Little Shop of Horrors" Thomas Wooton High School, Rockville, MD  301-279-8550
• Sugar Loaf Crafts Festival, Gaithersburg, MD  http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/gaith/october/
• Williamsport WWII Weekend - Military and civilian displays, parade, USO dance, movie and more. Springfield Lane, Williamsport, MD http://www.williamsportmd.gov/wwii_weekend.html
• Railfest Steam Days, Baltimore, MD http://www.borail.org/Railfest.aspx
• Autumn Glory Festival, Oakland, MD  http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/pages/autumnglory
• Pumpkin Trolley Fest, Colesville, MD http://www.dctrolley.org/events.php
• Harvest Hoedown, Hagerstown, MD http://hagerstownmd.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=265
• Art @ the Park, Annappolis, MD http://www.friendsofquietwaterspark.org/arts_festival/home.html
• Maryland Renaissance Festival - Annapolis, MD  http://www.marylandrenaissancefestival.com/
• Potomac Country House Tour, Oct 13, 10-5 St Francs Episcopal, 10033 River Road, Potomac
• Potomac River Jam,  9-4, River Center at Lock 8, C&O National Historical Park, Potomac
• Tiny Tots, Oct 14, 10am, Glen Echo Park

Virginia

• Richmond Folk Festival  http://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/
• 17th Annual Alexandria Arts Safari  http://www.torpedofactory.org/Arts_Safari/index.htm
• Fall Festival in Old Downtown Historic Fairfax http://www.fairfaxva.gov/SpecialEvents/FallFestival/FallFestival.asp
• Ghost Tours of the Christmas Attic, Oct 13, Alexandria, http://www.christmasattic.com/
• Kids Class - Cupcake Hootenanny, Oct 13, Ages 8+, Alexandria, http://www.sugarcubesweets.com/events/kids-class-cupcake-hootenanny/
• George Washington's Mount Vernon by Water Cruise, Alexandria, http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/mount-vernon-cruise.php
• Archeaology Day, Can you dig it?, Oct 13, Mason Neck, http://www.gunstonhall.org/events/oct_dec.html
• Super Science Saturday, Balloons and Blimps, National Air & Space Museum, Chantilly http://airandspace.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=3881
• Tyson's Tots Storytime Fun, Oct 13, 10:30am, Tyson's Corner Barnes & Noble

Washington DC

• Hula with Mokihana, National Theatre  http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/performing-arts/hula-with-mokihana,1237504.html
• Beauty and the Beast, The Puppet Company Playhouse http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/performing-arts/beauty-and-the-beast,1238998.html
• Hansel & Gretel Film, National Gallery of Art  http://www.culturecapital.com/event.php?id=21723
• Washington Redskins v. Minnesota Vikings, FedEx Field
• Live Butterfly Pavilion, Oct 13, 10:15am, National Museum of American History

George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate

I had the privilege of chaperoning my daughter's 5th grade class to Mt Vernon, in Alexandria, Virginia this week. (I don't think she really wanted me to go along but I had never been there before so I volunteered anyway.) I didn't know what to expect, I thought a huge mansion and some gardens, but I was pleasantly surprised to find so much more.

We started the day in the Orientation Center where we watched a short film about George Washington's battle years leading up to his presidency. The film was a little gory (the girls were squeamish and the boys cheered) but it was very well done. (Pat Sajak was the narrator and George Washington was played by a famous actor, although his name slips me at the moment.) After the film we walked through the gardens toward the line to enter the mansion. (Tickets are handed out in the welcome center with allotted times to tour the house.)

The mansion itself was not a mansion by today's standards, but I'm sure was very grand in those days. A tour of the house revealed brightly colored walls, beautiful antiques (including some of my favorite pieces by Sheraton, Hepplewhite and Chippendale), and the actual bed that George and Martha slept in remains intact, along with some aged treasures. The back of the house has an amazing piazza (porch) spanning the entire width of the house with a breathtaking view of the Potomac River. (I imagined an infinity pool right on the edge of hill looking over the river). Accompanying the mansion were several outhouses used for sewing, cooking, storing goods, curing meat, and so on. There is also a stable, a greenhouse and slave quarters. There are costumed actors roaming the grounds and you can meet Lady Washington at scheduled times.

Venturing away from the mansion grounds, you will find an underground, state-of-the-art Education Center which walks you through George Washington's life. Here you will watch films about things such as George and Martha's romance and the Revolutionary War (in 4D), look at artifacts used by Washington and his family and see his famous dentures. (kinda gross but the kids were excited to see them).There's also a Hands-on History Center for kids 3-8, where they can dress up in colonial clothes, color, etc.

Next to the Education Center is the Museum which holds treasures from the Washingtons such as china, crystal, jewelry, weapons, clothing and furniture. You can also pick up a few of Martha's recipes such as Great Cake (which Martha served at Christmas), Hoecakes (cornmeal pancakes-one of Washington's favorite foods) and the Cherry Bounce (General Washington's favorite brandy-based drink).

Also on the property are a pioneer farm where Washington invented the treading barn used for threshing wheat, a slave memorial and burial ground, and Washington's tomb where he, Martha and other family members lay at rest. (Daily wreath laying ceremonies are conducted from April to October.) There is a wharf where you can take a boat ride on the Potomac and the Mount Vernon Inn which I'm told has delicious food (especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays).

With so many kids and our limited time schedule, we were unable to visit the places listed in the last paragraph so stay tuned for Part 2 because we will be going back to finish the tour (and dragging my husband along this time). I was very impressed with what we saw and highly recommend it if you're in the area.

Kid's View: "It was cool seeing where George Washington lived and being able to touch things that he touched all those years ago and it had the perfect view of the Potomac River. I also liked how they had a live working blacksmith shop and different buildings for the slaves and examples of what they ate. I liked the 4D movie because they had fake snow that came down on us in the theater. In the museum they have his dentures and they looked really, really old. I think the teeth looked worse than the original rotten teeth they were replacing. There were things we didn't get to see, so I would like to go back there again."

http://www.mountvernon.org/

Port Discovery Children's Museum

This museum combines learning and fun with 3 floors of activities for the young ones!  Located close to the Baltimore Inner Harbor, the museum is a good place to stop for a couple hours to let the kids blow off some steam.

Activities include an adventure in Egypt, solving a mystery with Miss Perception, "working" in the convenience store, fill'er up station and diner, being creative in the art studio, learning about the wonders of water, hiking the tot trails, and playing in the soccer and games stadium. In the middle of the museum is a 3-story urban tree house. The kids spent a good portion of the visit climbing up and down this thing!  (I even saw some teenagers and parents in there.) After every exhibit they would run back for a quick climb.

We went there for a birthday party and I think the kids over 7 years old were bored but the little ones absolutely loved it.

Kid's View: "It was fun but a little confusing because of the different floors, I kept getting lost. The best part was the giant climbing area in the middle. I think it's more for little kids than kids my age though."

http://www.portdiscovery.org/

Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park

Two words..........Comfortable Shoes. This park is HUGE and goes on for 184.5 miles!

The canal starts in Georgetown, DC and goes all the way up through West Virginia and ends back in Maryland at Cumberland. http://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/customcf/apps/maps/showmap.cfm?alphacode=choh&parkname=Chesapeake%20%26%20Ohio%20Canal   

A little history to start us off...

"George Washington's dream of connecting the eastern states with the western frontier led to the creation of the Patowmack Company. Canals were built around unnavigable parts of the Potomac River for improved commerce. The C&O Canal inherited the right of way after the Patowmack Company's demise." - National Park Service

"Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural and recreational treasures!" - National Park Service

There are many places to hike, picnic, bike, fish, boat, etc., along the C&O Canal but our favorite place to visit is through the Great Falls entrance on MacArthur Parkway in Potomac, MD. This is also the only entrance that charges an entrance fee ($5/vehicle), but you get access to the Visitors Center at the Great Falls Tavern, the boat ride on the canal, an awesome view of the Falls and some great hiking trails.
http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/greatfallstrailmap.pdf

This portion of the park, however, is not for picnicking.  If you're into hiking or biking, this is the place for you. Whichever direction on the path you choose, you will have an adventure, but we prefer to head south towards Georgetown.  As you cross the bridge at the Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center and venture down the main path, there are official trails that veer off as well as some non-official footpaths that have been created by adventure seekers over the years. One of my favorites is a little path that takes you down through some minor slopes but ends up next to a beautifully peaceful spot by the river.

Also off the main path is a series of bridges crossing several "mini-falls" before ending at the spectacular view of the Great Falls. (This is my favorite part of the park)

 

As you continue along the scenic main trail, there are places to climb rocks or just take a moment to sit and enjoy your surroundings. It's so easy to get carried away with your hike and I usually have to force myself to turn around because remember however far you walk, you have to walk that same distance back to your car (unless you plan ahead and have someone ready to pick you up on the other end).

And, if you're really adventurous, you can pop into the river with your canoe, kayak or paddle board.

It's hard to do everything in one visit to this park, and you're guaranteed to find something new to try every time, but whatever you choose, make sure you have comfortable shoes and an adventurous spirit!

Kid's View: "The first time we went to this park we brought our bikes. I didn't have a bike with tires made for gravel and dirt so I didn't like it and I made my parents turn around. The other times, we just hiked and it was cool climbing on the rocks and taking the little paths to see what was at the other end of them. My mom keeps asking me to go on the Billy Goat Trail with her but it sounds like it's A LOT of climbing and walking and I have to be in the mood for that!"

http://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm

National Museum of Crime & Punishment

Does your child want to be a crime fighter? a CSI detective? a super hero?  Then this is the place to go. What a great museum!!! This was such an awesome, interactive experience both for the adults and the children.

I have to admit, the beginning of the museum is a little scary because it takes you through the history of crime and punishment dating back to medieval torture chambers and methods. In the first few minutes my daughter said she was ready to leave but  that section was very small and then it got really interesting, really quickly. You go through the cowboy days, the Mafia days,  learn about the different types of crimes (from massacres to Internet crimes), see the FBI's most wanted list and even a replica of Al Capone's jail cell. Warning: They do show actual photos of crime scenes from serial killers and massacres that can be very graphic but you do have the option of bypassing them.

At the entrance to the museum, each child is given an activity booklet that applies to every section of the museum. As they go through each section of the museum, depending on the topic on display, there are scavenger hunts, secret codes to decipher, and even a murder mystery to solve. You'll do fingerprinting, a police lineup, experience being in a prison cell.....and breaking out, be tested on your ability to remember a "perp" after witnessing a crime, use the FBI shooting simulator, drive a police car simulator through a high speed chase, learn CSI procedures, and so much more.  At the end of the museum is the film studio for America's Most Wanted. You won't see John Walsh there but you can go on the set and I think sometimes McGruff, the Crime Fighting Dog makes an appearance. Of course, no museum is complete without the gift shop, or in this case, the Cop Shop.  So many cool things to choose from.....we left there with handcuffs and a NCIS backpack.

I have to say, as far as interaction and learning goes, this museum is at the top of my list so far.  It's not one of the free museums in Washington DC, but it's definitely worth every penny. It kept our interest the entire time and took a few hours to go through the whole thing.

It's not on the National Mall, it's across from the Verizon Center, so be sure to have money to pay for a parking garage (around $20 and most only take cash) because street parking is not easy to come by. You can get there by the Metro too, exit at the Chinatown/Gallery Place station.

Kid's View: "The beginning part was creepy but the scavenger hunt throughout the museum was fun and the shooting and car chase simulators were really cool and fun."

http://www.crimemuseum.org/

Halloween Special  for Kids - October 28  1-5pm  $10/person (with kid in costume)
http://www.crimemuseum.org/halloween_for_kids_in_DC.html

This Weekend's Events - Oct 6-7, 2012

Every Thursday I will endeavor to list as many family-friendly happenings in the area for the coming weekend. Please feel free to add any I may have missed.

Maryland

• Taste of Bethesda - Oct 6, 11am-4pm, Woodmont Triangle, Buy tickets to "taste" from 50 different restaurants. http://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/taste-bethesda
• Maryland Renaissance Festival - Annapolis, MD  http://www.marylandrenaissancefestival.com/
• Derwood 22nd Annual Harvest Festival - Oct 6, 11am-4pm - Derwood, MD http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/misc-events/derwoods-22nd-harvest-festival,1240159.html
• Butler's Orchard Pumpkin Festival - Weekends through October, 10am-5pm, $11, Germantown, MD  http://www.butlersorchard.com/2012PumpkinFestival.pdf
• Black Rock Center for the Arts - "Otherwise Known as Shiela the Great", Oct 6, 1pm $14 http://www.blackrockcenter.org/show/show_items/view/156  Germantown, MD
• Imagination Stage - "P.Nokio - A Hip Hop Musical" through Oct 18, Bethesda, MD http://imaginationstage.org/shows-a-tickets/shows-playing-now
• The Puppet Co. - "Panda-Monium", Oct 6, 10am, Glen Echo, MD  http://thepuppetco.org/
• Summers Farm Adventure Fall Harvest Days - Frederick, MD http://summersfarm.com/
• Germantown Oktoberfest - Clarksburg, MD  http://www.germantownoktoberfest.org/
• Strathmore Sunday Kids Workshop - Go Crazy with Henna, Oct 7, 9:30am $45, Bethesda, MD http://www.strathmore.org/eventstickets/calendar/view.asp?id=8718
• Takoma Park Street Festival - Oct 7, 10am-5pm
• Sugarloaf Crafts Festival - Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/timon/fall/
• Markoff's Haunted Forest - Oct 5-31, $20+, 19120 Martinsburg Road, Dickerson, MD
• Field of Screams - through Nov 3, $10-$63, 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney, MD
• Nightmare Screamplex - through Nov 3, $15-$25, 18031 Central Park Circle, Boyds, MD
• Screamland Farms - Fridays/Saturdays in October, $9-$24, 7pm-10pm, 7612 Willow Road, Frederick, MD
• Mt Vernon Ghost Walk - The Owl Bar in the Belvedere, Baltimore City, MD http://www.baltimoreghosttours.com/mtvernon.html

Virginia

• Art on the Avenue - Oct 6, 10am-6pm - Multicultural arts and music festival in Alexandria, VA  http://artontheavenue.org/
• Vienna Oktoberfest - Church Street,Vienna, VA, Oct 6, 11am-7pm
• Clifton Day Festival - Oct 7, 9am-5pm, 7144 Main Street, Clifton, VA
• Cox Farms Fall Festival - through Oct 31, 10am-6pm  http://www.coxfarms.com/
• Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival - Oct 6-7, 10am-4:30pm, 205 Graves Mountain Lane, Syria, VA http://www.virginia.org/listings/Events/GravesMountainAppleHarvestFestival/

Washington DC

• Taste of DC - Oct 6-8, 12pm-7pm - http://thetasteofdc.org/
• Columbia Heights Day - Oct 6, Harriet Tubman Elementary School, Washington DC
• Georgetown - Area Churches bless animals this weekend to celebrate St Francis of Assissi http://georgetown.patch.com/articles/georgetown-area-churches-to-bless-animals-this-weekend

October Specials - Pumpkin Patches & Haunted Houses

Maryland

• Butler's Orchard Fall Festival, Germantown   http://www.butlersorchard.com/
• Summers Farm Adventure Fall Harvest Days, Frederick  http://summersfarm.com/
• Beachmont Corn Maze, Kingsville http://www.beachmont.org/ministries/corn-maze/
• Huber's Farm, Bradshaw  http://www.hubersfarm.com/events/fall.html
• Weber's Cider Mill Farm, Baltimore  http://www.weberscidermillfarm.com/
• Middleton's Cedar Hill Farm, Waldorf  http://www.middletonfarm.com/
• Crumland Farms, Frederick  http://www.crumland.com/2011_fallfun.html
• Family Festival at the Farm, Frederick http://www.discoverfrederickmd.com/funfarm/
• Pirate Adventure Corn Maze, Beallesville  http://www.pirateadventure.net/

For a complete list of MD patches visit  http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/MDpumpkins.php

• Eye Spy Halloween Train, Rockville  http://www.montgomeryparks.org/enterprise/park_facilities/trains/cabin_john.shtm
• CP Hauntington Haunted Train and Creepy Carousel, Wheaton http://www.montgomeryparks.org/enterprise/park_facilities/trains/wheaton.shtm
• Markoff's Haunted Forest, Poolesville  http://markoffshauntedforest.com/
• Field of Screams, Olney  http://www.screams.org/
• Nightmare Screamplex, Boyds  http://www.nightmarescreamplex.com/
• Screamland Farms, Frederick  http://www.screamlandfarms.com/
• Mt Vernon Ghost Walk, Baltimore City  http://www.baltimoreghosttours.com/mtvernon.html

Virginia

• Cox Farms Fall Festival, Centreville  http://www.coxfarms.com/
• Heather Hill Pumpkin Patch, Fairfax Station  http://www.heatherhillgardens.com/FallFestival.htm
• Wegmeyer Farms, Purcellville  http://www.wegmeyerfarms.com/pumpkins.html
• Pumpkinville Fall Festival, Leesburg  http://www.pumpkinfestleesburg.com/
• Fall Pumpkin Festival at Ticonderoga, Chantilly  http://www.ticonderoga.com/seasons/fall_pumpkin_festival/
• Hill High Farm Pumpkin Patch, Winchester  http://www.thepumpkin-patch.com/

• Air & Scare at Udvar-Hazy, Chantilly  http://airandspace.si.edu/events/airandscare/
• Bradley Farm Spooky Sprint & Kids Haunt, Herndon http://www.bfhauntedhouse.com/
• Ghost and Graveyard Haunted Tours, Alexandria http://www.alexcolonialtours.com/graveyard.html
• Footsteps to the Past Paranormal Tours, Alexandria http://www.footstepstothepast.com/
• Cox Farms Fields of Fear and Dark Side Hayride, Centreville  http://fieldsoffear.coxfarms.com/
• Fright Night, Ashburn  http://www.thefrightnight.com/
• The Haunted Forest at Halloween Woods, Sterling  http://www.halloweenwoods.com/
• Shocktober at Paxton Manor, Leesburg  http://www.shocktober.org/

Washington DC

• Rose Park Farmers' Market, Goergetown  http://www.roseparkmarket.com/
• Glover Park-Burleith Farmers' Market,  http://dcgreens.org/at-market/

• DC Ghost Tours http://www.dcghosttours.com/

The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School

This place rocks!!! Well, actually it swings and zips....  This adventure in the trees is great for ages 5 and up and is exciting and completely safe! After putting on your harness and getting a brief lesson in climbing and zipping, you're off to choose between 13 different courses ranging from easy to very difficult. Each course ends with a zip-line but before you get to do them, you have to cross the "bridges" through the trees made from rope and wood. Some of the courses are close to the ground and some of the courses are waaaaay up high.

My daughter and her friends (and even some parents) made it through the medium level courses, and a couple very brave ones did the hard ones. On one of the zip-lines she didn't make it all the way to the other side, zipped back to the middle of the line and "dangled" there really high up until a staff member climbed up to rescue her. (I wasn't worried though, she was holding on tight and the double harness was secure).

I think it's a little pricey at $40-$50/person for 3 hours but worth it. They didn't want to leave! Great place for birthday parties too. There's a picnic area that you can reserve, you can bring food and drinks (no alcohol) into the park or you can even have the local Domino's Pizza deliver there to your group. Bathrooms facilities are portable. Be sure to bring your bug repellant!

I wasn't brave enough to try it that day but I definitely want to try it next time!

Kid's View: "I really, really liked it because it was up in the trees and lots of fun and had difficult obstacles. I was very scared when I got stuck in the middle of the big zip-line because it was really high up and I couldn't pull myself back to the platform. I like that some of the zip-lines went over water and how they had different ratings on the courses. My favorite ones were the green ones. I would love to have my birthday party there!"

http://www.sandyspringadventurepark.org/

Great Falls Park

Beautiful park! The line is long to get in but worth the wait. It's $3/individual or $5/vehicle to get in and there are several areas to picnic, all which are usually full of families and pets. There are 3 overlooks to the Falls, many trails, picnic areas, a visitors center, a snack bar and most importantly, clean bathrooms. If you are brave enough, you can also go whitewater kayaking or canoeing at your own risk.

Our trip to this park started with walking on one of the trails right next to the water.  The River was overflowing at the time and covered a part of the trail and there were warnings that it would be rising higher but it was still fun as we tried to skip stones across the water (none of us have mastered that art). We went to each of the three Great Falls overlooks, where there are lots of large rock areas that the kids love to climb on and are perfectly safe, and watched the "crazy people" kayaking down in the rough water. Later we went to the snack bar for frozen juice bars and relaxed in the park for a while before heading home.

Definitely a nice place to spend an afternoon with the family!

Kid's View: "The park was okay, I don't really like hiking but I loved climbing on the rocks and getting ice-cream!"

http://www.nps.gov/grfa/planyourvisit/directions.htm