Ice Skating Season!

There are indoor rinks that are open year-round but try out one of the outdoor ones this holiday season. It's a whole different feeling being in the fresh air!  Don't forget those hats, gloves and scarves and HAVE FUN!!!

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Maryland

• Silver Spring Ice Skating(outdoor) - Veterans Plaza, http://www.silverspringiceskating.com/
• The Rink at Rockville Town Center(outdoor) - http://rockvilletownsquare.com/at-the-square/ice-rink/
• Herbert Wells Ice Rink(indoor) - College Park,  http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Ice_Skating/Herbert_Wells_Ice_Rink.htm
• Gardens Ice House(indoor) - Laurel,  http://thegardensicehouse.pointstreaksites.com/view/thegardensicehouse
• Rockville Ice Arena(indoor)  -  http://rockvilleice.pointstreaksites.com/view/rockvilleice#.UptdFsSUTZI
• Cabin John Ice Rink(indoor) - Rockville,  http://www.montgomeryparks.org/enterprise/ice/cabin_john/index.shtm 
• Wheaton Ice Rink(indoor) - http://www.montgomeryparks.org/enterprise/ice/wheaton/
• Kentlands Community Skate(outdoor) - Gaithersburg,  http://www.rinktime.com/skating_rinks/dsp_LargeMap.cfm?l=568
• Tucker Road Ice Rink(indoor) - Ft Washington,  http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Sports/Ice_Skating/Tucker_Road_Ice_Rink.htm

Virginia

• Pentagon Row Ice Skating(outdoor) - Arlington,  http://www.mountvernon.org/calendar/view/2013-11-29/5037
• Reston Town Center Ice Rink(outdoor) - http://www.restontowncenter.com/pavilion.html
• Harris Pavilion Ice Rink(outdoor) - Manassas, http://www.harrispavilion.com/ice_skate.php 
• Mount Vernon Ice Rink(indoor) - Alexandria,  http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/mv/mv-ice.htm
• Kettler Capital Ice Plex(indoor) - Arlington, http://www.kettlercapitalsiceplex.com/
• Fairfax Ice Arena(indoor) - http://www.fairfaxicearena.com/
• Ashburn Ice House(indoor) -  http://www.ashburnice.pointstreaksites.com/view/ashburnice#.UptfbcSUTZI

Washington DC

• Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden(outdoor) -  http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/visit/ice-rink.html
• Canal Park Ice Skating(outdoor) - http://www.canalparkdc.org/ice-rink
• Ice Skating at Washington Harbour(outdoor) - http://thewashingtonharbour.com/skating/
• Fort Dupont Ice Arena(indoor) - http://www.fdia.org/

Lights, Lights and More Lights!!!!

'TIS THE SEASON!!!  

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Maryland

• National Harbor Christmas Tree Lighting - Nov 29, http://nationalharbor.com/event/national-harbor-tree-lighting-fireworks/
• National Harbor Light Show - November 30, http://www.holidaysontheharbor.com/harbor-light-show/
• Rockville Town Square Tree Lighting - Dec 5, http://rockvilletownsquare.com/events/special-events/tree-lighting-and-holiday-open-house/
• Gaithersburg Tree Lighting Ceremony - Dec 7,  http://www.allcharitiescount.com/fevent/195/city-of-gaithersburg-039-s-christmas-tree-lighting-ceremony/
• Winter Lights at Seneca Creek State Park - Gaithersburg, Nov 29 - Dec 31,  http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/winterlights/13_main.html
• Festival of Lights at the Mormon Temple - Kensington, Dec 4 - Jan 1,  http://dctemplelights.lds.org/
• Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens - Wheaton, Nov 29 - Jan 5,  http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/garden_lights.shtm
• Symphony of Lights in Columbia - Nov 25 - January 5,  http://columbia.exploremd.us/tourism/attractions/symphony_of_lights/
• Annmarie Garden in Lights - Solomons, Dec 6 - Jan 5,  http://www.annmariegarden.org/annmarie2/content/garden-lights
• Adventure Park USA  - New Market, Nov 23 - Jan 1, http://www.adventureparkusa.com/
• Winter Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park - Upper Marlboro, Nov 29 - Jan 1,  http://www.pgparks.com/Festival_of_Lights.htm
• Eastport Yacht Club Parade of Lights - Annapolis, December 14,  http://www.eastportyc.org/index.php/welcome-parade-lights
• Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park - Annapolis, Nov 17 - Jan 1,  http://www.annapolis.com/events/lights-bay-illumination/
• ICE! Christmas at the Gaylord National Resort - National Harbor,  https://www.gaylordnationaltickets.com/Online/default.asp

Virginia

• City of Alexandria Tree Lighting Ceremony - Old Town Alexandria, Nov 29,  http://www.visitalexandriava.com/events/City-of-Alexandria-Tree-Lighting-Ceremony/2790/
• Reston Town Center Tree Lighting and Sing-a-Long - Nov 29,  http://restontowncenter.com/holidays/treelighting.html
• Manassass Tree Lighting - Dec 6,  http://historicmanassas.mymediaroom.com/wire/events/viewevent.aspx?id=13410 
• Leesburg Tree Lighting - Dec 6, http://leesburg.patch.com/groups/events/p/village-at-leesburg-tree-lighting-ceremony
• Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights - Vienna, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, http://www.nvrpa.org/park/winter_walk_lights
• Parade of Lighted Boats - Old Town Alexandria and Washington Harbour, Dec 7,  http://alexandriaparadeoflights.com/
• Bull Run Festival of Lights - Centreville, Nov 20 - Jan 5,  http://www.nvrpa.org/park/bull_run_festival_of_lights
• City of Fairfax Festival of Lights and Carols - Dec 7, http://www.fairfaxva.gov/about-us/special-events/festival-of-lights-and-carols

Washington DC

• Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony - Dec 3, http://capitolchristmastree.com/
• National Tree Lighting - Dec 6, http://thenationaltree.org/
• Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting at Union Station - Dec 3,  http://www.unionstationdc.com/go/viewepostcard.cfm?epostcardid=1948490132
• Christmas Tree Lighting at the Fairmont - Dec 3,  http://www.fairmont.com/washington/press-room/tree-lighting/
• Zoo Lights - National Zoo, Nov 29-Jan 1,  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/ZooLights/
• Parade of Lighted Boats - Washington Harbour and Alexandria, Dec 7,  http://alexandriaparadeoflights.com/

Fall Foliage Destinations!

ENJOY THE FALL COLORS!!!  

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ALSO CHECK OUT OUR SPECIAL EDITION FALL/PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AND SHOCKTOBER BLOGS!

Places marked with an asterisk (*) are highly recommended.

Maryland

• C&O Historical National Park - Potomac, MD
• *Sugarloaf Mountain - Dickerson, MD
• *Patapsco Valley State Park - Ellicott City, MD
• Seneca Creek State Park - Gaithersburg, MD
• Cunningham Falls State Park - Thurmont, MD
• Black Hill Regional Park - Boyds, MD
• *Swallow Falls State Park - Oakland, MD
• Assateague Island - Berlin, MD

Virginia

• George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate - Mount Vernon, VA
• *Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive Scenic Highway - Luray, VA
• Great Falls National Park - Great Falls, VA
• Burke Lake Park - Fairfax, VA
• River Farm - Alexandria, VA

West Virginia

• *Harpers Ferry Historical National Park - Harpers Ferry, WV

Washington, DC

• Rock Creek Park - Washington, DC
• US National Arboretum - Washington, DC

Shocktober Halloween Fun

BOO!!!!

Be sure to check out our blog entries for fun places in the DMV that are around all the time!

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Maryland

• FrightFest at Six Flags America - Mitchellville, http://frightfest.sixflags.com/america/
• Candlelight Ghost Tours of Frederick - http://www.marylandghosttours.com/
• Hagestown Alsation Mummer's Parade - October 26,  http://marylandnationalroad.org/event/alsatia-mummers-parade/
• Bennett's Curse Haunted House - Jessup, http://www.bennettscurse.com/
• Creepywoods Haunted Forest - Kingsville, http://www.creepywoods.com/
• Nightmare Manor - Ijamsville, http://www.nightmare-manor.com/
• Creekside Manor - Williamsport, http://www.creeksidemanor.com/index.php
• Tulip Gulch's Nightmare -  Bowie, http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20130826&content_id=58476866&fext=.jsp&sid=t418&vkey=
• Field of Screams - Olney, http://screams.org/
• Nightmare Screamplex - Boyds, http://www.nightmarescreamplex.com/
• Paintball Apocalypse - Olney, http://screams.org/haunted-house-attractions.php
• Wicked Woods - Glen Burnie, http://www.wickedwoods.org/
• Murkwood Haunted Forest - Damascus,  http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/rec/new_images/damascus_haunted_forest_murkwood-2013.pdf
• Eye Spy Halloween Train - Rockville, Cabin John Regional Park,  http://parkpass.org/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=76146&From=fas
• Haunted Train and Creepy Carousel - Wheaton Regional Park,  http://parkpass.org/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=76196&From=fas

Virginia

• Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion - Doswell, https://www.kingsdominion.com/events/plan-a-visit/special-events/Halloween-Haunt
• Leesburg Kiwanis Halloween Parade - October 31,  http://www.leesburgkiwanis.org/public/pub_page.aspx?PageID=40073
• Halloween Parade Vienna - October 23, http://www.viennahalloweenparade.org/spectators.php
• Del Rey Halloween Parade - Alexandria, October 27, http://www.visitdelray.com/events?eventId=724066&EventViewMode=2&CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=10/4/2013
• Falloween at Market Commons - Arlington, October 26,  http://www.marketcommonclarendon.net/event/falloween/
• Air & Scare - Chantilly, Udvar-Hazy Center, October 26, http://airandspace.si.edu/events/air-and-scare/
• Alexandria's Original ghost and Graveyard Tour - http://alexcolonialtours.com/ghost-graveyard-tour/
• Leesburg Ghost Tours - http://vsra.yolasite.com/
• Weems-Botts Museum Haunted Heights Ghost Walk - Dumfries,  http://historicdumfries.com/weemsbotts.html
• Shocktober - Leesburg, http://www.shocktober.org/
• Bradley Farm Haunted House - Herndon, http://www.bfhauntedhouse.com/
• Fields of Fear at Cox Farms- Centreville, http://fieldsoffear.coxfarms.com/
• The Death Trail - Dumfries, http://www.thedeathtrail.com/
• The Fright Night - Ashburn, http://www.thefrightnight.com/
• Halloween Woods Haunted Forest - Sterling, http://www.halloweenwoods.com/

Washignton DC

• Boo at the Zoo - October 25-27,  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/Boo/default.cfm
• Night of the Living Zoo - October 30,  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/NightOfTheLivingZoo/default.cfm
• DC Ghost Tours - http://www.dcghosttours.com/
• Scary DC, Ghosts of Washington - http://scarydc.com/
• National Building Museum Ghost Tours - http://go.nbm.org/site/Calendar/295729932?view=Detail&id=115664

Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes 2013

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Maryland

• Butler's Orchard - Germantown,  http://butlersorchard.com/pdfs/2013-Pumpkin-Festival-brochure.pdf
• Homestead Farms - Poolesville, http://www.homestead-farm.net/
• Larriland Farm - Woodbine, http://www.pickyourown.com/
• Sharp's at Waterford Farm - Brookeville, http://www.sharpfarm.com/familyfun.html
• Montpelier Farms - Upper Marlboro, http://www.montpelierfarms.com/main.html?src=%2F
• Gaver Pumpkin Patch - Mt Airy,  http://gaverfarm.com/fall-fun-festival/
• Summers Farm - Frederick, http://summersfarm.com/
• Crumland Farms - Frederick, http://www.crumland.com/
• Jumbo's Pumpkin Patch - Middletown, http://www.jumbos.org/
• Clark's Ellioak Farm - Ellicott City, http://www.clarklandfarm.com/
• Zekiah Farms - Waldorf, http://www.zekiahfarms.com/index.php/agritourism-header/agritourism/fall-festival
• Shlagel Farms - Waldorf, http://www.shlagelfarms.com/
• Hagerstown Corn Maze - Hagerstown, http://www.hagerstowncornmaze.org/
• Lawyer's Winterbrook Farms & Moonlight Maze - Thurmont,  http://www.lawyersmoonlightmaze.com/A_Maryland_Farm_Attraction/Home.html
• Maizefest at River Valley Ranch - Manchester,  http://www.rivervalleyranch.com/dynamic/DynCon.aspx?cid=140&fs=specialevents

Virginia

• Cox Farms - Centreville, http://www.coxfarms.com/fallfestival/ticketbooth.aspx
• Pumpkinville at Leesburg Animal Park - Leesburg, http://www.pumpkinfestleesburg.com/
• Ticonderoga Farms - Chantilly, http://www.ticonderoga.com/seasons/fall-festival/
• Burke Nursery and Garden Center - Burke, http://www.pumpkinplayground.com/
• Heather Hill Gardens - Fairfax Station, http://www.heatherhillgardens.com/
• Great County Farms - Bluemont, http://www.greatcountryfarms.com/index.php/event-calendar/annual-events/fall-harvest-festival.html
• Hollins Farms Orchard - Delaplane, http://hollinfarms.com/pages/pumpkins.html
• Clark's Farm - Stafford, http://clarksfarmusa.com/
• Wayside Farm - Berryville, http://www.waysidefarmfun.com/
• Wegmeyer Farms - Hamilton, http://wegmeyerfarms.com/ 
• Corn Maze in the Plains - The Plains, http://www.cornmazeintheplains.com/
• Dairy Farm Tours Corn Maze Adventure at Cows-n-Corn - Midland, http://www.cows-n-corn.com/
• The Maize at Temple Hill Farm Regional Park - Leesburg, http://www.nvrpa.org/park/the_maize
• Corn Maze at Bridgemont Farm - Quicksburg, http://getlostinthecorn.com/
• Corn Maze at Hartland Farm and Orchard - Markham,  http://www.hartlandfarmandorchard.com/fall-festival-weekends.html
• Corn Maze at Buckland Farm Market - Warrenton, http://www.bucklandfarmmarket.com/corn-maze.html
• Corn Maze at Liberty Hills Farm - Somerset, http://www.libertymillsfarm.com/

Smithsonian Museums

I've been going to these museums since I was a kid and I never get tired of going. The best part of all is it's all FREE, which I think is fabulous because they have so much to offer in the way of learning for both adults and children.  I can't write about all of them, but these are our family favorites.

My all-time favorite Smithsonian Institution is the National Zoo but I've already written about that one. http://familyfunseekers.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-national-zoo.html

The Natural History and Air & Space Museums tie for our favorite Smithsonian museums with the National Museum of American History following a close third.

The Natural History Museum is amazing! Greeted by a giant mammoth in the main lobby with huge exhibition halls shooting off in every direction, you could easily spend a whole day in there. See the dinosaurs exhibit, the Great Ocean hall with ancient giant sea creatures, discover the hall of Human Origins, experience the live butterfly pavilion, and my favorite part - the Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals - where you can see the Hope Diamond and many other beautiful pieces of jewelry from royalty around the world. There's also a mammal section, a bird section, and an African culture section. There is an IMAX theater there and they even have a program where you can spend "A Night at the Museum". Overall, this is a great museum for the whole family. (Large cafeteria and gift shop)
http://www.mnh.si.edu/

The Air & Space Museum is awesome! This is my husband and daughter's favorite. Missiles, rockets, planes, space-crafts, and air-related artifacts from way back lines the walls and hang from the ceilings in this museum. There are segments of planes and rockets that you can walk through and a flight simulator that you can ride for a stomach churning experience. There is a small fee for this ride but the kids will tell you it's worth it. You will see the Wright Brothers' Flyer, the Spirit of St Louis, Apollo 11 and much more here. They have an IMAX theater and a large fun area where the kids can do experiments with flight dynamics, gravity, velocity and other scientific things. My kid would spend all day in there if you let her. Again, this is a great museum for the whole family. (Large cafeteria with McDonalds and scattered gift shops)
http://airandspace.si.edu/

The National Museum of American History is next in line for our family-friendly favorites. With the exception of maybe a couple of areas, I think this museum is good for families with older children. Exhibits take you through the Presidents, the First Ladies (including their dresses and other treasures), the changing of America through the years, artifacts from influential musicians, Girl Scout history and artifacts, history of machinery, electricity, the flag and tons more. They also have travelling/visiting exhibits. This museum could easily take an entire day to go through everything. One summer, we did one floor per day, just to break it up and have some play time outside on the lawn. http://www.si.edu/Museums/american-history-museum

If art is your thing, there are several art galleries on the National Mall. Although I love to look at art, my husband and daughter revolt at the mention of going into them. I have gone without them and enjoyed them very much.  I took the kids one summer to the Hirshhorn Museum & Scultpure Gardens where they really enjoyed looking at the sculptures and tried imitating the poses of each piece. It was quite amusing and they had a great time while appreciating (I think) the art.  In the middle of the garden is a Wish Tree (Imagine Peace) inspired by Yoko Ono where you can write your wish for the world and tie it to the tree. The kids loved this!
http://www.si.edu/Museums/hirshhorn-museum-and-sculpture-garden

Outside the Natural History Museum on the National Mall is a wonderful carousel that has been there since the 60's (built in the 1940's) and has an interesting history. ($3.50 to ride) It goes fast! http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/misc-locations/the-carousel-on-the-national-mall,1027953/critic-review.html

The museums are open every day except Christmas Day and museum hours are extended in the summer (and certain other times) until 7:30pm.
See calendar here - http://www.si.edu/visit/hours#ExtendedHours

Parking is always crazy so I recommend taking the Metro to the Smithsonian station.  If you don't want to eat in the museum restaurants (a little pricey), there are plenty of food vendor trucks lining the streets. Nothing like a hot dog and a hot pretzel from a street vendor!

Kid's View: "I love the Natural History Museum and seeing all the animals and the rocks and gems, and I like to do all the interactive things. The Air & Space Museum is my favorite though. I love that ride that spins you and flips you over and over and I like going into the planes and stuff. We bought the astronaut food in the gift shop once, it was kinda strange. I like the one area that all the kids get to play around and test a bunch of things related to flying, gravity and things like that."

National Cherry Blossom Festival

I'm writing this one a little bit early so that those of you who haven't planned Spring Break yet can still have a chance to consider Washington, DC.  Cherry Blossom time is coming quickly and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is my favorite part of Spring here!

The cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese to D.C. and the blossoming symbolizes the arrival of Spring. (which we are all anxiously waiting for!) They are planted around the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal basin and are a spectacular site when they are all in full bloom. (Check for the peak bloom week when planning your visit). 

This year, the festival runs from March 20-April 14, and has over 200 performances and over 90 special city-wide events. The areas around the Tidal Basin and National Monument have stages for daily performances, grounds to picnic on, paddle-boating, and all kinds of tours. City-wide events include an Opening Ceremony (sorry, already sold out), Fireworks Festival and Show, a Japanese Stone Lantern Lighting Ceremony, a parade, a Japanese street festival, various Family Days activities, the National Kite Festival (my favorite and now our family tradition), and much, much more.  It's amazing to see how many people show up every year to experience this Festival.  The grounds are planted up everywhere with beautiful flowers (tulips, roses, etc) and people can be seen posing for pictures everywhere.

 





This year the Kite Festival will be held on March 30th from 10am-4:30pm, on the grounds of the National Monument. Thousands of people pack a picnic basket, grab a blanket and their kites and head out to this amazing event. I have memories of this as a kid and I have started a tradition of going with my family (this year will be our 4th year). We've turned it into a fun time with friends who want to join us, and it's a good time watching both the kids and the adults trying to get their kites up in the air.  Kites run from the dollar store variety to home-made kites to some really elaborate kites. There are all kinds of competitions and some free activities for kids (if you get there early enough).  The pictures don't do it justice but just image thousands of kites in the sky all at the same time!

 

Kid's View: "I like going to the kite festival. There's a giant tree there that we love to climb when we take a break from flying our kites. I like to see all the different cool kites and watch the competitions. The first year we bought a small kite there that we got up in the air but not too high. The second year we bought dollar store kites and some friends brought some fancy box kites that we couldn't get up in the air. Last year, we brought kites that use double strings but we couldn't figure out how to use them so we went back to our little cheapie ones that worked very well and went really high.  My dad and I have a big home made one that needs to be finished but we haven't yet, so I guess this year we'll be using the old ones again. They work well so I'm good. Our group has been getting bigger every year and it's fun when more kids are there with us. I'm looking forward to going again this year!"

The best part is that almost everything is free!  Food truck vendors line the streets if you're not up to packing a picnic but plan to do a lot of walking to get there. Port-o-lets are everywhere and are maintained regularly. Parking is a killer so I highly suggest taking the Metro.  We usually take it to the Smithsonian Station but there are others around depending on which direction you're coming from.

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

The White House Tour

The White House.....the President's home, the President's office and a free museum too! It can take many months to get passes to get in, plus another 3 security checkpoints and a sniff-down from the dogs before you can actually set foot in the building, but once you're in it's a magic trip back in time.

Imagine standing in rooms where so many Presidents and notable people have stood, seeing old photographs, giant paintings and sculptures (even one of George Washington that survived the burning down of the original White House), admiring the architecture with it's intricately carved moldings and friezes, and viewing pieces of fine china hand-picked by past first ladies.....All this and more are included in the White House Tour.

Our visit was with my daughter's Girl Scout troop and some parents. Upon entry, the girls received a brochure and a Junior Ranger Activity Guide to use during the tour. The guide included things to hunt for, questions that could be answered by reading the information posted throughout the tour, puzzles, and historical facts of the White House. The tour led us to the Library, Vermeil Room, and the China Room, which were beautiful but a little disappointing because you had to stay at the doorway and just look in. Upstairs, the tour continued with the East Room, the Green Room, the Blue Room,  the Red Room, the State Dining Room, the Cross Hall and the Entrance Hall. These rooms you could actually walk through, admiring furniture from various periods, along with notable pieces which belonged to various First Families.  The overall tour didn't take very long and the parents seemed to enjoy the little details more than the kids did. We didn't get to see the Oval Office and we didn't happen to "run into" anyone in the First family, but it was still an experience to remember!

Kid's View: "I didn't like having to wake up so early and it was freezing cold but once we got inside, it was pretty cool. My friends and I went through the tour pretty fast (it was kinda short), and I think the moms were more interested in the stuff (like the furniture and decorations) than we were. It was neat because we were walking through places where Presidents have walked and touching things that they have touched." 

To get your tickets to the White House tour, you must write a letter to your Congressman.
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events

National Geographic Museum

Happy New Year!!!

Another Groupon purchased months ago with time running out and I didn't even check to see what the current exhibit was or if it would even be something the kids would be interested in, but we HAD to go because I didn't want the deal to go to waste.

Our first visit was to see the TerraCotta Warriors from China. It was a planned trip and we waited in line for about an hour out in the cold (with coffee and hot chocolate) to get in, but it was worth it. It was an amazing exhibit, albeit very crowded. On this visit, finding out online just minutes before arriving that the current exhibit was on 1001 Muslim Inventions and Birds of Paradise, the husbands' and the kids' levels of enthusiasm dropped a notch or two. The 1001 Inventions exhibit started with a short film with Ben Kingsley, serving as an introduction to Muslim contributions to the world. After the film, we went into the display area, which although it was interesting for the adults (and surprisingly the husbands), I think the kids got bored with all the reading after a while. The next exhibit was Birds of Paradise, which initially brings to mind the flowers, but is actually about 39 species of birds found in New Guinea. There were short films, photographs, and interactive displays which we liked very much.

This is a small museum located in DC, but not on the National Mall. It's not one of the free museums but still worth the visit if you're interested in whatever travelling exhibit they have on display. (I recommend you checking online before your visit). It's reasonably priced at $8/adults and $5/kids or include the current 3D movie for just a couple bucks more or you can catch a deal on Groupon or Living Social when it comes around. I don't recommend the museum for small children unless it's an exhibit that is geared towards them as they may lose interest quickly and get bored. The museum is convenient to 2 metro lines Farragut North (red line) and Farragut West (blue/orange lines), or you can drive around and try to find street parking.

http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/locations/center/museum/

Kid's View: "I actually like this museum. This was my second time going. I really liked the Birds of Paradise exhibit because it had interactive things and the birds were cool The 1001 Inventions part had too much reading but I liked the movie and the part where it showed English to Arabic translations. The last time I came here it was to see the TerraCotta Warriors exhibit which was really cool and even cooler because I got to see them again when we went to China on vacation last summer."

DC Temple of Lights in Kensington

I remember as a kid, being mesmerized by this magical building towering out of the trees all lit up with an angel on top and thinking, "How do you get in there?" and "It looks like the castle at Disney World". To this day, I can still appreciate the beauty of the architecture and when we moved to the area, it was one of the first things I was excited to show my daughter.

Prior to this holiday season, I had no idea that it had a light display during the holidays (you can't see it from the highway). As I searched for holiday things to do, I found out that not only did they have all the lights in the trees, but also a Visitors Center that displayed several decorated Christmas trees, a life-sized nativity scene outside, a room full of nativity sets from around the world, and a different free concert every night throughout the season. I couldn't wait to check it out and, I must say, it's even more beautiful up close.

We went in the middle of the week because I expected that the weekends would be much more crowded. As I suspected, there were not too many people there and we were able to go through at our leisure and have good seats for the concert. Outside, the trees are completely lit up in all different colors, making it look like something out of a fairy tale and the Nativity scene was complete with camels and a donkey. Inside the Visitors Center, the Christmas trees were all decorated differently, one with dolls from around the world, one with flags from around the world, and others just brightly decorated with beautiful ornaments. The nativity scenes ranged from primitively carved wood to elaborately formed glass and crystal pieces in all different sizes and were from just about any country you could name off the top of your head. There are 2 concerts nightly, one at 7pm and one at 8pm. They are free but you need a ticket to get in. Tickets are handed out 90 minutes prior to the show.

The Visitors Center also attempts to show you what the Mormon religion is all about. There are areas with videos and members (some missionaries from other countries) may take a  few moments of your time to speak with you (completely optional, no pressure) and/or answer any questions you might have about the Mormons. I must say that they are very friendly and not pushy and overbearing, they are not trying to convert you in an hour so don't let this be a deterrent to you visiting and seeing the beautiful display.  If you don't go anywhere else this season, I highly recommend you go to see the Mormon Temple in Kensington, MD.

Kid's View: "I liked it a lot and I thought all the lights were really cool. The nativity sets were neat and I liked looking at them. The Christmas trees with the dolls and the flags from different countries were my favorite trees. The concert was okay. Some of the songs I knew but a lot of them I didn't."

Washington Harbour Georgetown - Outdoor Ice Skating Rink

I love Georgetown, DC. The shops, the restaurants, and just walking up and down the streets people watching (very interesting people from all walks of life can be seen). Down at the waterfront, there are restaurants where you can dine al fresco with a lovely view of the Potomac River. At the center of it all is a large fountain, which as of this winter, has been transformed into an outdoor ice skating rink, and will be reopened annually from November until March, every day including holidays. They say this rink is larger than  the one at Rockefeller Center in New York City, but I'm not so sure. It is the largest one I've seen in the area so far though.

I haven't been ice skating in 15 years or more, but I was determined that we were going to go and I was going to skate! The kids and I were excited about going, the husbands...not so much. Parking on the street is always an ordeal so we went straight to a garage ($8 for the evening).

The whole area was lit up for the holidays with shimmering, white lights everywhere. The weather was chilly but not uncomfortable. People were milling around, strolling, dining, having drinks at the outdoor bar, and quite surprisingly, the rink was not too crowded. The Zamboni machine was just finishing up on the ice as we got there, so we got our skates on and headed out to the rink. (One plus....new rink, new skates! Not a fan of wearing the rented skates) My husband and sister-in-law who decided to sit out the skating party, grabbed a couple of drinks and a spot to watch the gang. The kids were gone in a flash while my brother-in-law and I took a few laps to warm up before we put our feet (and bodies) to the test. After a few minutes our ankles were killing us and on the tip of my tongue were the words "What the heck was I thinking?", but after a few more rounds we were feeling more confident and adventurous.

Well, you know the night could not be complete without at least one of us wiping out.  The kids took a few spills and have a couple of bumps and bruises to show for it, but that's all part of the fun, right? I managed to make it through most of the night without falling but alas, I eventually hit the floor....with a very loud thud,  skates banging into the glass sides of the rink, and shattering my ego. Feet up, derriere down, in one swift move. I got up, shook it off and felt fine...or so I thought at the time. (As I type this, I have a large bruise on my rear end and my neck feels like I have whiplash.) Of course, no outing in Georgetown is complete without ice-cream so we turned in our skates and headed for Haagen-Dazs before heading home.  It was a fun night out, even with the bumps and bruises!

Prices are comparable to other rinks, $7/kids, $9/adults plus $5 if you need to rent skates. http://thewashingtonharbour.com/skating/

Kid's View: "I love ice-skating! It's a big place and not a lot of people cutting you off and causing you to fall, even though that did happen to me once. I fell on my knee and now I have a huge black and blue there but I still had a great time. Towards the end, my cousins and I scooped up the ice shavings off the ice and had a snowball fight. That was fun but sometimes it hurt. Oh, and the ice-cream was good too....the winter is the best time to eat ice-cream. I wanna do it again!"

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."

 

 

 

 

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

Eastern Market

I love art festivals, flea markets, salvage yards and anywhere else I can find cool things to use in our home, but it's always a struggle to get my husband to go to these things (he says it's boring), and my daughter usually will try to get out of it too (but I can always fix her with a little bribe). I think the day we went was one of those special occasions that I get to pick what we do and get no resistance from the family (like my birthday or our anniversary) so I chose the Eastern Market in Washington, DC. They didn't roll their eyes at me when I suggested it but I know they probably gave each other one of "those looks" behind my back. Nevertheless, they both said "Suuuuure Mom" and agreed to go along with no complaining.

The Eastern Market is in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood in DC and year-round on weekends is a combination farmer's market, flea market and street fair all rolled into one. The street is blocked off to traffic and both indoor and outdoor vendors line both sides of the street with local fresh produce, handmade jewelry, leather goods, pottery, other arts & crafts and even a local band playing music.

Even though they went to make me happy, I watched my family looking in at every stall, admiring and trying things on, sampling and buying produce, and even offering to buy me things! Oh, and I forgot to mention the homemade kettle corn, churros and cotton candy which made the whole trip worth it for them. So what could have been a disaster with me dragging two long faces behind me while I looked for treasures, turned out to be a lovely afternoon with the family. Definitely somewhere I'd visit again.

Kid's View: "I think it was cool because there were a lot of shops with neat things to look at. I tried on a bunch of funky sunglasses and I loved the churros and the kettle corn." 

Eastern Market: http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/

Capitol River Cruises - Boat Ride on the Potomac River

I'm a huge fan of Groupon, Living Social, and any other site that offers me discounts for things to do so naturally when I saw a boat cruise on the Potomac for only $6 a person, I couldn't pass it up. (The regular price is $14/person.) Not only did I buy the deal but I talked my in-laws into buying the deal as well. We bought it at the beginning of the summer and here it was, the end of September with the coupon expiring at the end of the week and we hadn't gone yet.

Every weekend for the past two months we've tried to get our husbands to go on this boat ride and every weekend they found an excuse not to go, saying we should just go with the kids. Well they got their wish....and maybe that was a good thing. There was no school today and the kids were bored (well, not really but we needed to use the coupons) and it was a beautiful day so off we went.

The cruise left from the dock in Georgetown, a beautiful area in itself, full of shops and restaurants. The boats run every hour on the hour and the tour lasts about 50 minutes.  It cruises the Potomac passing the Watergate Hotel, The Kennedy Center, the National Monument, the Lincoln, Jefferson, and LBJ monuments, Roosevelt Island, and a couple other memorial sites. It ends at Ronald Reagan/National Airport then the boat does a U-turn and heads back in to dock. The boat itself is not luxurious by any means, but it is clean, has tables and chairs, and has a snack bar complete with alcohol (not top shelf, or probably even bottom shelf but there was Heineken, my husband's beer of choice). As we cruised along, we couldn't help thinking it was a good thing the men didn't come along but if they did, at least there was a bar to keep them from complaining. There were others on the boat who had purchased the cruise as part of their "jump on and off" package through the city and I don't know what they paid but what we got for our money was a nice outing, sitting in the shade with a breeze getting a different view of the sites we've seen so many times before on land. I don't know if I would pay more than that though or that I'd do it again but it was worth the $6.

Kid's View: "I think it was okay because we got to go out but it wouldn't be my choice of things to do. The boat was clean, which was good, but it was really boring just hearing about the monuments. The best part was getting Haagen Dazs ice-cream afterwards!"

Attraction: Capitol River Cruises  http://capitolrivercruises.com/