Places to Go/ Things to Do - Longbranch Nature Center (Arlington, VA) & Random Links

I know it's a Monday, but I'm not sure how busy we'll be with our spring break stay-cation, especially once the temperatures warm up again. So I thought I'd post random links today instead of on Friday.

Last week, we had a great time at the creek off Longbranch Nature Center, which is one of my absolute favorite places once spring rolls around.

Happy spring everyone! Don't forget to check out last week's awesome new post on 5 Hours 'Til Bedtime.

RANDOM LINKS:

* 16 amazing camping locations in Virginia. Also, the best stargazing in West Virginia.

* I am OBSESSED with this home makeover.

* North Korea on an iphone.

* This looks like a cool magazine for kids.

* Could you give up your house/apartment/condo and live in a van? I'm not sure I could manage it, but then again, a life on the road would be pretty incredible.

* An abandoned Disney park reclaimed by nature.

* 8 Tips for Taking Amazing Photos (usually I find posts like this rather generic, but these are really good tips. plus the $.99 Skillshare subscription is all sorts of awesome.

* Local readers - doesn't this look like SO MUCH FUN?

* Surfing the arctic circle.

* I was a Whole Foods dumpster diver. There is something disturbing about the amount of food we throw away.

Places to Go - THIS SATURDAY - The Gifts That Give Hope Gift Fair (Arlington, VA)

Last year we took the kids to the Gifts That Give Hope Gift Fair and everyone had a wonderful time (even as I stumbled around on my sad broken foot). There's a Santa! (who doesn't love Santa?). And live music! And lots of info about different local charities. The kids spent a lot of time learning about each charity and donating to their favorites. Plus, it really helps take away some of the ickiness/commercialism of the holiday season (says she who just spent over $200 on giant homemade Advent calendar).

Anyways, here are the details (and a friendly note) from Tara Bibb, the event organizer. So go. Seriously. YOU NEED TO GO!!!

________________

Dear Friends!

I want to invite you to a really fun holiday event geared toward kids and families, and giving back to our community!

If you (like me!) you are already worrying about the stress and “stuff” that can easily overtake the holidays, consider taking the family to Gifts That Give Hope on Saturday, December 5. This event, geared toward teaching children about charitable giving, is completely volunteer run and organized by fellow moms!

Anyways, if you have the time, here's the details on this year's fair (from Tara Bibb, the event's organizer):

December 5. This event, geared toward teaching children about charitable giving, is completely volunteer run and organized by fellow moms!

Saturday, December 5, 10am -2pm
Key Elementary School
2300 Key Blvd, Arlington

Children's gift fair features $5 items for purchase (empty those piggybanks!), face painting, visit with Santa, refreshments and live music. It's meaningful, free family fun! There's also a chance to win a free session from JW Tumbles!

Sixteen charities ranging from the Arlington Food Assistance Center to The Reading Connection will be offering gifts ranging from $5 to $120, including a wide selection of gifts at the children’s fair, where younger shoppers can buy generous acts geared toward teaching them about generosity.

Online shopping is also available.
www.giftsthatgivehope.org/arlington

Thanks for reading this far! I appreciate your support to make a small difference in our community. I hope to see you on Dec 5!

Fondly,
Tara Bibb

Places to Go - Wonderful Interactive Artwork at the Artisphere (Arlington, VA)

A few weeks ago I brought the kids to the Artisphere to see some of their new exhibits. As always, there was only one other group of visitors in the building. As F summarized the situation, "mom, this place is so awesome, I can't understand why nobody ever goes here." Nor can I F, nor can I.

First off, Elsabe Dixon, the artist in residence through 2015, who works with silk worms. An incredibly friendly Dixon let my kids carry a silkworm by its wings and (even better) bring home a cocoon. Plus, her work is a joy to take in, as the space feels like part studio and part habitat. Dixon mentioned that as part of her her current project she plans on building an even more interactive exhibit in the Artisphere, so keep checking in.



After visiting with Dixon, we started to make our way to the galleries upstairs, but as soon as the kids found the lounge's Yogibo chairs, we needed to break for "chill" time. Have you ever tried one of these? They mold to your body like a comfy sweater. Really, sort of amazing. Now everyone in our family wants their own.

While we relaxed, we checked out a slideshow of Yassine El Mansouri's observation photos. Each photograph features an ariel view of a person surrounded on the floor by all the clothing he/she owns, leading us to various discussions about how much floorspace we would each need to take a similar photo. [T, not very much; whereas P requires a football field for all of her clothing (not really, but almost)].



Eventually, we made it upstairs, where T quickly discovered Dustin Carlson's gas pump sculpture. I'm not sure Carlson meant his work to be interactive, so I told T not to touch the pump, but not before I snapped a quick (adorable) photo of the experience.



In the museum's main gallery, the Think With Your Hands exhibit showcases several shadow box collages by various artists. A small sun/circle symbol resides next to several of the works, for these you can either borrow an ipad from the Artisphere or download an app and the work will in some way become interactive.

While this sounds like a cool idea in theory, most of the artworks' ipad interactions just link up photos of the artist's sketchbook or other works, which I felt distracted somewhat from the actual works on display. But my kids love an ipad, so they found the experience "awesome".

Finally, we meandered to the movie studio, where Kadavre Exquis's "what is dead may never die" played on a continuous loop. The video seemed rather random, making it fun to watch with a group of kids under 10. Since none of us really "got" it, we all had different theories about what it was about (T remains convinced that the videoplayer broke, thus explaining why the images made no sense to him).

All in all we only spent about an hour at the Artisphere (it is a rather small museum/gallery). But it was a really good, fun hour.

The FREE Artisphere is only open:

Wednesday-Friday from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m
Saturday: Noon – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Parking is free with validation, making it an easy in and out destination. Plus, it is fun. And relatively kid-friendly. Perfect for Thanksgiving weekend. Click here for more information.

Also, if you're looking for kid-friendly museum ideas this winter, don't forget that Smithsonian's Early Education Center offers some wonderful classes for the 6 and under crowd, click here to learn more.

Places to Go - Rocky Run Playground (Arlington, VA)

We have not adventured much since school and soccer began. When we do find some downtime, the kids all enjoy a quick trip to Rocky Run - one of Arlington's newer playgrounds. The huge climbing pyramid with a slide on top constitutes the park's biggest thrill, but the kids also love the bucket swing and hanging/spinning structure that I don't really know how to describe. Also, a preschool-aged playground is on site (though, sadly, no bathrooms). For additional information, click here to read the Meanest Mama's review.

For another Arlington playground with an (even larger) climbing tower, check out Tuckahoe (previously reviewed here). Also Fort Barnard now has a newly revamped playground. We haven't visited yet, but the Meanest Mama has good things to say (click here to read her review).

HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE? Where have you adventured lately?

Places to Go - The FANTASTIC Penrose Square Splash Park/Fountain (Arlington, VA)

As cliched as it sounds, the message of parenthood, as well as life itself, always seems to state: "be careful what you wish for."

As we know, I love a good spraypark (click here to check out my past review of the Rustico spraypark). So I was quite happy when Arlington county installed a brand-new spraypark/fountain in Penrose Square. First of all, since the splashpark also qualifies as an "interactive water feature", it runs constantly from 10 am to 8 pm (unlike Arlington's other splashparks which operate on a (somewhat confusing) schedule. Further, the spraypark is right next to Columbia Pike's newest dining destinations - Red Rocks, William Jeffrey's Tavern, Taqueria Poblano, etc. (we LOVE the revitalized Pike). And, best of all, the park is within seconds of my children's favorite place in the world - Menchie's frozen yogurt. Basically a huge win, right?

Well, not totally. Two weeks ago, I took P and T there, along with one of P's best friends. The girls ran into the spray and then ran out. And stayed out, proclaiming they were simply "too old for splashparks." Instead they spent the rest of the morning climbing the the weird egg sculptures and asking when we could go to Menchies. T, on the other hand, had the time of his life. The sprays are high, so you can really become quite wet and immersed. I think it's all rather wonderful. Five star. But the girls are not on board, so we haven't gone again.

For an extra special night out, on the third Thursday night of summer months, Penrose Square also hosts free movies and live music. August 15th is ET and September 19th you can see Toy Story live outside. Click here for more information.

Places to Go - Family Day Open House for the Artisphere's 2nd Anniversary Weekend

On Sunday, we decided to spend the very rainy afternoon at Arlington Artisphere's free family open house (I love events where the words "free" and "family" coincide). Upon arriving at the festival, we ran out front to watch a juggler on stilts, which immediately piqued the interest of all my children. While the juggler didn't put on a performance per se, the children loved just talking with him. P, in particular, lit up when he said he liked the blue streak in her hair.



Once we entered the building, Jennifer Stephens (aka "the Bubble Faerie") mesmerized us all. Honestly, this may be one of the most impressive, yet random circus-type acts I've ever witnessed. The faerie dips her hands in the bubble solution, blows gently and creates several different floating wonders - sometimes she makes bubbles inside bubbles, other times she goes for size or quantity. It's all sort of amazing. I wonder if she does birthday parties.



Eventually we meandered upstairs to check out the Artisphere's newest installation - Beyond the Parking Lot: The Change and Re-Assessment of Our Modern Landscape. If you haven't visited the Artisphere yet, this exhibit is more than enough reason to hurry up and get there - miniature landscapes, a huge bending painting, a video piece, etc. - both the art and the display rival anything you'd see at a major museum. So wonderful to have such an amazing space in my own neighborhood.



We didn't have as much time to linger in the Parking Lot exhibit as I would have liked because F was so so excited for mural painting (or should I say "MURAL PAINTING!!"?) in the education lab. Upon arrival, each child chose their favorite paint colors from a huge rainbow of offerings and received a giant paint brush to go with his/her palette. The presentation was fabulous - the gift of color itself seemed better than any toy one could offer.

F and P set in right away decorating corners of the mural. Unfortunately, even a corner was hard to come by as the wooden mural was SMALL - cool but way too small for any real collective art to occur. Actually, the whole room was rather small - especially when you add in ACRYLIC PAINT and tons of children. Most parents tried to rally, but eventually the majority of us older folk clung to the walls, scared of the permanence of the rainbow of colors attacking everything around us.



Eventually, we made it to the black box theater to check out Emma Jaster's "Suitcase Story" performance piece. Again, the space was small for the crowd - additional chairs needed to be obtained, whereas those of us sitting on the floor were asked to squish closer and closer together. Regarding the "play" itself, at moments Jaster soared - connecting with the audience through gesture and mime, P especially loved when the paper feet became a fluttering butterfly. And F couldn't stop smiling when the paper heart bridges into the audience and Jaster had us all chorus into the sounds of a choo choo train. But all in all, the piece was a little too long and ambiguous for such a young audience - 45 minutes sitting on the floor with a toddler in your lap makes for some long viewing. Two, approximately, 10 year old girls sitting in front of us probably summed it up best - the girl asked her friend "do you like this?" and her friend replied "I don't know." "Well, then do you want to leave?" "I don't know that either."

After the Suitcase Story ended, my mom and the kids watched David London's Wandering Wonders Act as I headed upstairs to pick up the children's artwork. By this time the crowd had picked up somewhat and the art room had become claustrophobic (plus, it saddened me somewhat to see that F's hard work on the mural had already been covered up by a new group of children's paintings, as there was not enough room for everybody's contribution to remain).

Unfortunately, we never had a chance to visit the dome theatre where WSC Avent Bard was conducting free theatrical workshops. Hopefully next year.

All in all, we had a good time at this free event, but it would have been nice if the kids themselves had more room and space to create. Tables, chairs, and couches fill the lobby - had these these tables been full of art supplies, I think the staff itself would have been impressed with what our kids could come up with - maybe an entire wall of children's thoughts, ideas and inspirations. Now that would really be something.

Places to Go - Potomac Overlook Park (Arlington, VA)

I haven't posted lately on any local places to go, mainly because we've been frequenting old haunts more than new places. I need to change this. Last Friday, I took P, T, and a friend to Potomac Overlook Park; we hadn't visited in quite awhile and I almost forgot how much we love it here. A small playground sits right off the parking lot (with bathrooms and picnic tables and lots of trees). We had the whole place to ourselves and the kids insisted on eating their picnic lunches in the "treehouse."

After lunch, we meandered over to the nature center (which is about a 5 or 10 minute walk from the parking lot) and again we were the only visitors there. The upstairs of the nature center contains several displays and exhibits on energy, for my kids the highlights of which were a microscope and bees. The downstairs contains animals (snakes and turtles) and a small but nice kids' room called the "cave" where we spent over 45 minutes exploring and pretending.

After the nature center, we walked over to the birds of prey (a hawk and two owls) and the garden. Outside the garden a small pond contained dozens of frogs. So we sat for a long time, trying to find every one, which was oddly fun. The kids all proclaimed themselves "official frog finders" and ribetted as we walked/ran to the car. A great day.

If you're interested the nature center is open 10-5 Tuesday-Saturday and 12-5 on Sundays (closed Mondays). Every Sundays from 1:30 to 5:30 the park hosts special games, activities, and refreshments, no reservations required. And on certain Saturdays throughout the summer free concerts play on the park's outdoor stage. Click here for more information.

The main trail is stroller-friendly, but offshoot trails are not (by the way, there's no actual overlook, just so you know).



My camera battery died, so I had to iphone it. How many frogs can you find in the bottom picture?

Places to Go - Gravelly Point (Arlington, VA) (i.e. "the airplane park")

Gravelly Point is one of those places that I've heard a ton of great things about, but, until last week, we never managed to visit. Maybe because I couldn't figure out how to come from the north and still head north on the GW parkway (the trick, in case you're curious, is to exit at the airport then change your direction). Anyways, this place really is quite cool. Planes fly LOW and you can watch them land and take off. As if this isn't enough, the park borders the Potomac so you can play on the rocks and throw stones into the water. Huge fields everywhere make it a great place to kick or throw a ball around. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the property along with a bike path (be cautious - they go FAST). Port a potties are on site but they look scary dirty.

A few weekends ago, while Dan worked, the kids and I brought a picnic blanket, some books, snacks, and bubbles and spent two hours just lounging around. Though if you visit beware of the grass as a tick crawled onto our blanket (I hate those little guys).



There's something about spring and bubbles. They just go together.



In the afternoon, the sun came out and the temps warmed up. T proclaimed himself "king of the table", for what that's worth.

RANDOM LINKS:

* Looking for something to do for spring break? Don't forget my list of indoor places in the DC area to go with kids, which is up to 50 places, and my outside list, which is up to 53 WONDERFUL places. If you know of somewhere I've forgotten to include, please email me and I'll add it to the list.

*James Franco.

* Slanted Mansion - another BEAUTIFUL blog about creative people and their spaces (link via Miss Moss).

* Radiohead and ballet. It works.

* Suspended together. Doves and Saudi Arabia. Powerful stuff.

Places to Go - Gulf Branch Nature Center in the Winter (Arlington, VA)

Last Friday, T and I attended a tiny tots class on frogs and toads at Gulf Branch Nature Center (for children 18-35 months). Classes for toddlers are always so funny and random, some kids ran in circles, while others paid close attention. I've found that the reaction of any given kid varies by the day. Luckily, the teacher had prepared for such chaos, she brought lots of live animals (we saw a huge bullfrog eat crickets) and fun props (we used colored scarfs as frog masks and hopped around the room), while continually emphasizing key concepts - tadpoles, eggs, etc. After the kids completed a simple art project we walked around the pond, listening for the calls of bullfrogs (when I finally heard one I almost started jumping up and down from excitement). As always, I was impressed by the quality and low price ($5 per child) of these classes. If you're interested, the Spring Snag and the Snag for Wee Ones (the publications which list Arlington's nature programs) are available here.

T appeared quiet and shy for most of the class, sitting next to me the whole time. But as soon as class ended, he wanted to play "teacher" and proceeded to repeat all that we had talked about earlier. I had to sit on a rug square, but he let me take lots of pictures. So we both were happy.



Gulf Branch's basement contains a native american room, full of interesting artifacts and displays, including a gigantic canoe. All three of my kids can spend hours sitting in the boat, making up games and reading books.

On Friday I almost fell asleep in the canoe while drifting through the the basement's imaginary waters, luckily a "bad guy" invasion kept me awake.

T kept taking breaks from fighting the bad guys to "shop" for new weapons in the above display case. I think his Xmas list for next year is already full.



One of Gulf Branch's many highlights is an indoor/outdoor beehive, where you can watch the pollinators at work. It's sort of mesmerizing.



After leaving the nature center, we played outside for awhile. We could hear the bullfrogs croaking as we explored, almost as if they wanted to cheer us on. We found lots of sticks, as always.



We explored some more. Bridges can provide a toddler with hours of entertainment. HOURS!



The Blacksmith Guild of the Potomac has a workshop next to the nature center. They invited us in to watch them create, the hot coals mesmerized T, which made me nervous enough that we went back outside. Imaginary fires are so much easier to contain.

Places to Go - Double Decker Bus Tour! (Washington DC and Arlington, VA)

It feels dorkily exhilarating to spend a day as a tourist in your own town. I'm now convinced that if you have small children there is no better way to do so than Gray Lines' Double Decker hop on hop off bus tour. At the beginning of last summer my friend's daughter, E, saw 101 Dalmatians II and begged to ride on the top of a double-decker bus. When I discovered that Goldstar sells tickets for 50% off Tuesday - Thursday, we decided it would be the perfect end of the summer adventure before kindergarten began. If you miss out on the Goldstar deal, full price 24 hour tickets cost $35 for adults and $18 for kids 4-12 (under 4 are free). Two day passes cost $40 for adults and $20 for kids.



We started the tour in Pentagon City and wow was it fun to cruise the highway on top of a gigantic bus, the kids said it felt like we were on a bus-plane and it really did. The Arlington buses weren't very crowded (as you can tell from the picture above) so it sort of felt like a private tour. Once we entered the city, we had beautiful views of all the monuments and buildings. The bus speaker system broadcasts interesting facts about the structures and places, most of which I had never heard before.



We took the blue line bus to the Lincoln Memorial (three bus routes make up the tour - yellow, blue, and red and, ideally, you'll want to ride them all) where the kids enjoyed running in the grass for awhile and trying to climb all the old trees.



After running around the lawns, we walked to the top of the Lincoln Memorial, where the kids all decided to dance by the side wall. As they were out of the way of the main attraction, I didn't really see a problem with this, but lots of tourists kept looking at us like "what is going on here?" Oh well, as I see it Lincoln needs some people to dance by his side once in awhile, it has to get lonely up there.



After visiting our nation's 16th president, we decided to walk over to the FDR memorial, which was sort of a haul with the kids. On the upside, we ran across the brand spanking new Martin Luther King memorial without even realizing where we were (I find the geography of the National Mall a little confusing in practice). The MLK memorial has been the subject of a lot of controversy here in DC (why use white stone? was he accurately quoted? does he look too angry? etc.) but I found the whole thing so beautiful and tasteful and just lovely, especially the mountain-like entrance. Both my friend J and I almost started crying as we tried to explain to the kids who this man was and why we honor him. Plus, explaining the concept of racism to kids who have grown up in multicultural classrooms with friends of all colors and nationalities is always tricky. It's something they (luckily) haven't encountered yet (and for that I always feel fortunate).



The MLK memorial sits on the Tidal Basin, so we snacked by the water and fed goldfish crackers to the ducks. I always forget how beautiful and peaceful it feels to relax by the Tidal Basin. I wish we went here more often (but the parking, oh the parking).



From the tidal basin we walked over to the FDR memorial. I'd never been there before but my friend, J, insists that it is the most beautiful place in the city and she might be right. It's huge with beautiful waterfalls everywhere (none of my pics of the waterfalls turned out very well, so I highly suggest checking them out yourself). The statue of the men in the breadline almost made me cry (it was an emotional day for some reason). Plus the kids loved climbing on the large rocks placed throughout the monument. By this point the children were exhausted so we hopped back on our tour and prepared for a mellow bus-riding afternoon.



I took a million pictures of monuments, buildings, light, shadows, etc. but these two pretty much capture the day. DC looks so peaceful and lovely from above (I wish this sense of peace existed everywhere in our city). My friend's toddler even fell asleep in her arms. And we drove through parts of the district I'd never even seen before - wow, the National Cathedral really is as breathtaking as everyone says.



As much as we loved seeing the sights, for the kids the highlight of the day was probably the "bus roller-coaster." Once we crossed into north DC the trees branches hung pretty low. So low that we all ducked for cover. A little scary for adults. But for kids "the most fun ever." They shouted, the laughed, they screamed, they made my day.

Seriously, a perfect adventure. And we didn't even need strollers. I now consider the double-decker bus a MUST DO DC ACTIVITY. I can think of few better ways to enjoy a nice fall day.

Places to Go - The Arlington County Fair (Arlington, VA)

So the County Fair is sort of a big deal in our house (to put it lightly). Any time of year whenever you ask P where she would go if she could go ANYWHERE in the world she answers with the fair. I wish I could tell you that our fair was SO MUCH better than all other carnivals, but it really isn't - just the same old cheesy rides that move from state to state and lots of local food vendors. I guess it is somewhat unique in that they fill the auditorium with booths from local businesses and charities and sometimes we like to wander around the AIR-CONDITIONED space and learn about all the cool stuff going on around us (and sometimes not so cool stuff, kudos to my neighbor for telling off the crazy people at Arlington's ex-gay booth). But mostly the fair just symbolizes the end of summer and a sort of community spirit. My favorite part is seeing the kids grow every year - last year they felt so BIG when they braved the toddler roller-coaster (and I use the word "roller-coaster" broadly), making me curious to see what feats this year's fair will bring.

If you're interested, the fair runs Wednesday, August 10 through Sunday, August 14th. Check the website (linked here) for the daily hours. The Star Family Circus (which looks awesome) performs daily.

Random Links:

*Turn your email into snail mail for free. How cool.

*Crappy laws of parenting top 8 countdown illustrated with crappy pictures. FUNNY!!!

*A truly perfect picture.

*10 Ways to Play in August - full of great ideas.

*pudding cookies and smore cookie bars - both look so yummy.

*The pictures on this blog are beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Places to Go - The BEST SPRAYPARK ever (Arlington, VA)

A few weeks ago a good friend called me to tell me about the "best spraypark ever", I admit I was skeptical at first (sorry for doubting you, Julia) because, really, how great can a kids' spraypark really be? Now I know the answer - REALLY GREAT!

The new fountain/spraypark is privately owned and located between Rustico Restaurant and Buzz Bakery in Arlington on Wilson Blvd and Quincy St. So while your kids frolic, you (the adult) can sit outside and drink a glass of wine and relax (a small fence separates the restaurants from the park area, so if you have young kids this adventure may not work for you as a barrier exists between you and your children). But if you have kids 4 (3?) and up, relax and have a drink, especially with friends. Rustico doesn't open their patio until 5:30 (call to make sure, as this may change). After the patio opens, they have a great children's menu (only $5 per entree) and lots of wonderful "adult" food (especially the gourmet pizzas). The perfect "date" night with kids. I love this place. Plus, approximately 10 kids were at the spraypark when we visited, making it not nearly as crowded as the Arlington County sprayparks.




Um, yeah, they aren't supposed to climb the fence. But of course I had to take a picture before the rescue occurred.


Rustico has some seriously yummy food (and an extensive beer menu). A flash storm occurred on the night I took these pictures. Luckily we finished dinner first, so we hid under the overhang and waited for the storm to abate. I'm glad we waited out the storm, as we all loved watching the rainbow appear.

UPDATE - LOOKING FOR ANOTHER GREAT SPRAYPARK? CHECK OUT MY POST ON THE NEW PENROSE SQUARE INTERACTIVE FOUNTAIN/WATER FEATURE!

RANDOM LINKS:

*KidFriendly DC has a contest to win a Washington Mystics Family Fun pack. Click here to enter.

*Loving these photos of beautiful kids' rooms and houses.

*These DIY sailor's knot bracelets are really cute, for kids or adults.

*Kinfolk online magazine - gorgeous photos and words (link via A Day That Is Dessert).

Places to Go - 56 OUTSIDE PLACES FOR KIDS

(Pictured above: azaleas and koi at the National Arb)

Since my winter post on inside spaces with kids was such a hit, I figured I'd make a new list for the warmer months. Cause we're ready to go outside, aren't you? As always, since we live in Arlington this part of the list is more inclusive, whereas MD is the least inclusive. I obviously couldn't include everything so I tried to limit this post to the best of the best and I've excluded pools and waterparks, as they're a whole post in themselves. Please let me know what I've left out. And, as always, for the latest scoop on weekend events, festivals, and more places to go make sure to check out Kidfriendly DC and Go Out and Play!

ARLINGTON

1. Long Branch Nature Center - I've posted on Long Branch previously (click here). The nature center itself is wonderful (for warm or cool days) with a toddler-friendly kid-room and lots of toys, but on a nice day we love walking on the trail outside the center as it meanders past a stream and ends in small playground off four mile run, the perfect place for a picnic lunch. FREE!

2. Hayes Park - Arlington has tons of wonderful parks and three sprayparks (click here for a full list), but Hayes is our favorite. The spraypark is shaded, making it a perfect place on hot sunny days. Plus the park contains tons of great playground equipment and a nice sandbox (only partially shaded). The park's large size makes it a fun destination even when crowded. [Update 6/11- I recently visited Hayes on a weekday morning and it was crowded, crazy crowded. This summer Arlington often only has one spraypark open at a time (so make sure to check the schedule), which leads to overcrowding. Be weary.]FREE!

3. Potomac Overlook Park - A playground next to the parking lot, a great nature center, tons of trails (some of which actually lead to the Potomac), a large meadow with a stage (perfect for frisbee and/or "performances" of one sort or another), beautiful sculptures throughout the property. A lovely place, though only borderline stroller-friendly (most of the trails are narrow and hilly on dirt paths). For more information, click here. FREE!

4. Gulf Branch Nature Center - I've posted about Gulf Branch previously (click here for the post). A great nature center (with a fun canoe that my children can play in for hours) surrounded by trails and a small pond. On weekends they often host campfires, sign-up is required so check the website for more information. FREE!

5. Gravelly Point Park - Previously posted here. A great place to bring a frisbee or a ball and watch the planes fly into Regan airport (the runway is only 400 feet from the park). There's also a paved walking path along the river (suitable for fishing). Check out the Yelp reviews here. FREE!

ALEXANDRIA

6. Mt Vernon - Previously posted here. George Washington's estate is a surprisingly kid-friendly destination. Lots of room for kids to run (the grounds are HUGE) plus farm animals to observe and windows to peak in. Skip the tour and play duck-duck-goose on the lawn instead, surrounded by beautiful vistas of the Potomac. A child-friendly cafeteria is on site.

7. The Water Taxi from Alexandria to National Harbor - Previously posted here. The boat leaves approximately every 1.5 hours from the Alexandria docks and the ride to National Harbor takes about thirty minutes. At National Harbor my kids love to eat ice cream from Ben & Jerry's and play on the Awakening statue. A great way to spend an afternoon. The water taxi company also offers pirate cruises on weekends, click here for information.

8. The Old-Town Waterfront - Previously posted here. Walk around, check out the boats, feed the ducks, climb on the "giant" anchor, lust after the art in the Torpedo Factory. Run through the field or bring a frisbee. If you're feeling ambitious, combine your trip with a ride on the water taxi to National Harbor. FREE!

9. River Farm - Previously posted here. A beautiful meadow and a great children's garden make this a wonderful place for an afternoon outside. Unfortunately, it's only open to the public on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Click here for more info. FREE!

10. Green Spring Gardens - Flowers everywhere. A gazebo and pond. A library (with a children's section). Plus the garden hosts several children's programs and camps, so check the website. For more information, click here. FREE!

11. Huntley Meadows - Previously posted here (for fall) and here (for spring). A stroller-friendly walk in the woods that ends at a boardwalk through wetlands. Look for birds, frogs, turtles, muskrats, ducks, geese, heron and more. One of our favorite places in the area. Great for kids, adults, birders, photographers, and all lovers of nature. FREE!

12. Winkler Botanical Preserve - We've never been here, but Go Out and Play! gave it an incredible review, so hopefully we'll get there soon. According to Go Out and Play! the preserve has a trail that includes a "small lake with several streams, waterfall, covered bridge mountain lodge, and even a Hobbit house." Click here to read the rest of the review and get the info. FREE!

13. Lee District's Harbor Spray Park - Alexandria just opened the Disneyworld of sprayparks - seriously, this is HUGE with a dragon fountain, water maze, water dumping crab basket, and custom crab boat, all of which are accessible for children of all abilities (i.e. handicap accessible). We haven't been yet, but Keeping Up with Cardin has some great pics. Admission is free but water shoes are required. The park is open from 11-7 on all days but Wednesday (Wednesday is 11-5). Click here for more info. FREE!

14. Jones Point Park - Previously posted here. Two small playgrounds, basketball hoops, and trails on the Potomac to fishing piers and an old lighthouse. A wonderful place to take a walk and play for awhile. FREE!

WASHINGTON DC

15. The National Arboretum - Previously posted here. The arb is truly Washington's hidden treasure, bigger than NYC's Central Park you can spend a whole day here and not see everything. We're still exploring all the nooks and crannies. Grab a map and look around, you'll have a blast. I especially recommend a trip to the Capitol Columns and the nature play space (part of the Washington Youth Garden, previously posted here). FREE!

16. The US Botanical Gardens - Previously posted here. We love it here, especially in the summer when the children's garden opens, which includes: a "fish" fountain with a pump, lots of watering cans, a child-sized house, and a canopied forest-walk. The fountains alone can entertain my children for hours. Outside are beautiful rose gardens and plenty of room to run. Make a day of it by eating lunch at the American Indian Museum across the street and playing in their new ImagiNATIONS playspace. FREE!

17. The National Zoo - Previously posted here and here. Kids love zoos and adults love free zoos - you can't go wrong, especially when the lion cubs and baby gorilla are out (so cute)! Make sure to watch the orangutans overhead on the O-line. FREE! (though parking is not free)

18. Yards Park - We haven't visited yet, but KidFriendly DC gave this park a glowing review (click here to read it). Apparently the park is both beautiful to look at and kid-friendly as it has water sprays for kids to play in, which sounds perfect for beating the summer heat. FREE!

19. Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens - Previously posted here. If you go in the morning this place is stunning, thousands (if not millions) of water flowers everywhere. Plus the property includes a boardwalk through wetlands and a decently-fun visitor's center. Though not in DC's best neighborhood, the gardens themselves are safe, just make sure to bring a GPS for the drive, not a fun place to be lost (trust me on this one). For more information, click here. FREE!

20. Theodore Roosevelt Island - Previously posted here. When you crave some nature in the city this park is truly a blessing. Dance by the statue, run on the boardwalk, collect rocks on the trails, feed the ducks. And don't forget to look up at the incredible tree canopy surrounding you. FREE!

21. The Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin - Previously posted here. We like to play on the lawns of the Memorial after dinner, beautiful city views make this the perfect location for duck-duck-goose and watching the sun set over the city. FREE!

22. The National Mall Carousel - Previously posted here. My kids love the carousel. I love the sculpture gardens (both the Hirshhorn's and the National Gallery's). The park service has a (mediocre) cafe next to the carousel which serves hot dogs and fries and that sort of stuff. Lots of room to run and museums to see.

23. The National Mall (Constitution Gardens & the Lincoln Memorial) - A nice place to take a stroll and feed the ducks. The kids enjoy walking across the bridge to Independence Island (though watch out for goose droppings) and I like the sculpture garden and Einstein statue across the street. Anywhere you look, the views are spectacular. Plus, the abundance of trees means plenty of great picnic spots, even on hot days. For more information, click here. FREE!

24. Georgetown to Alexandria Boat Rides through Potomac Riverboat Company - See the monuments by water. So relaxing. My kids love these boat rides - airplanes, trains, other boats and lots of trees and monuments. Potomac River Company sells popcorn on the boat, an extra bonus. The ticket price is somewhat steep ($26 for adults, $14 for kids)- so save for a splurge day. On weekends, the boats depart every two hours. Click here for more information.

25. Turtle Park - We've never been here but a reader asked me to add it to the list, so it must be a pretty fun place. The park has a sprayground and LARGE play area with five different play structures. Click here for more info. FREE!!

26. Dumbarton Oaks - Previously posted here. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous - with tons of nooks and crannies to play around. Plus lots of big trees. My kids couldn't stop exploring. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids 2-12. The gardens are open daily from 2-6 (except Monday). Click here for more info.


THE VA SUBURBS

27. Claude Moore Colonial Farm (McLean, VA) - Travel back in time to 1771 and see the world a different way. I especially recommend going on the weekend of a Market Fair (previously posted here) where you'll encounter puppet shows, three-legged races, wonderful bbque, tight-rope walkers, cheap beer, and crafts galore. So much fun.

28. Clemyjontri Park (McLean, VA) - This "superpark" was created so that children with disabilities could play alongside other children. The huge park includes a carousel and bathrooms and TONS of playground equipment (mazes, airplanes, cars, a "race track", the list goes on and on). On the downside, parking can be hit or miss as the park is almost always crowded and most of the equipment is in full sun, so go early in the day. For more information, click here. FREE!

29. Great Falls Park (McLean, VA) - I previously posted about the MD side of the falls (click here), but the VA side is also quite beautiful. Lots of easily-accessible viewing areas, concession stands, picnic tables, room to run, and a kid-friendly visitors' center. For more information, click here.

30. Riverbend Park (Great Falls, VA) - Previously posted here. This free park, which borders the Potomac, is a great spot for fishing, picnics, and playing by the water. Lots of wonderful trails, but they're somewhat sandy, so not the best with strollers. FREE!

31. Hidden Pond Park & Nature Center (Springfield, VA) - Previously posted here. Take a walk around the pond. Borrow nets and fish for awhile. Play in the playground. Stop in the nature center. The perfect place for both older kids and toddlers, very stroller-friendly. FREE!

32. Burke Lake Park (Fairfax Staion, VA) - This place has it all - a carousel, a "miniature" train (suitable for adult riders), a playground, frisbee golf, miniature golf, a HUGE lake where you can fish or boat, and an ice cream parlor. For more info, click here.

33. Meadowlark Gardens (Vienna, VA) - Previously posted here. A beautiful gazebo overlooks the lake and a wonderful children's garden includes a life-size tea set and sandbox. Stroller-friendly trails and sculptures surround the property. Walk through a forest. Check out the geese. Feed the fish. Smell the flowers. Gorgeous. Though be warned - the property resides on a large hill with the visitors center at top, so the walk back to the car can be a haul for small children. For more information, click here.

34. Frying Pan Farm & Park (Herndon, VA) - Previously posted here. This working farm recreates a local farm from the 1920s to the 1950s. Lots of animals - pigs, horses, cows, goats, peacocks, chickens, etc - make it a great place for kids. Plus, the mini-tractors (great for photo opps) and the two playgrounds make for a wonderful day or afternoon. A trail around the park includes a short walk in the woods. Wagon rides and a country-store are on site (be careful in the store, as your kids are sure to want the toys they sell). FREE!

35. Reston Zoo (Reston, VA) - A 30 acre-wide family-friendly zoo that is home to a variety of exotic animals. Feed the animals in the petting barn. Take a ride on the zoofari wagon. Watch all the animals play. I find this whole zoo sort of an odd mish-mash of animals and stuff (I especially hate the mall-type rides that are scattered throughout the property, bring quarters), but plenty of people love it. Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children over 2 (children under 2 are free). Pony rides, animal feed, and lamb bottles cost extra. For more information click here.

36. Manassas National Battlefield Park (Manassas, VA) - Beautiful trails, plus a history lesson or two. A great place to take the kids to run and run and run (and explore), though wear long pants as ticks are abundant. We managed to take a stroller on the trails, but the ride was bumpy. On weekends the park often stages battle reenactments and demonstrations. For more information, click here. FREE!

37. Wolf Trap Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods (Vienna, VA) - Family shows at 10 am and 11:15 Tuesday through Saturday in a beautiful forest setting. Tickets are only $8 for both shows. Click here for more information.

38. Mason Neck State Park(Lorton, VA) - Beautiful lake views. A playground. Several trails (short and long), including a short trial to a small "beach" (just don't go in the water). For more information, click here.

39. Great Country Farms (Bluemont, VA) - Previously posted here. Of everywhere on this list I think Great Country Farms is my favorite place. The farm always has something available for you-pick (from potatoes to strawberries to blackberries, check the website for information) and the grounds are full of wonderful kid-friendly activities - a HUGE bouncing pillow (sort of like a moon-bounce but better), slides, a petting zoo, rope swings, tire mountains, a corn crib, mini-tractors, sandboxes, a giant outdoor chess set, etc. So much fun. So much!!

40. Barrel Oak Winery (Delaplane, VA) - We've never been here, but Wine Enthusiast Magazine just named this the top family-friendly winery in the world (yay!!) beating out wineries in CA and France. According to the article, "Little ones are greeted with juice boxes, and fun photographs of dogs adorn the tasting room walls. Parents can sip the 2010 Bowhaus White, a gold medal winner of the 2010 Indy International Wine Competition, on one of their picnic tables as kids roam the hilly landscape." Sounds too good to be true. Click here to read the Washington Post article. And click here to go to the winery's website.

MD SUBURBS

41. Brookside Gardens (Wheaton, MD) - This place is huge, I don't think we've ever managed to see the whole thing in one day. Lots of gazebos and ponds and room to run. And a wonderful children's garden with a treehouse. In the summer the garden usually hosts an indoor butterfly exhibit (additional cost) which is quite spectacular (P is scared of butterflies, so we can never stay long). For more information, click here. FREE!

42. Fort Washington National Park (Fort Washington, MD) - This is one of the area's best hidden treasures. From the grounds one can take in long sweeping views of the Potomac, plus it's nice for kids to learn a history lesson or two. A playground is on property. Everything is more or less stroller friendly but plan on lots of walking. Also a wonderful place to fly a kite on a windy day. For more information, click here. The park charges a $5 fee. Makes a nice combined trip with National Harbor for lunch.

43. Clark Eliok's Farm (Ellicott City, MD) -Previously posted here. Clark Eliok's exists as a wonderland for children, part Disney-world, part miniature-golf-type tackiness, it's truly a sight to behold.

44. Oxon Hill Farm (Oxon Hill, MD) - Previously posted here. A great working farm, full of various farm animals. Lots of places to run. A barn full of old farm equipment that kids can sit and play on. The farm hosts several daily activities, but they're often canceled, so call ahead. The property is a very short drive from National Harbor, which has many good lunch places. FREE!

45. Patuxent Research Area (Laurel, MD) - Previously posted here. Gorgeous trails, fields of waterflowers, lovely lakes, and a HUGE nature center. FREE!

46. Cabin John Regional Park (Rockville, MD) - Previously posted here. If you ask me Cabin John Park has the best playground in the metropolitan area. Tons of unique equipment, clustered into separate little "stations" (for lack of a better word) - with slides of ALL different sizes. Plus, the whole thing is shaded, making it a perfect destination even on hot, sunny days. An onsite miniature train (adults can ride too) for an extra fee completes the trip. And don't forget to throw your trash in the talking pig trash can. Click here for additional information. FREE!

47. The Maryland Side of Great Falls (Potomac, MD) - Previously posted here. A walking path next to the C&O canal leads to a boardwalk over smaller falls until you arrive at the Great Falls viewing platform. The walk is stroller friendly (though some of the trail is dirt, so be careful after rain). In the summer, for an extra fee the National Park service offers mule-drawn boat rides down the canal (be warned, the boat moves VERY slowly). A visitors center and concession stand are on site.

48. Watkins Regional Park (Upper Marlboro, MD) - We've never visited, but this place sounds awesome - trains, carousels, a small farm, pony rides, a nature center, and a large playground. Click here for more information (info via KidFriendly DC).

49. Glen Echo Carousel & Discovery Creek Children's Museum (Glen Echo, MD)- The carousel at Glen Echo is truly a sight to behold, so so beautiful. The Puppet Co Theatre and Adventure Theater reside in the park and both are great places to see shows with your children. The park also has a small playground (SMALL!) and concessions on weekends. Further, on weekends, Discovery Creek Living Classrooms hosts drop-in programs on Saturdays and Sundays from 10-3. Admission is $5 for nonmembers.

50. Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake (Annapolis, MD) - Previously posted here. Even my pirate-weary girls loved this boat ride - search for "hidden treasure", use your water cannon to knock "Pirate Pete" out of his boat, listen to various stories of pirate lore. Call ahead for reservations at least a month in advance, it's a busy boat.

51. The National Colonial Farm (Accokeek, MD) - We've never been here, but I really want to go. The farm is a living history museum that depicts life for an ordinary tobacco planting family in the 1770s. On weekends visitors may come across people spinning, dyeing, woodworking and playing colonial games. For more information, click here. FREE!

52. Germantown Splash Playground and Miniature Golf (Boyds, MD) - We've never been here but a reader asked me to include it on the list, so it must be pretty fun. The splashpark sounds amazing, according to the website it includes "a one-of-a-kind 280-jet water maze, waterfall with a cave, water bucket drops, and spraying animals." Click here for more information.

53. Locust Grove Nature Center (Bethesda, MD) - We've never been here but Not-So-SAHM has a great review of it (click here to read) - apparently there's a lovely walk and a great stream for kids to explore. For more information, click here. FREE!

54. Dinosaur Park (Laurel, MD) - We've never been here, but I hope to go soon (it looks amazing). According to the website "[d]inosaur Park presents visitors a unique opportunity to experience the prehistoric past. The park features a small garden/entry area with interpretive signage about the Muirkirk Deposit, a unique geological formation with 110 million year old fossils, some of which are the remains of dinosaurs. The park also includes an intact portion of the Muirkirk Deposit surrounded by a fence. Access to the Muirkirk deposit is only allowed on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 12 noon to 4 pm, during this time kids can HELP ASSIST PALEONTOLOGISTS SEARCHING FOR FOSSILS (how cool is that?). School programs and group tours are offered weekdays by appointment. Click here for more info. FREE!

55. Bladensburg Waterfront Park (Bladensburg, MD) - Has anyone been here yet? We've never gone, but the description looks promising - "The park features a public boat ramp, fishing pier, picnic pavilion, playground, a B & O Railroad caboose, community boathouse (storage facility) and signage interpreting the rich history of the area. Canoe, kayak, and rowboat rentals are available on weekends from late May to the end of October. FREE PONTOON BOAT TOURS allow visitors to explore this surprisingly scenic river with the guidance of a naturalist. Canoeing and kayaking lessons are offered, as well as many other interesting nature and history programs." According to one yelp reviewer the park sounds like a good place to spend an afternoon. Also, this blog recommends coupling a trip to the park with a visit to Franklins' brewery (great pulled pork, a general store with toys, and a great beer selection). Click here for more information. FREE!

56. Cantler's Riverside Inn (Annapolis, MD) - We've never been here, but Not-SO-SAHM rates it as her number 1 place to take kids. According to her review, "OK, so the first up on our list is technically a restaurant. But it really is one of favorite outdoor destinations (located in Annapolis, MD, it's the least "local" spot on our list) -- sitting outside is a must. We've been coming here since we were babies and love to check out the boats docking, live crabs, and we've learned to wield a mean crab mallet. Butter, Old Bay, and a bucket of brew dogs. Something for everyone to love." Click here for more info.

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So what did I miss? Please let me know and I'll add it to the list!!


(The picture above was taken during a Georgetown boat ride.)

Places to Go - Riverbend Park (Great Falls, VA)

My husband likes to fish. A lot. Unfortunately, he also works a lot. So, a few weeks ago, we decided to combine family time and fishing time with an excursion to Riverbend Park. For the fisherperson, Riverbend park has a lovely pier next to the visitor's center and for the kids it also has picnic tables and sandy trails bordering the Potomac (unfortunately, the ground is sandy, so strollers don't move very well), plus a large field full of room to run and geese to chase. The girls love to walk the trails until they find a small hamlet where they can "play beach." Playing beach involves "pretending we're at a real beach but we don't want to go in the water. So let's look for sea shells instead." This can last four at least an hour. The park is rarely crowded and there's no entry fee, making it a nice alternative to either side of Great Falls, especially on warm weekends when the falls (both sides) tend to be rather crowded.
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If the rain is causing you to search for something inside to do this week - Public Workshop is hosting a special event at the Building Museum all week that looks awesome, click here for the info (scoop courtesy of at KidFriendlyDC).


Finally, after two years, F decided (on her own accord) to wear jeans, making me a very happy mom (not that I don't enjoy buying a zillion pairs of tights each winter, but pants can be nice too).

Places to Go - Longbranch Nature Center (Arlington, VA)

Ugh, winter. On the upside, Virginia rarely receives heavy snowfall. On the downside, this means looking at lots of ugly brown landscape during the colder months. So on days when the temperature rises above 40 degrees, we often head to Longbranch nature center. The trail next to the nature center follows a creek, with lots of rocks to climb on. Even in the dead of winter, the creek maintains a peaceful and relaxing type of beauty. Some days my kids just spend the afternoon playing by the creek, but when we're feeling up to it we'll walk about half a mile down the trail to a little playground and a big field, both of which are perfect for younger and older kids (T loves the red airplane pictured above) with lots of open sun to keep us warm on colder days. After the playground, we'll head back to the nature center and warm up in the playroom for awhile, which includes plastic dinosaurs, real tadpoles, and a playhouse.

When we visited Longbranch a few weeks ago, I brought along my favorite cards from Lynn Gordon's 52 Activities in Nature (52 Series). One of the cards asked the question "if you could be anything in nature what would you be and why?" F announced she'd choose to spend her days as a leaf on the ground "so I could make a crunching sound when people walk on me." P wanted to be "a tree so I could move my branches up and down." When F told her (in the bossy voice F always uses when acting out her big-sister role) that trees can't move their own branches P replied "then I'd be a magic tree." Nice job, P. (For other books suggestions involving kids and nature, check out this post).

In addition to a great nature center and trail, Longbranch also provides wonderful children's classes (topics range from dinosaurs to rainforests to birds and frogs). Click here to download The Snag for Wee Ones, where upcoming classes are listed.

What about everyone else? Any good outdoor recommendations for winter? I'd love to hear them!