Places to Go - The National Arboretum's Nature Playspace in the Washington Youth Garden (Washington DC)

A few weekends ago, when temperatures climbed into the high 60s/low 70s, we headed over to the National Arboretum for some family bonding time in the great outdoors (not sure if an arboretum really classifies as the "great outdoors" but I'm going with it). Usually, even on weekends, the Arb is not very crowded, but this time people were everywhere. Luckily, the Arb can really handle crowds (it contains over 400 acres). Plus, I enjoyed watching bike riding families circle the road, while picnicking couples took over the meadows and open spaces.

Anyways, after we strolled through Fern Valley, we decided to cross the street and check out the Washington Youth Garden, which we haven't visited in years (click here to see pictures from our last visit). The garden now houses a Nature Playspace, which is nothing short of "AWESOME!!". The playspace includes: two nature "pianos", a stage (T had a blast), "memory blocks", a dirt area (all three kids avoided this), and a wonderful walking course - full of wiggly planks and tree stumps (even I couldn't stop playing on it). Plus, the area also has tons of spaces for digging and exploring. We ended up staying over an hour. Such a great little "hidden treasure" for kids of all ages, I highly suggest a visit. Click here for more information.



Even I loved walking the planks. Round and round.



T loved carrying these around. He incorporated them in odd ways into his "performance".

Places to Go - The National Arboretum - Fern Valley (Washington DC)

About a month ago, Not-So-SAHM posted on taking her kids to National Arboretum's Fern Valley and I immediately NEEDED to go there. We've been to Fern Valley before (click here for our previous post) but not for quite some time and spring seemed the perfect time to return. So when F had a day off school, we headed into the city.

Outdoor adventures with my kids are always unpredictable, some days they run and explore, taking in every detail; whereas other days everything beautiful seems to bore them. Luckily, this day all of us were on the same page. The kids immediately picked up sticks and headed for the small creek - "fishing" in its waters and searching for treasures (T can spend hours drawing in mud with a stick). From there on out they ran and ran, stopping every once in awhile to play ring around the rosie with T. Now that F can read all the signs, she couldn't wait to inform us about the different plants. There weren't even any fights or squabbles. Like magic.

Then F had to go to the bathroom . . . so from here we headed to the Bonsai Gardens (more on the Bonsai tomorrow).

If you're interested, the National Arboretum is free and open from 8 am to 5pm every day of the week. The total acreage is large (bigger than NYC's Central Park) so I suggest budgeting a few days if you want to see the whole thing. Some parts are more stroller friendly than others. Fern Valley's dirt paths are bumpy and there are stairs, but alternate paths around the stairs are available. Click here for more information.



The knobby knees are pretty fascinating. They almost make me want to start looking for warlocks and fairies, as if everything is not quite real.



The kids are addicted to the song Dynamite, thus we keep throwing our hands in the air.

Places to Go - A Picnic at the National Arboretum (Washington D.C.)

On Columbus Day I thought it would be fun to picnic at the National Arboretum. A large field meanders through the dogwood section, with a fountain at the bottom, which seemed like the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, the arb is quite large and I became a little turned around, so we ended up in the magnolia field, which would have been fine had I not insisted that we keep trying to find the fountain. Nothing like dragging kids through large dewey fields insisting that "surely there's a fountain around her somewhere." Oh well, we ended up next to huge evergreen trees, where the kids ran and hid and explored while I vegged on the blanket. F called it our "secret place" and for awhile I think we all felt a sense of magic in this little corner of the world. Then more picnickers arrived, which spoiled our sense of seclusion. Then F had to go to the bathroom, thus ending our little picnic. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring some of the Arb's other nooks and crannies, it always amazes me how much there is to see there.

If you're interested, the Arb has many stroller-friendly places that are perfect for picnics, such as the koi pond and the Capitol Columns. And if you can venture without a stroller, many of the meadows are beautiful and relatively people-free (security frequently patrols, so safety (hopefully) isn't an issue). Click here for more of my past posts on the National Arb.

Places to Go - The National Arboretum (Koi Pond, Azalea Gardens, & Bonsai))

Last week we met some friends at the National Arb to check out the azalea gardens. Unfortunately, we arrived a few weeks early, as most of the blossoms were just beginning to form. But luckily the kids had a fantastic time running through the gardens, checking out the koi, and playing in the meadow (more pictures of this on Friday). They especially loved the small pond that's surrounded by azaleas, and I love the benches and great views next to the pond.

As you may have heard, due to funding shortages the arb has considered limiting the size of its extensive azalea collection. For now, the arb has put the decision on hold, but it is requesting donations and commentary - click here to share your views and here to share your money. If you've never been, the azalea gardens are truly breathtaking, especially at peak bloom times (though NOT stroller-friendly, despite the fact that many of the other gardens do accommodate strollers). We love the arb and go there often (click here for a past post on the Capitol Columns and Fern Valley).

HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE!


(The girls have started choosing their own outfits. The results have been, well, interesting. I'm trying to hang back and not say anything. "Trying" is the key word in that sentence).