Places to Go - Out and About Summer 2013, Part II - Local Wanderings

1. Claude Moore Colonial Farm's Summer Market Fair (McLean, VA) - We barely ever miss one of these. The shade keeps the heat from overwhelming.



2. US Botanical Gardens (Washington DC) - Did anyone really doubt that we'd be outside waiting for the gardens to open so we could see (and smell) the world's stinkiest flower at full bloom? Unfortunately, we still missed the stench (I guess the odor doesn't last very long).



Luckily, even without the odor of a dead elephant to brighten our visit, the botanical gardens are always a good time.



3. Mt. Vernon (Alexandria, VA) - T and I spent a ton of time here while the girls attended farm camp. Coco attempted to befriend the sheep (Mt. Vernon allows leashed dogs to visit, which is pretty awesome).



During the summer, Mt. Vernon offers 45 minutes sightseeing cruises from its dock for only $10 ($6 for children 6-12). Click here for times and additional information.



4. Adventure Park, USA (New Market, MD) - Sort of like Chuck E. Cheese meets the County Fair. The kids loved it. And unlimited laser tag is pretty awesome, even when only 4 people play. Click here for more information. (We went because of a Living Social deal, hopefully they'll offer more of these).



P missed the roller coaster cut-off by less than an inch. They're picky like that.



5. George Washington's Gristmill and Distillery(Alexandria, VA) - The whiskey tour bored T, but the water wheel enchanted him. "When can we go back, mom? When? Can they turn it on for longer next time?" The tour is free with paid admission to Mt. Vernon. Click here for more info.

Places to Go - Wassail at Claude Moore Colonial Farm (McLean, VA)

The tradition of wassailing goes back to ancient times, in which farmers gathered to encourage fruit trees to produce in the following year. In order to wassail, one must serenade, toast, and beat the trees in order to scare off evil spirits. As T happens to be a MAGNIFICENT tree beater (he truly is an "old soul") our whole family couldn't wait to attend Claude Moore Colonial Farm's annual wassail celebration. We've frequently visited the farm for their tri-annual market fair celebrations (click here for my review), but this was our first time wassailing our way through 1771. Though the wassail festivities were much smaller in scope than those of the market fairs, we had a really nice time singing, storytelling, drinking hot cider, eating cookies, and playing hoop & stick (some games never get old). Unfortunately, the orchard trees are still too young to beat (sadness!), so they let us beat the fencing instead (which really isn't the same, fence beating being so beneath the scope of T's abilities).

Honestly it felt wonderful to celebrate the season OUTSIDE, cold air and all. Plus, right now a Christmas without plastic of any kind seems sort of amazing. Can you imagine? No big presents, just drinks with neighbors and family accompanied by running through the fields all afternoon? What a beautiful concept.



Sometimes the "storyteller" picks your daughter up and pretends she's a donkey. Part of you feels insulted that your daughter has been called a donkey, then you realize that she's having the time of her life and you get over yourself.



The kids' cousin now has his own ipad touch and he takes pictures of EVERYTHING. i (of course) find this adorable. especially when he asks the other kids to pose. he probably took better pictures then me. though of course he didn't have the difficult task of informing a toddler that tree beating was off for the year. He also didn't have the difficult task of keeping the toddler out of the bonfire.

Places to Go - Claude Moore Colonial Farm Market Fair (McLean, VA)

This weekend Claude Moore Colonial Farm hosts its autumn market fair and if you haven't had a chance to visit yet, I highly suggest you check it out. At the farm, the year stays perpetually 1771 and you are but a small family farmer trying to make your way in the world. Upon arrival at the farm, you follow a dirt path (it's somewhat stroller accessible, but there are a lot of bumps in the dirt path, so if you have young children a carrier may be best) through tobacco fields and past lingering chickens until you arrive at the farmhouse. For anyone who has ever thought that their house is too small (and i feel this daily) a visit to the farmhouse is quite the reality check. The whole house is about the size of a small modern-day bedroom - with a kitchen downstairs and a sleeping area lofted above.

After you visit the farm, the wonders of modern day living will become abundantly clear. For example, we last toured the farm in the summer (hence the sundresses in the pictures) and witnessed one of the farm's female volunteers cooking inside over an open flame in 90 degree heat - how unfun is that? (By the way, if you're a photographer, the house is a wonderful place to take pictures, tons of filtered natural light through the windows makes everything glow). The farm also has cows and pigs and a few crops beside tobacco. For more information - http://www.1771.org/. Self-guided tours are offered throughout the year.

The best time to visit, however, is on one of the three occasions in May, July, and October when the farm hosts a market fair. A market fair is like a small, toned-down renaissance festival (yes, there are people in costume, but they don't lord their roles over you). The fair has a variety of activities for children and adults - fencing demos, puppet shows, a tightrope walker (who was amazing I must add), CHEAP beer, wonderful food (grilled over an open fire), a craft section for children, various games (the three-legged race with their cousins was one of the highlights of the girls' summer), etc. Plus the fair is small enough that you don't have to be super-vigilant about watching your children (i.e. you can RELAX a little and have fun). I can't say enough good things. My husband literally looks forward to these for weeks ahead of time and has started to invite all his friends to come with us. Admission if $5 for adults and $2.50 for children, but if use the attached link, there's a 50% off coupon - http://www.1771.org/market_fair.htm. It's really a great deal.