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 - The National Arboretum's Fern Valley, Capitol Columns, & Youth Garden (Washington D.C.)

Fern Valley

A few years ago, the National Arboretum was our go-to place for outdoor adventures. We practically lived there. Then we took a break from it for awhile (as you're likely to do with any place you spend too much time in).

On Tuesday, we went back for the first time in a few months and, yet again, I was BLOWN AWAY by how beautiful the arb is. It's truly Washington D.C.'s hidden treasure as NOBODY EVER GOES THERE. Last Tuesday, we only saw one other person on the trail (security cars routinely drive through the property, so you never feel unsafe). If you are a couple without kids, I can think of few things more romantic than an autumn walk through one of the arb's gardens.

The arb is actually bigger than NYC's Central Park, making it almost impossible to see the whole thing in one day. Luckily, the arb is divided into sections (with separate parking areas), so you can see something new on each visit. On Tuesday, we visited Fern Valley and the Capitol Columns. In the last few years, Fern Valley has had a major upgrade and there are now beautiful wooden bridges overlooking the stream as well as a large beautifully landscaped meadow connecting Fern Valley to the Capitol Columns. The stroller ride through Fern Valley can be bumpy, but it is stroller accessible (trail maps indicate which pathways have stairs).

The fountains at the Columns are under repair, but when functioning they serve as a great place to take children, who love to put their feet in the water (for better or worse). Further, the Washington Youth Garden sits across the street from Fern Valley. The Youth Garden has tons of fun stuff, including a lovely butterfly section (no butterflies in late October) and a worm composter (so we talked about compost for awhile). Plus cotton plants. All in all a great day. And it's free. What a deal.


Fern Valley's Meadow - I love when they hold hands and brush each other's hair.


The Capitol Columns We spent almost an hour alternating between lying in the grass looking at the columns and running through the fields.


The Washington Youth Garden - Cotton & butterflies. I think seeing cotton grow confused the children, as F asked "so how does that become this (pointing to her dress)?" Sadly, I barely know the answer (something about spinning wheels?), so much for living of the grid.