All my in-laws live in Washington DC now. They went from being spread out in NYC and Boston to congregating in one city. If I can survive the travel, I’ll test drive this fun sounding week of activities in our nation’s capitol.
Local DC Mamas, do these sound like fun to you? Let us know what’s missing!
This week of action came to us courtesy of Ciao Bambino, a global guide to family-friendly vacation properties (editorial and community reviews for awesome destinations worldwide with cute symbols to indicate baby- and toddler-friendliness).
Monday: It’s monumental
You can’t possibly be in Washington D.C. and not visit the national monuments. But instead of fooling yourself into thinking you’ll pop in and out of all the major landmarks along the National Mall without breaking a sweat, be forewarned that they’re spread so far apart that you’d be better off blending the monuments in as part of a day of fitness. Pack your baby up in a jogging stroller and go for a nice run/walk from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial.
Take a break in the center at the Washington Monument, where the flags will mesmerize your bambino and he can get in plenty of tummy/crawling/wandering-around time while you lick a strawberry shortcake bar from the corner ice cream man. (That’s about the only food you’ll find at the National Mall.)
[picture your baby here]
Tuesday: Get to know George
Georgetown’s vibe is a bit more college than mama, but that’s why you’ll like it. It’s always hoppin’ and there’s plenty of shoppin’ to do with a baby in tow. Clothing shops rule the roost, so come on a day when your body confidence is at a peak. Stop off for lunch at Clyde’s of Georgetown, where they make a mean crab cake and give out cute plastic cars to little ones. Save room for an ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s.
Wednesday: Become a Smithsonian whiz
Beat the heat on a hot summer’s day at a couple of the nation’s best museums. Go first to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum and introduce your baby to planes and helicopters of all sizes. There are lots of hands-on exhibits—with plenty of button-pressing and lever-pulling that he’ll get a kick out of even if he has no clue what the exhibit means. Walk across the mall or hop on the Circulator bus and go to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Nibble on a hot dog on its front steps, feed your toddler a pack of crackers from the hot dog stand, then go inside to check out all the gems and stones, making sure to stop off at the super-gigantic elephant for ooohs and ahhhhs.
Thursday: Grab shelter
Maybe today’s the day it rains and pours. Head straight to Union Station, a big, ornate, old building that still serves as a train and bus terminal but has tons of other ways to stay busy, like cafés and boutiques. Better than any suburban mall, this is a place to sip a cup of coffee and watch the commuters race to catch the next train. Ahhhh, is there anything more satisfying than seeing the “other folk” in a mad dash while you gaze down in total bliss at the new love of your life? Knock off the latte calories by fast-walking back and forth a few times.
Friday: Plan for your baby’s future
Stow your camera in your diaper bag and head to the White House. Sorry, but you won’t be allowed on the premises. These days you need a group of 15 and a prearranged (aka 6-month advance booking) tour to get anywhere near Dubya’s headquarters. But a photo of your infant in front of the gates will be a treasure for years to come. Cash in on D.C.’s top-notch dining by booking a table at an upscale, yet baby-friendly restaurant. Two faves to try out: Acadiana and DISH + Drinks.
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Extra big thanks to Kristi at CiaoBambino.com for this great set of activities for mom and little ones. We hope to feature a few more great cities soon! Let us know if they help you plan your next awesome vacation.
Don’t forget the National Zoo! It’s metro-accessible and lots of fun for moms and kids alike. It’s also walking distance to the National Cathedral, which is beautiful to see.
These suggestions are pretty good. For ice cream in Georgetown, skip Ben and Jerry’s and head for Thomas Sweet on Wisconsin street.
And beware: there really is just about nothing to eat on the national mall. Make sure to pack snacks
Hey, in addition to the Zoo, there is also a small aquarium right near the national mall off Pennsylvania Avenue. You don’t need more than an hour to see a small lower level aquarium right in the heart of the city. check it out: http://www.nationalaquarium.com/planyourvisit.htm
A great place to escape the summer heat or the rain while doing a walking tour.
~Heather
Bring comfy shoes for everyone, there’s a lot of walking involved, including for the two suggestions above (and both are uphill!).
What’s missing? Splashing in the super neat water features in the covered courtyard at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery (next to the Gallery Place Metro on the Red Line). And they sell Gifford’s ice cream. Yum!
My 2.5 year old would be really bored with Georgetown shopping, and it is kind of hard to get over there using public transportation. And the less you drive in DC, the better, because the roads make NO SENSE. They were designed that way on purpose! I digress. But do I love walking along the towpath of the C&O Canal, and you can access it in Gtown, and I think even take a little boat ride. If you’re driving, I think the prettiest spot along the canal is at Great Falls in Potomac, MD. http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/directions.htm
I think I might do the Mall and a Smithsonian stop on the same day, since they are both right there, or if you want to hit a lot of museums, plan to spend two whole days there. Museums are really crowded in the summer, and if you want to do something like visit the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives, try to get there early or prepare to wait in line for a while. My favorite parts of the Mall, though, are the sculpture gardens. I love the art tucked among the white marble buildings of bureaucracy.
Just south of the Jefferson Memorial is East Potomac Park, and there is a very cool statue there of a man emerging from the ground–fun for kiddos to climb around on. There is also a playground there and mini golf.
If you need to eat while you’re on the Mall, the National Museum of the Native American has a good food court. If you can head away from the Mall to eat, try going up 7th street past the Navy Memorial, you could go to one of my favorite restaurants, Jaleo, for tapas. Or take the yellow/green line one stop to Chinatown and there are a bevy of options. I also love Eastern Market, which is just past the Library of Congress and has a stop on the orange/blue line.
I think to visit the White House you need to request tickets from your congressional representative?
The Postal Museum is really fun–I know, but seriously, it is, and it is very near Union Station.
I love the zoo, but if it is a hot day (and DC in the summer could potentially redefine hot and humid for you), the animals will really be suffering. If you are in Northern Virginia and have younger kids, you might want to try the Reston Zoo, which has some petting-zoo features and lots of room for running around (no pandas, though
In NoVa, I also enjoy the Newseum, in Rosslyn. Very interactive and fun museum.
Glen Echo Park in Bethesda is a gem. There is a carousel, puppet theater and a children’s museum.
Okay, this is getting to be more than you can do in a week! Don’t even get me started on Baltimore … have fun!
I second the Zoo as a not-to-miss. Even in the heat, it’s great b/c there are lots of indoor spaces & misters outside to cool you off. It is hilly, though, so bring your sneakers. I’d skip Union Station. The inside is pretty, but otherwise it’s just a mall. Hit the Building Museum instead–just as beautiful inside but a great exhibits for the little builders.
Also second the reccomendation for Thomas Sweet in Gtown over B & Jerry’s. Two shops in Gtown well worth stopping into — Dawn Price Baby (expensive but worth the splurge) on M Street and Proper Topper across from Thomas Sweet.
One more recc: On the Mall, eat at the cafeteria in the American Indian Museum–a bit random-sounding, I know, but the food is fantastic.
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