Kids Will Travel Guide - Discover why Washington D.C. is a great place for a family vacation.

May20

Food Courts in Washington, DC

Posted in: Restaurants, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Looking for a quick and easy spot for lunch while you are touring DC with your family? A food court has something for everyone and there are several in DC to keep in mind as you visit the sights in the city.

Union Station

Located near the U.S. Capitol, accessible by metro and home to many of the city’s tour bus companies, Union Station is a convenient place to stop for a quick bite to eat. Located on the lower level of Union Station, you will find typical fast food eateries such as Pizzeria Uno, Burger King and China Kitchen. One of my favorites, Chipotle, is also located there. If you would like to sit down with a waiter try Johnny Rockets for a hamburger.
- Location: Union Station Metro Stop on the red line or 50 Massachusetts Ave., NE
- Hours: Monday – Friday: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm, Saturday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm, Sunday: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm (Some hours may vary; not all food court vendors open at 6AM, visit individual listings for specific hours.)
Ronald Reagan International Trade Building

Another convenient place to stop for lunch is the lower level of the Ronald Reagan Building. Known as one of largest federal buildings in the city and home to many government agencies, the building is also home to a food court which is open to the public. (You will have to go through metal detectors to enter the building.) The Ronald Reagan Building is located downtown near the National Mall which makes it a convenient place to stop if you have spent the morning touring the monuments or visiting the Smithsonian Museums.
- Location: Federal Triangle Metro Stop on the orange/blue lines or 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm (breakfast served 7:00 am – 10:00 am, limited vendors), Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sunday: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (March 1 – August 31 only) (Closed: New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day)
National Place

The food court at National Place (or in the National Press Club Building) is also conveniently located downtown and near the White House and Metro Center. Here you will find Five Guys Hamburgers, which is always a hit. You will also find Quiznos Subs and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Click here for a complete list and coupons!
- Location: Metro Center on the orange/blue and red lines or 13th and F Street, NW
- Hours: Monday: 7:30 am – 8:00 pm, Tuesday: 7:30 am – 8:00 pm, Wednesday: 7:30 am – 8:00 pm, Thursday: 7:30 am – 8:00 pm, Friday: 7:15 am – 8:00 pm, Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Old Post Office Pavilion

The Old Post Office Pavilion – home to the Bell Tower, a must see – is also home to a food court in the buildings atrium. You will find everything from bagels to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and pizza here and it is just a block away from the National Mall. Click here for a complete list of restaurants.
- Location: Federal Triangle Metro Stop on the orange/blue line or 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- Hours: Summer Schedule (March 28 to Labor Day) Monday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm and Sunday, 12:00 pm – 6:30 pm Winter Schedule (Labor Day to March 27) Monday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and Sunday, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
A hungry kid never makes a good tourist, but these options allow you to make a quick stop to refuel.

Apr22

Itineraries *NEW*

Posted in: Travel Tips, Uncategorized, White House | No Comments

Based on feedback I have received on the website – which I love and appreciate by the way – I have added a new section to the website focused on itineraries. I am pleased to bring you the first itinerary today which focuses on a weekend in DC with kids. I will be adding more regularly so check back often!

Itineraries

Mar28

Washingtonian Guide

Posted in: Top Attractions, Travel Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments

If you are planning a trip to DC then the Washingtonian Welcome Guide is a must read. The magazine is full of tips on what to see, where to eat and where to shop. With hints from the locals throughout, even I learned some new things. Skip to page 14 for 8 itineraries, 3 of them focus specifically on spending the day in DC with kids.

If you have an ipad then be sure to download this version for easy reading.

Mar18

The Famous Cherry Blossoms

Posted in: Current Events, Festivals, Spring Activities, Top Attractions, Travel Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments

It is that time of year again, the cherry blossoms are about to bloom and the crowds are making their way to DC. This is a beautiful time of year to be in the city and a popular time. If you are planning a Spring trip be sure to pack your patience as there will be crowds, but there will also be lots to do!

Cherry Blossom Festival 2013

This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival will run for four weeks from March 20th – April 14th with the peak blossom viewing days anticipated on March 26th – 30th. The best place to see the Cherry Blossoms is at the Tidal Basin. This is the area near the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Jefferson Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. My favorite viewing spot is at the MLK Memorial looking over the tidal basin with the Jefferson Memorial in the background. It’s just beautiful.

My advice is to call your member of congress and request an early morning tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The BEP offers a great tour of the production plant where the paper money is printed. Start out early that morning and walk around the tidal basin to see the cherry blossoms before you take your tour of the BEP. You’ll beat the crowds and enjoy it so much more. Can’t get a ticket to tour the BEP through your member of congress? The BEP begins handing out daily tickets each morning at 8:00am.

So what else is going on during the four week Cherry Blossom Festival?

The National Kite Festival will be held on Saturday, March 30th on the National Mall at the base of the National Monument. Didn’t remember to pack a kite? No problem. The Smithsonian Museum gift shops all sell kites so pick one up as you are touring the museum.

The Corcoran Gallery of Art is offering a kite making class on Saturday, April 23rd in preparation for the National Kite Festival and there will also be stations on the National Mall where you can make a kite during the festival.

The Tidal Basin will offer Paddle Boat rides daily from 10am – 5pm. You can make a reservation in advance by calling 202-479-2426 and the rate is $12-$19 an hour.

The Cherry Blossom Parade will be held on April 13th at 10am. You can find a spot to watch along Constitution Avenue or call ahead for $20 grandstand seating. 1-800-745-3000

Click here to visit the official Cherry Blossom website and find a complete list of activities. You can also download a free app that gives you even more information about daily activities and offers coupons at area stores and restaurants. Another resource is the Washington Post Going Out Guide which has a list of Cherry Blossom activities in the area. The Going Out Guide is a great resource for current events in the city at any time of year.

And remember, as always, the best way to make your trip less stressful is to leave the car at home and take the metro. The metro is safe and easy and will take you to all of the major tourist sites. Click here for more information on taking the metro.

Have a great time exploring the gorgeous city and don’t forget your camera!

Mar11

Calling all Foodies

Posted in: Restaurants | No Comments

My family and I took an adventure to the Union Market in NE Washington, DC yesterday and it was delicious.

Union Market is a new destination in DC filled with different food and merchandise vendors. You’ll find everything from organic smoothies, to cupcakes, oysters, wine, olive oil and soap. Click here for a complete list of vendors.

We chose the sandwiches at Red Apron Butchery which were delicious, but it was a hard decision after sampling the soup at Soup Up. Before leaving we made one more stop to pick up some wine from Cordial and cheese from Righteous Cheese – which made for a very easy Sunday dinner by the fire!

It is the perfect place to stroll through and pick up lunch. There is seating there or pack it up and have a picnic on the National Mall. And the best part is everyone in the family can choose what they want from the various vendors so everyone’s happy!

FOR KIDS: On Wednesdays in March Boogie Babes is sponsoring various children’s musicians who will perform at 10:30 am. Tickets are only $5.00 so grab a cup of coffee and then pick up lunch. It’s a win for parents and kids.

Union Market is located at 1309 5th Street, NE. My advice is to take a cab. The area is a great example of the changing landscape in the city, but you still pass through a bit of a transitional area to get there.

Have fun exploring!