Discover why Washington D.C. is  a great place for a family vacation.
  • Archives
  • Mar28

    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.

    Washingtonian Welcome Guide 2013

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

  • Mar18

    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!

    Washington DC Tidal Basin Jefferson Memorial

     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.

    National Kite Festival

    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.

    Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

    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

    Union Market DC

    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.

    Red Apron Butchery DC

    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!

    Union Market DC cheese

    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!

  • Mar06

    Spread the word and don’t keep all of these great DC tips to yourself.

    Like Kids Will Travel on Facebook  and you could win a $100 gift certificate to the fabulous Sassanova.

    April 30th is the deadline so click here to like us now and don’t forget to tell all of your friends.

    Sassanova

    Planning a trip to DC for Spring Break? Make sure Sassanova is at the top of your to do list and visit them in Georgetown, Bethesda or Baltimore. Can’t wait? Visit them online at www.sassanova.com.

  • Mar01

    Looking for a fun family weekend activity? This Saturday the Corcoran Gallery of Art is hosting a free family day from 10am – 3pm. There will be face painting, dance workshops, gallery tours, a raffle and lots more. Visit the Corcoran website for more information.

    Corcoran Gallery of Art