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  • Restaurants

  • Jan06

    The Renwick Gallery Reopens

    Posted in: Art, Current Events, Museum, Restaurants, Spring Break, Top Attractions, Uncategorized, White House | No Comments

    Renwick Gallery Wonder

    The Renwick Gallery is back and better than ever with a special exhibit called Wonder that will be here through the Summer. The Gallery was closed for a two year renovation and although you won’t notice any real changes to the building, it has reopened in grand fashion with this new exhibit. Photography is encouraged and your children will be amazed. Don’t miss it.

    Renwick Gallery

    Renwick Gallery

    Missing some of your old favorites at the gallery? No need to worry, the Ghost Clock and other pieces in the permanent collection will be back on display this summer when the Wonder exhibit ends.

    Renwick Gallery Wonder

    The Renwick Gallery is located across the street from the White House, which makes it an easy stop to add to your touring agenda. There are also several kid friendly restaurants near by such as Grilled Cheese DC, which has grilled cheese and wine – just sayin’.

    • Where: Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
    • Hours: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm daily
    • Cost: The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and therefore is free.
    • Metro Stop: The two closest metro stops are Metro Center and Farragut West.
    • Wonder Exhibit: The upstairs exhibit will be on display through May 8, 2016 and the downstairs portion of the exhibit will close on July 10, 2016.

     

  • Aug21

    National Harbor Ferris Wheel

    Posted in: Off the beaten path, Restaurants, Travel Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments

    If you are planning to stay in the DC area for the long Labor Day weekend I encourage you to drive over to National Harbor and try the ferris wheel. It is simple fun, but still a thrill for the kids.

    National Harbor

    The Capital Wheel at National Harbor is 180 feet tall, has enclosed gondola type seats that are both heated and air conditioned and each compartment holds up to eight people. On a clear day you can see Old Town, National Airport, the Capitol and the Washington Monument. If you look down you’ll catch a glimpse of paddle boarders and boaters out on the Potomac River and the adorable swan and rubber duck paddle boats that you can also rent at National Harbor.

    Capital Wheel National Harbor

    We rode the ferris wheel during the day, but I can imagine it is lots of fun at night as the whole wheel lights up. Check the National Harbor calendar to plan your visit. There are free outdoor concerts on Friday nights and family friendly movies shown on Sunday nights through the end of September. At different times during the month there are also free family nights offered at the National Children’s Museum, just a two block walk from the ferris wheel.

    National Harbor is located in Maryland across the Potomac River from DC and is a quick 20 minute drive. In addition to the ferris wheel there are lots of restaurants and shops and a carousel. You will also find an outlet mall just up the road and Cirque De Soleil has a permanent home there.

    As you can see, you can easily make a day of the trip.

    Quick Facts

    • Hours: The ferris wheel is open from 10:00 am – 11:00 pm through the end of August. Beginning in September the ferris wheel will open an hour later at 11:00 am.
    • Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at National Harbor. The ticket booth is located on the board walk as you approach the ferris wheel. Adults are $15.00 and children 11 and under are $11.25.
    • Strollers are not permitted on the ferris wheel.

     

  • May20

    Food Courts in Washington, DC

    Posted in: Restaurants, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

    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 Food Court DC

    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 Building Food Court

    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 DC

    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 food court DC

    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.

  • Mar11

    Calling all Foodies

    Posted in: Restaurants | No Comments

    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!

  • Feb14

    An Evening in DC with No Kids

    Posted in: No Kids, Restaurants, Travel Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments

    In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, how about some tips on how to spend an evening in DC without the kids.

    candy hearts

    DC is really coming into its own as far as the food scene. This month’s Washingtonian lists the 100 Very Best Restaurants in DC and is a great resource if you are looking for advice on where to eat in the city. Although there are tons of fun areas to explore during a night on the town, our favorites are 14th Street, Georgetown and Downtown.

    Washingtonian

    14th Street

    14th Street is the new place to be. It’s a fun scene with great new restaurants and a hip young crowd. We like to go so we feel hip and young. Start your evening with a drink at the Cork Wine Bar and afterwards take a short walk to Pearl Dive for delicious oysters and fresh seafood or to Estadio for amazing small plates.

    Georgetown

    Georgetown is our place to go for old time favorites. Here you can mix with the Georgetown college kids out bar hopping and the international set dressed to the nines. If it’s a nice evening start your night at Sequoia where you can sit outside and enjoy a cocktail by the water. Be forewarned this is a popular spot and can be packed on a pretty Spring or Summer night. You may find some folks started their evening early, like at lunch.

    For the ultimate spot in people watching, dinner at Cafe Milano is a must. Wear your highest heels and your designer jeans, but also make sure you are comfortable enough to enjoy your meal because this is good Italian food. Another fun spot nearby is Neyla, a cozy mediterranean restaurant with small plates perfect for sharing. If you want to splurge, then Bourbon Steak in the Four Seasons Hotel is perfect for dinner for two.

    Downtown

    Downtown DC has an endless number of restaurants so it was difficult for me to choose just a few. Off The Record, the bar in the basement of the Hay Adams Hotel is a must for your first stop. Just across the park from the White House, this dark clubby bar is full of red leather and classic cocktails. For dinner, The Source is Wolfgang Puck’s DC home. Located in the Newseum Building this airy restaurant has a varied menu and a fun vibe. If it’s steak you crave, then across the street is the famous Capital Grille and you must try their amazing Stoli Doli – but just have one! If you want something a bit more laid back head to Rosa Mexicana in Penn Quarter for grown-up Mexican and guacamole made right at your table. And to end your night, the W Hotel rooftop bar is the perfect place for a drink with the best view of the city.

    I’ll take any excuse for a quiet evening for two! Have fun exploring!

    Happy Valentine’s Day from Mr. and Mrs. Kids Will Travel!

    Washington Monument Shadows

     

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