Discover why Washington D.C. is a great place for a family vacation.
  • Spring Activities

  • Mar04

    Cherry Blossom 2016 Peak Dates

    Posted in: Current Events, Festivals, Spring Activities, Spring Break, Top Attractions | No Comments

    Washington DC Tidal Basin Jefferson Memorial

     *** UPDATE: Because of the warm weather we have been having in Washington, DC the peak cherry blossom dates have been moved up to March 18-23.***

    The dates are in! This year the peak week for the Washington, DC Cherry Blossoms will be March 31st through April 3rd March 18th – 23rd. It is predicted that 70% of the blossoms will be open during this week. This also means the National Mall will be 70% busier than usual. If you plan to make a trip to the Tidal Basin to view the beautiful blossoms we recommend going early in the morning before the bulk of the tourists arrive.

    Visit the National Park Service website for more information about DC’s famous cherry trees and visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival website for a list of the activities taking place during this year’s festival – which will run from March 20th through April 17th.

  • Apr10

    Cherry Blossoms 2014

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

    Spring is finally here and after our never ending bitterly cold winer I am thrilled. In DC Spring means baseball!

    Washington Nationals Mascot

    Oh, I mean Cherry Blossoms! And with the cherry blossoms come the crowds. Pack your patience if you plan to head downtown this weekend for the annual Cherry Blossom parade as you won’t be alone!

    Cherry Blossoms DC

    Here are three websites to visit if you are looking for information about current events in the city and around the DC area.

    National Cherry Blossom Festival this website is your go to resource for all things cherry blossom. Be sure to check out the specific Blossom Kids tab.

    Red Tricycle  is a great resource and one I use regularly to stay in the know. You can sign up to receive an email each week with a list of weekend activities. This is a great resource all year long, not just during the cherry blossom season.

    KidFriendly DC is another great year round resource with lots of ideas for activities in DC and especially around the DC area. Check it out today for their tips on visiting the Cherry Blossoms. You can also sign up for a twice weekly email that gives you a list of week day and weekend activities.

    My Cherry Blossom tip? Leave your car at home and go early in the morning. Have fun out there!

     

  • Jan14

    Spring Break in Washington

    Posted in: Festivals, Sports, Spring Activities, Spring Break, Top Attractions, Tours, Travel Tips, White House | No Comments

    It may be cold and dreary outside, but Spring Break is only a few short months away. If you’re planning a trip to Washington, DC with your family we have lots of tips and suggestions. Check back in with us often as you plan your trip or sign up for our updates and we’ll keep you posted on all the best activities for you and your family.

    Washington DC Tidal Basin Jefferson Memorial

    Cherry Blossom Festival

    The dates for the 2014 Cherry Blossom Festival have been announced, March 20 – April 13. The peak of the cherry blossoms (and the crowds) is too early to predict at the moment, but we’ll let you know when the dates have been announced. Check the festival website for more information as family friendly activities will be announced over the next several weeks.

     

    Gooo Nats!

    The Washington Nationals, Washington’s baseball team, will be back in action in March. Click here for their March and April schedule. The 2014 Kids Club activities have not been announced yet, but we’ll keep you updated with a list of games with special activities for the kids, like running the bases after the game.

    Best View in Town

    The Washington Monument is scheduled to reopen in the Spring of 2014. We are all keeping our fingers crossed it will be repaired and open to the public in time for Spring Break. We’ll let you know as soon as a date is announced and you can also click here for the Washington Monument website where you can find the latest news.

    Pandas National Zoo

    Panda Mania

    The National Zoo’s newest panda, Bao Bao, will make her public debut in January so be sure to put the zoo at the top of your list to see this little bundle in person. Click here for more information on daily events at the zoo and a list of upcoming special events, like a zoo camp out!

    White House Easter Egg Roll

    Easter at the White House

    The White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on Monday, April 21, 2014. Tickets are free and may be obtained through an online lottery system. The date the lottery will begin has not been announced yet, but we’ll keep you up to date on any announcements as they are made. Click here for more information.

    U.S. Capitol

    Skip the Lines

    The White House is also open again for tours. As you can imagine this is a popular attraction so get your request in early. Your member of congress can help you with tickets requests for the White House and other popular attractions around town. Contact them early for help with your tickets and avoid the lines. Click here for more information.

    Spring is a fun and exciting time to be in DC whether you are visiting or you live here. Over the next several months we’ll be passing along lots of great information highlighting activities to take advantage of with your kids. If you have a question or if there is something you would like to know more about, please leave us a comment. We love feedback!

  • 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!

    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!

  • Feb20

    White House Easter Egg Roll

    Posted in: Current Events, Spring Activities, Top Attractions, Uncategorized, White House | No Comments

    White House Easter Egg Roll

    The White House Easter Egg Roll is a Washington tradition dating back to 1878. Of course over the years the event has gotten bigger and this year the President and his family will welcome over 35,000 guests to the White House grounds. So how can you get a ticket?

    This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on Monday, April 1, 2013 and the lottery for tickets opens this Thursday, February 21st at 10:00 am EST. Visit www.recreation.gov to enter the lottery and try your luck at winning free tickets.

    There will be live music, book readings, cooking demonstrations and of course the rolling of the Easter eggs. The events are geared towards children under 13, but honestly who wouldn’t love to spend a morning on the lawn of the White House.

    Be sure to let us know if you score tickets!

     

Return to the Homepage