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

  • 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.

     

  • Jul15

    Uber Family in DC

    Posted in: Getting Around, Transportation | No Comments

    Getting around in DC can often be a challenge, especially when you aren’t used to the amount of traffic we have here in the city.  I always advise leaving your car at home or at the hotel and taking advantage of the other transportation options offered in the city. No car means less stress for parents and more fun for everyone.

    There are lots of different transportation options available in the city from tour buses, to bikes, taxi cabs and the very convenient metro. You can find more detailed information about all of these travel options by visiting our Getting Around page.

     

    Uber in DC

     

    As a family, you now have one more option – Uber Family. Not familiar with Uber? Uber is a car service which is popping up in more and more cities. You simply download the Uber app on your phone and a map will show you how many cars are available in your area and in mites how far away the car is. The cars are clean, the drivers are friendly and the best part is because you enter all of your credit card information into the app you can pay automatically – no cash needed and no tips accepted. Brilliant!

    Uber has now added a family option to their car service which means cars equipped with carseats can be requested for a $10 surcharge. Traveling with kids just got even easier. Thank you Uber!

    For more information on Uber and Uber family in DC click here.

     

  • May15

    The Washington Monument is Open

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

    The Washington Monument reopened this week and is ready for the summer tourist season!  The monument was closed in 2011 after it was damaged in a rare earthquake. For the last three years the monument has undergone an extensive restoration as some of the mortar and marble was shaken loose during the earthquake.

    Washington Monument

    The Washington Monument is a 555 foot tower on the National Mall and it offers some of the best views of Washington, DC. There is an elevator to reach the top which makes it a family friendly activity. Click here for more information on securing tickets and summer hours for the monument.

    To celebrate the reopening of the Washington Monument The Trust for the National Mall and Destination DC have partnered to launch a contest called A Monumental First. Go to www.Monumental4th.org for a chance to win a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. for the Fourth of July!

     

     

  • 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!

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