Category: Washington DC

Categories
Washington DC

Gravelly Point & the Jefferson Memorial

When we visited: August 2013

Ages of children: 7, 5, 3

Don’t forget to bring: Picnic blanket & dinner, bikes, bike lock, toy planes

Just north of the Reagan International Airport in Washington DC, there is a small park called Gravelly Point. The park sits right at the end of the runway, giving you a spectacular view of the planes as they take off and land. Every few minutes, you’ll get an up close and personal experience with an airplane. You will either see the planes taking off, or the planes landing, depending on how the airport is routing air traffic. (I suppose this depends on wind patterns.)

We heard about the park, and decided it sounded like a great outing with our kids. We gathered a picnic dinner and threw the bikes in the back of the newly acquired truck, and headed out. The park did not disappoint, and we had a great show as we ate our dinner. Just know the because they planes are so close, they are also very LOUD.

We received a tip from local friends that the bike ride from Gravelly Point to the Jefferson Memorial is a short one, great for kids, and is one of the easiest ways to get to the memorial. The Jefferson Memorial is situated on the other side of the tidal basin from the bulk of the monuments, and there’s no parking at or near it making it the least accessible monument  at the National Mall. After dinner  we set off on our bikes, riding north on the Mt. Vernon Bike Trail. The bike trail continues to Arlington National Cemetery, but you want to take the fork that leads over the George Mason Memorial Bridge.

This ride at 3 miles (round trip) , was about the right length for Andrew (5) on a bike,  a little easy for Rachel (7), and Cara (3) rode in the CoPilot seat with Jess. With the exception of one street crossing, the entire path is separated from car traffic and safe for kids. It is an active bike path, so have a talk with your kids about proper path etiquette (stay to the right, pass only when safe, announce passing, and ride in a straight line).

At the memorial, we found a rack to lock our bikes with a long bike lock I carried in a backpack, and then headed into the memorial.

As with the Lincoln Memorial, the light inside the Jefferson Memorial is beautiful. After you have walked around a bit, don’t forget to take the elevator or stairs below to view the exhibits and visit the gift shop. There are also ranger talks every hour and these guys really know their stuff. Its always a pleasure to hear what they have to say.

We enjoyed our stay so much we left a little late, and it was getting dark on our ride back to the truck.

To give you an idea of what watching the planes is like, check out this video shot at a different day, but same location:

Categories
National Parks Virginia Washington DC

Jones Point National Park – Alexandria, VA

When we visited: Oct 2013

Ages of Children When We visited: 8,6,3

In all of the greater Washington DC area, Jones Point National Park is my favorite place. The architectural beauty of the bridge combined with the incredible use of traditionally unclaimed space sings to my soul. We discovered this off the beaten path little National Park during our Mt. Vernon Bike Date. Sitting just outside Old Town Alexandria, the Mt. Vernon Bike Trail runs right through it. I still recall riding along, turning a corner and practically stopping dead in my tracks because of the view. It lies underneath the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, a bridge we had crossed a few times as it is a common path for reaching National Harbor (among other places), and I’m sure most people don’t notice the little patch of green as they hurry about their busy lives.

This area along the Potomac River was a critical piece of history as one of Alexandria’s main shipbuilding, manufacturing, and transportation locations. There is a gravel interpretive trail that explains the different areas, the ships that were built, and why the industry was so critical to the nation. Located along the river is also the Jones Point Lighthouse, the last remaining riverine lighthouse in Virginia. You can’t go inside, but around the grounds are explanations of the original boundaries of Washington DC, and even one of the original cornerstone markers. When Washington DC was created, surveyors mapped out an area that was 10 miles square placing cornerstones first and then adding additional ones every mile along the border. Many can still be seen today, although most are in people’s yards or other awkward to get to places. This particular cornerstone (also the first one placed) is underground but you can view it through an observation window.

My favorite part about this little park, however, is how peaceful it is. Tucked underneath a bridge, but without the sounds of traffic, the Potomac river laps at the fishing pier and children laugh as they play on one of the 2 play structures. And if you go in the evening, the light streaming through the trees is divine. I highly recommend taking a picnic and spending an evening here with your family.

 

Categories
Tips & Tricks Washington DC

5 Tips for Visiting the US Capitol with Young Kids

A trip to the US Capitol while visiting Washington DC is definitely a must do. The building is both architecturally & historically significant and with just a little advance planning you can make the experience a good one for both you and your kids. We put together 5 tips for visiting the Capitol with young children.

When we visited: Oct 2013

Ages of Children: 8,6,3

Ceiling of the US Capitol Rotunda

1. Schedule with your Senator

This is by far my number one suggestion. Of course, it also means that you have to plan ahead as most offices suggest that you submit your request at least a few weeks in advance. Mike Lee, who is one of Utah’s Senators, has an easy to navigate website with “Visit DC” right on the homepage. You fill out the online form with your available dates and which tours you’d like and one of the interns will get back with you via email or phone to set you up. In addition to the Capitol, you can also request tours for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court and the National Archives. Just note that you’ll meet your guide at the Senate Office Building, NOT at the Capitol itself.

The advantage of doing this is that your tour group is simply… you. Your guide can tailor the experience to suit your family’s needs. Ours skipped the video presentation (not enough time and we’d have to wait 20 minutes in the Visitor Center), and condensed a lot of the material so the adults still received interesting information and the kid’s attention spans weren’t maxed out.

2. Where to Park

Always a tricky question. We got lucky (although we got lucky a lot parking in downtown DC) and found spots for both us AND our friends on Constitution Avenue near 3rd St. We paid with the Park Mobile app and walked approximately .5 mile to our Senator’s office. All of the parking closer to the Senate Office Buildings and the Capitol building are permit only so plan on a bit of a walk no matter what and bring a stroller if your kids tire easily.

Alternatively, the Senate Office Buildings are only a .5 mile walk from the Capitol South metro station.

3. Ride the underground Train

Another perk of scheduling with your Senator is that you  walk over to the Capitol via the underground tunnels and there is a TRAIN. What kid doesn’t love a train ride? Granted it is super short, but all the kids loved it. Our guide informed us that when Congress is in session (and debating an important piece of legislation), many of the Senators go back and forth between their office and the Capitol all day. While a train ride may seem a bit on the lazy side, walking that .5 mile over 20 times a day would definitely take its toll.

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4. No Food or Drink Allowed

You can’t even take it in with you and just not eat it. If you have any food or water in your bags you’ll have to throw it out. Luckily, our Senator’s office informed us of this BEFORE we got to security. We stuffed all of our food and water into one backpack and left it with the interns at the office.

This is where parking close came in handy – once the tour was completed, dad ran to the truck and grabbed our cooler with lunch and we picnicked on the Capitol lawn.

5. Find your state’s statues

Each state was allowed to contribute 2 statues and all have done so (make your kids do the math to find the total number). Many are scattered throughout the Capitol and a fair number are located in Statuary Hall. Unfortunately, my kids weren’t as interested in a statue scavenger hunt as I hoped they’d be but they are still fun to find.

Utah has a statue of Filo T. Farnsworth (American inventor & pioneer) located in the Visitor’s Center, and also Brigham Young (Mormon prophet & pioneer who led the Saints to Utah) located in Statuary Hall.

Have you visited the United States Capitol? What was your favorite part?

Categories
Holidays & Bdays Maryland Washington DC

Halloween at National Harbor “Chillin with My Peeps”

The Event

I normally am obsessed with Halloween. Seriously. I love everything about it. Not the creepy part, but the fun, costume parade, trick-or-treat, decorate, dress up part as evidenced by the last 3 years of Halloween documented on my blog here, here, and here (Wow, check out how LITTLE my kids were in 2010).

This year has been totally different. I told the kids they could be whatever we could find costumes for in the attic (in a house that isn’t ours) or that we could easily make or borrow. I have 2 Halloween decorations on my front porch, and really, I just haven’t been excited. I think its the stress. Of being far away from home, our normal traditions, our family and friends. We are homeschooling and it hit me Monday that meant  any “class” Halloween party would be all me. Add to that Sam leaving tomorrow for a business conference for 4 days, and then the fact that we are leaving Virginia for good in less than 2 weeks. I’m just….overwhelmed. Unfortunately, Halloween was the first to feel my lack of motivation to do anything extraordinary.

Sounds depressing, right? But then somehow we managed to get out the door in the afternoon and follow through on our plans. It made all the difference. Way back in September we attended a few children’s events at National Harbor in Maryland. They were great little activities and the coordinator tipped me off about a Halloween event they were planning called “Chillin’ with my Peeps” co-sponsored by the National Harbor Carousel and the Peeps Store. It was awesome. We paid $3 per kid for unlimited carousel rides, received the ultimate collection of treats at the Peeps store and got to walk around in the perfectly temperate, October, East Coast evening trick-or-treating the other businesses located at National Harbor. Total win. As we were treating, we even decided that one of the restaurants smelled SO good that we absolutely had to go back for dinner. So we did.

I’ll be honest, we almost didn’t go. Its always getting out the door that is difficult, but once you do things tend to be magical and tonight was no exception. Our kids officially proclaimed this as the “best Halloween ever”.

The Costumes

Andrew got to choose between The Hulk and Batman. I secretly am glad Batman won especially after Andrew’s  previous year of being Spiderman. There’s just something classical about being a super hero. He got pretty excited about swinging his cape around for me too. Totally my inner photographer’s dream.

(Can I just say that when, and if, we finally settle down I want property with TREES? Lots of them. Lots of un-landscaped trees and bushes. This is seriously our side yard here in Virginia – probably 5 feet from the driveway. I love it. The light is beautiful, the trees are turning and I had to just walk outside to get the perfect backdrop. I’m hooked.)

After an activity with other girls from our church where they raced to wrap each other in toilet paper, Rachel decided she wanted to be a mummy. I didn’t argue, figuring it would be easy enough. She’s such a good sport. I started wrapping her up and I saw her eyes go wide as she quickly rethought her decision. Too late, kid. Too late. Of course, Mummies all wear purple tennis shoes. Didn’t you know that? 🙂

If you ever decide to do this – buy more than 3 yards of fabric. We went through it pretty quick and I felt we could have used at least double that! Super easy though – white long sleeved shirt, white leggings underneath and wrap away with torn fabric strips! We used safety pins tonight (as opposed to the church party last night where she came unraveled pretty quickly) and Rachel even told me they made her costume look MORE authentic. Only she didn’t use the word “authentic”. I’m not THAT good of a homeschooling mom.

I’m pretty sure Cara could be anything she wanted and she would still looking freaking adorable. I love this girl. Pumpkin costume was WAY to small (not my attic, remember?) but I found some glow-in-the-dark pumpkin pajamas at Target that we put underneath and it turned out fabulous! She was in heaven.

And that’s that. Total win on surviving a major holiday away from family and friends. Any guesses on where we will be next year?

Categories
Virginia Washington DC

Mt. Vernon Trail – A Bike Date

We are used to a weekly Thursday night date. It doesn’t matter what we end up doing, we could run errands, see a movie, go out to dinner, play a game of laser tag, anything. We just always went out on Thursday nights and tried not to let anything get in the way. I looked forward to it every week, because we got to reconnect and just talk without being interrupted by little ones. Since we left Utah, however, date nights have been far and in between. Babysitters are more expensive, we are busy, its an unfamiliar place, yadda, yadda. Truth is, I think we just got lazy.

We decided one week that it was definitely time for a date. A BIG one. Thankfully, we had met some friends in Virginia that live on our street and we LOVE to swap watching each other’s kids. Our children play great together, we both homeschool (so all the kids are home during the day), and we think a lot alike. Anyway, it was her turn to babysit, so we decided to cash in all our favors and take an afternoon to ride most of the Mt. Vernon Trail. It is one of the more popular paved pathways in the Washington DC area and for good reason. It was beautiful!

We started about 2 miles south of Mt. Vernon (who knows why – don’t do it. Just park at Mt. Vernon and ride from there), rode up to Gravelly Point, watched a few airplanes land, and rode back. We stopped in Old Town Alexandria for an AMAZING Thai lunch which then threw us behind schedule so we didn’t have time to go all the way to the Arlington National Cemetery. Oh well. The food was worth it. We clocked 35 miles, which is pretty good for not having really ridden my bike since our century last spring.

We definitely recommend this trail. There are lots of ways to ride it – or ride pieces of it. The Mt. Vernon website even suggests renting bikes in Alexandria, riding to Mt. Vernon and then taking a boat back. Sounds like fun!

Mt. Vernon Trail Bike Date