Everyone the world over knows Orlando, Florida, home to Disney World & Universal Studios. Most people are vaguely aware of Legoland, located about an hour outside of Orlando. And, if you’re a baseball fan, you’re familiar with Winter Haven, home of Major League Baseball’s spring training facility for years. But, few have heard of Ocala, a mid-sized city located just 90 minutes north of Orlando International Airport. If you’re looking to get away from major amusement parks and explore some of the more natural side of things, Ocala is an easy drive from Orlando and Silver Springs State Park is a wonderful way to get outside in ‘gator country!
Silver Spring State Park, gateway to the Ocala National Forest, is home to a number of activities for adventure goers. A portion of the Park used to comprise the Silver Springs Zoological Park, which my family visited in February 2011 when my oldest was not quite two, but the Zoo has now closed and the Park is fully managed by the state.
waiting for our boat ridechecking out the ‘gators (note the plexiglass barrier!)
The Park is open from 8:00 am to sundown, 365 days a year and admission is only $8 per vehicle. There are rental pavilions, if you want to throw a party or a family reunion, along with campsites and rental cabins. Activities include glass bottom boat tours, canoe and kayak rentals, and you can even arrange for a guided horseback trail ride via Cactus Jack’s Trail Rides. Although we have enjoyed canoeing the Silver River, my personal favorite activity is the glass bottom boat tour, which is free for children under six years of age. Visit the Park’s website for full information, including hours and updated fees and check our Silver River State Park if you want to get up close and personal with the ‘gators!
Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!
Living and working in DC, it is rare that my family takes the time to visit the museums, monuments, and landmarks. Work, schedules, and activities get in the way and we always just figure that we will go and visit someday. Recently, my eight year old and I had the opportunity to spend the entire day together, without my toddler, and we decided to take advantage of the glorious 50 degree day in the middle of December and spend some time exploring downtown! Here are the top Washington DC kids activities that we took advantage of on our stolen day together!
We left our home at 9:30am and, a short metro ride later, found ourselves in DC, just four blocks away from the Spy Museum.
Unlike many museums in DC, the Spy Museum is not free and admission is steep at $21.95 / adult and $14.95 / youth (ages 7-11). The Museum offers a number of Interactive Spy Experiences, such as Spy in the City and Operation Spy, which you can add on a la carte, or combine with the price of admission for a slight discount. The Operation Spy experience is limited to ages 12+, so, by default, we chose to add Spy in the City to the price of admission for later in the afternoon.
After purchasing our admission tickets, we were told to wait for the elevator ride to the start of the museum exhibits. We had no idea, but the Spy Museum has timed entry in an effort to minimize traffic and manage crowd control. We took the elevator up to the third floor of the museum where we were deposited into a room that introduced us to spy agencies all across the world. We were also encouraged to choose an undercover identity from one of the many “covers” posted on the beams throughout the room.
After selecting our identities, we were allowed to enter the galleries, which were more standard museum fare. We poured over the exhibits of espionage artifacts. I personally loved seeing the old style hidden cameras tucked away in buttons, shoes, pens, and more.
As you wind your way through the exhibits, there are a number of interactive opportunities for visitors to test out their spy skills. My son loved looking for clues on the interactive light-up maps and he also enjoyed practicing his hand at deciphering codes.
Although we enjoyed the modern spy section, my son found the historical spy section to be underwhelming. There is a section on the origins of spying, beginning with Sun Tzu and The Art of War, and also an extensive section on James Bond, which went entirely over my eight year old’s head.
Overall, I enjoyed the Museum and it was a great way to spend 90 minutes of our day, but my son did not enjoy it as much as I hoped as he isn’t one to be particularly fascinated by espionage and has not ever seen any of the James Bond movies. As we made our way out of the exhibits, we emptied into the gift shop, which is where we picked up our tablet device to do our Spy in the City interactive adventure.
The Spy in the City interactive adventure is a guided “spy” adventure that takes you around 7-8 blocks of Washington, DC. The rental tablet provides visual instructions and cues that direct you along the way.
The weather was beautiful that day, so we greatly enjoyed the walk through the City. My son, a total iPad/screen junkie, loved following the clues and deciphering code along the way. I enjoyed the opportunity to stretch my legs and to see some of downtown DC at a leisurely pace.
Our journey took us past the FBI building, the Department of Justice building, the Trump Hotel (where we peeked inside to see the lobby decked out for Christmas), and much much more.
The FBI BuildingDepartment of JusticeThe Trump HotelThe lobby of the Trump HotelSt. Patrick’s Church
Although it was a fun walk and my son enjoyed the “mission,” I was honestly disappointed that the “mission” did not incorporate more of the historical landmarks in DC. Given that we were in DC and walking right past the FBI building, I expected more than to be directed to a random plaque in a plaza as the site of the next clue. The mission could have taken place in any city USA and no one would have been the wiser. Although it was worth the $7 to include the Spy in the City adventure with our admission ticket, I don’t think it is worth the $14.95 on its own and I would not go out of my way to do this experience if time was limited. Moreover, my son and I happily shared one tablet and unless you happen to have two children who are adamantly against sharing, I would not recommend renting more than one device as the instructions would be identical and we had no trouble hearing the instructions via the tablet’s speakers.
Finally, the Spy Museum has an excellent gift shop so if you happen to be looking for a spy-themed gift but don’t have the time or desire to visit the exhibits, you can visit the gift shop via the separate outside entry.
Direct entrance to the gift shop.Sign indicating that admission is required to enter the exhibits from the gift shop.
It would also be remiss of me not to mention that the Shake Shack is located right next door to the Spy Museum. It’s an easy and convenient place to grab a bite to eat but note that it’s more expensive than your usual burgers and fries joint AND lines can get out of control very quickly.After the Spy Museum, we headed across the street to the National Portrait Gallery. As a Smithsonian, admission is free and it was completely deserted when we visited. There was no line to enter and security was a breeze. We had the entire presidential gallery to ourselves and my son loved the open space.
We particularly enjoyed seeing the evolution from traditional oil paintings to more modern portraits and I loved the placement of the Bush presidents across from each other with Clinton in the middle.
Although we did not visit the actual galleries on the third floor, we did head up there to peek at the stained glass ceiling which was stunning.
Finally, no visit to the Portrait Gallery is complete without a glimpse at the atrium – the largest public enclosed area in DC.
As the original home of the Patent Office, the building has served many purposes and the former courtyard has now been enclosed into a beautiful garden with ample space for kids to run around, people to lunch, and just generally enjoy a reprieve from the elements (humidity and heat in the summer, rain/cold/sleet in the winter).
My coworkers and I used to regularly take lunch breaks in the Portrait Gallery, including packing in our lunch from the outside to eat in the atrium. There’s also a little self-service cafeteria, if you’d like to grab a bite to enjoy.
From the Portrait Gallery, we headed off to our final destination of the day: the Botanical Gardens. Unlike most of the museums located near the mall, the Botanical Gardens are located across from the Capital and thus about a one mile walk away. For this reason, it’s a bit off the beaten path and not a place that many have visited. Along the way, we enjoyed the view of the Capital with the bright blue sky and also spotted the great blue chicken that has been roosting at the National Gallery of Art.
The 15-foot blue chicken, roosting at the National Gallery of Art.
Visiting the Botanical Gardens is an annual holiday tradition for my family. My kids started visiting the Botanical Gardens as young tikes with daycare and between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, there is an annual exhibit featuring model trains and replicas of DC landmarks made entirely of plant based materials. We have visited when the line to enter has been wrapped around the building, but on the day we visited this year, there was no line and we walked right in.
He may be 8, but he still enjoys a good tunnel.
After winding our way through the seasonal exhibit, we took a quick tour of the regular gardens, including the desert and rain forest.
Well marked ramps, wheelchair and stroller accessible!
After our brief walk through the gardens and having walked extensively downtown, we decided we were too tired to ride public transit home and called a Lyft instead. All in all, it was an action packed day in downtown DC and I am so glad we had this opportunity to explore the city in ideal temperatures. There is so much to do in DC it can be overwhelming to decide on the actual museums and activities. We had no real set itinerary or plan and just let the weather and crowds dictate our agenda and we managed to pack in more than I thought – a pleasant surprise! Moreover, because admission to the Smithsonian museums and the zoo is free, it is a very affordable way to spend a day with the family.
Having visited many breweries and wineries with kids, I’ve generally found that most locations are relatively kid-friendly. Crooked Hammock Brewery in Lewes, Delaware really knocks the kid-friendly aspect out of the park, however, with their outdoor patio and play space for children!
I visited Crooked Hammock in May with my then 2.5 year old and found the location to be ideal for families with young kids. There is abundant outdoor seating on the patio, plenty of games and activities for kids of all ages, and as an extra bonus, it is dog friendly too!
As you can see from the photos above, the Crooked Hammock is really an ideal location to spend a few hours with kids. My son loved everything about it – from the outdoor space, the play structure and climbing wall, the hammock, the corn hole… he even made friends with some other kids who were there and was sad to leave when it was time to go!
If you find yourself in Rehoboth / Dewey Beach, Delaware, be sure to stop in! It truly is a gem for those traveling with kids and should not be missed.
Crooked Hammock Brewery can be found at: 36707 Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes, DE 19958
Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!
Of the 50 states, Alaska is the one least traveled. Located in the most northwestern extremity of North America, Alaska is “out of the way” and unlike Hawaii, with its gorgeous beaches, is often relegated to the bucket list of items that never get completed. Those who decide to travel to Alaska, however, typically fall into one of two camps: the cruisers or the road trippers.
In July of 2016, my family of four, along with my in-laws, traveled to Alaska in celebration of my father-in-law’s milestone birthday and to cross off my husband’s 50th state with his parents! The 49th state was Hawaii, which we visited with my in-laws in September 2013. I’ve written previously about our experiences in Seward, Talkeetna/Denali National Park, and Wrangell-St. Elias, but this post is dedicated strictly to the ins and outs of road tripping in a large RV for those of you who have never done it but may be interested in exploring a large RV as an option in the future.
Choice of Vehicle:
The first crucial decision to make is what vehicle to take? There are a number of options beginning with a vehicle you already own, a rental SUV or minivan, or any number of trailer/rv type vehicles that you can pull behind or drive independently. My in-laws strongly considered pulling a fifth wheel camper behind a pick up truck they already owned (the “fifth” wheel is the hitch in the bed of the truck), but my father-in-law had long dreamed or road tripping to Alaska in an RV and a necessary part of this dream involved eating sandwiches and reading a book on the Alaska Highway as my mother-in-law did the driving.
A Fifth Wheel Camper that can be pulled behind a pick up truck.
In researching their RV options, my in-laws visited an RV Show and Camping Expo one full year prior to when they expected to take the trip. They did this knowing that they needed to fully research their options, order the vehicle, have it customized (if necessary), and take it on at least one trip prior to departing for Alaska. Given that they knew my husband and young son would be traveling with them, they wanted a large enough RV that everyone would be comfortable for the long trip and they ended up purchasing an FR3 RV They strongly considered purchasing an Airstream, but ultimately decided that the layout of the FR3 worked out better for them.
View from the driver’s seat.
my husband in the driver’s seat of the FR3
The FR3 was massive and amazing and my son loved it. My in-laws however, ended up with mixed feelings about the RV. My husband reports that although it was very nice to drive and they had plenty of space, it was an extremely loud vehicle and they could not actually talk while driving because the noise of the vehicle prevented them from hearing one another clearly, even sitting side-by-side. Furthermore, my father-in-law’s dream of leisurely eating a sandwich while my mother-in-law did the driving did not come to fruition as the vehicle was too large for my mother-in-law to feel comfortable driving and, it turns out, they did not feel comfortable being unbuckled while the RV was moving on the road. Although it was nice to have the luxury of the FR3, especially in remote areas in Yukon, my husband’s overall verdict was that if given the opportunity to make this trip again, he would choose instead to drive a large SUV and stay at hotels or camp overnight in the wildness.
Buckled up and ready to go!
Pro-Tip: A key consideration for people with kids who don’t already RV is to do several low stakes nights close to home to learn everything before you are out in the middle of nowhere. Heck, this is a key consideration for anyone, kids or not!
The Itinerary:
During World War II, the Alaska Highway was built, connecting the lower United States to Alaska via Canada. Months prior to their departure, we purchased a copy of The Milepost, the definitive guide to traveling the Alaska Highway. My father-in-law used The Milepost and mapped out a route that would take the four of them from their starting point in Indianapolis, IN to their first destination in Alaska: Tok. Knowing that they would be traveling with a seven year old, my in-laws planned the journey to place over 11 days, with the longest day of just under 600 miles. The goal, of course, was to survive the journey without forever ruining road trips for my young son and so they built in at least one day in which they traveled only 120 miles and made sure to build in enough time for bike rides, tree climbing, and other leg stretching activities.
Climbing a tree after their first day of travel (500 miles down, many many more to go).
Their itinerary, with corresponding mileage, was as follows:
Indianapolis, IN
Unalaska, WI
500
Wall, SD
581
Mt Rushmore, SD
120
Lewistown, MT
463
Calgary, AB (Canada)
423
Grand Prairie, AB
443
Fort Nelson, BC
475
Lake Watson, YU
320
Destruction Bay, YU
432
Tok, AK
225
The Logistics:
One the trip was a go, my in-laws sprung to action in terms of planning the logistics. My father-in-law was in charge of the RV, making advance reservations at RV parks, ensuring that any and all equipment they might need for the RV was packed and ready and my mother-in-law was in charge of the packing of the RV and ensuring that they had the supplies they needed to make it to Alaska and back. With plenty of storage space, my mother-in-law purchased large plastic rubbermaid containers that fit snugly into the containers and began planning the items she would need. Among others, she needed to ensure that she had all the cooking and dining supplies they might need as well as whatever linens and other cleaning supplies they might need. To that end, one item I found and purchased for her was this 14-piece kitchen in a box set that provided her with many necessary kitchen items all packable into one neat little box.
Pro-tip: Make sure you pack your flatware in napkins or felt so that you aren’t driven crazy by jingling flatware on the road!
The Daily Routine:
Stopped for a light lunch of sandwiches.
The daily routine while on the road was relatively simple. Wake up, pack up, start driving. Stop for lunch somewhere (usually a light lunch of sandwiches or something else that can be easily prepared), drive some more, stop for the night. Once stopped for the night, they would “open” up the RV, which essentially meant opening up the various storage compartments to get out what they needed to make dinner.
The FR3 had so much storage space there was never any concern that they would not be able to bring along something they needed. Indeed, they packed their own portable grill, tables, seats, napkins, wine, flatware and dinnerware… pretty much anything you can think of.
In the evenings after dinner, they liked to play baseball or go for short bike rides around the RV park.
Once in the Yukon, they spent many evenings by the fire, roasting smores and just generally enjoying the midnight sun.
In terms of bedding down, my in-laws had a king bed in the back of the RV, with a sliding door that closed it off from the rest of the RV. The dining table opened up and turned into my son’s full-sized bed. My favorite bed, however, is the one my husband slept in. His bed dropped down from the roof ceiling and was literally suspended over the front driver/passenger seats!
As you can imagine, therein so much to remember to do every morning in terms of tidying up and making sure you secure all belongings. I wasn’t surprised to learn that there’s actually a thing called pre-departure checklists that you can print out and bring (even laminated!) along with you on your trip to ensure that you do everything needed prior to pulling away. Sample lists can be found online and include everything from reminders to “put away lawn chairs” to turning on/off your water pump! I know that my in-laws had a pre-departure check list that they followed every morning prior to getting back on the road.
The RV Scene:
In general, my family found the RV scene to be severely lacking. Not only were the RV parks in the United States generally run down and nothing more than glorified parking lots with hook ups, the atmosphere was also lacking. My husband reports that the main evening activity was to sit outside of the RV and watch tv. Needless to say, after a long day of driving and being cooped up in the RV, my family was desperate for something active to do, but they seemed to be in the minority.
Biking in Wall, SD
In contrast to RV parks in the United States, the provincial parks in Canada were amazing. Not only were they in wooded and semi-private spots (versus in a parking lot right next to another RV), the surrounding scenery was beautiful and there was always an excellent firepit to roast marshmallows late into the night. My family absolutely loved the provincial parks in Canada and would recommend it for anyone looking to camp, RV or otherwise. Unlike US campgrounds, they generally provide free, well-seasoned firewood. The Alaska state campgrounds were also great for camping, but in general commercial, for-profit US RV parks left something to be desired.
Other Considerations:
The major drawback to driving an RV to/from/around Alaska is that it is a large, unwieldy vehicle. Although the FR3 was a nice and spacious ride for the long drive to and from Ohio, my family ended up needing to rent two vehicles during our stay in Seward and Talkeetna. Moreover, my family elected to fly into Wrangell-St.Elias because although the road from Chitina (where they parked the RV) to Wrangell-St.Elias is only 60 miles, it would have taken hours for the RV to make the trip. As a result, unless you are willing to restrict yourself to RV friendly roads, traveling via RV will require additional expenses, like a rental vehicle and paying for a “parking spot” for the RV, should you choose to leave it behind. Although parking the RV in an RV park without hook ups costs approximately $10-20/day, parking an RV at a location with full hook ups can cost upwards of $50-75/day. In other words, an RV is hardly a “free” way too travel and stay. It may be slightly less expensive than a hotel room, but it also has significant draw backs and I would recommend that anyone looking to save money do the math very carefully to determine whether or not they will actually save money by traveling via RV.
Final Thoughts?
My family loved the RV experience and my son still talks about it fondly. But, having done the great journey to and from Alaska, I believe they are ready to put the RV days behind them. My husband has said that he would love to drive the Yukon and British Columbia with me someday, but that we will be traveling via SUV and staying at lodges, instead of an RV. And that’s just fine with me.
A few years ago, as part of a larger trip to Florida to visit family and Disney World for the first time, we planned a side trip to Legoland as my son was five and in the throes of a Lego obsession. To our surprise, Legoland ended up being the most enjoyable day of our long weekend visit to Orlando and I look forward to heading back some day with our younger son! Here are our tips for Legoland Orlando with kids!
Legoland is approximately one hour away from Orlando and thus, many people opt to forgo Legoland when they’re in Orlando because there’s plenty to do with just the Disney theme parks, not to mention Universal Studios and the other activities all based in Orlando. None of us having been to Legoland previously, however, we decided to make the trip down to check it out.
The drive south was easy and I had pre-purchased tickets so there was absolutely no delay in getting into the park. I did experience a twinge of regret that we had limited ourselves to a day trip, however, when we drove past the Legoland Hotel, which looked like just an amazingly fun place to stay!
Once inside the Park, we quickly proceeded to enjoy the roller coasters and rides and we were happy to take advantage of the shorter lines and minimal crowds. We visited over a long weekend in early October so although temperatures were still warm and somewhat humid, they were certainly not stifling and the crowds were sufficiently moderate that the longest wait time we experienced was 20 minutes.
One of the more surprising treats at Legoland was Cypress Gardens, which was in existence until September 2009, when it closed to be re-built into Legoland. Cypress Gardens was a historical botanical garden along a lake that featured water-skiing shows and women in antebellum dress. Cypress Gardens pre-dated the Disney theme parks and was once a very popular attraction before it was deemed “too quaint.” There are some vestiges of the old park that remain, including the old Cypress Gardens sign, located near the lake. It wasn’t until we wandered upon this sign that it hit my father-in-law: he had been to Cypress Gardens as a young child with HIS parents!
The Cypress Gardens sign still stands at one end of Legoland.
Legoland still makes use of the lake to hold a water ski show, but as you might expect, the characters are legos!
This was my son’s first “live action” show and he thought it was highly amusing. After the water ski show, we took a walk through Miniland, our favorite part of the experience. Billed as a miniature “land,” Miniland contains structures from all over the United States, including Washington, DC!
My son, having attended preschool in downtown DC, got a kick out of seeing many familiar sights in Lego form! All told, we spent about six hours wandering around Legoland, enjoying the rides with minimal crowds and just taking in the Lego architecture. It was definitely a nice change of pace from Disney World, where we had spent the two previous days. Our trip to Legoland was so pleasant, in fact, that my husband commented that if we lived nearby, we would be annual pass holders and just visit on weekends for “something to do.” That’s saying a lot coming from someone who despises theme parks!
My oldest with his grandparents (and R2D2 and Darth Vader, of course)!
A few Legoland tips if you’re planning a trip:
The optimal age for Legoland is somewhere between 3-7. There are some rides that are tame enough for the 3 year old crowd and there is enough to entertain a child of 7. My oldest is now 8, and I think he would be bored at Legoland if we were to plan to spend a whole day there as his taste in roller coasters has definitely taken off in the past two years.
Legoland, unlike any of the Disney theme parks, does not have fine dining. You will stand in line and wait for mediocre food and be disappointed. We spent a lot of money on mediocre fried chicken and burgers and wished that there had been more, better options.
If you know that you are visiting Legoland, please research ticket prices online before your trip. Even if you purchase tickets two days in advance from the Legoland website, they are cheaper than purchasing day of at the Park. Indeed, the current gate price is $93.99/adult, but drops down to $79.99/adult if you purchase two days in advance. If you have more time to plan, google around for “Legoland theme park coupon” and variations of that search. I googled and found a number of “buy one adult, get one child free” coupon codes, which helped defray the cost of our trip significantly.
Legoland is an ideal theme park for visiting with grandparents and young children. We visited with my in laws, but even my grandmother would do fine at Legoland as there is not as much walking as at Disney and the crowds are manageable enough that she would not feel overwhelmed. By that same token, my youngest was only 10 months old when we took this trip and he happily hung out in his stroller and we had no issues maneuvering around the Park.
There’s also a water park at Legoland, but it was closed when we visited. If you find yourself planning a trip in the summer, definitely consider spending two days and visiting the water park on one of the days! It’s such an easy drive back to Orlando that if you only wanted to spend one night at Legoland or nearby, leaving to drive back to Orlando after a day at the Park would not be a problem at all.
I am not a fan of road trips, but we are a family who road trips. We live 300+ miles away from family and travel to see them at least five times a year. We also occasionally add on a road trip component to a vacation, like we did earlier this year when we drove from Los Angeles to Monterey and back, either because of flight costs or because we simply want to see things that we otherwise would not be able to if we didn’t spend time driving. As a result, we easily spend 3,000 miles a year in the car. That’s a lot of miles on the road with toddlers/kids/dogs. Over the years, we have learned a number of tips for road trips with kids!
#1: Start Early
First road trip to South Carolina before he was one month old!
My kids spend a lot of time in the car. We live in a major metropolitan area with tons of traffic and our daily commute to daycare/school can be anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on traffic, weather, general conditions. As a result, my kids are used to being in the car for at least 90 minutes a day from birth. We also started road trips early – when my oldest was less than four weeks old, we drove 9+ hours (over 500 miles) to South Carolina for a family reunion. Both kids traveled to my in-laws (300+ miles) by the time they were two months old. Starting early not only gets the kids used to being in the car, but also helped condition us to traveling by car with young children.
#2: Be Flexible
A longer than usual stop at a Walmart to stretch our legs. I’ve been known to pick up household essentials while stopped to save me from having to run to the store when we get home!
As everyone knows, kids go through phases and they include everything from sleeping through the entire car ride to screaming the minute they see a car seat. As a result, it’s important to be flexible. We have woken up our toddler at 3am to begin the drive to my in laws to avoid holiday traffic or simply in the hopes that he would stay asleep and sleep through a portion of the car ride. We’ve also driven through the night to avoid traffic and taken strange detours (including stopping for lunch at our local Walmart) simply to give sthe kids a chance to stretch their legs.
#3: Be Prepared
Being prepared is critical to a successful road trip with kids. Being prepared means having all your essentials ready and easily accessible – diaper bags packed and within reach, a general plan as to where your stops will be, including where you will stop for a meal, factoring in other needs such as potty breaks and nap times.
Devices: I also make sure that we have fully charged and loaded iPads prior to trips. Family practice when it comes to screen time varies and I applaud those parents who travel with kids without relying on devices, but this is the one time in which screen time is unlimited. I simply want to make sure we survive the trip with as few incidents as possible. If that means screen time, all the time, so be it. As a result, I spend a few minutes the night prior to any road trip ensuring that our iPads are fully charges and loaded with the kids’ most recent tv/movie/cartoon obsession. I also double check to make sure my kids have their headphones packed so that my husband and I don’t go insane listening to whatever it is they’re watching in the backseat.
Snacks: Being prepared also includes having necessary items at the ready. For some families, this means a steady supply of snacks. Due to a choking incident when my oldest was three, I am not a fan of food in the car for young children. As a result, I typically don’t let my kids eat in the car and prefer instead to simply stop and let them snack / eat at rest stops. I have gotten more flexible as the kids have gotten older (so yes, my eight year old is allowed to eat in the car, but not when his 2.5 year old little brother is riding next to him), but as a general rule, we don’t snack in the car. Water is permitted, of course, provided it is in the appropriate vessel (leak-proof water bottle / sippy cup for my toddler who tends to drop everything).
Diapering Essentials: For those traveling with young children, diapering essentials are necessary. When both my kids were infants, I simply packed a regular pillow in the car and changed the kids on my lap in lieu of using a public diaper changing station of questionable sanitation. As they grew, I packed towels or swaddle blankets, or disposable changing liners, to lay on a patch of grass so I could change them outside, instead of in a grimy bathroom. For boys (and girls!), it’s helpful to master the art of the stand up diaper change so that for most bathroom incidents, there is no need to even enter a public bathroom. A potty training or newly potty trained toddler adds a new level of difficulty and stress. Although many people have luck bringing a portable potty seat along with them on long car rides, neither of my kids used the portable potty. As a result, I put my kids in “travel diapers” for long car rides (basically a regular diaper that is there for emergency situations), pack lots of wipes (including Chlorox wipes for sanitizing public toilet seats), and many, many changes of clothes and plastic bags for holding soiled clothes. Luckily, the newly potty trained stage is short lived, and as long as you plan regular stops, we have been fortunate to avoid having too many issues.
My toddler is prone to car sickness, so I purchased these plastic paint buckets to keep handy in situations where he gets sick before we can safely pull over.
Other Essentials:I happen to have a toddler who is prone to motion sickness, so I pack puke bags and plastic buckets (I’ve found plastic paint mixing buckets to be the perfect size and quality for this purpose!), which I keep within reach so I can hand them over to him when he feels ill. If your child has any special needs, you will want to have within easy and immediate access anything you might need in the event a situation arises. As any parent with kids knows, “other essentials” also includes things like lovies and blankets, pacifiers, special toys… basically anything that your kid might suddenly demand during a long car ride. If you pack your child’s favorite stuffed animal in the trunk and they need the toy in order to fall asleep, then you’ll find yourself stopped in a parking lot, frantically unpacking and digging around for the stuffed animal. I say this from experience – save yourself the heartache and frustration and make sure you have these essential items up front and easily accessible.
Having the emesis bags handy helped prevent a major disaster during our drive from Monterey to Los Angeles.
Adult Needs: It is important to make sure that adult needs are taken care of. When you’re stopped, take the time to use the restroom, get a drink of water or a bite to eat, grab some caffeine or music that you want to listen to on the radio… The most important thing is that your family arrives as its destination safely and making sure that the adults (especially the driver!) have their needs taken care of is a necessity. This is also useful because you don’t want to find yourself needing to pull over for a restroom if/when the kids finally fall asleep!
#4: Have a Sense of Humor
Having a sense of humor and knowing that the most important thing is to arrive at your destination safely is key. No matter what happens, know that someday, you’ll look back at the road trip memories fondly (or so they say!).
Visiting Washington, DC, is something everyone should do at least once in their life. There are tons of guidebooks and websites with detailed information about all there is to do in DC and no first visit to DC is complete without a visit to the National Mall, an obligatory family photo in front of the White House, and a visit to one of the many Smithsonian museums that offer free admission and easy access via Metro!
Having lived and worked in DC for nearly a decade, I’d like to share with you five off-the-beaten-path Fun Family Activities! These are activities and places that those of us who call this beautiful place a home enjoy visiting on weekends and days off with our kids.
#1: Gravelly Point
Gravelly Point is managed by the National Park Service and is located in Arlington, VA just south of DC. It’s a wonderful place to spend the afternoon, picnicking, biking, and plane spotting, as the Park is located just north of Reagan National Airport. Although the parking lot can fill up very quickly and there are no amenities other than restrooms (so pack in your own food!), it’s a wonderful place for budding aviation fans to spend an afternoon outside. Note that the planes are close and very loud, so if your child is sensitive to loud noises, the Park’s proximity to the airport may be a deterrent.
#2: The Tidal Basin
Nearly every visitor to DC makes a point of visiting the National Mall and the monuments, but I’m always stunned by the number of people who skip the Tidal Basin. In my humble opinion, the Tidal Basin offers some of the best views of the Washington Monument and it’s worthy of a visit even when it is not cherry blossom season (although if you have the opportunity to visit during cherry blossom season, please do! Despite the crowds, it is gorgeous and worth the walk). The Tidal Basin offers a small refreshment stand, restrooms, and paddle boat rentals, so this is a great way to enjoy a nice day outside with the family.
View of the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial from the Tidal Basin.Paddleboat in the Tidal Basin during peak cherry blossom bloom.
#3: Hiking Trails
Catching a glimpse of the Potomac River
Washington, DC is home to a great number of hiking trails. The Billy Goat Trail is one of the most popular trails in the DC Metro area. The trail itself can be challenging due to rocks, but if your kids are older (I’d recommend a minimum of five+, depending on maturity and previous hiking experience) and up for the challenge, it’s definitely a worthwhile experience. If the Billy Goat Trail sounds like too much, plan a visit to Rock Creek Park, which boasts over 32 miles of trails. The Park also offers a number of activities, such as horseback riding lessons, golf, and a boat house where you can rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes. Finally, Theodore Roosevelt Island is a national memorial located in the Potomac River. No cars or bicycles are permitted on the Island and access is via a footbridge. If you’ve ever spent time in DC visiting the National Mall and museums, I encourage you to take a hike and explore one of the many areas maintained by the National Park Service! You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll forget that you’re in the Nation’s Capital!
#4: Go for a Bike Ride!
The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18 mile paved multi-use trail that stretches from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island. At any time of day and in any kind of weather, you can find people on the trail biking, running, or just walking along the Potomac River. Happily, a local company, Capital Bikeshare, offers a safe and relatively inexpensive way to explore the trail as you can rent both bicycles and helmets from the company and drop them off at any one of 440 Capital Bikeshare stations located in the DC metro area.
Mount Vernon, George Washington’s country estate, is located just 18 miles south of Washington, DC and is a fantastic way to spend the day for the entire family! Although the Estate is highly recommended as a place to visit in many tourist books, its distance from DC likely causes many to pass it over as an option during a quick visit to DC. I am here to encourage you to go! Visit! Over the years, we have visited Mount Vernon many times and it is one of our favorite places to take out of town guests. Not only does the Estate allow you to visit the Mansion that George and Martha lived in, but the Estate also boasts farm animals, gardens, stables, and live demonstrations by period actors. Throughout the year, the Estate will offer special programs that coincide with the season. For example, one year we visited one early December and happened to catch the Pardon Turkey!
We have also visited during the Fall Harvest Family Days, which feature hands on 18th century activities and demonstrations. It’s a great way for the family to experience a little bit of Colonial America.
My mother and son, roasting apples dipped in caramel water over an open fire.
Although portions of the Estate are wheelchair (and stroller) accessible, the vast majority of the grounds are not (and the Mansion itself is not). The Estate also has as excellent gift shop, a food court, and a sit-down restaurant that serves hearty and satisfying food.
I hope you enjoyed my off-the-beaten path list of Five Fun Family activities and encourage you to think outside the box next time you are in DC!
Virginia is well-known as the birthplace of the nation, home to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, to name a few. Many do not know that Virginia is also home to some of the most beautiful countryside. We are so fortunate to live only two hours away from Charlottesville and the surrounding area, which is one of my favorite places on earth.
For four years counting, we have rented a cabin from Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins. I discovered Lydia’s many years ago while searching for a dog-friendly cabin rental in the Virginia country side. Having now stayed with Lydia a handful of times, I can truly say that our “fall weekend at the cabin” is one that I look forward to all year.
Located approximately 20 miles north of Charlottesville and 100 miles from DC, Lydia Mountain is only a two hour drive from home, making it an ideal place to sneak away for a weekend getaway. Our preferred cabin to rent is the Dancing Bear cabin, which sits on a private road that holds only a few other rental cabins. The cabin is pet-friendly and has three bedrooms and three full baths + two sleeper futons if you really have a crowd!
The Dancing Bear cabin.
Our weekends at the cabin are not complicated – our goal is simply to unplug from our daily lives and take a minute to enjoy the outdoors and each other. The wood burning fireplace in the main living area is always on and the boys have free rein to run around outside and enjoy themselves, as all kids should do.
the wood burning fireplacea glimpse of the dining room that leads in the master bedroom
As with most cabins, there is no meal service, so meals are on your own. Luckily, the cabin is located only a short drive from Charlottesville, and we have had no problems purchasing groceries to cook at the cabin, or dining out if the mood strikes us.
our first night at the cabin meal of homemade lasagnaThe boys always enjoy the evening ‘smores!
My favorite way to start a day at the cabin is to take a morning walk up the private road it is located on. There’s a short uphill climb, past a few other rental cabins, before you reach the house at the top of the hill, from where there is a spectacular view.
Spectacular view of the VA countryside at the end of the road.
The walk “up the road” is quiet and full of beautiful leaves.
One you reach the house at the top of the hill, you can venture further into the woods via two separate trails. Nestled amongst the trees is a disc golf course, which my kids love experimenting with.
My little one trying his hand at disc golf.
After our brisk morning walk, we usually venture out for lunch. Over the years, we have dined at a variety of restaurants in Charlottesville, grabbed sandwiches at the local Mennonite shop, or dined at a brewpub. After lunch, we typically mosey back to the cabin where we spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoor fire pit.
View of the side of the cabin, leading down to the fire pit.
Happily for us, the boys find plenty of ways to entertain themselves while at the cabin. From rolling down the hill, to learning how to start fires, to sneaking marshmallows before dinner. There is also a hot tub at the cabin, which my oldest has availed himself on occasion.
The hillside provides hours of entertainment for the boys.sneaking marshmallows before dinnerEnjoying the pizza pies we made on the fire.roasting marshmallows
Having spent fall weekends in the area for a number of years, I can recommend a few great family-friendly activities.
No visit to the cabin is complete without at least one stop at Yoder’s! The shop is located approximately 20 minutes from the cabin and specializes in deli meats, prepared soups, bulk foods, and much, much more. We typically pick up light foods from Yoder’s to snack and munch on during our stay, and our kids enjoy the adjacent petting farm and playground!
The outdoor play structure is a great way to burn off some energy.Kid meets goat.
#2: Charlottesville Children’s Museum
The Virginia Discovery Museum in Charlottesville isn’t a place I would recommend you go out of the way to visit, but a few years ago, our stay at the cabin happened to coincide with the government shut down and many, many days of rain. The national parks were closed and it was pouring rain, so we ventured into Charlottesville and spent a few hours at the museum to simply give the kids a change of scenery. My oldest was less than five years of age at the time and it held his attention for a few hours, but it’s not something I would envision holding his interest now, at the ripe old age of 8. Nevertheless, it’s an option for when all other options are unavailable.
#3: Fishing
Virginia is home to some incredible fly fishing and there are many streams in the Charlottesville area that provide a wonderful low key setting to introducing your little one to fly fishing. Years ago, my husband, in laws, and I took my young son to Swift Creek to practice casting in a gentle steam. There are a plethora of small streams and easy locations for little ones to be introduced to fly fishing, so if this is your cup of tea, I highly encourage you look around and explore your options.
The Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are less than 30 minutes from the cabin, so it’s a great option for hiking, enjoying the scenery, and/or fishing.
Posing in front of an Appalachian Trail marker in the Shenandoah.
Charlottesville is such an amazing city and full of great dining experiences. Our stops in Charlottesville usually involve picking up groceries and enjoying lunch or dinner somewhere. I encourage you to poke around and find your favorite dining experiences!
My boys enjoying an afternoon snack along the waterfront in Charlottesville.
Virginia’s beautiful countryside lends itself to some gorgeous wineries. Although a far cry from the wines you can taste and experience on the West Coast, Virginia’s wineries are a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and, as an extra bonus, they are much less expensive and pretentious than the wineries on the West Coast and I have never had an issue bringing my kids along for an afternoon of tasting.
Many of the wineries offer light meals or snacks for purchase and even those that don’t generally feature a large outside area for kids to run around without risk of knocking over glasses or decorations. This past weekend, we visited Stinson Vineyards for the first time and were pleased to discover not only the great outdoor space, but a basket of toys for children to discover.
Basket of children’s toys at Stinson Vineyards.Outside tasting area at Stinson Vineyards.
In addition to the vibrant wine scene, Virginia, in recent years, has seen an incredible growth in breweries, cideries, and distilleries.
For the first time this weekend, we did a hard cider tasting at Blue Toad Hard Cider, located approximately 45 minutes from the cabin. For $13 each, my husband and I enjoyed 7 different hard ciders while our children played in view of the outside tasting area.
Two sets of cider tastings at $13 each.The play area at Blue Toad Hard Cider.
We also visited Blue Mountain Brewery, where we enjoyed lunch (complete with beer tastings), followed by a rousing round of hide and seek outside with the boys, while my husband and our friend finished up their beer tastings and paid the check.
Cornhole at Blue Mountain Brewery.The outdoor fire pit at Blue Mountain Brewery.Toddler hide and seek fail.
This being our first experience cider and beer tasting in Virginia, we were pleasantly surprised to discover not only how low key the environment was but also how child friendly the experience can be. We will most definitely be incorporating this into our fall getaway weekends in the future.
Although we just returned from our fall getaway, I am already looking for our return to the cabin. My youngest, who is just now old enough to articulate his thoughts and feelings said, the morning of our departure, “can we stay at the cabin forever?” I think it’s safe to say that our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin as much as we do and I am so thankful we have been able to find this little bit of heaven for all of us to enjoy.
All three of our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin.
Fall happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.
New York City is the most populous city in the United States with over 8.5 million people — more than the entire population of Virginia! Having lived on the East Coast for over fifteen years, my husband and I have spent years making at least twice annual trips to New York City. My best friend from college lives there, so we frequently traveled to NYC for food, wine, and entertainment. Then we had kids. And it took us nearly four years to go back. Why? Because after years of traveling to NYC as single adults and then as a double-income-no-kid couple, the thought of traveling to NYC was daunting.
Prior to my son’s fourth birthday, I decided our NYC hiatus had gone on long enough and we made plans to travel up to NYC for the weekend, just a short Amtrak ride away from DC. We quickly discovered that many of the things we had enjoyed previously were not off limits just because our son was with us and, as an added bonus, we discovered other activities that we would not have experienced if we weren’t traveling with a child.
We stayed at the Andaz 5th Avenue, which was conveniently located across the street from the New York Public Library and Bryant Park. Both provided excellent space and people watching, particularly from the coffee shop directly across the street from the NYPL and around the corner from the Andaz. Being located near Bryant Park also provided my son with opportunities to run around in an open space and, we picked up lunch at one of the many eateries located at the Park on our last day there, which we happily ate on the Amtrak ride back down to DC (we picked up sandwiches from ‘Wichcraft, which sadly closed in late ’14/early ’15, but there are many other options available, and I encourage you to try them and enjoy Bryant Park’s open space).
eating breakfast across from the New York Public Library
My godparents live in NYC and recommended meeting up at Central Park one morning during our stay. While my husband and godfather went on a short run through the Park, my kiddo and I decided to check out Victorian Gardens, the amusement park located within Central Park. It ended up being an ideal location to spend a few hours and my son absolutely loved his first exposure to roller coasters. A few weeks after our trip, I happened to mention our trip to NYC to the parent of a classmate of my son, who grew up in Manhattan, but who had never taken her two kids to the city before! When I mentioned what a fabulous trip we had, she realized that she had been remiss in not taking her two kids and planned a trip almost immediately after I reminded her of the existence of Victorian Gardens.
The roller coasters in Central Park were the perfect introduction!
#3: Shopping / People Watching / Dining Out
There are a few things that always spring to mind immediately when NYC is mentioned, including food, Broadway, and shopping. After our stop in Central Park, we visited FAO Schwarz (now closed) on Fifth Avenue. My godparents insisted, actually, and my son loved it as he has been to only a handful of toy stores in his entire life (thanks to Amazon.com!).
He also loved wandering around SOHO that afternoon and just taking in all the street vendors – something that we don’t have in DC.
Although you might think that Fifth Avenue is boring and not a place for kids, my son found the large buildings and the throngs of people to be fascinating. He also found the Sak’s shoe elevator to be fascinating and, during a subsequent visit to NYC years later, enjoyed popping into St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a window-shopping break.
The Shoe Elevator!Popping into St. Patrick’s to light a candle.
The first time we visited the Highline, a 1.5 mile elevated park built on a former railway, was with my son. The Highline opened in June 2009, the same month my son was born, so this was not something we could have done in any of our prior visits. The day we visited, the weather was absolutely perfect. Although the significance of the park as an urban revitalization project was likely lost on my son, it was a great way to spend a few hours.
Family photo on the Highline.
#5: Empire State Building
The 86th floor of the Empire State Building has an open-air observation deck, which my son absolutely loved on a later visit to NYC, when he was nearing his sixth birthday. Tickets are steep ($62 for adults, $60 for seniors over age 62, $56 for children ages 6-12), but because my son was just shy of his 6th birthday, he was admitted for free.
Open air observation deck at the Empire State Building
Final Thoughts
Living in DC, we took the Amtrak from DC to New York which my son loveland helped prepare him for a trip to Japan the next year, which involved extensive train travel. New York City is one of my favorite places to visit and I am glad we waited until my son was older to visit. Because he was over four years of age, I also felt comfortable packing a backless booster for him to use in short rides around the city (whether Uber or my friend/godparents’ vehicle). If he had been any younger, we would have had to either lug around his big convertible car seat or restrict ourselves to traveling via Subway, as I am not comfortable with young children riding without car seats, even though I know they are legally exempt when riding in taxis.
Waiting for our train!In the backseat of an Uber.
Although my son has no recollection of our trip to NYC, I loved that we finally “ripped off the band-aid,” so to speak, and took him to a place that many do not think of as a great place to bring young children for a weekend. Obviously, there are people who live and work in NYC who have young kids, but for those of us who only experienced the City as young adults, it was hard to envision the logistics of getting around Manhattan with a young child and even more questionable as to whether we would enjoy the City as much as we did before kids. I’m happy to report that we had a lovely long weekend visiting NYC with kids and am looking forward to doing it again and varying up the activities now that my son is older.
Ya’ll know about Orange County, home of Disneyland and the Angels, but there’s more to Orange County than Disney and baseball, which I was delighted to discover during a visit to Anaheim in 2013. The stated purpose of our trip was, of course, to visit Disneyland, but since my son was only four, one day in the Magic Kingdom was more than plenty. With family in Orange County, we decided to stay a few extra days and check out some other sights, including these two attractions in Irvine that everyone enjoyed.
Irvine is located just a short 20 minute drive down I-5. For both of these experiences, we simply hopped into the car from our hotel in Anaheim and made the quick drive south. With wide highways and ample space for parking, these were no stress destinations that provided my son with outdoor time at little to no cost to the adults – a definitely treat following a day at Disneyland!
Irvine Park Railroad is a really wonderful place to spend the morning or afternoon with young children. There are walking pony rides, train rides, bike and paddle boat rentals, and even a small zoo. Although we did not visit the small zoo or rent paddle boats/bikes, we did ride the train and my son took his first pony ride, which he loved!
lovin’ his first ever pony ride
Decorations change seasonally and so you can expect a Christmas-themed train ride in the winter and other holiday themed games and activities for kids. Food options at the Park are limited (there is a small snack bar), but you are welcome to bring your own food like we did. We simply visited the IN-N-OUT drive thru prior to arriving at the Park and happily devoured our lunch on the picnic benches.
My favorite thing about the Park was that even though we were there on a weekend during beautiful weather, there was ample parking and it wasn’t swamped and over run with people. There are plenty of activities for young children and you can easily spend a day there. Be sure to have cash on hand, however, as many of the rentals/rides are cash only!
Also located in Irvine is the Great Park Balloon, perhaps one of the strangest attractions I have ever seen. It’s a giant orange balloon that holds 25-30 people with an clear base so that you can see the ground below as you soar into the sky. I am pathologically afraid of heights so I was uncomfortable on the ride, even though the balloon is tethered to the ground and does not go that high, but my son and his cousin loved the experience.
There is ample parking at the park and reservations to ride are first-come, first-serve. Operations are limited, however, by weather and wind, so call ahead if the weather looks iffy! Luckily for us, the weather was perfectly calm the morning we visited, so we had no problem riding. The facility also has a carousel and playground area, which the kids loved running around in after the balloon ride.
Overall, our visit to these two locations was a great way to break up our stay in Orange County. My son loved the diversity and the opportunity to ride “high in the sky!,” while I loved the slower pace of things after a day at Disneyland. I highly recommend you check these two attractions out if you find yourself in Orange County with a few hours or an afternoon to spare!
As you wind your way through the exhibits, there are a number of interactive opportunities for visitors to test out their spy skills. My son loved looking for clues on the interactive light-up maps and he also enjoyed practicing his hand at deciphering codes.
Although we enjoyed the modern spy section, my son found the historical spy section to be underwhelming. There is a section on the origins of spying, beginning with 
After the Spy Museum, we headed across the street to the
Although we did not visit the actual galleries on the third floor, we did head up there to peek at the stained glass ceiling which was stunning.
My son, having attended preschool in downtown DC, got a kick out of seeing many familiar sights in Lego form! All told, we spent about six hours wandering around Legoland, enjoying the rides with minimal crowds and just taking in the Lego architecture. It was definitely a nice change of pace from Disney World, where we had spent the two previous days. Our trip to Legoland was so pleasant, in fact, that my husband commented that if we lived nearby, we would be annual pass holders and just visit on weekends for “something to do.” That’s saying a lot coming from someone who despises theme parks!
Although you might think that Fifth Avenue is boring and not a place for kids, my son found the large buildings and the throngs of people to be fascinating. He also found the Sak’s shoe elevator to be fascinating and, during a subsequent visit to NYC years later, enjoyed popping into 
