Ahhhh sweet Summer! We countdown to our favorite season because we get to spend quality time with the kids, but spend much of it refereeing sibling fights. How many days until school starts? I’m not quite there yet, so what better time to share my ideas on how to have the best summer with kids in DC?

You may have seen our family bucket list we published at the beginning of summer (see photo below). It’s always a fun way to kick off the summer as everyone gets excited as they remember what they loved about the prior summer. We have crossed off four of our must-do’s so far; Jazz in the Sculpture Garden, Wolf Trap Theatre-in-the-Woods, a few trips to Bethany Beach (a blog post coming soon about kids + Bethany Beach) and a few Nats & Big Train baseball games. Up next is our annual trip to Dutch Wonderland where we are actually going to sneak in a few days in the Poconos for the first time, followed by the Montgomery County Agriculture Fair in August where Stefanie Harrington Photography and I have something exciting in the works that we will share with you afterwards. All of these things combined with a few weeks of summer camp, more frequent scoops of ice cream, later bedtimes and less hustle + bustle help to make for a pretty sweet Summer.

Need a reprieve from the heat or bugs? Here are some of our favorite family-friendly places to visit that are indoors.
Michaels Camp Creativity
U.S. Botanic Garden (Children’s Garden is outdoors but magical so don’t miss it)
Badlands
First Studio at The Kreeger Museum
Zava Zone
Drop-in at Red Panda Art Studio
Port Discovery Children’s Museum

Our family enjoys having neighbors and friends over for a bbq, pulling out the sprinkler followed by s’mores over the fire pit. Summers in DC are hot and wet –which inevitably bring mosquitoes. We wouldn’t be able to be outside as much as we are if it weren’t for Mosquito Squad of Greater Washington DC treating our yard. We have a shaded backyard which means the excess water sometimes sticks around longer and that actually attracts the bug. As a result, we have been getting our yard sprayed for three Summers and it makes an incredible difference. No more dousing ourselves in bug spray and running inside to find shelter and Benadryl itch cream. Just good old Summertime fun, the way it was meant.

Mosquito Squad of Greater Washington DC is our communities’ leading choice for mosquito, tick, stink bug and gnat control, as well as other forms of backyard pest control. Their work has made it possible for customers to enjoy their backyards for the first time without fear of bug bites or vector-borne diseases. Their work is backed by a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t like the results, they promise to spray your yard again for free or refund your money. Schedule your mosquito control treatment by calling (571) 364-6956 and find a service that is right for your family here. 

This post was written in partnership with Mosquito Squad of Greater Washington DC who is providing standard barrier treatment for our yard this summer.