Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

2019 Washington Nationals Family-Friendly Promotions at Nationals Park

Nationals Park was designed for fans of all ages, and throughout the 2019 season families will have great opportunities to come watch a game at Nationals Park and enjoy all the family-oriented things Nationals Park has to offer. In addition, one Sunday each month there will be a special giveaway for kids presented by Harris Teeter, featuring all new items. Family-friendly events like Kids Run the Bases, Kids Opening Day, and the Youth Baseball & Softball Parade also return for the 2019 season. The Nationals full 2019 promotional calendar can be found here.

Just for Kids Giveaways:
 April 28 – Kids Watch (First 10,000 fans 12 & under)
 May 26 – Max Scherzer Jersey (First 10,000 fans 12 & under)
 June 23 – Screech Hooded Towel (First 10,000 fans 12 & under)
 August 18 – Teddy Squeezable Toy (First 10,000 fans 12 & under)
 September 15 – Lumberjack Cap (First 10,000 fans 12 & under)



Events:
 Every Sunday Day Game – Kids Run the Bases
 Every Sunday Game – Signature Sundays
 Every Home Game – Racing Presidents Photos
 April 28 – Screech’s Birthday/Kids Opening Day presented by Jr. Nationals Kids Club
 April 28, June 16 – Youth Baseball & Softball Day presented by Inova
 May 16 – Weather Day presented by NBC4
 September 15 – Youth Champions Day
 Various Dates – Scout Day/Girl Scout Day

Other Giveaways:
Fun giveaways for fans of all ages in 2019 include several Nationals bobbleheads, like crowd-favorite Trea Turner and newcomer Patrick Corbin. New for 2019 are themed bobbleheads like MARVEL Super Hero™ Captain Zimmerman and STAR WARS™ Obi “Sean” Kenobi.

Bobbleheads and Collectibles:
 May 15 – Trea Turner Bobblehead presented by PNC Bank (First 25,000 fans)
 May 25 – MARVEL Super Hero™ Captain Zimmerman Bobblehead (First 10,000 fans)
 June 15 – STAR WARS™ Obi “Sean” Kenobi Bobblehead (First 10,000 fans)
 June 21 – Max Scherzer Bobblehead presented by Delta Air Lines (First 25,000 fans)
 July 2 – Adam Eaton Bobblehead presented by PNC Bank (First 25,000 fans)
 July 23 – Nationals Water Bottle presented by MASN (First 20,000 fans)
 August 17 – Patrick Corbin Bobblehead presented by SAIC (First 25,000 fans)

Apparel:
 May 2 – Nationals Expandable Beach Bag presented by Kaiser Permanente (First 20,000 fans)
 July 27 – Nationals Racing Presidents Tote Bag presented by MLB Network (First 25,000 fans)
 September 29 – Nationals Puffy Vest presented by Coca-Cola (First 20,000 fans)

Fireworks Nights Presented by Budweiser
Bang! Zoom! Fireworks nights are coming to Nationals Park! Nationals fans will have five opportunities to bring the whole family and watch fireworks light up the sky above Nationals Park. Fireworks Nights will include four “Fireworks Friday” games and a special “Freedom Fireworks” show on July 3.

Fireworks Nights:
 Friday, April 26
 Friday, May 24
 Friday, June 14
 Wednesday, July 3
 Friday, August 30

Theme Nights:
Theme Nights are fun for the whole family, and this season Nats fans can dress up as their favorite characters during MARVEL Super Hero™ Day and STAR WARS™ Day. Each Theme Night will involve in-park activations, special scoreboard elements, and on-field pregame festivities. A special ticket is NOT required for Theme Nights.
 May 25 – MARVEL Super Hero™ Day
 June 15 – STAR WARS™ Day

Special Ticket Events:
There are several special ticket events fit for the whole family at Nationals Park in 2019. These family affairs include everything from bringing the grandkids to enjoy a day with grandma and grandpa during Seniors Stroll the Bases, to bringing your four-legged family members to Pups in the Park!
 May 27, September 2 – Seniors Stroll the Bases presented by Kaiser Permanente
 June 16 – Father’s Day Catch on the Field
 June 20 – Ladies Night
 July 6 – Cat-urday (For cat-loving families!)
 Various Dates – Pups in the Park presented by Budweiser

Our favorite family-friendly summer activities in and around Washington, DC

Summer is my all-time favorite time in Washington, DC, despite the hot temperatures, there is something always going on. An outdoor festival, fountains to splash around in, an outdoor sports game to watch or live music are a few of our go-to’s. We want to help you kick off your summer the right way so you don’t miss out on some of the great summer events in Washington, DC.

Photo courtesy of DC Mosquito Squad
  • Jazz in the Sculpture Garden: The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 19th season in May. The free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—Brazilian Folk Jazz, Alternative Modern, Blues, Reggae, World Steam Punk, Afro Funk, African Fusion Jazz, Cuban Charanga, Django Guitar, New Orleans Jazz, and more—every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Bring a picnic, buy a beverage, relax and enjoy the atmosphere, sculptures and music.
  • Local splash parks
  • Wolf Trap children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods: June 18- Aug 3, 2019- Across the meadow from the Filene Center, literally tucked in the woods at Wolf Trap National Park, the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods has been a summer tradition for generations of children and families. Performances range from music and dance to puppetry and storytelling—interactive, educational, and fun. All shows are about an hour long and are perfect for children ages 4 and up. Event calendar can be found here.
  • Play in your own yard! Our family loves good old fashioned chalk and bubbles on our front walkway but we also play tons of catch, water play and scootering. This wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t have our yard sprayed by Mosquito Squad. The first year we lived in our house we weren’t able to sit on our front porch for more than a minute without being bitten by mosquitos. Mosquito Squad has made an amazing difference and after our treatment the mosquitos are gone! What I love most is that their spray techniques allow for kids and pets to return to playing just 30 minutes after service.
  • Pirate Adventure on the Chesapeake: Boat + Annapolis + Pirate Adventure = Outdoor Perfection
  • Smithsonian Folklife Festival: The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is June 29 & 30, 2019 and you will experience living traditions from around the world. The goal is to work with communities to strengthen and preserve their cultures and share them with you on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
  • Strathmore Backyard Theatre: Enrich your little ones’ summer Thursday mornings in July with sunshine, music, and laughter at Strathmore’s Backyard Theater for Kids. This eclectic program is the perfect summer escape for busy families. Pack a picnic and enjoy live performances by highly esteemed and innovative family-friendly entertainers.
  • Montgomery County Agriculture Fair: The Fair will be August 9-17, 2019 and has animals, rides, entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibits, and many others for the whole family to enjoy!
  • 11th Annual Ukulele Festival at Strathmore: It’s a celebration of the marvelous musicality of the ukulele on August 21, 2019. UkeFest features ukulele superstars Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Daniel Ho, and Peter Luongo along with a mass strum-along. This fantastically fun concert is the culmination of the 11th annual UkeFest intensive workshop and a highlight of summer at Strathmore!
  • Kayak, canoe and paddle boating: Ballpark Boathouse, Fletcher’s Boathouse, Mariner Sailing School, The Wharf

Mosquito Squad of Greater Washington DC is our communities’ leading choice for mosquito, tick, and flea 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 D.C. Mosquito Squad who is providing standard barrier treatment for our yard this summer.

FitCampNation Summer Camp at Deal Middle School


FitCampNation Summer Camp is back this summer with more fun, excitement, activities and games than ever before! They focus on fitness, intro to sports and enrichment, structured play, and nutritional education, all in a fun and nurturing environment!

Session information is as follows:

Session 1: June 24th through June 28th
Session 2: July 1st through July 5th (no camp July 4th or 5th)
Session 3: July 8th through July 12th
Session 4: July 15th through July 19th
Session 5: July 22nd through July 26th

$350 per session ($225 for session 2, Independence Day week)
$75 per day drop in rate
10% sibling discount & 10% multi-week discount
  
Please email us with questions or visit FitCamp Website.
REGISTER FOR FITCAMP HERE!

16 pools worth the cost of membership in and around Washington, DC

Summer is right around the corner! There are several great pools in the area you can become a member of if you want a go-to place to splash around and become a regular swimmer at, offering you a sense of community as the number of members are typically capped at a low number. Many of these pools offer multiple pools and some have swim lessons and even swim teams! If you aren’t looking for a paid membership at a pool, DC DPR has a pool for you, free of cost if you are a DC resident. Here’s an old post of recommended swim lessons collected from readers.

(Photo: Adelphi Pool)

This post is sponsored by Adelphi Pool; a family-friendly, affordable pool right around the corner.

Join the family-friendly Adelphi Pool in Hyattsville and spend your summer lounging by the Olympic-sized pool or keep cool as you watch your little ones play in the 30′ x 30′ fenced-in wading pool! With long hours and fun events like karaoke, raft night and s’mores night, everyone will be happy and cool at the Adelphi Pool this summer!

Surrounded by trees and open spaces, the Adelphi Pool also has plenty of places to sit and relax or enjoy a picnic lunch — choose shade or sun! On the hill overlooking the pool is a shaded picnic area where families can enjoy food from home or cookout on one of the pool’s grills. 

This private pool offers free swimming lessons at the beginning of the season for your little ones, a swim team for the older kids, as well as yoga classes. The pool also offers volleyball, ping pong, badminton, and horseshoes. 

Beauvoir Pool (NW DC)
*Family and individual memberships sold out for 2019, early bird and evening memberships available.

Tilden Woods Pool (Rockville, MD)
*The pool comes alive with activities for the entire family, both day and night. Swim in a heated pool, enjoy cookouts, raft nights, or relax in the sun or shade. They also have a top-ranked swim team. 

Omni Shoreham Hotel Pool (NW DC)
*Pool memberships for purchase in addition to joining the health club.

Cleveland Park Club (NW DC)
*Cleveland Park, North Cleveland Park and Woodley Park residents.

Living Well Health Club at Washington Hilton (NW DC)
*Health club and pool memberships.

JBAB Base Pool (SW DC)
*Active duty service members and Air Force club members receive free pool access during the entire swimming season. Swim passes available for purchase.

Palisades Swim & Tennis Club (Cabin John, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 8 to 10 years for new applicants applying.

Northwest Branch Pool (Silver Spring, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 2 years for new applicants applying.

Palisades Swim & Tennis Club (Cabin John, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 8 to 10 years for new applicants applying.

Chevy Chase Recreation Association: CCRA (Chevy Chase, MD)
*Memberships may be offered only to those residing within a specific geographic area of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Permanent memberships are unrestricted, but have a waiting list of about 5-7 years while partial summer membership has a waitlist of 1-3 months.

Connecticut Belair Club (Silver Spring, MD)
*Membership is not limited in any way by geography.

Tuckahoe Recreation Club (McLean, VA)
*Open year round that offers its members a healthy family environment with many outstanding facilities and activities for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Columbus Club (Arlington, VA)
*Open to non-council members as well.

Overlee Community Association (Arlington, VA)
*Limited to families living in Arlington, Falls Church, and McLean.

Arlington Forest Club (Arlington, VA)
*Has a waitlist of over 500 families.

Guide to Summer Camps in Washington, DC

This 2019 summer camp guide is sponsored by British International School of Washington Summer Camp.

British International School of Washington Summer Camp (2001 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007)

Summer camp gives children unique experiences that help them to grow and have fun while building their self-confidence, making new friends and learning new skills. At the British International School of Washington (BISW) Summer Camp, we foster resilience, respect and independence in a safe and fun environment. Our mission is to create memories and build friendships to last a lifetime!

BISW Summer Camp offers summer camp programs open to BISW and non-BISW children ages 3 to 11 years old. Choose from five one-week long camp sessions with an extended day option. The camp program includes exciting field trips, sports activities, outdoor exploration, arts and crafts, water activities, cooking and so much more! Registration is first come, first served and space is limited! Register your child online here. We would be happy to speak with you about BISW Summer Camp; please feel free to email Haley with any questions.

Multi-interest Camps: 

Lowell School Camp

Sidwell Summer

Adventures on the Hill

Norbeck Montessori

Beauvoir Summer

Headfirst Summer Camp

Potomac School

Edlavitch DCJCC Camp

Camp Berry

Aiden’s Village of Choice Summer

Smithsonian Summer Camp

Landon Summer

CASA at Sheridan School

Steve and Kates Camp

YMCA Camps

Clara Barton Center for Children

Glen Echo Summer Camp

Music, Theatre & Art Camps:

(Photo: American Youth Chorus)

American Youth Chorus (Parish Hall of St. Marks Church: 301 A St SE, Washington, DC 20003)

The American Youth Chorus is thrilled to announce a new summer program for the summer of 2019! The AYC SUMMER MUSIC CAMP will expand your child’s horizons musically and artistically. During each session, a fantastic staff of choral conductors and music professionals with lead campers through an exploration of many musical genres. From Handel to Hamilton, and Bach to Broadway, get ready for a summer full of SINGING, LEARNING, and PLAYING!! In addition to singing, children will craft, dance, drum, and explore music history and musicianship topics! All of these wonderful activities culminate in a Friday evening performance at the end of each session — open to the public. Don’t wait;sign your child up today! Ages 7-12.

Round House Theatre

Summer Theatre Camps at the award-winning Round House Theatre encourage your child to “PLAY ON” all summer long! Round House believes every child is an artist and provides an array of fun and exciting programs in Silver Spring and Bethesda for Youth and Teens in Grades K-12 to inspire creativity and exercise imaginations while developing critical thinking, cooperation, and confidence.

Your little ones will embark on fantastic adventures—from animal kingdoms to magical realms—in SUMMER DESTINATIONS (Grades K-3). Campers collaborate to bring stories to life on stage, while developing special skills in design and music, in the SUMMER PLAYMAKERS ensemble (Grades 4-6). And the SUMMER TEEN INSTITUTE (Grades 6-12) provides a supportive environment for students to build theatrical skills while developing their own artistic voices under the guidance of professional educators and theatre artists!

Before and After Care available. Camps begin June 17. Early Bird Registration savings through March 1. See website for details.

Levine Summer Music & Arts Day Camp

International School of Music

Camp Arena Stage

Lola’s Lab Camp

National Conservatory of Arts

Bach 2 Rock

Meadowlark Guitar and Ukulele Camp

Takoma Groove Camp

Adventure Theatre Camps

Arts on the Horizon Summer Camps

Berrend Summer Dance

Encore Stage and Studio

Imagination Stage

The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts

Fit Kids Hit the Stage

Toolbox Art Gallery Summer Camp (ages 12-18)

Red Panda Art Studio

Anna Banana Arts & Crafts

Little Loft Art

McLean Project for the Arts (MAP)

Art in Motion via UpCycle/Local Motion

The Art League

Creative Youth

Sports Camps:

Dance & GymnasticsCamps

Nationals Baseball & Softball Day & Overnight Camp

Home Run Baseball Camp

Baseball Camp at Bethesda Big Train

PPA

Kids Elite Sports Camp

The First Tee Golf Camp

Tennis Camp

RDU Tennis

Lafayette Tennis

Flag Star Football

DC Way (Soccer)

Camp Olympia

Brit-Am Soccer

Next Level Lacrosse

HoopEd

Koa Sports

Outdoor Camps:

Valley Mill Camp

Calleva Outdoor Adventure Camp

Summer at Norwood

Adventure Links Day & Overnight Camp

(Photo:iD Tech Camps)

Building, Technology, Coding, STEM & Hands-On Camps:

iD Tech Camps (locally at American Univ., Georgetown Univ., Howard Univ., Univ of MD., Virginia Tech; Falls Church location, Johns Hopkins; Rockville location & Towson)

iD Tech is the world leader in summer STEM education, with over 400,000 alumni since 1999. Programs for ages 7-19 are held at 150 prestigious campuses including American, Georgetown, NYU, and Stanford. Students build in-demand skills for futures in coding, game development, robotics, and design, and learn in guaranteed small classes (10 students max per instructor). In addition to the flagship program, iD Tech Camps for ages 7-17, iD Tech also offers all-girls camps, teen-only Academies, an advanced capstone program, and year-round Online Private Lessons.

(Photo: KID Museum)

KID Museum (6400 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817)

Make it a summer of fun and invention at KID Museum, June 24 – August 30 for kids in grades 2-9! KID Museum summer campers will be traveling the world, conjuring up Harry Potter-style magic, and putting on the greatest maker show in town. Camps are designed and led by professional maker educators, and develop real-world skills through fun, hands-on projects. Dive in and discover what you can create! Sign up today.

Bricks4Kidz

Coder Kids

The Great Adventure Lab

Badlands Camp

National Building Museum Summer Camp

Mad Science Summer Camp

Play-Well TEKnologies

Apple Camp

Animal Camps:

Humane Rescue Alliance

Woodland Horse Center

Summer Safari Zoo Camp at The National Zoo

Rock Creek Park Horse Center

Meadowbrook Stables

County Camps:

Montgomery County Parks & Recreation Summer Camps

Washington, DC Parks & Recreation Summer Camps

Arlington County Summer Camps

Fairfax County Park Authority Summer Camps

Other camps around the Washington, DC area:


Need to sign-up for just one week or only one day of camp? Thanks to some locals parents, we’ve got a great list of drop-ins.

Bruce Murray Soccer Camp is in Potomac and has bus transportation
Humane Rescue Alliance for grades 2 & up
CASA at Sheridan School has a Guest Week program
Bethesda YMCA tennis camp 
Woods Academy in Bethesda has a great summer science program
HomeRun Baseball Camp allows daily drop-ins and accepts kids ages 4-12
PPA offers soccer camps
Bethesda Soccer Club has tons of soccer camps
Sidwell Friends School summer camp
Washington Episcopal School summer camp
Calleva is an outdoor camp that has buses that pick up and drop off close-in and offer a variety of camp experiences
Brit-Am is a local soccer club that also has summer camps
Headfirst summer camp is very popular with various themes with two locations
Four Soccer at American University
Achilles Football Club at St. John’s
Bach to Rock has a music camp in Bethesda
Landon camp is for boys and girls and provides bus transportation from a few neighborhoods

11 highlights from summer 2018 in and around Washington, DC

It’s hard to believe it is already August!Time certainly flies. In honor of the final month (well three weeks! for DCPS students) of summer, we wanted to make sure you hit some of OUR summer favorites before it’s over. In no particular order, here are our top 11 highlights: 

  1. Climbing, flying, running and jumping at ZavaZone
  2. Splashing around at Yards Park
  3. Hiking and biking in Rock Creek Park
  4. Jazz in the Sculpture Garden— (final one is Aug. 24, 2018)
  5. Going to the beach– for an easy day trip (or make it an overnight)
  6. Baseball games at Nats Park
  7. Dutch Wonderland can be a day trip (or make it a fun overnight)
  8. Horseback ride at Rock Creek Horse Center
  9. Outdoor performance at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre in the Woods (final performance Aug. 4, 2018)
  10. Bowling at Pinstripes, ice cream at Baked Bear and playing in the sand at the “beach” at Pike & Rose
  11. Outdoor movies!!

Beach and State Park day trips from Washington, DC

Do you dread the thought of packing the car for a 2.5+ hour car trip to Delaware and Maryland’s famous beaches or maybe just can’t make it that far this summer? Below you will find short day trips that will allow you to get your toes sandy and your little ones splashing around without the cost of a hotel and long haul. If you’d rather just get sandy in between grocery runs and camp pick-ups, Rockville’s Pike & Rose has a “beach” set-up (see photo below) with pails and shovels and is conveniently located next to The Baked Bear!

Breezy Point Beach & Campground

(43 miles from DC) Bring the entire family for a fun-filled day at the beach. There’s something for everyone at Breezy Point Beach and Campground. Children will enjoy building sand castles, playing on our playground or searching for shark teeth. Come and spend a relaxing day on one of the area’s finest public beaches. Enjoy one-half mile of sandy beach surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay. Relax in the sun or swim in our netted swimming area. For fishing and crabbing enthusiasts, we have a 200-foot pier for your pleasure. The campground offers seasonal and daily camping. Pack a picnic lunch or use one of the grills in the picnic area.

Calvert Cliffs State Park 

(60 miles from DC) The Calvert Cliffs’ beach area is a sandy quarter mile stretch located on the Chesapeake Bay. The shortest route to the beach is the 1.8 mile Red Trail. Fossil hunting and typical beach activities are common reasons people visit the beach. Over 600 species of fossils from the Miocene era (10 to 20 million years ago) have been identified in the Calvert Cliffs, many of which can be found at Calvert Cliffs State Park.

Cunningham Falls State Park

(65 miles from DC) Outdoor activity is everywhere at Cunningham Falls State Park. Leisure opportunities like swimming, hiking, fishing and canoeing are available. For those who wish to get away for either a night or longer there are campsites and camper cabins available for rental from April through October.

Leesylvania State Park

(25 miles from DC) Leesylvania is nestled along the tidal shores of the historic Potomac River. Native Americans lived on this land for thousands of years. Capt. John Smith visited the area in 1608 on his voyage of discovery. It’s also the ancestral home of Virginia’s legendary Lee and Fairfax families. Listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, Leesylvania offers many land and water activities, including hiking, picnicking, fishing and boating. A universally accessible fishing pier, playground, boat launch, boat storage area, snack bar and store, visitor center and gift shop are available. A 20-station fitness trail and canoe and kayak rentals also are available.

Matapeake Clubhouse & Beach

(44 miles from DC) Located on the Chesapeake Bay on Kent Island, Maryland, the grounds include a public swimming beach, an outdoor amphitheater, family picnic area and trails through the surrounding woods, with views of the Bay Bridge.

Sandy Point State Park

(38 miles from DC) The park’s beaches and picnic areas are well known for their breathtaking scenic water views that overlook one of Maryland’s true treasures, the Chesapeake Bay. Some of these activities and services include Swimming Beaches, Picnicking, Fishing, Crabbing, Boating, Hiking, Youth G​roup Camping, Areas of Historical Interest and Wildlife Viewing. The Park also offers a marina store and boat rentals.

Purse State Park

(46 miles from DC) Purse (Part of Nanjemoy WMA) is located on the Potomac River on Wades Bay. Purse is a wooded undeveloped area that is used for hunting, bird watching, shore fishing and fossil hunting. Purse is a part of the Aquia Formation which formed in the Paleocene Epoch about 60 million years ago when a gigantic meteor hit the earth. This area was covered with warm shallow water which made it a suitable habitat for sand tiger sharks, mackerel sharks, Turritella (snails) and Eagle Rays more specifically Cownose Rays which all lived during this time period.

Other day trips:
In Shenandoah National Park, hike from waterfall to waterfall, climb the rocky Old Rag Mountain, go biking or take a guided horseback ride. If you need to cool off, head over to Shenandoah River Outfitters and go rafting, tubing or kayaking on the shady river. 75 miles from downtown D.C. at its northernmost point; see all park entrances here.

Take a step back in time in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  Although West Virginia is a small state, it’s packed with history and beautiful scenery. Kids will have fun visiting this National Historical Park. Visit Harpers Ferry for the Civil War history and re-enactors. Hike one of the many trails in the area for a spectacular view of three states—West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland—at once. Amtrak provides one train from Union Station to Harpers Ferry per day but it’s a short at about 67 miles from D.C. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center can get your hooked up with kayaks, tubes and more if you’re feeling adventurous. If you happen to go on Monday, be sure and stay for the Music in the Park Concert at Bolivar Children’s Park from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Overnight trips:
Depending on the age(s) of your kids, an overnight at The Greenbrier or The Homestead may be a great overnight getaway which provides endless activities! You could also check out Kingsmill Resort or Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Va. They cater to your little ones with daily activities and fun in the water and a spa for YOU!

Related Posts: 
Water Parks, Splash Pads and Pools
Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake

Best ice cream in Washington, DC

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream in Washington, DC! It doesn’t have to be summer for me to grab a scoop (or two). But with the weather we are having, all of us need a place to head to for a quick cool off which also involves a treat. There’s nothing like a good scoop of ice cream or an ice cold popsicle.

But first let me introduce you to FrutaPOP. They are a small-batch, hand-crafted ice pop company, specializing in natural fruit and juice ice pops, coffee ice pops and alcohol infused ice pops. FrutaPOP is the first of it’s kind to contain healthy, natural ingredients without any added sugars. All of the alcohol-infused ice pops, also known as “POPTAILS” contain 5% ABV or less. You can order in quantities of 12, 24, 36 & 48. Think Mimosa and Sangria Poptails and Fruit & Juice pops (non-alcoholic) for your next pool party! Use code: BELTWAYBAMBINOS for 15% your order; perfect for a summer bbq or sitting poolside. 

Did you know Maryland has nine dairy farms that offer fresh, delicious on-farm ice cream? Together, they make up the “Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail.” Visit each creamery and get a trail passport stamped to be named Maryland’s Ice Cream Trail Blazer! Sounds like a delicious summer bucket-list item.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

THE. BEST. (#notanad) Always a line, definitely worth waiting in, enough said, go and get some scoops, report back. 

The Baked Bear

Homemade cookies from original recipes and hand-scooped on site, cookies are made with the highest quality ingredients and baked fresh from scratch every day. Baked Bear craft ice cream is made with the highest quality ingredients around and is a step above the traditional, using an all-natural mix made only with rBGH-free cream, pure cane sugar and natural stabilizers. 

Trickling Springs Creamery

An old-fashioned dairy store serving ice cream, milk shakes, milk and cookies at Eastern Market. Do you want to take some ice cream home with you after hanging out at Union Market?  No problem. They have 3 full freezer doors stocked with Trickling Springs FarmFriend ice creams, Trickling Springs Organic ice creams, and Little Baby’s ice cream.

Ice Cream Jubilee

I found out about ICJ because of the mouth-watering Instagram photos everyone posts and then I realized you can order from UberEats! The best flavors come from the best ingredients.  They use only all-natural cream and milk from a local creamery, just 50 miles from our scoop shop in Washington, DC.  and are proud about the small-batch technique – just a few gallons at a time – allows to create the highest-quality product and the freshest flavors.

Millie’s

Brought to you by the owners of Surfside, Jetties, etc. Walk up to an outdoor ice-cream stand (attached to the take-out hut) and grab delicious scoops.

Class 520

The very first Thai-inspired ice cream establishment opening in the state of Maryland. Handcrafted rolls made with no preservatives or stabilizers, so you know it’s fresh.

Broad Branch Market

A market that has most everything you need at a higher price but you feel like you live in Mayfield when you walk in. They have a freezer of about 8 flavors to get a scoop and a freezer of novelties. 

Nicecream Factory

Handcrafted ice cream is their passion. They start our process by combining fresh milk and local ingredients from nearby farms. Using a freezing agent, liquid nitrogen, then freeze the ice cream on the spot in front of guests, creating the freshest handcrafted cup of ice cream you can get.

Larry’s Ice Cream

This family business, open since 1985, is well-known for the owner’s surly demeanor and delicious, homemade ice cream. With classic flavors like cookie dough and unique flavors like Key West chocolate, there’s something for everyone here.  

Thomas Sweet

This extensive sweets shop is complete with homemade fudge and chocolates, freshly baked pastries and paninis—in addition to ice cream. The specialty here is the one-of-a-kind ‘blend ins’ with homemade ice cream. It’s not a place for the indecisive as they have a chalkboard full of flavors like peanut butter chip, vanilla cherry and our favorite, coffee Oreo. Keep in mind that the kiddie-sized cup is very large—about 2 scoops of ice cream.

The Dairy Godmother

This summer, you’ll find some exciting new additions at this custard shop. Stick with what you know and get Wisconsin-style frozen custard in vanilla or chocolate every day, or try the flavor of the day. Tollhouse cookie and toasted almond are both on the schedule; see all the upcoming flavors of the day here. They’ll also be offering Exotic Ice Pops this summer along with Frozen Custard Cake and Puppy Pops—a treat for your dog!

Moorenko’s Ice Cream

This ice cream brand, which is sold around the NE corridor, is made right here in D.C.! They even have a small shop where you can go for freshly made, hand-crafted ice cream. They’ve got the classic flavors as well as some unique flavors like Guinness, Rice Pudding and Cotton Candy Gummy Bear.

Captain Cookie and the Milkman

What started as a food truck serving milk and cookies and ice cream sandwiches, now has 3 food trucks you can see schedule locations here. For those of us who can’t make it to a truck stop, there is an actual location. They also deliver!

Jetties

Serving Gifford’s ice cream, Jetties is not just an ice cream shop, but also well-known for delicious sandwiches and salads. It’s the perfect place to grab lunch and a scoop for dessert, with the option of adding toppings like sprinkles and crushed Oreos to your cone.

Sfoglina 

Italian Soft Serve Gelato: Your Choice of Tahitian Vanilla & or Strawberry Sorbetto. Sounds boring but I promise you will want to go back the next day for another!

Oldies but Goodies:

Dolcezza Gelato

Dolci Gelati

Pitango Gelato

Godiva

Ben & Jerry’s

YogiBerry

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(Photo: Pleasant Pops)

And for those who enjoy a nice, cold popsicle we didn’t forget you–

Pleasant Pops

All original recipes made with fresh ingredients. Flavors rotate constantly as they run out. To name a few; Can also be found at various Farmer’s Markets and Food Trucks, check site.

Whim Pop

Whim Pop integrates flavors of the world on a healthy, fresh and cool environment by creating unique delicacies in a variety of exotic flavors and presentations. Whim Pop is your answer for that unexplained desired of something unique and guilt free! Can also be found at various Farmer’s Markets, check site.

FrutaPop

A small-batch, hand-crafted ice pop company, specializing in natural fruit and juice ice pops, coffee ice pops and alcohol infused ice pops. FrutaPOP is the first of it’s kind to contain healthy, natural ingredients without any added sugars. All of the alcohol-infused ice pops, also known as “POPTAILS” contain 5% ABV or less. You can order in quantities of 12, 24, 36 & 48. Order online and use code: BELTWAYBAMBINOS for 15% your order!!!

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