Beltway Bambinos

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

12 family-friendly activities to do in October in and around Washington, DC

In addition to checking things off our fall bucket list, there are plenty of exciting events happening in October that will allow families to experience Washington, DC. Don’t miss out on a fall favorite– apple and pumpkin picking!


Frederick Oktoberfest October 1st & 2nd

Weiner 500 Oktoberfest at the Wharf on October 2nd

Oktoberfest at The Boro on October 2nd

Jazz at The Kreeger Museum on October 2nd

15th Annual MPAartfest on October 3rd

Creepy climb at Summit Ropes coming October 8th

‘Back to The Yards’ on October 8th

Order new seasonal treats from Milk Bar. Taking the classic fall favorite,  apple cider doughnuts, and remixing it with a uniquely Milk Bar spin, a brand new cake and truffle combo is meant to transport you to your favorite fall memory.

Howl-O-Ween at Rosslyn’s new Interim Dog Park at Gateway Park West on October 22nd

Barracks Row OctROWberfest on October 23rd

Buy tickets for Witch Wartsmith’s Halloween Spooktacular at The Puppet Co through October 31st

View the newest exhibit at ARTECHOUSE, Life of a Neuron through November 28th

Happy New Year from Beltway Bambinos

Happy 2020– a new decade I hope brings everyone health and happiness. This past year generated growth, opportunity and produced relationships for Beltway Bambinos and I am forever grateful that so many of you find the blog to be a valuable resource.

Last week Beltway Bambinos Concierge launched; a service that gives families a week of exploration for their child based on the interests and needs of the family. A perfect itinerary for a caregiver to follow! We hope if your sitter is in a rut or if you need fresh ideas to get your Bambinos exploring you will consider this.

Highlighted below are the top 5 posts of the year. I plan to expand on these posts for 2020 as they are so popular and look forward to generating exciting, new content this year for you. Happy New Year!

1: Guide to summer camps— 2020 post coming this week
2: Indoor options— let us know in the comments below your favorite spot
3: Birthday party options for older kids— there is also a post for even more info on birthday parties
4: Kids eat free
5: 16 pools worth joining

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!!

Top Eleven: Bambinos in Baltimore (Edited)

With Baltimore being about a 45 minute drive (if you time it right), it’s the perfect destination for a day outing or even an overnight trip.We’ve got your itinerary planned for you; keeping your Bambinos busy while having a blast being in a new city. Unfortunately, this isn’t the city full of Smithsonian Museums so you will be charged to enter most of the attractions, but many are worth the price. Check their websites for daily discounts and specials.

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1. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum– 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21223

2. Port Discovery Children’s Museum– 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202 6a0120a61aa83a970c017d3f9ae55d970c-550wi
A few hours here and even your big kids will nap on the way home. The three-story climbing structure will physically tire them, but the constant learning opportunities, cleverly disguised as play, will leave them mentally exhausted too. The museum is an oasis designed for children ages 2 to 10. Port Discovery is attraction where kids can play, learn, exercise their creativity and expand their minds.

3. National Aquarium– 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

4. The Fire Museum of Maryland– 1301 York Road, Lutherville, MD 21093

5. Sandy Point State Park– 100 East College Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401
A day at the bay will make them sleep all night. The beach at this 786-acre park has a commanding view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The park’s recreational activities include swimming, fishing, crabbing, boating and windsurfing. Visitors enjoy picnicking as well as wildlife viewing and bird watching.

6. Maryland Science Center– 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Hands-on learning including a Planetarium and IMAX!

7. Six Flags America Baltimore/Washington, DC– 13710 Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20721

8. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore–1876 Mansion House Drive Baltimore, MD 21217

9. Inner Harbor- Baltimore, MD 21202
From family-friendly museums and restaurants to satisfy every palate, to exciting nightlife, cultural experiences and spectacular people-watching, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor offers more to see and do than you can imagine.

10. Oriole Park at Camden Yards– 333 West Camden Street Baltimore, MD 21201

11. Medieval Times– 7000 Arundel Mills Cir, Hanover, MD 21076
Horses, sword play, javelin throwing and a feast at this elaborate dinner theater served “medieval style” (i.e without silverware) has my son sold on going here.

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Bambinos in AU Park

American University Park is a neighborhood in NW  DC named for the American University. AU Park consists almost entirely of single-family homes and therefore has a community feel with hidden gems throughout the family-friendly neighborhood perfect for bringing the little ones. We’ve highlighted some great spots for you to take advantage of.

 

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Families are always looking for new playgrounds to explore. Adults get just as excited as the kids do because they know their little ones will be entertained as they discover new equipment. There are 2 very popular playgrounds around AU Park.

Friendship Recreation Center but known by most as Turtle Park is part of the DC Playground Renovation effort and will undergo an update in 2015. It is a favorite playground due to the extensive collection of donated toys and gear, it’s giant sand area and splash pad. The plan is to build a new recreation center as part of the renovation. In addition to the building they plan to update the tot lot and upper playground, add a new basketball court, a new splash pad, site amenities and landscaping. 45th and Van Ness Street, NW Washington, DC 20016

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Top Eleven Spots in Chevy Chase for Families

The place I call home; Chevy Chase, DC! And no, the neighborhood has nothing to do with the actor Cornelius Crane “Chevy” Chase. We luckily live 5 blocks from the hustle and bustle of “The Avenue” before you enter Maryland. Connecticut ‘Avenue’ that is, which has a Starbucks, children’s clothing store Full of Beans, Salon Familia where the entire family can get a haircut, CVS, 2 grocery stores, a post office and so much more. Head east down Connecticut Avenue and you enter Forest Hills neighborhood which has an independent bookstore; Politics and Prose, CVS, restaurants and Little Red Fox coffee shop. Below you’ll find the Top Ten spots to head with your Bambino(s).

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1. Barstons Child’s Play– Train tables and lots of toys out for kids to play with. I bet you can’t go in without leaving with lots of fun toys. The employees are so knowledgable about appropriate aged toys and what to get for that birthday party you’re sure to return to this toy store.

2. Jetties– New to the neighborhood but loved around the city. Sandwiches (try the Nobadeer if you’re in need of a Thanksgiving meal), salads, soups and ice cream!

3. Avalon Theatre Weekend Family Matinee– Films and live performances that are family-friendly and ridiculously fun. Screenings are typically held on Saturday and occasionally Sunday mornings and scheduled primarily during the winter.

4. Comet Ping Pong Pizza– A family favorite of ours! Noisy, kid-friendly atmosphere, with ping pong tables and foosball in the back room. Parents: While the kids eat their cheese pizzas, try the wings. You won’t be sorry.

5. Livingston Playground (Livingston St and 41st St), Forest Hills Playground (Chesapeake St and 32nd St), Lafayette Playground (Patterson St and 33rd St). The trifecta of playgrounds in the neighborhood all have unique features making the rotation a worthwhile one.

6. Chevy Chase Library and Playground- Check DC Library website for story times.

7. Chevy Chase Pavillon– Besides three stories of retail and restaurants, Bambinos can run around the lower level and lounge on the comfy chairs– you can enjoy a coffee from Starbucks or a sandwich from Lunchbox.

8. Rock Creek Park- Take Nevada Ave directly into the Park (which turns into Broad Branch Rd), park and get out to walk around and play or head to the Horse Stables (5100 Glover Rd NW) to see the horses.

9. Chevy Chase Circle Fountain- bring a boat to float or picnic.

10. Politics and Prose Bookstore with story time on Mondays 10:30am (resuming January 5, 2015). Children’s section is downstairs next to the coffee shop.

11. Broad Branch Market– Local shop for gourmet groceries, craft coffee, beer & wine plus takeout foods & buffet catering. Summer at BBM is a Bambinos dream; John Henry concerts and ice cream cones. Stop in for a loaf of bread or a fresh made sandwich.

Top Ten Spots in Cleveland Park for Families

Cleveland Park; where my roots really began in DC. Sure, I moved here and lived immediately in Arlington (what out-of-towner doesn’t do that?) and then rented an apartment on U Street for a year. But, it wasn’t until I was engaged that I moved in with my husband-to-be to a cute townhouse 5o steps away from the hustle and bustle of Connecticut Ave. on Ordway St. We lived there as we got married and then found out we were pregnant 7 months into wedded bliss and moved a block away (through the back alley) to Porter St. Now, about 200 steps away from Connecticut Ave. This is where our first child was born and it couldn’t have been a more perfect area of DC to have a newborn. I walked to Cacao or Palena to get a morning coffee and chocolate croissant with my newborn in the Ergo and then we’d stroll to the zoo. Sometimes we’d repeat this process in the afternoon but instead of Cacao we’d visit Vace for a sandwich or slice of pizza. Then, we decided to be adults and instead of renting a house we bought our own and now live in Chevy Chase, DC. It’s no Cleveland Park but it’s where we call home now as we await the arrival of our second baby, in 2 weeks.

This leads me to my first Top Ten post in which I will highlight (and sometimes just list or link) to 10 child-friendly restaurants, venues, playgrounds, etc in DC neighborhoods, starting with one of my favorite DC hoods– Cleveland Park.

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1. Smithsonian National Zoo

2. Newark Playground (39th St NW and Newark St NW)- The concept for Newark builds on an accessible path through the site and under shady trees. Parents and caregivers will appreciate a new stroller parking area and new seating throughout the site. Both younger and older children will find exciting new equipment, including climbing equipment and small boulders to sit or play on. A new rubberized play surface brings additional color and accessibility to the site. It sits next to a dog park, an impressive,  large community garden, and several tennis courts.

3. The Firehouse– because what child doesn’t like looking at the trucks? And if lucky enough a firefighter may come out and talk with you or give you a tour.

4. Cleveland Park Library

5. Macomb St Playground (3409 Macomb Street, NW)- The concept for Macomb linked the two separated play spaces, relocated the shaded gazebo to create a more pronounced entry to the space, and includes a new water feature. New stairs and an incline with ropes for climbing connect the upper and lower play area, and new equipment is included throughout the site. A new bright, rubberized surface has a fun herringbone pattern.

6. Firehook Bakery has a nice terrace out back with a fountain. Children can roam around as you enjoy a cup of joe and a croissant.

7. Uptown Theater is a historic, single-screen movie theater which opened in 1936. (Would love to see them host Family Matinees or events more often.)

8. Melvin Hazen Tributary Trail

9. NCRC Playground (3209 Highland Pl NW, Washington, DC 20008)- The playground is designed to provide multiple types of play opportunities for children ranging from 2-½ through 12 years of age. The playground includes three sandbox areas, climbing apparatus, swings, bike paths, a ball court, and garden spaces. Open during after school hours.

10. California Tortilla –Kid-friendly Cal-Mex menu with outdoor seating too. Cactus Cantina is up a few blocks from the strip of Cleveland Park but worth the walk and wait, if you want a more sit-down Tex-Mex meal.

 

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