maryland – Page 4

Climbable Art at Climb Zone USA

March 23, 2015

A few weeks ago my son and I had a day-date and I wanted it to be a meaningful day. I decided against his favorite places that we typically go to and instead headed to an awesome indoor spot (because it was a rainy, cold day); Climb Zone USA which is in Laurel, Maryland. We had no traffic and it was a quick 30 minute drive.

Climb Zone has 76 themed climbing walls and each wall is 28 feet tall. My son has never been rock climbing, besides of course those small 3 foot walls at playgrounds. He was definitely nervous as the instructor strapped on a harness to his waist. I figured he’d need encouragement and assistance so I decided not to climb, but adults are more than welcome to. The instructor explained how to attach his carabiner to each climbing wall and then we were off, on our own. We walked around, admiring all of the familiar scenes recreated on walls and he found his favorite climbable art wall and up he went.

Once your little one has had enough climbing, they can jump over to the bounce houses or test their luck at some video games. A small cafe offers treats and cold drinks. There is a small fenced in area for children 3 and under to play in as well. Children ages 2-5 cost $12 and children 6 years and older will cost $25. There is no time limit so you can stay all day if you’d like. You can also host a birthday party at this fun indoor spot.

Eggstravaganza 2015 in the Washington, DC area

March 20, 2015

Egg hunts galore! Whether it be a festival, farm or egg hunt (we’ve left brunch for you to figure out!) your child will have a blast and maybe even get to experience more than one of these events. Options begin this weekend and run through Easter. Happy hunting.

March 21, 22, 28, 29, April 4 & 5 (Times vary): Ticonderoga Farms – Spring Easter Festival
(26469 Ticonderoga Rd, Chantilly, VA)
Ticonderoga Farm’s Bunny will be joining everyone at the farm. Hopping around and posing for picture opportunities during our weekend hours and playing with our favorite friend Chickadee. Together hiding eggs for all the children to enjoy finding, especially the golden eggs that provide extra fun prizes for those who find them. Egg hunts will be held at 11:00am and2:00pm. Cost is $11.95. Giant slides, mazes, animals, face painting and much more will be there!

March 28, 29, April 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12 (Closed Easter Sunday): 20th Annual Bunnyland at Butler’s Orchard
(22200 Davis Mill Road Germantown MD 20876)
Enjoy a hayride down the Bunny Trail, race the Rubber Duck Derby, hunt for colorful eggs (we provide the basket!), exchange eggs for a goodie basket to take home, visit with the farm’s very own Country Bunny, ride pedal tractors, play in Hayromp and Playground, hop in inflatables, ride the giant slides, see bunnies, lambs and chicks, get your face painted and ride a pony. $8.75 per child and $6.75 per adult.

March 28 11:00am-2:00pm: Eggstravaganza at Four Mile Run
(4109 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22305- Many other locations, see link above)
Kids will be visited by the Easter bunny and there will be several Easter egg hunts. National Community invites all families to come together for live music, refreshments and many family friendly activities. Nature Center animal petting, face painting, piñata, games, photo booth, raffle and a mobile art lab will entertain all. Admission is free and registration for the egg hunts will begin on site at 10:45 am. The Eggstravaganza is co-sponsored by the City of Alexandria.

March 28, April 3 & 4th 10:30am: 8th Annual Eggstravaganza! at Tudor Place
(1644 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007)
Rolling green lawns, bobbing spring blooms, and the elegant mansion on a hill serve as backdrop for this festive annual attraction. Join the Easter Bunny and children of all ages for an Egg Hunt (starting 10:30 a.m.) and thrilling Egg Roll Contest down the grand South Lawn (10:45 a.m.). Decorate eggs, play games from the past, take photos with the Easter Bunny, and make the 5½-acre gardens your play space for the morning. Please bring:a basket (for Egg Hunt), one long-handled spoon per child (for Egg Roll), and one hard-boiled egg per child (for Egg Roll). Non-Member Child: $10 | Accompanying Adult: $5.

April 3-5 (times vary): The Lee-Fendall House Easter Egg Hunt
(614 Oronoco Street Alexandria, VA)
The museum’s garden will be filled with hundreds of colorful toy-filled Easter eggs! Other activities include games, crafts, refreshments, and photos with the Easter Bunny. All children of elementary school age or younger (children aged 0-12) are eligible to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt. Older children and adults are welcome to enjoy the other activities. Tickets are $12 for children aged 0-12, and $5 for all others.

April 3 10:00am-3:00pm: Meadowside Nature Center’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt
(5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD)
Children ages 2 through 12 can search for real (hard-boiled) eggs hidden in the meadow, then dye and decorate the eggs they find. There will be other spring-related activities throughout the day, including bunny hat and frog puppet crafts, ‘egg’ games, live animals and a meet-and-greet with Otus the Owl mascot. Register in advance for the 30-minute hunting sessions. Admission: $8 per child.

April 3 & 4: Bunny Breakfast and Train Ride at B & O Railroad Museum
Join us for our annual Easter Bunny breakfast buffet in the Roundhouse. Enjoy story time with Choo Choo Blue, the museum’s mascot, take a carousel ride, and have your photo taken with our guest of honor! Then “All Aboard” for an exclusive train ride with the B&O Bunny! $34 for adults & $26 for children ages 2 and up. To purchase tickets contact Dana Kirn at 410-752-2462 x 221. (No sales after 3pm on April 1.)

April 4 7:30am-9:00am: Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C. Easter Egg Hunt
(1001 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004)
There is limited availability in each session, so please book fast! Once a session is full, no more tickets will be available for that time. So, if you are unable to attend the White House Easter Egg Roll, then come along and meet all 44 US Presidents and hunt for goodies along the way! Tons of eggs will be hidden throughout our Presidents Gallery. Once children have collected the empty eggs, they can then trade them in at the end of the hunt for an Easter gift bag full of fun goodies (1 per child). Admission is $25 for adults (13 and older) and free for children (12 and under). Price of admission will include FULL access to Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C., an Easter egg hunt through the Presidents Gallery, 1 gift bag per child, a meet & greet with the Easter Bunny, access to an on site petting zoo, and Easter storytelling and crafts! All children must be accompanied by an adult and there is a maximum limit of 4 children for every 1 adult.

April 4 (times vary): Cottontail Express at Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad
(315 Railroad Ave, Elkins, WV 26241)
Bring the kids dressed in their Easter best to meet Peter Cottontail on the Train. Join the Easter parade of animals in a mad search for that hippity, hoppity Bunny. This hop down the rails includea face painting, singing and general merriment. 1.5 hour roundtrip. Departs Elkins Depot 11 am and 1 pm. Adult – $40, Children (Age 4 – 11) – $35, Under 4 – Free. Reserve your spots now.

April 4 10:00am-12:00pm Easter Eggstravaganza at Rose Field
(2609 Dumbarton Street NW, WDC 20007)
The Easter Eggstravaganza is one of the most *EGGciting* Easter events in the area, this is a time for kids and families to come out and enjoy a fun-filled FREE event. There will be an Easter bunny, Easter Egg hunt, face painting, balloon animals, concessions, music, a moon bounce, games and much more! Come out and enjoy the festivities with us!

April 4 10:30am-12:30pm: 10th Annual Stead Park’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt
(P St NW between 16th and 17th Sts)
Hunt for Eggs by Age Group (please bring own basket)
Photos with the Easter Bunny • Coloring Table • Snacks & Beverages. This year we will be dividing the park into 3 areas for ‘hunting’ by age group (0-3, 4-6 & 7-10). We will have volunteers from the Foundry holding age group signs, so please help your child get to the appropriate spot so that all the children have a chance to find eggs. Children must be chaperoned by a parent or guardian. This is a popular (free) event, so we are requesting an RSVP. This event is free, but please bring a baby item to donate to the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project.

April 4 1:00pm-3:00pm: Easter Eggstravaganza at Lincoln Park
(East Capitol Street between 11th and 13th Street Washington, DC 20003)
Two Easter Egg Hunts, life-size Easter Bunny, cotton candy, face painting, games, prizes and bike raffle (one girl’s, one boy’s). Everything is free.

April 5 8:30am: Rosedale Conservancy
(35th St NW and Newark Street NW, Cleveland Park)
The Rosedale Conservancy will host the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter morning. Please bring your little ones armed with baskets. Meet at 8:30am at the Farmhouse, up the steps from the 35th and Newark Street gate.

April 5: Easter Brunch and Egg Hut at Pinstripes

April 5 12:00pm: Eggstravaganza 2015 at Walter Pierce Park
(b/t N Ontario Pl & N Lanier Pl)
The event is free and open to the public.

Montgomery Mall….indoor fun?

March 4, 2015

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Westfield, Montgomery Mall. Perhaps, it should be tagged as “Indoor Fun” as we brace ourselves for yet another snow storm.

Having a newborn in the Winter has been so much more difficult than it was when my toddler was born in the Summer. She sleeps much better when on the move and well I haven’t exactly been able to take many stroller walks. So, enter my routine when my toddler has school. Drop him off at 8:50am, drive to Montgomery Mall, bolt to the Starbucks on Level 2 around 9:15am and get a Grande coffee, mall walk and say hello to the regular walkers I’ve come to recognize, make a few phone calls and voila the doors of all the stores slowly open at 10:00am. From there I make returns from purchases I made last week when I was wandering aimlessly because I needed my baby to sleep and I now feel guilty about buying. I use my Godiva Rewards card at some point…that’s right Rewards card at a chocolate shop. Inquire about it, you won’t be sorry. Errr maybe you will, perhaps that’s why I’m having trouble losing some baby weight. After about an hour baby begins to wake up and I have to make my decision to head to the Mother’s Room at Nordstrom or the Family Lounge in the Food Court to change her diaper and feed her. Which was the real reason I’m writing this post. I hadn’t put much thought into decent malls for parents with newborns. Do I want to sit on a couch to nurse her and change her on a pillow top changing table or do I want to walk past the delicious smell of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches that still lingers and change her on large open changing tables where cartoons play and curtains hang from the private feeding areas for privacy? I’ve tried both and when I’m alone with the baby, I head to Nordstrom and sit in silence (with the occasional flush you hear from the restrooms next door) and when I’m with both kids I go to the Family Lounge so my toddler can be kept busy playing with the games or watching cartoons. The Family Lounge also has a microwave in case you need to warm up a bottle as well as family restrooms. So, escape from the cold (or heat in the summer) and head to Montgomery Mall to shop, walk, eat, nurse and be warm.

Pictures are from the Family Lounge located in the Food Court

Montgomery Mall has been remodeled and is unrecognizable. They kept the play area which is located on the lower level across from the maternity clothing store. It has a garden theme and insects and logs children can climb on and crawl through. They also have a new movie theater, Arclight, which can be accessed through the Food Court. Met Bethesda, Crave Sushi Bar, Cava Mezze Grill, Chipotle and Jamba Juice are a few places you can grab a bite.

Photos of Food Court

Play area on lower level

Summer Spray and Splash (and boathouses) in Washington, DC

August 4, 2014

We’ve got you covered for summer splashing and swimming. Cool off at one of these amazing outdoor waterparks and splashparks.

(Yards Park)

Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole (Reston, VA)

This family water park captures the excitement of the Old West’s Gold Rush with attractions tailored for all ages. The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole offers more than an acre of slides, flumes, sprays, showers, floatables, and an interactive water playground. Careen off covered wagons, float on wild animals and dash through showers tipped from water-filled ore carts. The activity pool is encircled by Rattlesnake River, a 725 foot lazy river you can enjoy a relaxing float as the current gently nudges you along.

Ocean Dunes Waterpark (Arlington, VA)

Enjoy a day at the beach at Ocean Dunes Waterpark, Arlington’s favorite place cool off and have fun! Located within Upton Hill Regional Park, Ocean Dunes is loaded with fun features for adults and kids. Ocean Dunes includes a 500-gallon dumping bucket, water slides, waterfalls and squirters! Visitors will find themselves amidst dune grasses and the feeling of being at the beach, but without the drive! Next to the park is a 18 hole mini-golf course and 6 batting cages.

Great Waves Waterpark (Alexandria, VA)

Great Waves offers some of the most unique and fun water attractions in Northern Virginia! Whether you’re zipping down the speed slides, shooting through the tube slides or body surfing in the massive wave pool, you’ll enjoy hours of water fun the whole family can enjoy! And we certainly didn’t forget the little ones – our Kids Zone is a great place for you and the kids to cool off while having a great time – whether it be speeding down the rock slide at the Lagoon, or relaxing in the waterfalls at Minnow Bay. And don’t forget about the giant splash pad!

Atlantis Waterpark (Centreville, VA)

Discover all the fun of the fabled lost continent at Atlantis Waterpark, Centreville’s biggest and best waterpark! Loaded with fun features for your campers and kids, Atlantis includes a 1,000 gallon dumping bucket, water slides, waterfalls and squirters! Visitors will find themselves amidst mermaids, dolphins, Greek architecture and images of the deep! And keep your eyes peeled for the mighty Neptune himself!

Water Park at Bohrer Park (Gaithersburg, MD)

Enjoy a summer day at the Water Park! Intended for recreational swimming, the main pool is like a dream vacation on an island resort with palm trees, multiple slides, floatable animals, and a “tumble bucket” water feature for children to enjoy. The pool also has a zero-depth entry, making it accessible to all.

Chesapeake Beach Water Park (Chesapeake Beach, MD)

At the resort community of Chesapeake Beach, less than an hour from Washington, DC, you can have a splash-in fun- in- the- sun time in our eight water slides, fountains, waterfalls, a lagoon, kids activity pool and more, guaranteed to treat everyone to a cool time! Prices listed here, twilight hours offer a discount and Calvert Chesapeake residents also get a discounted rate.

Special Harbor Spray Park at Lee District RECenter (Fairfax, VA)

If you like running through the sprinkler, you’ll love Special Harbor spray ground at Lee District Park in Franconia. The fully accessible complex features Chesapeake Bay-themed attractions including a spraying osprey nest, Chessie the sea serpent, misting sunflowers and a lighthouse. The beach area is quieter with softer bubblers and interactive water tables. The computerized water maze and dumping crab basket provide more lively activity. Children will also enjoy the fully accessible tree house and the accessible Tiki Village playground in the nearby Family Recreation Area.