Best time to go: 10/01 - 12/31
If eating Swedish meatballs at the IKEA cafe is your idea of a cultural experience, you need to get out more. Washington, DC’s international heritage goes well beyond the Smithsonian Folklife Festival or the seasonal embassy parties along Connecticut Avenue, and although many of its cultural centers (such as U-Street’s Little Ethiopia) are within the …
Best time to go: 01/01 - 02/15
Julia will happily spend an hour on her favorite sledding hill in Bluemont Park. The moment her skin touches the snow, though, she’ll inform anyone who will listen that she has broken her arm and needs to go to the hospital immediately. Choosing a good sled hill means finding something that works for both the daredevils and those with more delicate constitutions.
Best time to go: 01/20 - 02/15
In late January and early February, Washingtonians make the most of the Chinese New Year (and other Lunar New Year festivals). The Chinese and Korean embassies provide ample support by attracting performers from around the world, in collaboration with the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, and other local venues.
Best time to go: 04/01 - 09/30
Just half an hour north of DC are several public lakeside retreats with playgrounds, boat rentals, picnic areas, and an abundance of history and natural attractions. Although these lakes are all open year-round, some amenities — such as boat rentals, swimming and kiddie rides — are only available in the warmer months. Public Lakes in …
Roer’s: A Safari in Northern Virginia During the pandemic, we were missing other, unmasked faces. So we headed out to in Reston, Virginia. Roer’s has a petting zoo with goats, kangaroos, cheetah, and lemurs. On our last visit, a wallaby baby started to hop over to my daughter but was stopped with a single paw …
Calvert Cliffs, Stratford Hall, Westmorland State Park, and Dinosaur Park in Laurel, MD are the most famous nearby digs for fossil enthusiasts. But the best fossil spot for beginners is a hidden gem less than an hour south of DC.
Best time to go: 03/01 - 11/15
Whether you’re tracking seasonal migrations, working on your Big Year or just looking to add some color to a casual stroll, you can’t go wrong with these great birding spots in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Before you go, though, don’t forget the essential equipment for every birding expedition: Binoculars, a Birding app on your …
Best time to go: 08/01 - 11/15
Frying Pan Park is an exhibition farm in Fairfax County, VA. Although it is best known as the location of the annual 4-H Fair in mid-summer, there’s plenty to do year-round. The antique carousel and live animals are both a short walk from the parking lot. We always enjoy peeping in the henhouse, and the …
Mason Neck ( 40 min) By far the easiest WMA to visit is Mason Neck. In fact, I went there today. A short 40 minute drive from DC, with Bald Eagles practically guaranteed, Mason Neck is the ideal proving ground for the budding amateur ornithologist. Pileated woodpeckers, nuthatches, flickers, Carolina wrens and horned owls are …
Best time to go: 03/30 - 12/30
A 40 minute drive from DC will take you to a Revolutionary War era plantation in Virginia’s Hunt Country. Established in 1798 by a grandson of Robert “King” Carter, a major land baron of the Colonial Virginia lowlands, Oatlands Plantation originally consumed over 5 square miles of fertile Virginia farmland. Oatlands’ operation depended on more …
Meander through the Oatlands Plantation and Gardens Read More »