Category Archives: DC Day Trips with Kids

The WM Favorite Things: Summer Edition

 

Beautiful sunset on Hatteras Island, NC

If you’re looking to round out your summer by squeezing in a day trip, a weekend get-away or some date nights, look no further. Today is like Oprah’s Favorite Things Christmas episode…only better. (seriously). From the shores of Hatteras Island, NC, today I bring you the WM Favorite Things Summer recap of my must-hits. A potpourri….a hit list with something for everyone. It’s how I roll.

 

For the day tripper with younger kids, head to Dutch Wonderland. Here’s my review from earlier this summer.

For an unforgettable weekend get-away, load up the car, invite some other families, go it alone, go in the fall, go in the winter, go now – just go – head to Deep Creek Lake. Here’s my tips on renting a house, what to do and why you shouldn’t miss this gem a mere three hours from DC. Yours truly is headed there for the annual Labor Day trip in a few weeks – can’t wait.

For a variety of ideas on date nights, including rocking out to some amazing 80s covers, sunset kayaking or yummy food, click here.

For one of the WM and Mr. WM top 5 restaurants in DC, check out my review here of PS7s including tips on how to make this a chic date night on a budget, thanks to Restaurant.com.

 

Little screams summer more than flying a kite

Now, back to my vacation, enjoy the rest of your summer. And if you were wondering, what separates my amazing Favorite Things Summer Edition from Oprah’s….I don’t have any cars or bags to give-away. Maybe next time, friends. Until then, “Like” moi on Facebook to keep up with the laughs, the tips and whatever else seems fabulous or important.

 

Final Stretch of Summer: Indoor Activity Fun

I don’t know about you but I just cannot believe Back to School really is around the corner. Some mornings, I am thrilled with this realization. Other days, I am actually sad about it and dread the stress of getting everyone out the door on TIME. So, with a few weeks left in summer, if you’re anything like me and looking for:

A. A reason to get indoors because everyone has had enough of the pool

B. A fun activity that includes air conditioning

C. A rainy day activity

The evil witch & note use of multi-media in the background with the dwarves. Photo Credit: Bruce Douglas

Look no more friends, here’s an idea for a fun morning – head to the Puppet Co. in Glen Echo Park to see Snow White & the 7 Dwarves, billed as a puppet show appealing to those from Kindergarten through 6th Grade, but in classic moi-form, I ignored the age recommendation and brought my almost four-year-old. Both my girls really enjoyed this 40 minute production which incorporates rod puppets as the dwarves, in this version the dwarves are actually seven bachelors who each have a special power and work for the evil, rotten Queen Rosenrot. The Puppet Co. also uses a multi-media presentation to incorporate the Queen’s magic mirror and enhance the story later in the show. Finally, Snow White and the Prince are performed by live actors.

Noteworthy, I adored the bright red dress the Rose Queen first appears in, showing us only her back, with her absurdly high collar. She was both intimidating and striking in this brilliant costume. My little one kept asking, “When are we going to see the Queen’s face?” but never seeing her face made her all the more scary. Also, the Queen’s son, Prince Stefan, opens the show in a costume fitting only for a Prince in a Grimm fairy tale. Admittedly, I was a little distracted wondering what it would take for me to convince Mr. Wired Momma to wear something similar for Halloween.

The Snow White production was one of the most diverse shows I’ve seen yet at the Puppet Co., in terms of combining puppets, actors and the use of multi-media, which frankly is a remarkable feat in just under 40 minutes.  For skittish kids out there, the witch/Queen did not scare even my youngest one, who despite her love of Superheros and bullying her older sister, actually scares pretty easily. In the end, the dwarves use their special powers to work together to help Snow White and Prince Stefan. I quite enjoyed how the story was altered from the Disney version, where we didn’t meet the Sleepy or Grumpy dwarf but instead encountered these strange seven bachelors who each have a unique (but useful) power. Bottom line: after a week of unpacking and obsessing over paint colors (anyone tired of hearing about my move yet? Cause I am), heading to the Puppet Co. to catch this delightful version of Snow White was a welcome and much-needed break for me and my girls. As for the age recommendation, if you have a real theatre lover, then given the short run-time of this show, I do think kids 4 and up will enjoy the show.

The seven dwarves. Photo Credit: Bruce Douglas

To round out your morning, avid WM readers know that I LOVE any activities at Glen Echo Park. You can combine a great show with a ride (or four) on the carousel, a picnic on the benches, a jaunt to the playground and even a hike down to the creek on your way back to the parking lot.

Details on Snow White:
When: July 21 – Sept. 2
Times: Thursdays & Fridays at 10 & 11:30am; Saturdays & Sundays at 11:30am & 1pm
Where: the Puppet Co. Playhouse
Recommended: K – Grade 6
Running Time: 40 minutes
Tickets: $10 for everyone 2 and older.  Group rates available.
Disclosure: I am proud that the Puppet Co. is one of my newest advertisers on my blog, in addition they gifted the tickets to me and my girls for this show. My opinions here, however, are all my own.

The Anti Pumpkin Patch Idea Guide: A Tale of 2 Pirate Ships

As you  know, I am dedicating this month to bringing you ideas that fit the theme of the fall harvest and Halloween but aren’t necessarily about Pumpkin Patches. I am flirting with becoming the Scrooge of the Pumpkin Patch. And I am okay with that. Today I bring you the Great Tale of 2 Pirate Ships of October 2011. A close friend made plans with me to take our kids on “the pirate ship” together. We started making these plans weeks ago. In fact, we were originally supposed to set sail a week ago Sunday but the weather seemed iffy so we both called “the pirate ship” and rescheduled our departure time to Sunday October 2 at 9:30am. We were psyched to experience “the pirate ship” together. So bright and early yesterday we bundled up the kids, sent each other a few witty emails and headed off to “the pirate ship.”

Me, husband and children arrived around 8:55am. The girls were given pirate tattoos, including one child who came away with a pink goatee. She made for a very ruthless looking pirate.  My one agreeable child dressed up in the pirate clothes they offer the kids. My other less agreeable child refused all pirate wear but agreed to her designated pirate name and a mermaid tattoo. The clock kept ticking and I kept wondering what in the world was taking my friend so long to arrive. Frankly it was stressing me out.

Suddenly we were all boarding the boat, the boat was ready to leave and I’m scrambling to tell them that my friend and her children must be running late. They hold the boat for a few minutes. I send her some desperate emails. Boat departs. I am fretting over the high stakes drama she will be dealing with when her two kids realize they have missed “THE PIRATE BOAT.” The pirates on-board are riled up and excited to hunt for Treasure and find that scoundrel Pirate Pete who was lingering somewhere out in the Chesapeake Bay, circling Annapolis, when my phone rings.

“Is it possible we are on two different pirate boats?” asks the voice on the other end.

I look around. I see no other pirate boats. I ask her where she is.

“In Baltimore, at Urban Pirate,” she says.

“Ummm…..we are in Annapolis at Chesapeake Pirate.”

And so, when making plans with friends to take the kids to “the pirate boat,” remember that there are TWO options in our area and it’s best to specify where in Maryland you will be wreaking havoc on the waterways….

This hilarious mistake makes you, my dear reader, the winner because now you get not one but TWO pirate boat reviews. That gives you TWO chances to schedule an activity OTHER than suffering in an overcrowded pumpkin patch while still feeling like your children are getting a fabulous fall experience.

First up, Chesapeake Pirate in Annapolis, my pirate destination du jour. This was our second time taking the trip around the beautiful Bay with this group and we loved it just as much. Our youngest has a penchant for all things Pirate so it seemed obvious that the time was right to go again, and though the last time we went it was a warm sunny September day, we still loved it yesterday under the chilly gray skies.

The pirates found the treasure!

 True, the views of the Bay Bridge weren’t as amazing as on a sunny day but sailing around the Chesapeake for an hour can never get old and is just good for the soul, in my opinion. Chesapeake Pirates employs a team of energetic, creative and silly actors to entertain the kids for the hour-long sail. Immediately upon arriving at their store, the kids are given their appointed pirate name, encouraged to put on a pirate vest, pick out a tatoo or face painting option and then are school in pirate-speak before boarding the ship.

Pirates preparing with vests and tattoos prior to departure

 Once on board, they are taken through a variety of dramatic adventures, starting with the hunt for treasure and Pirate Pete and then impaling him with as much water as possible from the water cannons, all in the vein of locating the treasure. The kids are encouraged to move quickly around deck and the ages yesterday ranged from 2 through probably 10 or 11. The interactive element was definitely better suited for my oldest daughter because she could keep up with all the older kids and really interact with the actors. Our youngest, who will be 3 next month, had trouble moving as fast around the boat and seeing all the action – but it didn’t seem to bother her and we helped her. The final exercise involves pulling Grog from the bay and  having a celebratory toast after all the kids take turns picking a hand-full of treasure from the chest they’ve robbed from Pirate Pete.  Chesapeake Pirate runs six times a day, the first boat sails at 9:30am and the last boat departs at 5pm. Tickets are $19 for adults and $12 for children, kids under 3 are free. I also noticed that they have birthday party packages, which seems like a great idea for any young pirate lovers out there. The boat sails through the end of October and then will start up again in April.

Next up, Urban Pirate in Baltimore.  I haven’t yet experienced this trip but definitely want to get there after hearing my friend’s report. The two trips do sound pretty similar. Here’s what she had to say:  “The kids loved it – my daughter was VERY SERIOUS and had a SCOWL on her face as she shot her pirate water cannon at the oncoming pirate (Mad Dog Mike – he had treasure fever).  We were at sea for an hour. Tattoos, attire, all the fixin’s (scars, mustaches) all applied before we left.  Got to see aquarium and lots of other stuff from the water.  The kids were involved – they had to do 4 things to become a pirate – dance, limbo, shoot the cannons, and one other thing – it was so fun.  And they had a restroom with a place to change diapers.  And it was clean.  And I was grateful.”

Note – she has an 18 month old – so this is a critical point for anyone traveling to these boat trips with babies. Chesapeake Pirate also has a clean bathroom in their store but I did not notice a baby changing station. Tickets  for Baltimore’s Urban Pirate are $20 for adults and kids and $10 for children under 3. Boats also depart 6 times a day, beginning at 9:30am and ending at 5:30pm. My friend thinks they also stop the boat tours at the end of October – I would just call to find out.

Bottom line: I think you can’t go wrong with either one….just make your reservations in advance, mateys. Oh, and specify WHICH pirate boat you are headed too before meeting your friends and their kids….#fail.

Mid-Summer Sweltering Survival Tips

The dog days are seriously here – and if you are looking for ideas on how to survive – here’s a recap of some of the summer ideas covered here or links to other great DC bloggers who offer some fab tips. Call me a little lazy today because of all the link-love but it’s too hot to think.  And hopefully there’s something for everyone below.