We were honored to take place in an exclusive preview of the Fresh Air Kids class today at Rust Nature Sanctuary in Leesburg, VA. The fun class included animal interactions, finding tracks in nature, reading a book about animal movements, and a wonderful discovery hike through the sanctuary. Throughout the hike we found animals (some alive and some pretend) to discuss, spotted a tadpole in the pond, went on a color hunt while learning about camouflage, and used our senses to discover nature. I was thoroughly impressed with the naturalist, and the kids were entertained, learning, and engaged throughout the whole program. It is a beautiful sanctuary and very convenient to get to from many Northern Virginia destinations. I highly recommend signing up for this program. Look for additional articles highlighting the family-friendly programs at Rust Nature Sanctuary in the near future.
FRESH AIR KIDS at Rust Nature Sanctuary Ages 5 and under Fridays, March 28-May 9 (10-11:30 AM) (six sessions, no session Spring break) $50 per child, (siblings $40) http://www.audubonnaturalist.org/index.php/about-ans/sanctuaries/rust-leesburg-va#programs Children are born naturalists. The Rust Nature Sanctuary builds on children's inherent curiosity about the world by using hands-on, nature-based activities to foster social, physical, and academic skill development. The Fresh Air Kids Class is for children aged 5 years and younger, along with a parent or caregiver. Classes meet on Fridays and take place outdoors in the 68-acre nature sanctuary. The classes involve crafts, songs, a read aloud, and always a hike. Bring a lunch to share at the picnic tables. To register, call 703-669-0000 or email susanne.ortmann@anshome.org
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Blackwater NWR 14th Annual Eagle Festival Saturday, March 15, 2014 9:00am - 4:00pm One of the largest largest breeding populations of bald eagles in the United States is close to home: Blackwater Refuge on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Bring the family and spend the day at the Refuge learning about bald eagles, spotting them in the wild, and having a great day packed with fun! This unique event is a must for nature lovers! The family-friendly schedule of events includes talks with experts, tours, live programs, exhibits, entertainment, and a ton of kids' activities such as crafts, science and nature explorations, a puppet show, and more. Blackwater Refuge is located 12 miles south of Cambridge and is filled with 27,000 acres of woodland, rich tidal marsh, freshwater ponds and managed cropland—great for birdwatching, cycling, hiking, and paddling. The refuge features a full service Visitor Center with a bookstore, restrooms, butterfly garden, and observatory, and a 4-mile Wildlife Drive with walking trails and a photo blind. While you are in the region, please check out the Dorchester County, Maryland Tourism website for other activity suggestions and great places to stay and eat. Look for more Kid Trips posts about this region in the near future! Disclosure: My family is working with tourism and program specialists in the Dorchester County, Maryland region and will be receiving free travel perks for upcoming articles that highlight family-friendly attractions and accommodations in the region. All opinions are my own.
With a hit movie and hundreds of toys, the popularity of LEGO has never been greater, and my family was lucky enough to visit LEGOLAND California back in early 2013. LEGOLAND California has more than 60 rides and is filled with shows and attractions. Here are some things to know before you go:
by MicaelaThe big event in the area is the White House Easter Egg Roll. This iconic national event includes egg coloring, art activities, face painting, music, magicians, and of course, an egg hunt. Tickets are required to attend. The National Park Service holds an online lottery about a month prior to the event. But don’t fret if you missed the lottery for the White House Easter Egg Roll, the area has many, wonderful egg hunts, train rides and bunny events for little ones. Here are some of the major ones in Northern Virginia and a few to consider in DC and Maryland too. Sign up online or by phone is required for most events. Due to the type-A nature of so many parents in this region, we suggest that you sign up ASAP. The early bunny catches the egg! NORTHERN VIRGINIA Spring Easter Festival at Ticonderoga Farms: April 5-20, 2014 (weekends) All the fun activities that are normally at the farm such as slides, rides, animals, the maze and more PLUS visit with the Easter Bunny and search for eggs filled with candy and toys. Frying Pan Farm Park Easter Eggstravaganza: April 5, 2014 Sign up for a time slot to hunt for eggs and visit the animals outdoors at the farm. Very popular event so please pre-register! Great Country Farms Easter Egg Hunt and Marshmallow Harvest: April 5 & 6, 2014 All the fun outdoor activities at the farm plus harvest marshmellow peeps, ride the cow train, hunt for eggs, listen to live entertainment and more. Breakfast with the Bunny at Sterling Community Center: April 11, 2014 Eat breakfast with the most famous bunny around! Practice your bunny hop in moonbounces, make crafts, and play games. Don't forget your camera for photo ops with The Bunny. Family Flashlight Egg Hunt at Glyndon Park: April 11, 2014 Families work together to search for eggs in the dark. Easter Bunny and moonbounces too! Easter Egg Hunt at Colvin Run Mill: April 12, 2014 Preregister for up for one of four time slots. Make egg-cellent crafts and gather eggs at this historic site. Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee Park: April 12, 2014 Besides age appropriate hunts, this huge event features rides, entertainment, food, face painting and much more. Dinosaur Egg Hunt at Hidden Oaks Nature Center: April 12, 2014 Sign up for one of eight different time slots for this fun dino-themed program with egg hunt and crafts. Aqua Easter Egg Hunt, Town of Herndon: April 12, 2014 Children ages 6-12 will collect as many floating and sinking Easter eggs in the pool as allowed. Eggnormous Egg Hunt in Reston: April 12, 2014 Carnival games, entertainment, moonbounces, food, and fun join this Easter Egg hunt tradition. Town of Vienna Old Fashioned Egg Roll and Easter Fun: April 12, 2014 Participate in an egg roll, see the Easter Bunny, and listen to tales from a storyteller Bull Run Easter Egg Hunt: April 15, 2014 Hunt for eggs and meet the Easter Bunny at Bull Run Park. Bunny Bonanza at Heritage Farm Museum of Loudoun County: April 16, 2014 Interact with live rabbits, meet the Easter Bunny, and enjoy hands-on exhibits and crafts for all ages. Included in museum admission. Pohick Bay Easter Egg Hunt: April 16, 2014 Come to Pohick Bay Regional Park for an egg hunt, crafts, games, fire truck, moon bounce, visit with a naturalist and his critters, Golden Egg and prizes. Reservations highly recommended. Lee-Fendall House Easter Egg Hunt: April 18-20, 2014 Make a historic craft, search for eggs, enjoy refreshments and visit with the Easter Bunny at this popular event. Get tickets early as it always sells out. Falls Church Easter Egg Hunt: April 19, 2014 A free event in Cherry Hill Park with special eggs, crafts and pictures with the Easter Bunny Morven Park, Easter at the Park: April 19, 2014 Celebrate Easter at historic Morven Park with crafts for kids, an egg hunt in the formal gardens plus a traditional egg roll on the Davis Mansion lawn. Have a family photo taken with the Easter Bunny. Leesburg Animal Park Egg Hunt: Date To Be Announced Find eggs in the field and pose for pictures with the Easter Bunny while you visit this local zoo filled with wagon rides, exotic animals, and more. Rippon Lodge Annual Easter Egg Hunt: Date to Be Announced Crafts, games, pony rides, moonbounces, and of course an egg hunt on the grounds of Rippon Lodge. During this cold winter (and many homebound snow days,) it's fun to dream of springtime and summer. We are long fans of quick weekend family trips to Williamsburg and love that Busch Gardens® and Water Country USA® are celebrating childhood with this limited time, online only pass offer for children ages 3-5 to receive FREE admission all spring and summer. Things to know:
Picture Caption: Park guests ride Grover’s Alpine Express, Busch Gardens' family-friendly roller coaster at Sesame Street Forest of Fun™ at Busch Gardens® Williamsburg. This 600-foot-long coaster is 24 feet tall, just right for the little riders who are ready for their first roller coaster ride. ™/©2013 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. ©2013 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Busch Gardens offers more than 50 KIDsiderate® attractions, including Sesame Street® Forest of Fun™ and Land of the Dragons®, which are celebrating big anniversaries this spring. Kid-sized roller coasters like Grover’s Alpine Express at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA’s Kritter Korral™ are among the can’t miss kid-friendly attractions waiting for families to enjoy this spring. To see all the KIDsiderate® attractions, please visit this LINK. Play N' Learn: The Playground Super Store in Chantilly has been a local favorite for Northern Virginia families to play. The giant showroom has many play structures, a couple of trampolines, and air hockey/ foosball tables for kids to have fun. Plus there is a very clean restroom with a changing table. We love that there are now two time slots that require advanced signup online, so it never gets crowded. It's a fun, relaxed atmosphere and great place for a play date meet up. The Chantilly, VA location is convenient to many places in Northern Virginia. Here's some things to know:
by Claudine and MicaelaThere is nothing like a January snowfall to remind us that winter is far from over! And while the charm of the snow can be enchanting, the reality is the cold weather can catch up with the young and old alike and make for a less than comfortable family-friendly day. After you have built your snowman, spent hours sledding and have thrown a few snowballs, it might be time to find some more climate friendly activities for your crew.
And we have tons of options for you! To start, the Kid Trips Northern Virginia book lists many local museums and hidden gems in Northern Virginia as well as Washington DC. Check out some of our Top Ideas to Discover Winter Fun in DC and Beyond below: Dear Friends, Thank you for making the first year of Kid Trips Northern Virginia such an amazing success! After the long awaited publishing of our book in February, we have been overwhelmed by the kind reader comments, local support, and media interest. We have been thrilled to be featured on News Channel 8, Washington Family Magazine, The Huffington Post, Elizabeth Street, Wired Momma, The Connection Newspapers, Prince William Living Magazine, WTOP, and other great media outlets. We have also been grateful for the continued support of our local sponsors and for the opportunities to contribute to the family-friendly content of Washington Family Magazine and Northern Virginia Magazine. Throughout 2013 our blog and social media pages have been a-buzz with seasonal events, suggestions for local family fun, and special giveaways. Northern Virginia is truly a wonderfully dynamic and vibrant place to raise a family. But with all the exciting new growth in the area, by years end we were convinced we had to update the book. Moving into 2014, we are happy to report that an updated version with even more new venues, events, and "Top Picks" is now available on Amazon and in local stores. We are honored to be a part of this local community and are grateful that our community of readers and supporters is continuing to grow. In 2014, look for more big announcements, not-to miss giveaways, and interesting articles. Thank you to our sponsors, booksellers, and readers for following our journey. We wish you and your family a very happy and healthy 2014! Sincerely, Claudine, Amy, and MicaelaKid Trips LLC
by Micaela I grew up in the New York metro area and visit family and friends there many times each year. When my new niece was born in November 2013, I google searched "New York baby board book," expecting to get something with the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty, but instead, I came across this gem. Baby Book for the Boroughs (NYC & Long Island Too!) celebrates the distinctive New York accent. Unlike traditional sound button board books, these books pronounce words the New York way saying "kaw-fee" for coffee and "waw-duh" for water. It was a huge hit at our Christmas celebration, and my relatives of all ages couldn't get enough of pressing the buttons. This book is a must for every little New Yorker in your life! Learn more about the book, and check out my exclusive interview with its author, Bridget Bendo below: by Micaela The Washington Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at the Warner Theatre is a Washington DC holiday tradition. What is more DC than George Washington starring as the Nutcracker? Experience this magical and epic event this season with your family. Enjoy the talented dancers, beautiful music, incredible scenery and costumes, and delight in all this magical performance has to offer. Check out the video below for a preview: |
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