Washington DC

Fun Spring Day Trips from DC for Families

The B&O Railroad Museum is just one of many kid-friendly locations in Baltimore. Photo courtesy of the museum

With so many museums, playgrounds, indoor play spaces, and other kid-friendly attractions in and near DC, it’s easy to spend entire weekends in town without getting bored. But there is so much history, natural beauty, and fun to be found within a few hours' drive of the city. If your family needs a change of scenery, take one of these 10 day trips from DC this spring before the sweltering humidity of summer kicks in.

These spring day trips from DC include a variety of locations, from charming towns and historic sites to gorgeous gardens and family-friendly farms. For even more ideas for weekend getaways or day trips from DC, check out our family travel guide. Once you've picked your destination, all you'll need are some fun car games, plenty of snacks, and some road trip essentials to keep the car ride Are we there yet?-free.

Great Skate Parks Near Washington, DC for Kids and Families

The award-winning Powhatan Springs Skate Park is perfect for younger skaters. Photo courtesy of Arlington Skaters, Facebook

Got a young skater looking to work on their ollies, kickturns, or heelflips? There are plenty of skate parks near Washington, DC that welcome everyone from newbies to experienced skateboarders. Some of them are strictly skateboard parks, while others allow in-line skates, rollerblades, and/or bicycles as well. Most of these skate parks near DC require helmets (but even if they don't, your kiddo should totally wear one), and many require elbow pads and kneepads as well.

Here are 12 great skate parks near Washington, DC for kids and families. For even more outdoor fun, check out our lists of destination playgrounds in the DC area and great mini golf courses near DC.

Spring Break 2022: The Best Things To Do near DC with Kids on Vacation

Take a canoe ride at the Anacostia River Festival. Photo courtesy of the 11th Street Bridge Park

Spring Break 2022 is coming up for Washington, DC public schools! This year, spring break runs from Monday, April 11 through Friday, April 15, followed by a day off for students on Monday, April 18. That means DC public school students have 10 days off to enjoy all of the wonderful spring activities the DC area has to offer.

Here are 15+ things to do near DC with kids for spring break 2022. Many of these events take place on the weekends, so even Maryland, Northern Virginia, and private-school students who are not on spring break can enjoy them. For even more fun options for spring break 2022, check out our lists of great destination playgrounds, mini golf courses, and free museums near DC. Happy spring!

10 Great Breakfast Restaurants Near DC for Kids and Families

Start the day off right at one of the DC area's family-friendly breakfast restaurants.

It's been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weekday breakfast or a hearty weekend morning meal, there are plenty of healthy breakfast ideas for kids that will keep your family from falling into a rut. But sometimes, the last thing you want to do when you wake up is cook a meal (and do the necessary cleanup). Luckily, there are loads of delicious breakfast restaurants near DC to help families get a delicious start to their day.

Here are 10 kid-friendly breakfast restaurants near DC that will give your family the energy to tackle playtime, errands, and everything in between. If you're looking for a heartier meal, many of these breakfast restaurants near DC also offer buffet or sit-down brunch.

Top Attractions in DC: The Best Things to See and Do with Kids

April is the ideal month to see the Washington, DC cherry blossoms. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service

Washington, DC is one of the top travel destinations in the US, and it's easy to see why. Our nation's capital is full of historic and cultural sites for families, including loads of free museums, government buildings, and the famous National Mall and Memorial Parks. With so many great tourist attractions in DC, it can be hard to determine which ones to visit with kids.

Mommy Poppins is here to help. We've pulled together the top 25 tourist attractions in DC, including popular restaurants, must-explore neighborhoods, and more kid-friendly activities in DC. These places are the very best DC has to offer for tourists and locals alike. Once you've made your way through all of these tourist attractions in DC, expand your reach with our list of 100 things to do in DC with kids.

22 Black-Owned Restaurants, Shops, and More to Discover in DC

MahoganyBooks is the place to go for books relating to the Black experience and culture.

February is Black History Month, which means there is no better time to get to know some of the many Black-owned businesses and African American cultural landmarks in the DC area. From Black-owned restaurants and retailers to African American historical sites and museums, you're sure to find plenty of places to wow and inspire your family on this list.

Here are 22 Black-owned restaurants, Black-owned shops and businesses, and African American cultural sites in and near DC to visit with kids all year long. Some of them also made our lists of free museums in DC and must-try ice cream shops near DC!

25 Fun Things to Do in Fairfax, Virginia with Kids

Kids can perform various experiments at the Children's Science Center. Photo courtesy of the center

If you're looking for a quick and easy day trip for your family that's only about a 30-minute drive from DC, consider visiting Fairfax, Virginia. This Northern Virginia suburb is home to so many kid-friendly restaurants, shops, parks and playgrounds, museums, and more fun things to do with kids. The city, which began as the Town of Providence in 1805, is also steeped with history—it was the site of several Civil War battles and home to many historic buildings.

Here are 25 fun things to do with kids in Fairfax, Virginia, including great places to eat, play, and walk around. For more fun day trips, check out our list of things to do in Clifton, Virginia with kids and our guide to visiting Kensington, Maryland with kids.

7 Summer Internship Opportunities for Teens Near DC in 2022

Student interns at MITRE put their STEM skills to work. Photo courtesy of MITRE

If it seems like colleges are becoming more competitive, you're not imagining it. These days good grades, great SAT scores, and solid extracurriculars don't always cut it—many colleges also want to see some hands-on, real-world experience. That's where summer internships come in. While many summer internship programs are geared towards college students, the DC area offers plenty of programs for high school students with a variety of interests.

Here are seven great summer internship opportunities near DC for teens. These internships in the fields of STEM, biomedical research, history, and more will really help your child stand out from the pack. The opportunities are listed in order of application deadline, so keep a close eye on them—the deadlines fall before most teens have started thinking about their summer plans. As these programs tend to be competitive, encourage your teen to get an early start on applications.

Whatever summer internship or job your teen ends up with, they'll still need to make time for fun. Check out our Summer Activities Guide for DC Kids and our list of 12 fun things to do with tweens and teens near DC for ideas that will impress even the most jaded teen.

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