Jennifer Swope

Jennifer Swope, a DC resident since 2003, transitioned from humanitarian work to freelance editing in 2012 to stay home with her two kids. This shift sparked her passion for finding fun ways to keep them entertained—and inspired her to contribute to Mommy Poppins. When she's not navigating DC's chaos with her kids, she and her husband love watching sports, planning their next trip, and attending concerts. Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jenniferswope.

Latest posts by Jennifer

Best Things to Do in DC May 2025 with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 04/28/2024 - 9:38am

Have a jumping good time at The Big Bounce. Photo courtesy of The Big Bounce

With May comes the unofficial start of summer in DC, and lots of family fun for Mother's Day and Memorial Day.

April showers bring all the May flowers to Flower Mart at the National Cathedral, which is always beautiful (and a great time). More fun for kids includes the Running of the Chihauhuas for Cinco de Mayo at the Wharf and DinoWalk at Luck Stone Quarry. The quarry is home to actual dinosaur fossils, and it's open to the public only once a year!

There are also two opportunities to visit many of the embassies in DC and learn about different cultures—the Around the World Embassy Tour and the EU Open House.

Lastly, this is your final opportunity to see Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience in DC, which closes May 11.

There's so much more to share, so read on for details on spring festivals, Memorial Day celebrations, and more.

We have so many more great events listed below for your family this May, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day as we're always adding more events.

Easter Weekend 2024 in DC: Easter Egg Hunts, Blossom Kite Festival, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Wed, 03/27/2024 - 9:11am

Celebrate spring at McLean Community Center's Spring Fest. Photo courtesy of the community center

DC is hopping for Easter weekend 2024! There are, of course, tons of Easter events, but also several events for those who want to enjoy spring.

Kids of all ages can join in one of several Easter egg hunts held around the area, or they can hop on over to meet the Easter Bunny. Two of the most popular cherry blossom events are also this weekend—the Blossom Kite Festival and Sakura Taiko Fest, both at the Washington Monument.

Two local theater productions end their runs this weekend—Junie B. Jones, The Musical at Adventure Theatre and Inside Out and Backwards at Imagination Stage.

Whether you celebrate Easter or just enjoying spring, we hope this Easter weekend 2024 is full of all things sunny.

STEM Summer Camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 02/11/2024 - 11:45am

S.H.E. Can Steam campers learn about aviation at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Photo courtesy of S.H.E. Can STEAM Camp

STEM camps are incredibly popular in this digital age, especially with the mad technology skills kids have these days. With that in mind, we went on the hunt for innovative STEM summer camps in and around DC. There's a STEM camp for every age, skill level, and interest. Most are in-person, but there are virtual options for those who want a little more flexibility.

For more virtual options, check out our list of Best Online STEM, Robotics, and Coding Classes and Camps for Kids.

Looking for other summer camps near DC? Bookmark our local Summer Camp Guide, and peruse our full Camp Directory for more programs to fit any budget and interest, from sports day camps to overnight summer camps and everything in between.

Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience Brings Happy Vibes to Washington, DC

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 01/14/2024 - 10:00am

Diving into a ball pit will make any kid smile!

Dopamine is what gives our brains feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation, and that's what Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience in the Friendship Heights area of Washington, DC does. This paid experience invites visitors to activate dopamine through immersive activities in media, technology, and play.

With my 12-year-old daughter, I went through Dopamine Land during a preview event at which we learned a little about what satisfies our brains.

Read on to learn all about Dopamine Land, and don't miss our Guide to Indoor Fun for DC Kids to help with staying busy during these cold months.

Pictures with Santa Claus in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 11/26/2023 - 12:00pm

Take pictures with Santa and enjoy loads of other holiday activities at Gaylord National Resort. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National

The holiday season is full of festive photo ops, including the most important photos of all: pictures with Santa. There are so many places for families to meet Santa Claus and take Santa photos throughout DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. You can take pictures with Santa at the mall, visit him at fun events, and even see him on the rails at the National Capital Trolley Museum.

Many visits with Santa are free with the option to purchase photo packages, but there are even some places where you can get free pictures with Santa. Don't forget to secure a reservation ahead of time at most of these places—Santa is very busy this time of year.

Read on for our list of places to take Santa pictures near DC. Then check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids, which includes our roundups of must-do Christmas events and holiday activities in DC, where to have breakfast with Santa in the DC area, and more. Happy holidays!

Halloween Weekend 2023 in DC: Trick-or-Treat, Air & Scare, and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Wed, 10/25/2023 - 11:18am

Which gourd will win the pumpkin derby race at Pumpkin Rock N' Roll in Kensington, Maryland? Photo courtesy of the event's website

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Halloween weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Halloween is on Tuesday and this weekend kicks off some of our area's best celebrations. It's time to put those masks and costumes to good use at some kid-friendly Halloween events and activities in and around DC. Our events calendar is packed with the best places for princesses, monsters, and superheroes to show off their outfits all weekend long.

Start the weekend with a family-friendly festival like Hilloween at Eastern Market or Rattle Your Bones at Port Discovery. Continue the Halloween fun at the Del Ray Halloween Parade, Air & Scare at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, or Monster Bash in Takoma Park. And on Halloween itself, enjoy spooktacular events at Great Falls and Mosaic, or head to one of the best neighborhoods to trick-or-treat near DC.

Don’t miss our lists of the top Halloween events in DC for kids and families, the best pumpkin patches near DC, and the best corn mazes near DC.

Best Museums for Kids in the DC Area: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 10:00am

What masterpieces will your kiddo create at the National Building Museum’s PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit? Photo by Anne McDonough, courtesy of the museum

Washington, DC is known for its amazing free museums, including the world-famous Smithsonian institutions. That's why DC museums that charge admission are often overlooked. But, trust us—there are several fantastic museums in DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland that are truly worth the price of admission.

On a cold or rainy day, these museums offer something new and interesting for families to experience, whether it's exhibits just for young visitors, planes or trains to marvel at, optical illusions, or hands-on activities such as building and art.

Here are our favorite museums for kids and families in the DC area that are worth paying for, including children's museums and more. We've also included a few of the free museums near DC that are especially kid-friendly. Read reviews of some of these places in our Museum Guide for Kids and Families in Washington, DC, which includes our list of free museums in DC to visit with kids.

Panda Palooza: A Farewell to the National Zoo's Giant Pandas

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 10:00am

The National Zoo's giant pandas are set to return to China by December 7, 2023. Photo credit to Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Farewell, giant pandas!

It's time to say goodbye to some of Washington, DC's most beloved residents. Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, the Smithsonian National Zoo's giant pandas, are scheduled to fly home to China by December 7, 2023. While the pandas' departure is bittersweet for the DC area, it is also a chance to celebrate the conservation efforts for this species and the collaboration between the National Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

To help local families see the pandas off, the zoo is hosting a nine-day Panda Palooza full of panda-themed games, activities, entertainment, and more. Here's what to know about this celebration and the beloved pandas.

Jennifer Swope

Latest posts by Jennifer

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