Washington DC

The Frozen 2 Trailer Is Out and We Are So Here for It

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 10:08am

Elsa and Anna are BACK! Disney just released a Frozen 2 trailer, the sequel to the Let It Go fever that swept up both parents and kids a few years ago.

When Frozen debuted back in 2013, I had an instantly obsessed 4-year-old Elsa wannabe. We knew, like so many other families with young kids, that this Disney musical franchise was going to be a mainstay in our home. Catchy songs and strong, independent princesses, what's not to love?

Fast-forward to 2019, and that obsessed 4-year-old's baby sister is now a kindergartner pining to see the Broadway iteration of Frozen.

All three of us were thrilled to watch the Frozen 2 teaser together. Take a peek to see what you think! My girls are already making me promise we'll see the flick this fall.

Presidents Day Weekend for DC Kids: History, Circus, Science

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:00am

Midwinter activities abound this weekend. DC continues to its celebrations of the Chinese New Year. Family Science Days are back, and there's still time to enjoy maple sugaring and ice skating.

For families looking for something beautiful to do this weekend, the National Ballet of China is performing. Looking for a different kind of show? The Big Apple Circus is in town through most of March. And let's not forget all the great theater productions going on now as well.

Indoors or out, there's plenty to do on this chilly February weekend - enjoy!

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Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas for Families on a Budget

Submitted by Rose Gordon Sala on Sat, 02/09/2019 - 2:12pm

Is there a way to travel for cheap with kids during spring break? The short answer is... yes!

While some might automatically head to Orlando or even the Caribbean for spring break, airfare for a family of four can quickly add up to waaaay over budget. Families-in-the-know deploy a few tricks to plan a fun spring break vacation for the kids without blowing their mortgage payment, from scoring a secret deal to compromising a bit on the location.

There are plenty of family-friendly cities and destinations that cost a bit less but don’t scrimp on the family attractions, including top museums, eateries, beaches, and even amusement parks.

Read on for some of our editors’ favorite hacks in planning a cheap spring break and where they like to vacation as a family!

Weekend Fun for DC Kids: Chinese New Year, Maple Sugaring, Chocolate Festival

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Wed, 02/06/2019 - 10:00am

Nothing's sweeter than a weekend of chocolate, maple sugar, and sticky rice cakes, and the DC area is giving families lots of reasons to celebrate with treats this weekend, from the Chinese New Year to Maple Sugaring Days to the Smithsonian's Chocolate Festival and Crepe Day at Hillwood Estate.

If you don't have a sweet tooth and are craving something more artistic, then check out our calendar for other events, including loads of theater productions and arts and crafts. For families looking to celebrate Black History Month, check out Soul Child and A Visit with Miss Harriet.

No matter how you choose to spend the weekend, we hope you make some really sweet memories with your family.

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Cartoon Network Hotel to Open in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Submitted by Elaine Paoloni ... on Mon, 02/04/2019 - 10:29am

Fans of Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, Ben 10, The Powerpuff Girls, and other programs are getting a treat this summer. The TV network and Palace Entertainment are working together to open the Cartoon Network Hotel, a kid-friendly resort steeped in the channel's animated world, for summer 2019.

The nine-acre, 165-room property will be located in central Pennsylvania's Lancaster County along Route 30. It will neighbor Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park, which is also owned by Palace Entertainment, so a family could easily enjoy both attractions in one trip. It is the Cartoon Network's first themed hotel.

Seems like there's one more reason to plan a Pennsylvania weekend getaway with the kids.

Mall of America's Most Amazing Attractions for Kids of All Ages

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Sat, 02/02/2019 - 3:00pm

Mall of America, located in the heart of the American Midwest in Bloomington, Minnesota, is nothing short of an indoor entertainment epicenter for kids. Sure, it has over 500 stores, but there’s way more to do than just go shopping at the country's largest mall (so big that it requires its own zip code: 55425).

From Chicago’s iconic Willis Tower to the Harley Davidson museum in Milwaukee, the Midwest is full of fun, interesting, and educational things that kids and their parents will love. Mall of America might possess a more commercial feel than some of the area's other travel destinations, but it also likely offers the most entertainment per square foot (5.4 million square feet to be exact) with some of the most popular kids' characters and brands on hand, including Lego, Nickelodeon, American Girl, and Paw Patrol. There's an indoor amusement park, aquarium, arcade, mini golf, and so much more, all within just a few minutes of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.

Read on to check out our list of the top 25 amazing things that kids of all ages can do at Mall of America.

Free STEM Summer Camp from Girls Who Code Opens Registration

Submitted by Tara D on Thu, 01/31/2019 - 10:40am

Looking for more than mindless hanging out and screentime for your teenage daughter this summer? Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of women in computer science fields, is once again offering its FREE summer immersion program for girls entering their junior or senior year of high school. The 7-week STEM summer camp offering FREE coding lessons and more crucial skills will take place in select cities across the country, including the NYC metro area, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, and Chicago.

Keep reading to find out who is eligible, how to apply, and when and where the program is happening in summer 2019. Hurry, because the early application period for this FREE summer program is already open!

Weekend Fun for DC Kids: Paw Patrol LIVE!, Creativity, History - February 2-3, 2019

Submitted by Christine Mooney on Wed, 01/30/2019 - 11:10am

Now that February is here, is anyone else celebrating that winter is over next month? For cold weather fans, there's still plenty to do for winter family fun, including the always popular Washington Harbour Ice Rink. If you'd rather stay warm indoors, the big draw of this weekend will be Paw Patrol LIVE! at the Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax. You can also find some fun indoor play spots if that's more your speed.

For families wanting to get creative together, the two-part t-shirt quilting workshop at Anacostia Community Museum is a great way to make memories and learn a new skill. Or head to The Phillips Collection's Creativity Workshop to try your hand at various artistic endeavors.

Whatever you pick, have fun this weekend, DC families!

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Stay on a Houseboat in Amsterdam for a Total Family Vacation Win

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 01/26/2019 - 2:05pm

Amsterdam is a wonderful city to visit on a European family vacation. The city is kid friendly with lots of fun things to do for families, including wonderful parks, engaging museums, and many delicious restaurants to try. It's also relatively easy to navigate with children in tow.

The city is full of canals, which is another plus for kids as they often love to watch the boats or even take a ride. One of the most special (and affordable) ways to visit Amsterdam is to stay on an actual houseboat instead of in a hotel.

When you visit Amsterdam, you can’t help but notice these charming houseboats lining the canals and Amstel River. They look so cozy, and many even have gardens growing around them. Our family stayed on a houseboat in Amsterdam for a long weekend and found it to be a comfortable and fun way to visit the city with children.

Tidying Up Kids' Stuff: 2 Easy Takeaways from Marie Kondo

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Thu, 01/24/2019 - 10:36am

While the world binge-watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and my social media feeds filled up with photos of freshly organized sock drawers, I didn't bother tuning in. After all, I'm already a Very Organized Person—the kind of mom who sorts her kids' toys according to category, and who may have an addiction to The Container Store. What could I possibly have to learn?

Then an image sprang to mind of me, huffily sorting papers on the kitchen counter while a hundred other urgent matters vie for my attention. When things get hectic, the piles of mail, magazines, kids' artwork, school forms, and other random papers crowding our countertops suddenly seem like a five-alarm fire. My husband calls it "angry organizing."