Move Your Feet for the Planet at the National Children’s Museum this April

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Published: 03/31/2013

Programming will celebrate both a healthy Earth and healthy bodies
Photo credit, Micaela Williamson

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD (March 21, 2013) – Honoring two of its core content areas, the National Children’s Museum will celebrate health and well-being and the environment through programs dedicated to movement, dance, reusing resources and helping others . All programs will take place at the National Children’s Museum at 151 St. George Blvd. at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Md.

TOMS Sole Party: One Day Without Shoes
Saturday, April 13-Sunday, April 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
By partnering with TOMS to host One Day Without Shoes, the Museum will increase awareness of the health issues facing children who do not have access to shoes around the world. Museum visitors will have an opportunity to experience what it feels like to walk without shoes on various terrains and contribute their thoughts on how to make a difference to our NCM/TOMS pledge wall.

Free Family Night sponsored by GEICO

Friday, April 19, 5-8 p.m.
Enjoy free admission to the museum as well as hands-on activities and interactive play in the NCM theatre and exhibit areas. April’s Free Family Night will include programs that celebrate Earth Day. Please visit www.ncm.museum for more information on the free tickets and special programs.

Earth Day Artwork
Friday, April 19-Tuesday, April 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Visitors can celebrate Earth Day and the Earth’s resources by creating one-of-a-kind artwork from recyclable materials. All activities will take place in the Center for Learning and Innovation. Additional programs and activities may be announced at a later date.

Guest performer: Princess Mhoon Dance Institute
Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m.
Families can get their groove on with a special performance and dance class as part of the Princess Mhoon Dance Institute’s youth outreach program. Princess Mhoon’s dance programs help children discover how to use dance to better understand themselves and the world in which they live. This performance will take place in the NCM theatre and is included in the cost of admission.

Guest performer: Ballet Petite
Sunday, April 21, 1 p.m.
Experience the magic of ballet with a performance from Ballet Petite’s youth dancers. The event will take place in the NCM theatre and is included in the cost of admission.

Global Youth Service Day with Maddie’s Blankets
Saturday, April 27, noon-4 p.m.
The National Children’s Museum will celebrate Global Youth Service Day through a partnership with Maddie’s Blankets, an organization dedicated to improving conditions for rescue animals. Families will have an opportunity to design and decorate small quilts, which Maddie’s Blankets will donate to shelters and other organizations serving animals in temporary homes. Available as supplies last.

Activities in the Center for Learning and Innovation
Nature serves as the inspiration behind April’s activities in the Center for Learning and Innovation. Visitors ages 3 and under will enjoy a sensory garden and nature table; explorations of the wonders of the ocean; and storytimes featuring Lois Elhert’s Planting a Rainbow, Todd Parr’s The Peace Book, and Jan Peck’s Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea.
Photo Credit, Micaela Williamson


Visitors can purchase online tickets to the Museum for every day of the week. If tickets sell out online, tickets for that day and time slot may still be available for purchase in-person at the NCM box office. For more information, visitors may go towww.ncm.museum, email info@ncm.museum or call the museum’s main number at 301.392.2400.

The museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Labor Day and Memorial Day. During the summer months, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Standard admission is $10 per child or adult and $8 for seniors ages 65 and up. There is no cost of admission for infants 12 months or younger.

# # #

About National Children’s Museum
The National Children’s Museum (NCM) is a world-class cultural and educational center (www.ncm.museum) that inspires children to care about and improve the world. NCM opened in Dec. 2012 at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Md. After operating as a “museum without walls” for several years, the Museum is now Greater Washington’s premier family attraction and the only national museum dedicated especially to children and their families and caregivers. NCM was designated by Congress in 2003 and was founded in 1974 as the Capital Children’s Museum.
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Field Trip- Arlington House Black History Month Events

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Published: 02/10/2013
Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial, presents
Black History Month at Arlington House
Join us as we celebrate the experience of African Americans at Arlington House!

African American History Tours
Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 PM
 
Park Rangers will provide a tour of the African American experience at Arlington House and in its historic slave quarters.  Explore where the enslaved people of Arlington House worked, lived and persevered through their oppression.  Learn about their bondage to one of Virginia's first families, their lifestyles, and how they gained their freedom.

Faith and Freedom Sundays
February 3, 10, 17 at 2 PM
 
On select Sundays in February, local black churches will share the significance of their history in the greater Arlington area through discussion and music.  These churches have roots to Freedman's Village, a settlement for freed people on the Arlington estate and what today is the Arlington National Cemetery.
These activities are free to the public.  For more information, please e-mail arlingtonhouseevents@nps.gov  or call: 703-235-1530.
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
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February 2013 at the National Children's Museum

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Published: 02/03/2013

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD (Jan. 23, 2013) – Throughout the month of February, the National Children’s Museum (NCM) will feature innovative programming that aims to introduce children to different forms of music and dance.


Unless otherwise noted, all programs will take place at the National Children’s Museum at 151 St. George Blvd. at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Md. Tickets are available at the NCM box office and can also be purchased online in advance for weekend visits and days when attendance will be at capacity. If timed entry tickets are sold out online, tickets may still be available for purchase in person in advance for the next available admission time. For more information, visitors may go to www.ncm.museum, email info@ncm.museum or call the museum’s main number at 301.392.2400.

Free Family Night sponsored by GEICO
Friday, Feb. 15, 5-6:30 p.m., 6:30-8 p.m.
Families can enjoy free admission to the museum as well as hands-on activities and interactive play in the NCM theatre and exhibit areas. February’s Free Family Night will celebrate Festival of Nations. Please note: Families can attend one of two 90-minute shifts from either 5-6:30 p.m. or 6:30-8 p.m. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the NCM box office beginning at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15. The museum will close for half an hour at 4:30 p.m. to give staff time to prepare for the event. 

Guest Performance: Cantaré’s ¡Mucha Música!
Saturday, Feb. 16, 11-11:30 a.m. and 1-1:30 p.m.
Celebrate Festival of Nations Week with Cantaré's ¡Mucha Música!, a 30-minute musical journey to Latin America. Each exciting, interactive performance will introduce families to the musical heritage of the Caribbean, Central and South America, Cantaré performs songs in Spanish and Portuguese and shares the music's cultural and historical background. Sharing in the same mission of the museum’s Our Worldexhibit, ¡Mucha Música! highlights cultural differences while also communicating the rich fusion that results when diverse traditions come together. Both performances will take place in the NCM Theatre; no separate tickets are required.

Guest Performance: Green Golly & Her Golden Flute
Monday, Feb. 18, 11-11:30 a.m. and 1-1:30 p.m.
This child-friendly introduction to classical music, created and performed by Keith Torgan and Barbara Siesel, inspires children to listen actively and imagine creatively. Based on the story of Rapunzel, Green Golly & Her Golden Flute tells the story of a girl who finds musical inspiration every day life. Both performances will take place in the NCM Theatre; no separate tickets are required.

NCM Celebrates Presidents’ Day
Monday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Events will take place throughout the day)
Visitors can learn about the rich history of the U.S. presidency and what it takes to hold one of the most important jobs in the country. Families can explore the Museum’s large library of presidential-themed books, create artwork from presidential shapes and household objects and write biographies about their favorite presidents.

In addition to its monthly programming, the museum will also begin offering field trip programs on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Field trips are available Tuesday-Friday from 10-11:30 a.m. and
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.  Admission is $8 per child and $10 per adult, with one adult receiving free admission for every five children. For reservations or more information, educators can contact schools@ncm.museum or 301.392.2450.

The National Children's Museum has served more than 30,000 visitors since opening in December 2012. The museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Labor Day and Memorial Day. During the summer months, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Standard admission is $10 per child or adult and $8 for seniors ages 65 and up. There is no cost of admission for infants 12 months or younger.

# # #

About National Children’s Museum
The National Children’s Museum (NCM) is a world-class cultural and educational center (www.ncm.museum) that inspires children to care about and improve the world. NCM opened in Dec. 2012 at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Md. After operating as a “museum without walls” for several years, the Museum is now Greater Washington’s premier family attraction and the only national museum dedicated especially to children and their families and caregivers. NCM was designated by Congress in 2003 and was founded in 1974 as the Capital Children’s Museum.

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Chick-fil-A Home Office

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Published: 12/05/2012
We were so fortunate to be able to visit the Chick-fil-A Home Office in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday as part of the "VIP of Chick-fil-A" promotion run by local restaurants here in the DC metro area.   I'm not a great flyer, so two flights in one day was pushing it, but I am really glad that I went and I actually did pretty well on the flight coming back, so maybe I just need to travel more.  (Note to husband.)

Chick-fil-A of Woodbridge was our sponsoring restaurant, and they were so incredible to us.  We had a congratulatory dinner (you can read about it here), and since the owners were unable to travel with us, they sent a car from Elite Limo USA, which was great.  Our daughter thought for sure that they were going to pick us up in the catering van (the one you see parked at the restaurant that's cow-spotted) and was SO excited for us to get to ride "with the chicken nuggets" that we haven't told her yet that we had a lovely SUV instead :)
My "plus one" is pretty awesome
Our flight left out of Reagan Airport, and it was short- about an hour and twenty minutes or so.  There were a bunch of winners and restaurant owners (or "operators" in CFA speak) on our flight, with about 130 total people on the trip when we all met up in Atlanta.  We had such a great time meeting new people and watching the operators tease each other.  While we were in Atlanta, they kept stressing the family atmosphere they try to create for their employees, operators, and customers, and you could definitely see that! Whether it was trying to convince a stewardess that one of the Cathy's was on our flight (he wasn't, but the operator of the La Plata store offered everyone on the flight an original sandwich to make up for it!) or surfing on the airport shuttle, we had a really great time just traveling and enjoying the friendly atmosphere.

Once we arrived in Atlanta, there were tons of Chick-fil-A home office staff that came to greet us.  Little known fact, it is physically impossible to not smile when people are forming a human chain and ringing cow bells at you!

Especially if you and your husband joke about how you're being "herded" to the buses.

At the end of the line, the cows were there!! I promised our kids lots of cow pictures, and we did not disappoint.





The Home Office is actually amazing.  I wasn't really sure what we were in for when they told us we were going to do a tour of corporate headquarters.  Chick-fil-A's retention rate for employees is 97% at the Home Office, and they typically only lose people to illness or retirement, and you can definitely see why.  The location is like a giant park with most of the land left wooded.  There's on-site childcare provided, as well as a gym, stocked pond, running trails, a cafe that provides lunch each day, and y'all, I'd move to Atlanta tomorrow to go work there.  I am not even kidding.  You can watch a video about it if you want to, on their website.

We were also provided with lunch, and then Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A came to speak with us.  He was very charming and funny! He came in to spend a few minutes with us while we were having lunch, and when he started his speech, he got distracted by someone's plate and joked "What are you all eating? Is that pork barbeque? Someone's going to get some demerits for that!"  I sincerely hope that when I am in my 90s I'm still putting on a suit and coming to speak to people!
Not pictured: The life-size Willie Nelson that lives in the office
Dan Cathy, the COO, also came to speak with us and so did "Bubba" Cathy (who threw a giant cow, which I caught!! Thank you, not that you're reading this!).  Chick-fil-A is still family owned, and their third generation of family owners are now coming up.
We named him "Lap Child" hoping to pre-board on the way home.
After our lunch, we were able to tour the office, which is partially a museum, so there are works of art and statues all over the building, as well as a dedicated are to Truett Cathy's car collection, which includes one of the Bat Mobiles used in filming Batman forever.  My husband really loved that.

There's also an exhibit with a replica of the Dwarf House, which is where the Cathy family started their restaurant business, as well as an area dedicated to the charities that the Cathys fund through the WinShape Foundation, which offers marriage retreats, camps, foster homes, team development, college programs and more.

After our tour, we were again taken out to our buses which took us to the Dwarf House, which also has a Chick-fil-A attached, so that we could snap a few pictures and pick up a boxed dinner since we wouldn't all fit inside.  Don't worry- it was a Chick-fil-A sandwich this time- no barbeque.

We just had the most wonderful time.  It was fun and informative, and I really respect the principles that Chick-fil-A runs on.

If you're ever in Atlanta, you don't have to be a "VIP" to get a tour! Chick-fil-A Home Office Backstage Tours are offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9:30am and 1pm.  Lunch is available for purchase after the 9:30am tour.  The 90 minute walking tour is for ages 6 and up.

PS- I have a Chick-fil-A giveaway for your enjoyment, too.  (Unless it's after December 7, 2012, because then the contest is closed).

I was provided with transportation to/from and around Atlanta, as well as a tour and two meals for myself and one guest as part of the "VIP of Chick-fil-A" contest.  The contest was not limited to bloggers/writers, and I was not asked to write about my experience in return for winning.  I just wanted to share with you guys.  All opinions are my own.
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Guest Post: The New American Trail at the National Zoo

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Published: 09/12/2012


I wouldn’t normally venture out to the Smithsonian National Zoo on a humid Saturday at the end of summer, but this wasn’t an ordinary weekend.  After two and a half years of work, the American Trail was reopening to visitors.  Did you know that this trail has been part of the National Zoo since the late 1800’s?  And that it was originally called “Beaver Valley” before they changed the name in 2007?  Or that one of the main reasons for the renovation was that the seal and sea lion pool was leaking over 100,000 gallons of water a day despite efforts to conserve the water?  Well, if you didn’t, you just learned your new thing for the day. 
Waterfall Near the Beginning of the Trail
We started at the part of the trail closest to The Elephant Outpost (which is awesome if you haven’t seen that new addition!) and worked our way down the hill.  It was late afternoon and we were finally getting a break from the sun. As we walked along the trail we experienced several of North America’s ecosystems, including coastal upland, wet forest, eastern woodland forest and the shore. The trail ignites all of your senses as it is filled with sounds of running water, a variety of green trees and flora, tall rock walls and smells of the water.
Busy Beaver!
The first animals we saw were the two American river otters.  Their exhibit is not as large as the Asian river otters’, but it was fun to watch them swim and wrestle underwater.  Next, we saw the North American beavers. The beavers were pretty active, too!  This particular exhibit hasn’t changed that much, but you do get a great view of the beavers. One was having a snack on land while the other was busy carrying sticks and such to their dam.  My girls just loved going back and forth watching the beaver work.  Also included in their exhibit are two hooded merganser ducks, but they were sound asleep on a rock when we were there.
Photo from Smithsonian National Zoo
Adjacent to the beavers are two gray wolves (the white one is beautiful).  This species has never been exhibited before at the National Zoo.  The white one was in plain view pacing his area.  The revamped exhibit allows for visitors to see the wolves better when they are out and about.  Don’t worry about the Mexican wolves the Zoo had before on exhibit on the trail. They were part of a conservation release program.
Across from the wolves is a bald eagle.  I don’t think people realize how big this bird actually is.  I noticed that the exhibit was not enclosed as I remember it being in the past.  This is because the eagle fell from its nest when it was young and can not fly.  I like the openness of the exhibit and you can get a pretty clear view from a side viewing area.
We did not actually see the raven exhibit, but there are four of them.  One of them is a rescue. This is another species the National Zoo has never had on exhibit before. 

We didn’t intentionally save the best for last, but it worked out that way!  Of course, the big talk has been about the new seal and sea lion exhibit that was being unveiled.  I don’t know how many of you remember the old exhibit for the seals and sea lions, but it was more like a huge, white-bottomed swimming pool than a natural habitat for the creatures.  This new exhibit is totally different!  You will seriously forget you are at the zoo and will be transported to the west coast once you enter this exhibit.

Photo from Smithsonian National Zoo – sign by entrance of tide pool
As we got closer, we could hear children screaming and laughing.  I thought the seals and sea lions were swimming and that’s why everyone was so excited.  I had totally forgot about the tide pool!  My tired husband suggested we walk on by so the girls wouldn’t notice.  Granted, we had been at the zoo for a LONG time by then, but I said we should go for it.  (I am trying to do more of “living in the moment” these days.  The “old” me definitely would’ve agreed with him.)  He asked if I was sure and I said let’s get these socks and shoes off!


 
Photos from Smithsonian National Zoo:  Empty tide pool

The tide pool is very kid-friendly and is surrounded with model sea stars, barnacles and sea urchins – which my 3 ½ year old loved searching for and touching.  Water shoots up from numerous holes in the ground.  I almost got caught over a couple of them, which my husband found very funny. (Did I mention I was wearing a skirt?)   Every two minutes, a “tidal wave” sweeps across the area.  The water came up to my ankles.  My 3 ½ year old would rush up to where the water would come out of and my 17 month old was trying to “catch” the water spewing from the “geysers” around us. My girls love the water, so they had a blast! After we were well soaked, we headed on to the rest of the exhibit. 
Having fun!
The first seal we saw was a gray seal.  She is a retired NAVY seal whose skills were utilized during the Cold War.  (Maybe that’s why she was napping.)  She will have three friends join her in the late fall. Two harbor seals will also join the exhibit then.  This is another species that the National Zoo has not previously exhibited.
Next, we got to see four very active California sea lions (two which are rescues) and two lazy brown pelicans.  Both pelicans have wing injuries that prevent them from being released into the wild.
Trying to touch the sea lion--how precious is that?!
The underwater viewing area was filled with adults and children alike trying to get a glimpse of the sea lions swimming by.  This is a great place to just park the stroller and let the sea lions do the entertaining.  The sea lions seemed to be showing off by swimming on their backs and looking right at us as they swam by.  I could’ve sat there longer myself, but we wanted to give other people a turn.

Photos from Smithsonian National Zoo – This is the view from the seating area pictured below.  I love the natural look and feel of it.

As we walked further along the path, we saw this huge seating area where visitors can sit and watch the keeper talks, which happen twice a day.  It would be a great place for a break or just for watching the sea lions if they are on the rocks.  However, it’s not very shady.

Photo from Smithsonian National Zoo – The hidden gem of the exhibit

We were getting ready to leave the trail when I noticed another path.  I decided to go ahead to see what it was.  I saw the sign that said “stroller parking” but the kiosk was shut down for the night.  So, I peeked in the cave and boy was I taken back!  The flooring is soft and bouncy and there is a HUGE underwater viewing area.  There is no ambient lighting behind you and except for not being wet, you feel like you are under the water.  It really felt like the floor was moving.  We took advantage of the fact that we could have our strollers in there and parked the girls for a private show.  A few other people meandered through, but other than that we had the cave to ourselves. There is also a small seating area where visitors can sit and watch.
Waiting for the Sea Lions

There is also the Seal Rock Cafe on the trail, but it was closed by the time we made it by there.  The cafe serves local Chesapeake Bay seafood meals and it even has a vegetarian option.  These meals feature local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients such as shrimp and fish.  

The National Zoo did an exceptional job with the American Trail renovation.  There is so much more to it than meets the eye.  I didn't even mention how so much for the trail was done with "green" thinking in mind.  I have spent quite some time reading about the building of the train, the exhibits, and the animals themselves.  I definitely recommend that you take the family and learn more about what treasures are around us in our own country- from flora to fauna.  The American Trail is certainly an experience for the senses as well as the mind and a great field trip for the entire family!


A Few Tips
-Bring water.  I didn't do this and had to shell out $3/bottle and it wasn't even cold.  They gave scups of ice, but bottled water was hard to come by that hot, humid day!
-Be prepared to park your stroller to enter the cave
-The closest bathrooms are a three minute walk uphill.  They actually have a sign posted with the time!
- Not all parts are shaded, dress for the weather/sun appropriately. 
Angela Pounders is a transplant to Manassas Park from Arlington.  She is blessed to be a stay at home mama to two beautiful girls.  As a former teacher (as well as preschool director and Children and Family Director), she is always on the look out for fun, easy and educational things to do with her girls.  She also loves to share her ideas and is looking to start her own blog, The Master’s Daughter, by the fall.


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Reviews: Potomac Overlook Park

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Published: 07/31/2012
I have mommy brain.  My mommy brain syndrome (MBS) is augmented by my technology dependence syndrome (TDS, or, in my case iTDS).  Example?  We showed up for my daughter's dermatology appointment (a 45 minute drive in traffic because while I love PWC, I'm driving to the bets possible doctor our insurance will semi-pay for) only to sit for 30 minutes before the semi-rude receptionist reminded me that I cancelled this appointment when I made an earlier one for before we left for the beach.

My MBS apparently prevented me from removing that from my iCal, so when my iAlarm went off, iGotIntheCar and iDrove to the appointment.  Hence the iTDS kicker.

Being that I am also spontaneous, and had skipped swim team practice, we opted to iMap our way over to Potomac Overlook Regional Park and check out what it had to offer before doing the same thing back down i66, err, I-66, to head to a library event back down in our neck of the woods.

Potomac Overlook is located at 2845 North Marcey Road, Arlington, Virginia.  It is absolutely gorgeous for hiking, as well as having a beautiful nature center, concerts, a solar-powered outdoor stage, roving naturalists, community gardens, and canoe trips. 

We've been to Potomac Overlook once before, and we enjoyed the well-shaded hiking, especially since with water shoes on we could enjoy keeping our feet cool in the creek/river that flows through the park.  Throwback photo evidence:


Okay, so they didn't like their water shoes.  I admit, I am that horrible parent that lets my children experience the world barefoot whenever they want and my husband isn't yelling.  I don't like shoes, either, so I get it.
 In this picture my kids are 15 months, 3, and 5.  I'm wearing sporting an awesome blue Moby Wrap.  If you don't have a Moby Wrap and you have a baby or are about to have a 2nd (3rd, 4th, 5th) baby, you should stop reading this NOW and go buy one.  I'll wait. No, they're not paying me, either.
I am also that mom that lets her kid swim in the deep pool he finds.  It was warm that day.  He had an amazing time and the water was clear so that you could see straight to the bottom.  I realize this doens't mean it was clean, but it looked like it, so there.

This time, however, we never made it that far since by the time we arrived it was already 108 degrees outside.  Walking from the parking lot to the nature center, we noticed there is a fun hike with signs for each planet placed at representative distances along the path.  They include fun facts like how much a person of a certain weight (I want to say it was 100 pounds) would weigh on each planet.  On your left hand side, you'll also see the solar-powered outdoor theatre as well as an eletctric car filling station.  Trees and rocks along this main path are also labeled for your viewing pleasure. 

By the time we arrived at the nature center, my middle child informed me that he was dying, and I informed him that the nature center is air conditioned, at which point he summoned the will power to go on the three steps to the door.  It was magical.

By the way, now that my kids are 4, 6, and 8, their lives exist soley on my iphone because I'm not good enough to carry a camera, so I hope that you enjoyed the nice, clear pictures above because now we're switching back to my typical low-quality cell phone pictures.

The nature center includes a fun mix of energy saving information along with a living bee colony, live turtles, frogs and snakes, as well as some stuffed local species, skulls, and skeletons and fossils to look at.  The upper level is mostly non-living, although there is a turtle and two snakes, and the lower level is mostly snakes and frogs, along with a children's cave area, which was fun to hang around in for a few minutes even if it wasn't very large.
 The children's area included boards to make your own "cave drawings" sounds of a cave on a phone, and space to sit and read books or play with toys.  It'd be a good place to cool off and calm down on a hot day.
 There's also a lower-level educational room, which was completely devoid of people on the day we went, but looked like it must be used for field trips and scout groups.  There were some fish in the tank as well as stuffed bird and small mammal species. 
Ooooh, something stuffed.  Fun.  My kids love anything about animals, so they thought this nature center was fantastic.  It's definitely small enough that you can do it in a morning and still have time for a hike, even if you read everything in the nature center, but I enjoy that about it.

It was after this picture that my phone died.  It was sad.  So, not pictured are the community garden, Indian-themed circular garden, or the live birds of prey that are a short walk across from the nature center.  These are previously injured owls and hawks that cannot be returned to the wild due to the extent of their inuries, and you do get a very close look at them.  The owls were especially beautiful, and, as a bonus, I found a 4 foot black snake on the trail on the way up! How fantastic!

Fine, I freaked out.  But the boys thought it was amazing.

This is a great local field trip, and we enjoyed both of our visits.  Check out Potomac Overlook Regional Park for your next hike or nature event!

Potomac Overlook Regional Park
Recommended for: Any age, really.  Lots of walking, but getting to/from the nature center is stroller-friendly.  There is a long hill that is not particularly handicap-accessible, I would talk to the park rangers about the possibility of being allowed to drive to the center itself if that's an issue for your.  Older children will enjoy the various themed areas and hiking.

Pros: Free! Lots of different interests addressed.  Live and stuffed animal species, lots of labeled plants and rocks with information on species.

Cons: Nature center is somewhat small, parking is removed from areas of interest.
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Giveaway: Follow That Fiddle

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Published: 07/17/2012


Win a Family 4-pack to Follow That Fiddle! -  Thursday, July 19 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. courtesy of the Hylton Performing Arts Center! 

"Follow That Fiddle!" takes you on a journey back to the origins of the violin & fiddles of the world and forward to the electric violins of tomorrow.  NSO violinist Glenn Donnellan enthralls the audience with American fiddling, European fiddling (including the visually stunning Norwegian Hardanger fiddle) and the Chinese two-stringed fiddle (Erhu) as you learn about the globe-spanning history of fiddling and the violin.  The performance culminates with Glenn Donnellan's one-of-a-kind fiddle, the Electric Slugger®, which he created from a regulation Louisville Slugger™ baseball bat and plays at MLB games.  This engaging performance captivates students as they learn about how a violin and fiddle make their sound, watch a bow and arrow become an instrument, and how with a little electric energy, a violin can ROCK the house!

In addition to the performance, children will have the opportunity to play the Electric Slugger® during a hands-on demonstration after each performance.

For more information or to buy tickets visit: http://www.hyltoncenter.org/calendar/250/
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To enter, please send an email  by clicking on the link with "Follow That Fiddle" in the subject line.  No other action is necessary.  Winner will be notified via email and Facebook on Wednesday, July 18th by 12:05pm.


Prize provided by the Hylton Performing Arts Center.  PwcMoms.com is not responsible for travel or other expenses, and assumes no liability on the part of the recipient or the provider of this prize. 
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Guest Post: Animal Shelter Children's Farm

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Published: 05/18/2012

Thanks to Sharon for the info on the Prince William County Animal Shelter Children's Farm!

My kids are crazy about animals.  We are always looking for something to do that involves our four-legged friends.  Today we ventured out to the Prince William County Animal ShelterChildren’s Farm.  If you are interested in taking your wee ones to this free exhibit, here are a few things you should know before you go.

First of all, it’s free.  Pretty cool, right?  The only requisite is that you call beforehand to make sure there is someone available to let you in.  Even though the website says they are only open on Thursdays, they will accommodate visitors provided they are adequately staffed.  The staff also recommends that you use discretion if it is raining.  This is a real barnyard with real dirt and your children can get really dirty if it is wet.  Heads up.

We arrived to the Animal Shelter parking lot and walked through the main entrance into the shelter building.  We asked at the main desk if we could be escorted back to the Children’s Farm and we were soon paired with a kind, young employee who walked us to the back and unlocked the gates.  As soon as the gates were unlocked, the fun began.  Two very friendly, very zealous potbelly pigs greeted us immediately: one named Chunk and the other Tootsie. We took a chance and brought a big bag of carrots in case they would let us feed the animals, and as it turns out, visitors are welcome to feed carrots and apples.  And, WOW, were we popular!  My children were able to feed carrots to the pigs, the white pony, all of the goats and the cow in the yard.  The animals were clean and well-groomed.  They appeared happy and well taken care of.

Our visit concluded when all of the carrots were eaten (a few may have been consumed by the humans in our group…) and the children had laughed themselves silly at all of the animal antics in the barnyard.  We stayed for about 20 minutes.

Bottom Line: Call ahead, dress for mud, bring treats, and have fun.

Address and Phone Number:
14807 Bristow Road
Manassas, VA 20112
Phone: 703-792-6465

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Wednesday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Thursday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Friday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm-4:00pm
Monday: Closed
Sharon Kieffer Steele is a homeschooling mother of 5 who resides in Prince William County.  She is a freelance writer who occasionally blogs atsharonksteele.blogspot.com
 
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May 19th 2012: National Kids to Parks Day

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Published: 05/14/2012
As part of the "Let's Move" initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids, the National Park Trust is hosting "National Kids to Parks Day" on May 19, 2012.  You can sign up on their website to let them know you pledge to take your kids outside and to a park on May 19th! We have some awesome park options right here in Prince William County, and they're hosting events, to boot! I've also included some surrounding parks in case you'd really like to make a day of it!

Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge, VA will be hosting a Kids to Parks GPS hunt at 12 and 3.  The hike will be 1.3 miles and GPS units will help in your search.  Bring water and closed-toed shoes.  $3pp or $8 per family or $25 per large group.  

Occoquan Regional Park will host a Healthy Paddles Event from 10am-3pm

Rock Creek Park in DC will host a Kids to Parks Event from 10am-2pm

Mason Neck in Lorton will be offering a variety of programs.  GPS rentals will be available.  Feathers and Furst, 10-10:30am, Picnic Area Pond Patrol 11-12pm, Makin Tracks 12:30-1:30pm, Whimmy Diddles 2-2:30pm, Hiking Helpers 3-4pm.  

Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania (it's our favorite camping/boating spot!) will have Jack Corrigan teaching Geocaching 101.  Preregister by calling 540-854-5503.  $2/pp or $6 per family.  No park entrance fee.  9am-12pm or 1-4pm. 

Wolf Trap in Vienna (yes, it's performing arts, but it's also a park!) will have kids day from 9am-12pm. 

Also, the NPT has some great children's activities on their Buddy the Bison website.  You can check those out here. 

Even if you think your child is too young for some of these planned activities, why not get them out to a park on the 19th anyway.  Lake Ridge Park is a fun one, even for little kids, or even your neighborhood playground could do in a pinch! There's hiking trails all over PWC (the one behind Waterworks is fun!) and you can enjoy some time being active and outside with your kids! 
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The White House Tour

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Published: 05/06/2012
No pictures allowed inside the WH tour- so this is our only real "tour" photo
We love history.  In fact, we love history so much that it's almost dork-con 1 at our house all the time.  We have "Story of the World" on the full 4 set CD collection and listen to it for fun.

Seriously.

So we definitely appreciate historical sites.  We also love living outside of DC and enjoy the museums.  We're also some of those "crazy homeschoolers", so we partake of the National Park Service's Historic Sites on a regular basis.  My kids have filled out Junior Ranger books at Constitution Hall, Appomattox Court House, the Frederick Douglass House and a few more this school year alone.

I say that all to qualify the fact that we really don't recommend the White House Tour.  I know several of you disagreed on Facebook and said that it was worth a visit because it's such an historic place or because it's on your DC bucket list, but for us, it was probably our least favorite historic tour we've been on.  Here's why:

1) Booking your tour takes some coordination.  You can't just show up at the White House and get in the tour line.  You'll need to go through your Senator or Congressman and provide a list of social security numbers for everyone in your group.  (We were actually very blessed that someone from our group did this for us.  It's a little scary to give your SSNs to someone, but she did all the leg work).  Once you submit those you'll hear 10 days to 2 weeks before your scheduled time and then need to make it work. You can't just request a particular day and be guaranteed to get it.

2) Getting there isn't really that difficult.  Metro Center is very close, or you can drive in.  There's a parking garage right by the W hotel.  They'll tell you not to drive because parking is so limited, but if you're willing to spend the $15 or so dollars to park for the next few hours, you won't have any trouble.  Free and meter parking are nearly impossible, so don't plan on that.

3) Entering the park (the White House is both a residence, a business, and a National Park Museum) can be time consuming and a bit of a hassle.  You'll go through a few check points where you'll need photo ID for everyone over 18 that EXACTLY matches the registered name.  You can be refused entry if you're late for your time (although we were about 10 minutes later than the 15 minutes early they tell you to be and had no problem).  All told we waited in line for about 40 minutes, including going one at a time through a checkpoint where a dog sniffs you (a little scary for our 4 year old), and another with a metal detector.  This was a weekday with no school holidays that I'm aware of, so if you're doing this over summer or winter breaks, plan for a longer wait time.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are NO STROLLERS, DIAPER BAGS, PURSES, FOOD (including cheerios and baby bottles), OF ANY KIND ALLOWED.  THERE IS NO STROLLER PARKING, EITHER.  They sent a woman from our group away because she had the smallest purse you've ever seen.  You'll need to literally stash everything in your car (if you brought one) or have a member of your crew stay outside to keep everything.  If you public transited, this can be a huge hassle, since you probably needed a stroller or some "stuff" (like diapers) to make it through the rest of your visit to DC.

4) Once you're inside there's isn't actually a tour.  You signed up for a "White House Tour", you're given a tour time, but once you get there, it's all self-guided.  Each room has a small sign on the floor with 1-3 sentences about the room and a fun fact, and there are Secret Service Agents stationed in each room to answer specific questions, but there is no tour guide or small overview as there is at most historic sites in the NPS.  On the main floor, you'll walk up a ramp of a few steps. There is a view of a garden, but we were not permitted to enter it.  There are a few picture frames on the walls with various themes (Presidential Pets, etc), and then you round a corner to the first 3 rooms, which are standard-sized doorways which have been roped off.  There's the Vermeil (that's Ver-may- gold plated French items), the China Room (with the China Patterns), and the library.  You can stick your head in the door and look left and right.  Across from the Vermeil Room, there's a set of stairs going up (I'm not sure if there's handicap access somewhere, but I'd assume there is).  At the top of the stairs, there are a few other rooms that you can actually enter and walk adjacent to- the East Room, Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room and State Dining Room.

All said and done, we waited 40 minutes for a tour that lasted about 5.  My 8 year old summed it up well when he said "Mommy, we could have just read the booklet and looked at pictures on the internet".  Being there in person didn't really add to the experience or knowledge base for us.

If it were me, I'd rather spend my time at one of the other DC historic sites that's less hassle and more interaction.  I totally understand the allure of going to the White House, but for us, we enjoyed it least of all the Historic Tours we've taken.

Breakdown:
The White House Tour
Recommended for: Parties that ONLY have children old enough to walk and stand for at least an hour at a time in line, that do not require strollers or diaper bags, and can handle large crowds of people.

Pros: It's the White House.  You probably won't see the President, but it's still a neat thing to claim you did.

Cons: Requires a reservation in advance through your elected representative, no strollers or bags allowed, short tour for the wait and process. No guided tours, no presentations in each room.

Our favorite part of the tour- Milkshakes at the Potbelly across the street. 


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Guest Post: Virginia Renaissance Faire

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Published: 05/02/2012

  This is a re-post of last year's review of the Virginia Renaissance Faire.  However, we have tickets again this year!! Want to go? Leave a comment below with either your favorite part about the Renaissance Faire, or if you've never been, why you'd like to go! We'll pick a winner on Friday!

Thanks again to guest blogger Gaby from Domestic Goddess Musings for sharing the Virginia Renaissance Faire, and to the Faire coordinators for sponsoring our ticket giveaway!!

Many thanks to the fabulous Kristina of PWC Moms for sending our family to the Virginia Renaissance Faire! It was a lovely day in the Lake Anna region of Virginia, so we ended up staying from 10:30-2:00 (the event runs from 10:00-5:00 each day). Each weekend the faire is open has a theme, and this weekend featured Celtic Heritage. I'm not sure what exactly was more Celtic yesterday than any other day, but we saw a lot of kilts.

The fair grounds are rather large and could have easily accommodated crowds larger than the ones we visited with. A word to the wise though: take a jogging or all-terrain stroller. The "paths" are gravelly, and the grass is uneven. Pushing our umbrella stroller around was difficult once we were having to push a larger kid while juggling the little one.

The first "thing" that happened was that our older kids (4 and 2) decided they were going to be terrified of all the Renaissance actors. It took them about an hour and/or the queen's arrival to make them enjoy interacting with the characters. My 2 y/o never really loosened up enough to talk with anyone though she did inspect their clothes closely. The actors all remained solidly in character, and by the time we left, I'd begun returning their "Good morrows" and mentally referring to the crowd as gentles instead of people.

My husband and our friends were then recruited to march in the Queen's parade. They got some basic training on how to carry their "lances" and how to march. It was pretty cool. While they did that, the kids and I listened to a bard spin tales, watched the cooks create meals in an outdoor stone oven, and enjoyed the minstrels create improvisational songs.

We watched a few skits held in the Queen's honor, and I was happily impressed that all the topics were pretty clean. No flaming lewdness or cursing. The worst subject was that of pirate drunkenness, and even then, it was poking fun at pirates, not praising them. Other acts we watched included another improv singer, a magician, and the Fool. The Fool was my favorite. He did lots of fantastic acrobatic tricks while juggling. The best one was balancing on a board on top of a rolling barrel while tossing knives around. My kids liked him hula hooping with a flaming hoop best. There was a complimentary wine tasting of the Lake Anna Winery's samples for adults. Yum! Among the things we missed were an equestrian/jousting show, an archery exhibition, and a knighting (or ordaining as a lady) of the children.

Things we enjoyed seeing but not participating in were the petting zoo (baby alpacas, goats, and sheep), watching a weaving demonstration, watching gentles try to throw axes, watching gentles try archery, and playing in the kids area. There were also tons of vendors. It was very easy to get tempted to want a fun costume item, but so many of the costume pieces for sale were uber-expensive, so the temptation passed quickly. Other vendors had jewelry, chain mail pieces, weaponry, old-fashioned wooden toys, soaps, tobacco, and alpaca wool skeins.

And finally...the food! I've only been to one other (smaller) Renaissance Faire, and the food was pretty much the same. I saw frozen chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick (drool), funnel cakes, Scottish eggs, turkey legs, ginormous sausages on a stick, and sweet potato fries as well as standard American fare of hot dogs, burgers, and Frito pies (num!). We enjoyed a turkey leg and two hot dogs for $13. While it was not nearly enough for a family of five, I had packed a very hefty lunch bag with snacks, juices, and extra waters. My husband and I finished off our 1L bottle, the kids finished their 0.5L bottles, and the baby polished her 8 oz. cup of water pretty quickly, and the weather was in the mid 80s. Drinks, of course, are where you really pay a premium. Bottled 16 oz. waters ranged from $1.00-$1.50, 12 oz. sodas were about $2.50, and lemonades were $5.00 for a largish plastic cup ($2.00 for refills).


We went to the car to snack, but I don't think there would have been a problem if we had brought the food in. When we walked back into the Faire, the kids had their apples in hand, and nobody remarked on them.

Overall, the Renaissance Faire was a great event, and I am so glad our family had the opportunity to attend. Next year, we'll take advantage of the Military History weekend over Memorial Day and get in gratis.

Pros:
-Great chances for the kids senses to be stimulated (touching the weapons and looms, listening to the music, watching the shows, tasting the food, and smelling the animals) to learn about history.
-Lots of space-we weren't constantly running over feet with our stroller or losing our kids in the crowd.
-Plenty of shady spots to take a break or change a diaper in.
-The ability to go and come back in (hand stamp return method).
-Plenty of FREE parking spaces!
-FREE wine tasting!

Cons:
-The actors were a little scary to the kids at first.
-Some gentles visiting the Faire felt the need to dress like serving wenches and show more skin than I wanted to see...and I am by no means a big conservative when it comes to dressing.
-If you get there after 11:30, you're probably going to be hiking to and from your car.

Caution:
-It's easy to get dehydrated and over-exposed in the sun despite the lovely temperature and slight cloud cover. I was thankful I had a stash of hats in the car and sunscreen in the diaper bag. Bring lots of water and sun protection.
-Bring an all-terrain stroller so you have an easy time of pushing your tots around.
-Be aware that some female costumes will be overly revealing.

Recommendation: A great family outing. Definitely do your best to get out and support this event!
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Burke Lake Park

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Published: 04/26/2012
Ah, Burke Lake Park.  This place is fully loaded with a miniature train, carousel, several playgrounds and picnic areas, mini golf, ice cream shop, water activities and more.  Burke Lake Park is located in Fairfax County, but I would call it a destination park due to its high number of activities.  The park is open from sunrise to sunset, which obviously varies during different times f the year.  The park closes to all traffic (foot/bike/car) at sunset, too, so if you're camping, you're in for the night :)

The park facilities are open weekends beginning early April through Memorial Day, except the campgrounds which open in late April.  The park itself, however, is open year round.  From Memorial Day to Labor Day the park facilities are open daily, weather permitting, and then they're open again on weekends through late October, which is also when camping ends.

The train runs on the 15 and 45, beginning at 11:15am.  The carousel runs on the hour and the half hour beginning at 11:30am.  The ice cream parlor is open 11am-4pm, and mini golf opens at 11am.  The park is free for Fairfax County Residents (so load up in your Fairfax friend's minivan).  For non-residents on weekends and holidays (it's free on weekdays) the fee is $10 for cars and vans and $40 for buses.  Picnic areas are available to rent for parties.

We've had the opportunity to enjoy Burke Lake Park on several occasions, both with friends for playtime and for camping and running.  We've even picnicked by the water, which was lovely, too.  The kids enjoyed the train and carousel (although older elementary children might find it "lame").

Says PwcDad: Camping at Burke Lake is great for younger kids because it features lots of activities and several fitness trails that are great for younger children.

Burke Lake Park
Pros: Close to Lake Ridge/Woodbridge, free on weekdays, lots to do, picnic areas have always been clean on our visits
Cons: Amenities are at a price (although low), not PWC :), if you are an iPhone addict, your reception is going to stink :)
Caution: Campers should note that you cannot leave or enter after dark, even if you have a child that decides they'd rather not camp tonight.

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Business Review: Color Me Mine

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Published: 04/17/2012
Over Spring break, we had the chance to visit Color Me Mine in Fairfax.  It was free Ben and Jerry's day, and Fairfax Corner was opening their fountain and having several other events, so we met up with PwcGrammy (who's a student at George Mason- super proud of her!) and decided we'd burn some time before B&J's opened by painting pottery.  We've done this before several times at various studios and have some very precious keepsakes from going with relatives who have since passed on.  Having their handprints and my babies' handprints is a very sweet memory. 

The studio is long and narrow, and table space is not necessarily easy to come by if you go on a vacation day (I'd imagine weekends are tough, too).  I felt like their fees were slightly higher than some of the places that we've been to that charge a flat rate, as they charge a per item rate and a studio fee per person. 

They do have some fun looking events like Kids Out Nights where parents can drop their children who are 6 and older off and go spend some time in the shopping center.  There are amazing Great American restaurants in this shopping center, so it could make for an awesome date night!  They also do fundraisers and parties.

While we had a decent time, I have to say I didn't love the experience here, and I'd probably not opt to go here again if I had the option of going somewhere else.  Unlike other studios that let you get your own glaze, the attendants here give you a sample palette and you are allowed to pick 6 colors which they get for you.  You aren't allowed to get your own.  (This of course means that there is a tip jar, so you should tip your attendant on top of the studio fee for their fetching of things you could easily get yourself).  It wasn't packed to the gills when we first got there and the "don't touch the glaze" policy was really annoying as my 6yo was painting an entire vase one color.  That tablespoon of glaze? Yeah, that ran out every 4th brush full and then we found ourselves waiting for an attendant, who got pretty huffy with us by the 4th refill.  Hint: if the kid is obviously painting the entire piece a base color, why not get a second glaze container and just do that one color?

We didn't get much of an explanation, which is fine since we've done pottery before, but should have at least been offered.  When we finally got started really painting one of the staff came over and said "So, how are you going to want to pay?" in an annoyed voice.

Seriously? You need to know upfront? Why didn't you charge me before I got paint all over myself thanks to the kids?

She apparently didn't actually want me to pay, she just wanted to know I was using my Visa (it's everywhere you wanna be). We continued for about eight minutes and then another attendant came over and demanded I go sign in on their computer system.

Really? I'm here.  Does it matter?

The computer ticked me off, too.  You don't need to data collect my home address, email, home phone and cell phone for me to paint something.  At the end, it asked for me to answer some survey questions, which seemed ridiculous.

The kids still had fun, and it's possible we just caught the staff (all high school or early college aged) on an off day, but if I'm going to spend $150 on an activity, I want to leave feeling darn happy, and that just didn't happen.

Overall, I'd head somewhere else based on this experience, but if you've had a great time there, I'd love to hear about it!

Color Me Mine Fairfax:
Recommended For: Ages 5 and up.  Younger children could be taken for handprints/footprints, but you need some fine motor skills to make anything worth taking home and with items being so expensive, your younger ones are better off with a kit from Michaels.
Pros: Creative outlet, nice shopping center, pieces are keepsakes
Cons: Expensive, unfriendly/unhelpful staff, studio seemed to get hot

This is an unsolicited review.  All opinions are my own.  Your experience may vary.  
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Giveaway: Medieval Times Maryland

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Published: 04/16/2012
Over Spring Break I planned activities for each day.  We were staying in town, but I still wanted to make it fun.  Each day, my oldest child would get up and drive me nuts about what we were going to do.  Here's a sample conversation:

Mom? Mom? Mom? Mommy? Momma? Mom?
Seriously? What do you want?
What are we going to do today?
You know I'm not telling you until we get in the car.  Otherwise you pester me all day about it.
Are we going to the moon?
No.
Are we going to the lake?
No.
Are we going to drive race cars?
No.
Are we going to blow something up?
No.
Are we going to meet an evil scientist and watch him blow stuff up?
No.
Are we going to go to a castle and there'll be an EPIC BATTLE and a dragon?
Yup.
Are we going...wait, what?
Yup. Castle, swords, whole deal.
Mom.....you're such a liar. There aren't castles here.
If you say so. 

So, when we pulled up to Medieval Times in Arundel Mills, Maryland (think 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic), oldest child was adequately impressed.  The facade on the mall actually  does look like a giant castle! (You don't get to enter via the external drawbridge, but that's okay.)

Medieval Times is a dinner and tournament experience.  When you arrive, you enter and are assigned to a knight.  You get a crown (yes, even you, mommy) in the appropriate color, and then you get to wander the "Great Hall" and see the sights while you wait for the actual dinner seating to begin.  The night we went, there was a falconer and Princess Catalina out for you to take pictures with as a family.  I'm not gonna lie, it took me a second to get over people saying "M'lord, m'lady, this way, please." with a totally straight face.

During the period while you wait before the seating, the king comes out and acknowledges birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events.  We arrived much earlier than we needed to since we didn't have a special event, but there is an open bar and the kids enjoyed the "knightings".

Once it's time to be seated, guests are invited to enter by the color of their crown.  You're seated with the other guests who will be cheering for your knight, and receive a ribbon to wave, too.  The new show, which we were able to see, starts with horses, who perform very beautifully.  There is a good bit of Fog Machine that happens during the show, as well as periods of lasers and/or darkness.  None of my children were frightened by this, though, they actually enjoyed it! The show isn't "too loud" (I know I've had several readers write to ask about volume of performances) but you are seated stadium-style, so don't plan on having conversation with anyone who isn't seated directly next to you.

The premise of the meal is that audience are guests of the king and his daughter.  To entertain his guests, he has invited a knight from each area to compete.  Then there are some exhibitions of either horsemanship or falconry and games of skill where the knights ride on horseback and compete in things like spearing rings with their lance. Winners are given flowers by the Princess, which they toss out to people in their section.

Dinner comes in kind of a strange progression of courses.  First there's tomato bisque, and then after that there's a garlic bread course.  I've never had a bread course before, but whatever, it works! The main meal is INTENSE.  There's half a chicken, 2 ribs, and potato wedges.  You should know, too, that you eat without silverware.  You get a lovely thick napkin, though, and after dessert (ours was an apple pastry) you get some excellent wet naps :) If you have children young enough, they can be a lap child.  We did this, but I would NEVER do it again.  It would totally be worth the extra ticket not to have a crown and banner in your face the entire time, and to not have little fingers in your food (lap children share a meal, which is fine because the portions are enormous, but not fine because there are little fingers in your food!) Spring for the extra ticket so that you can keep your eyes in tact!

If I wasn't sharing with a little carnivore, I would have opted for the vegetarian meal, which they do offer.  It appeared to be a grilled mushroom cap, hummus and pita and a veggie kabob and actually looked really good!  You should know about the meal that your drink options are unsweetened iced tea (sugar/artificial sweetener is provided) and Pepsi.

Holy grief, people.  I never give my children caffeine, but it was a special night and so we let them have the Pepsi.  Did you forget that caffeine is a drug? Because the car ride home reminded me of that fact.  Might be worth bothering your waiter for water for the kids! It did keep them awake through the show, though! (Not that they would've fallen asleep anyway!)

The show progresses during dinner to a man-to-man competition where the knights face off jousting and then in foot battle.  They actually joust.  This amazed me.  I hadn't figured out how they were going to fake that, and they don't.  They actually ride on horses and slam each other's shields with lances that shatter into a million pieces.  They do fight and simulate someone being cut or stabbed, but there is no blood and it is "real" enough to be interesting and exciting and "staged" enough that my youngest understood there was nothing scary.  "It's like big brothers playing swords" was her comment, and she's easily upset about things.

There is a villain who comes to try to claim Princess Catalina, and there is some ominous music.  Some of the swords shoot sparks.  We happened to think both of those things were awesome.






From the oldest PwcKid:
"It was cool because the things were actual events they did in Medieval times and they actually caught rings with the lances, too, but then they fought with them, which was better.  I liked to cheer for our knight and boo at the other knights.  You don't usually let us boo at things like baseball games, because you say it's bad manners, but the people at the tournament said that we could boo the teams that weren't part of our team, so that was good.  The food was pretty good, but they gave me too much! I would like more Pepsi.  Are you going to give me Pepsi again? I liked that a lot."

Note: The New Show is on sale for a limited time.  Also, there are matinee educational shows, but I haven't seen one. I hear they are not much different from the evening performances, but cannot speak to that with any authority.

Break it down, now:
Medieval Times
Recommended for ages 5 and up, although younger children will enjoy it, too!

Pros: Different experience, highly imaginative and engaging. Kids enjoyed the atmosphere and the food.  Fun costumes, and an overall unique and really upbeat experience!
Cons: Fog and lighting could intimidate the youngest viewers, or those who are sensitive to sensory overload.
Notes: This show includes imitations of fighting, as well as the use of animals.
 

We had a great time at Medieval Times, and we think you will,  too!! Enter from now through April 19th at midnight to win tickets to see the new show for yourself at Medieval Times Baltimore!

You can have 1 entry for each of the following:
1) Twitter! You can write whatever you want, but include @PwcMoms and @MedievalTimes
2) Facebook! You'll have to post here, too, but head to Medieval Times Maryland and let them know PwcMoms sent you! Your comment here stating you did this is your entry, as always.
3) Share! Tell your friends about this contest on facebook or twitter and link back to @PwcMoms and leave a comment saying you did.
4) Or just leave a comment.  I forgot this one originally, but you can always leave comments.  They're my favorite. 

Each method counts as a separate entry!  Good luck!)

Disclosure: PwcMoms was provided with tickets to attend a Medieval Times show, as well as a set of tickets to give away.  No other compensation was provided and all opinions expressed here are our own.  Your experience may vary. We're not responsible for you being lanced.  Just sayin.
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Welcome Discovery Activities- April 17-22, 2012

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Published: 04/16/2012
 The following activities are planned according to the National Air and Space Museum.  These aren't in Prince William County, but come on, people, space shuttles flying over your head are way too historic to miss!!


The following "Welcome Discovery" activities will be presented by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in cooperation with NASA. Support for the "Welcome Discovery" Transfer Ceremony are provided by the Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation. Because weather conditions or other circumstances could cause delays or postponement, the public is asked to check the museum’s website and social media (Twitter and Facebook) for up-to-date information.

Fly-in Day, April 17
Discovery will depart NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a Boeing 747, in the early morning of Tuesday, April 17. It is expected to arrive in the Washington, D.C., area around midmorning and will land at Washington's Dulles International Airport. Discovery will fly over parts of the Washington metropolitan area. The exact path will not be publicized in advance. Depending on weather and other circumstances, it may be possible for media organizations to identify viewing locations that day.

Spot the Shuttle
People in the Washington area, from students to office workers, are invited to participate in Spot the Shuttle activities April 17:

Spot the Shuttle gatherings on rooftops, balconies and at outdoor restaurants are being planned.
Snap a Shot—the public is encouraged to take photos of Discovery and share them through the museum’s Flickr group, on Twitter with #SpotTheShuttle, on the museum’s Facebook page and Pinterest board or share videos on YouTube.
Register Your Name—people who the spot Discovery may register on the museum’s website and could win a chance to sit in the VIP section at the "Welcome Discovery" Transfer Ceremony April 19.
Park and View—As Discovery approaches, the museum will update its website constantly and make the information available to radio stations.
The best place to view the orbiter as it approaches Dulles International Airport is the parking lot of the Udvar-Hazy Center. Visitors are invited to BYOB—Bring Your Own Breakfast—and join fellow shuttle spotters in the lot. The parking lot will open early at 8 a.m. 

Airport Arrival
There will be no public access to see the actual touchdown at the airport, but arrangements are being made to broadcast the arrival on the Web and through media coverage. After the shuttle arrives, it will be taken to another area of the airport, where it will be de-mated from the 747 and made ready for towing to the museum. This process will take two days.

"Welcome Discovery" Celebration, April 19
Parking lot will open 8 a.m.; the Udvar-Hazy Center will open at 9 a.m. and close at 6:30 p.m.

Discovery will officially be transferred from NASA to the National Air and Space Museum in an outdoor public ceremony at the Udvar Hazy Center. The event will begin with Discovery’s arrival from adjacent Dulles Airport, onto the tow road behind the Center. A "parade" led by the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps will feature an Astronaut Escort representing Discovery’s missions. Discovery will be positioned next to Enterprise for the ceremony. Enterprise, which has been on view at the Udvar-Hazy Center since it opened in 2003, will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York, on a date soon to be announced.

The ceremony will feature Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough, National Air and Space Museum Director J.R. "Jack" Dailey and a representative of NASA. Mezzo soprano Denyce Graves will perform the national anthem. Astronauts who participated in Discovery’s most historic missions will be introduced during a presentation on the orbiter’s achievements. The high point of the program will be the formal signing of the transfer document followed by a grand finale symbolizing the "launch" of Discovery’s new career—from champion of the shuttle fleet to American icon and educational treasure.

Following the ceremony, the public will be invited to view both Discovery and Enterprise and take photographs all afternoon.

Specialists from NASA and the museum’s Collections Division will begin repositioning Enterprise and Discovery later that afternoon. The outdoor viewing area will close at 6 p.m.

Celebration Day, April 19; Noon–6:30 p.m.
Both indoor and outdoor activities will take place at the Udvar-Hazy Center before and after the ceremony. NASA will present an outdoor display – Our Future in Space. Attractions inside will include spacesuit displays, photo opportunities, and talks by Discovery astronauts. Authors will sign space-themed books and shuttle-inspired IMAX movies will be presented. Visitors will have an opportunity to sign a commemorative Discovery banner which will be kept as a memento of the day.

Student Discovery Day, April 20; 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Students are specially invited to take part in the second day of the "Welcome Discovery" festival on Student Discovery Day. Along with the other activities planned throughout the weekend, the student day will feature astronauts and scientists presenting educational talks designed for young people. The Museum’s educational efforts support the STEM initiative, focusing on Science, Technology, Education and Math.

Family Weekend, April 20 and 21; 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Among the highlights will be educational presentations about NASA’s planetary missions and NASA’s Our Future in Space exhibition trailer, and free screenings of Smithsonian Networks’ documentary, Space Shuttle: Final Countdown. Activities will also include Ask an Expert talks by curators and scientists, Discovery Station demonstrations, spacesuit displays, robot activities, interactive displays, and the opportunity to sign an actual shuttle tire, for future display.

Offsite Activities
Discovery activities will be presented in the "Moving Beyond Earth" exhibition, an interactive gallery located in the National Air and Space Museum’s building in Washington on the National Mall. Live simulcast of Discovery's arrival and the "Welcome Discovery" ceremony are planned.

Smithsonian Channel is celebrating the arrival of Discovery with Space Shuttle Week, April 16–22. The premiere of Space Shuttle: The Final Countdown will be broadcast April 22 at 8 p.m.

Tips for Participants

Parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center, which is $15 per car, is limited. Drivers are asked to allow ample time for traffic congestion. Cash payment, in the exact amount, is preferred. Carpooling is suggested.
Casual, comfortable dress is recommended, particularly shoes designed for walking.
For outdoor activities, especially viewing Discovery’s approach, binoculars are suggested.
Mobile devices are recommended for getting up-to-date information from the museum’s website and taking part in Web-based activities.
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Studio 3 Presents: Home

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Published: 04/12/2012
 The Workhouse's Studio 3 has yet ANOTHER new show! (The pace they keep is absolutely dizzying to me!!)  This time, it's Lizzie Allen's "Home"
 "Home" is actually aimed at a slightly younger audience ranging from 3-6, although older children are certainly welcome, and those who have not surrendered their vivid imaginations to being cool will enjoy the concept, as well. 
 
“That idyllic other world of make believe is explored with evident relish in this two hander for children aged 3 to 6. It’s an intimate show, and as resourceful and imaginative as small children themselves can be when they’re off in a world of their own...the three and four year olds sitting around me seemed wholly absorbed by Florrie and Todd’s ideal home.”
Time Out London

"Home" will be showing  from April 2nd-May 5th. 


Studio 3 Theatre for Young Audiences presents Home, an original work by Lizzie Allen, from April 2-May 5.

The story of footloose travelers, Florrie and Todd, searching for a home of their own. They use their imaginations to build a fantasy world of their own design. Along the way, they learn the difference between a "house" and a "home."

Follow this inventive duo through the seasons as, using music, puppetry and the power of imagination, their little house fills with laughter and fun! A wonderful story of friendship and family, especially for children aged 3 to 6. Suitable for ages 3 and up.


Performances: Saturday matinee performances from April 7-May 5 at 10am and 1pm.*

Tickets: $12 adults; $8 children under 12 years old. 

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The International Spy Museum

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Published: 04/05/2012
Did you know that D.C. has the highest spy saturation in the world? 

True story. 

Did you also know there's a Spy Museum in DC? 

Also true.

And, further, did you know that "spies are AWESOME and REALLY COOL and if you have boys you should go to this museum because it's AWESOME and REALLY COOL"? (According to my 8 year old)

We had the chance to visit the International Spy Museum a few days ago and we had a great time. Children 6 and under are free.  You can purchase tickets online or buy them at the door.  After purchasing your tickets, you head to a line where you wait to get on one of two special elevators.  The elevators light up and talk to you.  At this point, we divided into two camps.  There was "Team This is Awesome" which consisted of my 8 year old son, my 5 year old son, and me, and there was "Team This is Not Awesome", which was entirely comprised of my 4 year old daughter.  She thought the elevator was a little disconcerting.  

Once you arrive at the top of the elevator, you pick a spy identity and then head in for a movie.  The boys thought this was awesome(!!) and had a great time selecting their spy names and alias information.  My daughter wanted to be a princess, which was not an option, and thought the movie was scary (it wasn't, the best I'd give it is "sections of ominous music").  From here on out, just assume she found some reason to complain about everything :) Apparently this wasn't her day.  We'll focus on the boys.
(All images courtesy of the International Spy Museum)
In the next room, you were able to test your spy alias knowledge and check out different spy skills and gadgets.  We learned how to pick a lock and saw several hidden compartment tools.  There was also a section on spy makeup, where the kids could see how a little plastic and a fake mustache could turn a middle aged white woman into a young terrorist operative.  It was really interesting!  
As you wind through a few other rooms, you learn about spies in popular culture (there's a Bond car!) and how spies helped alter the course of several wars.  There are sections on propaganda, the WWII spy effort, codes, the Cold War, and more.  There's even a section about pigeons that were used to take pictures and carry messages across enemy lines!
There are also sections where you walk through simulated tunnels, and there's a few videos and a section on spies who turn bad, as well as a section about cyberterrorism.  
We had a great time and the boys stayed interested the entire time.  The especially liked all of the spy tools and the areas that were designed to look like historical areas, especially the WWII farm house setup, underground tunnels, and the section about the Berlin Wall.  I would definitely say this is a must-see if you have visitors!!  The boys are STILL playing spy, and we picked up a hilarious Spy-themed Mad Libs from the gift shop, which is a favorite game around our house. 

International Spy Musuem
Recommended for: My 5 year old really enjoyed this museum, but as a rule, I think that anyone who's "free" isn't the intended audience, so I would say ages 7 and up are going to have the best possible experience.  It's set up well to be able to bring a younger sibling, though, as there's plenty to look at. The day we went there were tons of teenagers, and they all seemed to really enjoy the subject material! 

Pros: Exciting, engaging, and different, this museum was a nice change from our typical "visit the dinosaurs" trip into DC.  The boys really enjoyed the experience.

Cons: This museum can get BUSY so if you can plan to visit on a week when most people are in school/work, do! The day we visited several of the interactive computers/listening stations weren't working, and people tend to be at each station for a good amount of time.  Just be prepared to be a little patient.

Be prepared for: We went through in about 2 hours, and easily could have spent more.  There's a gift shop at the end (you knew it was coming!) but there are actually some great books, games, and "spy gear" in there, so if you're looking for a good place to pick up souvenirs, the kids section is well stocked. 

Also note: The Spy Museum has several additional programs that you can sign up for, including spy missions, overnights, and Spy Camp.  Check their website for details! 
We had an awesome time at the Spy Museum, and definitely recommend you check it out!  Want to go for free? We have a family 4 pack of tickets for a winner! 

Enter simply by leaving a comment! Good luck!  This contest will close on Sunday at midnight!
Disclosure: PwcMoms.com was provided with free admission to the International Spy Museum as well as an additional set of tickets as a giveaway.  All opinions expressed here are my own. 
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Cooking with Bloggers at Alice and Louise Cooking School

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Published: 03/28/2012
Being a blogger is not fun when your space bar isn't working.  Being a blogger IS fun when you get to hang out with other bloggers at Alice and Louise, however! 

Last week, I was able to go check out Alice and Louise with a group of Northern Virginia Bloggers for a fun networking event put together by Andrea from Real Housewives of Northern Virginia.  Alice and Louise, in addition to doing catering, also hosts cooking classes for everyone from children through adults, and will do corporate events or private parties.  (Interested in doing one? Email me! If we can get a group of 8 together I'll book it!) They can work around your price range and interests, and, bonus, you can BYOM (bring your own Merlot).  

 Mother Earth Meals was also on hand to share some great cooking inspired by battling cancer and increasing your health using food.  Simply Desserts was also there with some delicious cheesecake tips.  By the way, did you know that it's Lent? Everything smelled delicious and got gobbled up, but I just watched.  Le sigh. (Okay, really I've been trying to pinpoint a few tummy issues and keep giving up different things to try to figure it out, but Lent is a much faster explanation)
 Group shot!  These ladies are a lot of fun! They didn't even make fun of the fact that I brought my own beverage (it was lemonade made with stevia) in a Patriots cup.  Rocking :)
Pictured (In No Particular Order):
Paper Placemats
Mom Machine
Caffeine and a Prayer
Creekside Learning
703MommyandMe
SuperNovaMommy
Real Housewives of Northern Virginia
Beltway Bargain Mom
PwcMoms.com
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Circus Giveaway!

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Published: 02/28/2012
It's back!!! Ringling Brothers, as we mentioned a few days ago will be at both the Verizon Center and the Patriot Center!! We loved the show last year, and we're excited to see it again!! We'd like to invite a PwcMoms reader and their family to join us, too!!

Leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite circus memory and you could win a family four pack of tickets to opening night at the Verizon Center!!

YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE March 15th at the Verizon Center.  I realize it's late and a school night, but it's totally worth it, and the morning announcements aren't going to be that exciting the next day, anyway.  I looked.

This contest ends on March 3, 2012 at 5pm.


Disclosure: PwcMoms thanks Ringling Brothers and their associates for providing giveaway tickets and tickets for PwcMoms.  PwcMoms does not endorse your children missing or being late to school.  We do encourage you to go to the circus, however, because it's fully awesome. Any liability is assumed by the winner, PwcMoms is not responsible for postponed or cancelled shows, or for the winner being unable to attend the scheduled performance.  All opinions expressed are the truthful opinions of PwcMoms.  Your opinions or experience may vary, which we are not responsible for, but would like to hear about.  
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Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic

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Published: 01/28/2012
Disney on Ice is headed our way, and I think this will be a very fun event for the whole family!! Unlike Princesses on Ice (which is also fantastic, but definitely girl-focused) Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic features favorite characters from all the Disney classics! Taking a look through their Facebook wall, my boys were excited to see the Army Men from Toy Story, but generally agreed that anyone not sparkly would do nicely to keep them excited!

You can flip through all the great pictures from several Disney on Ice shows by liking their Facebook Page located Here.  (This won't win you anything, but if you'd like to get a taste of what you'll see at a Disney on Ice production, this is a good way to do it!)

100 Years of Magic promises to be a great night for the family! To complete it, we're planning to head 2 blocks down from the Verizon Center to get some cupcakes at Red Velvet, but that's completely optional, of course!

We're going to be giving away a Family 4 Pack of tickets to Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic at the Verizon Center!! EDIT:  To win, leave a comment by clicking the text bubble icon the top of this post and leave us a message with your favorite Disney Character! OR You can email your entry (please put Disney on Ice in the subject/re: line) by clicking Here.

If you don't win, don't forget that you can use the code "BLOG12" as a promo code for Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic and get tickets for only $15!

Best of luck, and thanks to our generous partners for this fantastic prize!






Disclosure: My family and I were provided with a 4 Pack of tickets to Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic in addition to a set of tickets to give away to a reader.  All opinions expressed here are my own.
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Miss Electricity

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Published: 01/16/2012
Friday night, my family was invited to come and check out the final dress rehersal for "Miss Electricity" at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton (close enough to Woodbridge/Lake Ridge "for government work" as it were).  We had a fantastic time!



Miss Electricity is about a 5th grade girl named Violet who thinks she needs to break a world record to "be someone".  The popular kids at her school reinforce this by calling her "cabbage" or "nobody", and even Violet passes this behavior on to her friend, Freddy, who she claims to be "just her assistant".  That all changes, however, when Violet is struck (twice!) by lightening and gains "super powers", or does she?

There are some great themes in this play, including that you're good enough just the way that you are, that how you treat others matters (especially moms and assistants), and there are some fun educational tie-ins, to.  Violet is getting ready to take a test on States and Capitals, and the show is peppered with them.  One of the characters LOVES to spell things, and Freddy's interest in Greek Mythology makes a small showing, too.  These could easily tie in with a unit study, or one of the themes of the play could be used for an anti-bullying or "free to be me" message. The director, Caren, has even put together a study guide that ties several of these themes together, which is available for students who come to see the show.  SOL-based field trips can be arranged by calling Caren at 703-584-2900.

Weekend performances run from now through February 25th, but weekday performances can be arranged for groups by calling the box office.  Don't forget to identify yourself as a PWC Mom's Reader when you call to book your tickets-- we've arranged for you to get 25% off your tickets, making tickets for PWC Moms $9 for adults and $6 for kids. Hopefully, this will help you enjoy the show even more!!

All three of my kids greatly enjoyed the show (almost 4, 5.5 and 8) but I would say the target audience is really between 2nd and 6th graders.

A few notes of possible sensitive items to be aware of (as always, I over analyze here because I know we have some parents that are very sensitive to things some of us wouldn't ever consider).  First, there is a scene where Violet talks to Athena.  This could be considered praying, and if you are sensitive to those as a religious family, you'll want to be prepared for it. Additionally, there is some "thunder" used, and my youngest didn't enjoy it, but she didn't cry either. Second, there is some mild name-calling, but aside from someone being called a "cabbage" I doubt it's anything you've not heard said before on the playground, and it's all G-rated.  Third, Violet is part of a single-parent family, and if you have recently made that transition, it might be good to know that up front.  The topic isn't really explored, it just is, but I realize that transition can be difficult on children. Oh, there are these seats.

Now, we went on a closed dress-rehersal night, so there weren't many people there.  However, just as a warning, the backs on the seats flip down!! I'm sure I don't have to tell you guys how fun they are to mess with! And kick over! And clap with!! Hooray!!

Just sayin.  The chairs and I are not friends.

My kids universally said their favorite part was the dance to the "Party Rock" theme.  Their second favorite was a brief appearance by Zeus who is "too busy listening to his iPod, texting a friend and eating a breakfast burrito" to help Violet.  (Interestingly, it's the same actor who does both)  The youngest liked Athena because she was pretty, the middle one "got" that Violet wanted to be important and famous, and the oldest "got" the message that she already was.  They also all understood that Violet had been mean to her friend and should have acted nicer.  We had a talk about that in the car on the way home, and about how she apologized for being wrong.

This is a fun play, and a great location to introduce your kids to the arts.  No need to schlep all the way into DC :)

Additionally, keep your eyes out for other great performances from this group, who's got other plays such as Sinbad: The Untold Story, Rapunzel, Home (American Premiere) and Winnie the Pooh lined up for the rest of the year!!

Thanks to the Workhouse and Studio 3 for having us!! We really enjoyed ourselves!


Disclosure: Our family was invited to a closed dress rehearsal which we attended for free.  All opinions expressed are my own.



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Fairfax Symphony Children's Program

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Published: 09/15/2011
Dear Students & Families, Teachers, and Administrators,

Please share this information with your community.  The Fairfax Symphony invites students to join its Student Passport Club for its 2011-2012 season.  Participants receive a passport that is stamped every time they attend an FSO activity – don’t miss our upcoming events this week!

September 17, 2011:  Violin Master Class given by Karina Canellakis at 12:30 p.m. at McLean High School:
·         Program Sponsors:  In partnership with the Virginia String Teachers Association (VASTA) and sponsored by Potter Violins
·         Cost:  $5 for VASTA members and students of VASTA members; $10 all others
·         For more information:  Please contact Helen Fall at vaviola@gmail.com or (703) 772-5212

September 17, 2011:  Fairfax Symphony Concert featuring Karina Canellakis at 8:00 p.m. at GMU’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax:
·         Cost:  Student Tickets only $5 – Adult Tickets begin at $25
·         Tickets:  Available in advance through special subscription offer (below) OR beginning at 6:00 p.m. on September 17th.  Students must be present when purchasing their tickets.
·         Parking:  Free in Lot K; event parking fee in garage

Special 50% discount subscription offer!
Subscribe to our season and save! Get family seats together in our “Grand Tier B” $45 section at the price of $22.50 for adults and $5 for students for our full 6-concert season.  OR, save 25% on a 3-concert package in “Grand Tier B”.

Thank you for your support of the Fairfax Symphony’s concerts and outreach programs in the Northern Virginia area by sharing this information with students and families in your community.

Best regards,
Tara Nadel
Patron Services Manager / Education Director
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
3905 Railroad Avenue, Suite 202N • Fairfax, VA 22030
Office: (703) 563-1990 • Fax: (703) 293-9349
www.fairfaxsymphony.org
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Travel Review: Sesame Place

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Published: 08/27/2011
This post is unpaid/unsponsored/unsolicited by any of the places named.

It's hurricane-ing right now, so I suggest you definitely NOT go this weekend, but Sesame Place can be a pretty fun adventure for a family with YOUNG children.  As such, you are getting some vintage photos from the last time my family went.  We've been a few times now, and I have to say that being there this summer versus being there in the Fall for the Count's Halloween Spooktacular, GO IN THE FALL.  The park is basically open, you can get on rides with little to no line, and it's much easier on your children.  The water rides are, obviously, closed, but there are still lots of fun things for the kids to do, and they run hay rides and turn the water area into a fun halloween-maze that is very preschooler friendly (read: not too spooky).

 Awww, thanks Sesame Place for putting all those great photo-op areas around! This is part of the maze they put up in the water area.  It's really less a maze than a "walk around and see halloween decorations" but the kids loved it.
 Elmo's World LIVE!  This summer you needed to be in line for this show 35 minutes before it started to get a seat.  Our show was at 3:15 and we got in line at 2:35 and we sat, but separately.  It was insane.  In the fall, 15 minutes ahead of time has always been just fine. Older children can be Elmo's helpers, they're picked at random before the show.
 This is dinner with Elmo.  The characters come around to your table, the food is buffet.  Pictures with Elmo are taken by a professional photographer (we've done this 3 times and our professional ones are never good enough to warrant the $25) but you can take them yourself, too.  If you're going in the summer, I would say a meal with the characters is your best shot at getting pictures.  They are only allowed to be outside in costume for 15 minutes at a time and the lines to see them can be longer.  It's hot in those suits, so they will turn you away if the time ends and you're still in line.  In the fall it's pretty easy to get shots outside, but your children will love the "dine with me" experience, which you can do as a breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
 Thanks for pointing out that my hubby needs some propecia!! That made my day!! (It's cute because they have inverse hair lines!)
 Hello baby! Nom, nom, nom! Younger kids aren't always sure about the characters, but the meals seem long enough that they warm up to them by the end.  Even my little guy was ready to approach with caution by the end of our dinner.
 This is Oscar chilling out by the entrance.  In the fall there are very short lines, if any.  It's pretty awesome.
In addition to fun carnival rides like the teacups, a roller coaster, "flying fish", etc., there is also a playground and a soft play area.  Back behind the largest water slide (the one with a rubber duckie) there is a pump-car track.
You can see all the rides on their interactive park map.
As I mentioned before (read the post HERE by clicking "cancel" when the pop-up asks you if you want to go to the new site) the parents at Sesame Place leave much to be desired, but the park is fun for your little ones and they can basically ride everything. No lap children, but other than that, they're good with a grown-up riding along.

If you're military, this is a Sea World Park, so you may be able to qualify for free tickets.  I don't know how that works, but I'm sure you do! If you're not military, the Elmo's 2-day ticket gets you one day free.  We stayed at the Bucks County Sheraton and I can't say enough how friendly and helpful they were, especially in comparison to the hotel we stayed at in New York.

Sesame Place
Best for ages: I would say 2-6 would have fun here with 3-5 being the perfect age group.  My almost-8-year-old complained a bit about how babyish it was, and was mortified of the thought of having his picture with Elmo, but he's a great big brother, so he did it when his sister (3) asked him to. The rides are all tamer versions of their grown-up counterparts.  If you need to torment your pre-teens, this would do the trick. :)

Price: Children and adults are both $56.  If you put the kids in the car early enough (the park opens at 10) and left for bedtime, it would be possible to do this as a day trip, but you'll be tired when you get home.  We made the trip in 4 hours with a stop and some traffic. We chose to do 2 days and stay in a hotel.

Pros: SUPER CUTE PICTURES!! If you have an elmo-aholic, they'll love this place.  The rides are child-friendly and it can be frustrating for shorter children at regular theme parks.  The shows are generally adorable.

Cons: Other parents, bad food, overpriced everything.

Relatively nearby: Crayola Factory, Amish Country, Dutch Wonderland, Hershey Park

Note: This year they are having a Christmas event, and they also host children's performers- see their schedule for details.
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Guest Review: Jammin Java

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Published: 08/17/2011
By DeLise Bernard
Check out DeLise's Blog and Site: Our Life Memories
August 15, 2011

                                   

I always heard wonderful things about Jammin Java but the idea of driving to Vienna from Maryland always deterred me.  A friend mentioned that The Great Zucchini would be performing as part of their Tot Rock Series, and, knowing that he would keep my toddler laughing, was enough motivation to get me in the car!

We arrived just in time to buy our tickets ($5 for everyone age 1 and older), a great cup of coffee (Caramel Macchiato for me) and find our seats.  There were folding chairs facing the stage and a large open space in front of the chairs for the children to sit “criss cross applesauce.”  A sweet mommy asked if RJ wanted to sit next to her 3-year-old son so he sat with his new friend on the front row and I grabbed a spot with our infant and the friend who invited us.

All of the children loved the show.  The Great Zucchini kept them entertained and laughing with remarkable skill.  RJ had a opportunity to join him on stage and participate in the fun and was sad when the show ended.  But, luckily, the fun at Jammin Java had just begun!

Our tummies were starting to talk to us so we checked to see if they had a kiddie menu!  YES!  PB and J, Turkey and Cheese, Chicken Fingers, and Hot Dogs...all great options that came with applesauce and a drink.  We made our choice and found a table to eat with our friends.  But, what happens when you try to sit down with 3 children to eat in a wide open space?  They’d much rather run around!  And, run they did.  I wondered if the team at Jammin Java would mind but, they didn’t!  Whew!  I guess with a kids’ concert every day of the week, they are used to the jumping and playing that is customary at this age.  Oh, how I appreciated that!  So, mommy finished off the sandwich, my infant scarfed down the applesauce and we enjoyed watching the children play freely. 

Soon, they noticed the video games at the front of the Cafe.  YAY, more Jammin Java fun!  I thought I could get away with telling RJ that he was “playing” them without giving him coins.  But, clearly, I was mistaken.  So, many quarters later, he became a pro at Donkey Kong and Centipede while mommy just became broke. 

Two and a half hours after our arrival, it was hard to pull the kids out of Jammin Java.  If your children love the freedom to play and laugh and you love not feeling the pressure to keep active children seated and quiet, Jammin Java is the place for you!   Their Tot Rock series takes place very weekday at 10:30am and, if you go, you may see us there! 

Jammin’ Java 227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180 Phone: 703.255.1566

Tot Rock Series (weekdays at 10:30am)
•Mondays:   THE GREAT ZUCCHINI
•Tuesdays:  RYAN BUCKLE & FRIENDS
•Wednesdays:  ROCKNOCEROS
•Thursdays: OH SUSANNAH
•Fridays:  BANJO MAN
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