Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Washington DC, DC

camping in your own backyard

by Leticia

I was a Brownie and Girl Scout and you would think that I would want to pass on the love of camping on to my kids but right now I'm not so keen on it. These days my idea of camping is heading to a chic hotel and enjoying high thread count sheets and nice amenities left on the bathroom vanity, making s'mores on my professional gas range, and having a barbecue in the backyard rather than over a ... Read more >

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Three Days In and Around DC: Day 1- Great Falls

by Leticia

Today's Three Days In and Around Washington, DC travel guide is the first in a three part series where I'm going to be highlighting great day trip locations with preschoolers. I know as parents we are constantly trying to find new things that are fun and enriching to do in and around the DC Metro Area. I hope that this series will help you learn about some new places to visit or provide a new ... Read more >

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Three Days in and Around DC: Day 2- National Harbor

by Leticia

Today's Three Days In and Around Washington, DC travel guide comes courtesy of guest writer, Jessica McFadden. Jessica is quickly becoming a household name among parents looking for things to do in and around Montgomery County, Maryland on a daily basis. She founded A Parent in Silver Spring , 50% humorous mommy blog and 50% DC-burbs local resource website, and also writes about great family ... Read more >

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Get Away Without Getting Too Far Away

by Leticia

As much as we love DC, sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. Leave the Beltway, politics, and Metro, and all other aspects of DC life far behind for the day or the weekend. Since we have spent a fair amount of time together poolside, talking about getaways while our children splash in the sun, I collaborated with local resource expert Jessica McFadden, from A Parent in Silver Spring , ... Read more >

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Sun Protection Tips and Little Hat Company Giveaway

by Leticia

While the temperatures seem to have dropped in the DC area this week, the bright and almost cloudless skies still require diligent sun protection. Kids get easily dehydrated so be sure to keep plenty of water on hand even when it seems cool since active children require lots of water Protect skin and eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays with constant applications of sunscreen (especially when in ... Read more >

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Don't Feed the Greedy Ducks

by Beth Hoffman

Hi, I'm Beth, the new girl, and I'm going to be joining Leticia here at Being Savvy DC starting, well, now. I'll be focusing on things to do with your kids in and around Northern Virginia, and will probably even venture into the city or roam a bit father afield from time to time. I'm a not quite native of Northern Virginia, but have spent nearly 30 years in Fairfax and ... Read more >

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Fall fun at Homestead Farms

by Leticia

When the air starts to get a little chilly and we wake up to crisp mornings, I immediately want to go apple picking. Last weekend we headed to my all time favorite apple picking spot- Homestead Farms . Located in Poolesville, Maryland, Homestead Farms is a fabulous place to go. Not only is the drive scenic but the apple picking is amazing due to the sheer variety of apples that are grown in the ... Read more >

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Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

by Beth Hoffman

Have a budding (har-har) botanist in your family? Now is the perfect time for a trip to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna for a lesson in how the changing seasons affect the gardens. The 95-acre space boasts a nice visitor center, ornamental gardens, native plants and wildflowers, a wooded trail, a large lake, and lots of kid-focused displays and play ... Read more >

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Savvy Guest: National Children's Museum Offers Tips to Beat Winter Boredom

by Leticia

Today's Savvy guest post is by the National Children's Museum . When it opens in 2012, The National Children's Museum (NCM) will be a world-class cultural and educational center dedicated to engaging children and empowering them to make a difference. The mission of NCM is to inspire children to care about and improve the world. Today the National Children's Museum experts provide families with ... Read more >

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Butterfly Pavilion at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

by Beth Hoffman

If you are looking to add a touch of Spring to these cold Winter months, you need look no further than the Butterfly Pavilion at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (10th and Constitution, NW, Smithsonian Station in the Blue and Orange Lines). Start with a stroll through the Partners in Evolution Exhibition which explored the connections between butterflies and ... Read more >

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Kicking off the New Year

by Beth Hoffman

So, schools have been closed for a long, long time now and I'm sure many of us are looking for ways to get the kids out the house for a day. The good news is that many things are open on New Year's Day. Here are my recommendations for getting the new year kicked off to an educational start. The Smithsonian - all Smithsonian museums are open tomorrow, and most open at 10 ... Read more >

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Tuesday List: Best Bodies of Water to See Your Reflection

by Leticia

When you think of seeing your reflection, you generally think of a mirror. Water can have mirror-like properties too so this Tuesday Iā??m thinking about warmer weather and the best bodies of water in the DC Metro Area where you can go to see your reflection or just walk along and reflect. The Reflecting Pool- The long stretch of water that is the Reflecting Pool is perfect for using as a ... Read more >

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Baby it's Cold Outside

by Beth Hoffman

My father helpfully informed me this weekend that we are experiencing the lowest annual average daily temperatures for our area right now. Which gives me hope for the future, but also makes me want to spend the days curled up in bed with the kids under a pile of blankets instead of venturing outside. However, since we are stuck with the bitter cold until at least March or so, we may as ... Read more >

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Let is Snow Let it Snow Let is Snow

by Beth Hoffman

I'm ready for some actual snow around here, and so is my three year old. (She'll be three and a half tomorrow, but absolutely insists that we do not refer to her as three and a half until she is well and fully three and a half.) While we wait for some good sledding weather, we've been trying to make the most of the occasional dusting we've received so far this winter. Here are a few ... Read more >

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Kid Art Auction for Earth Day 2009

by Beth Hoffman

Our fabulous Being Savvy Denver City Editor, Aimee, has recently announced the second annual Kid Art Auction for Earth Day. This effort was started last year when Aimee's six year old son suggested that they hold an art sale in their backyard. Things being what they are, the effort soon made the jump to cyberspace and raised nearly $800 for environmental causes. The concept is ... Read more >

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