ML Interest Tag: bicycle

The Sweetest Holiday Teas for Two

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Traditions and parties multiply faster than rabbits during the holiday season. If you have little ones it can be hard to find just the right mix of fun, snack time and a little bit of quiet bonding. Holiday tea parties in the District are the perfect treat to keep you going and feeling sweet all season long. Indulge in some crumpets with your little poppet this month to help stay toasty warm.

Ballet & Biscuits
What better way to embrace the winter season than with a special performance of The Nutcracker. The Tysons Corner Ritz-Carlton offers a special performance by the South Riding Dance Company to delight you and your child. Let the magic of this production sweep you away as you sit back, sip some tea or hot chocolate and enjoy fine pastries from the hotel’s Pastry Team. The real treat is the modern twist that tops off this classic holiday favorite—each child takes home a Nutcracker doll of their own.

Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner
1700 Tysons Blvd. (McLean, Va)
When: Dec. 20, 10 am and 1 pm
Cost: $79
Online: ritzcarlton.com

A Touch Different
Tea at the Mansion on O Street is not your average affair. You’ll have to book a spot to get in on the fun now and after the yuletide festivities are over. Decorated for December, kids can spend their time looking for hidden passageways and secret doors (over 70 of them!) in the 100 rooms of the mansion. When they finally settle down, mums and dads alike can take part in some tasty treats with cocoa for the kids and s’mores, fruit and sweet breads with crème fraiche for everyone.

The Mansion on O Street
2020 O St., NW (Dupont Circle)
202-496-2000
Cost: $30; $20/kids under 12
Online: omansion.com

A Bicycle Built for Two
Stop in at the Pink Bicycle Tea Room in Occoquan for some Mommy & Me: Tea and Trinkets this holiday season. Moms and kids alike can nibble and nosh on PB&J or cucumber tea sandwiches. Fresh fruit and juices are available for the wee ones while mom can try a fresh baked scone with clotted cream. Craft events combined with tea service are also available during the month. It’s an afternoon all ages can sip and enjoy.

The Pink Bicycle Tea Room
303 Commerce St. (Occoquan, Va)
703-491-5216
Prices available upon request. Reservations needed.
Online: pinkbicycletearoom.com

Do you do tea parties with your little lady or gent? Tell us about it in the Comments section below. 

—Victoria Mason

Photos: Pink Bicycle Tea Room via Facebook and The Mansion on O Street via Facebook

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Stay Cool Before Heading Back to School

by rtkrishannbriscoe

It may be hard to believe, but summer is almost over. With the back to school rush comes a desire to fill what remains of summer with a few more fabulous outings and adventures – preferably ones that will lower your temperature during the dog days of summer.  Here are the best ways to keep cool until it’s time to head back to school.

Head to one of LA’s kid friendly beaches

There’s no better way to bask in the final days of summer vacation than to head to the shore. Let the ocean breezes cool you down and have fun chasing the tide. Walk along the pier or rent a surrey bicycle, fill it with your family and cruise down the boardwalk.

These are our picks for beachy spots to hit with kids.

Photo credit: InSapphoWeTrust via Flickr

How do you say cool in Los Angeles when the temperatures rise?  Let us know your favorite spots to chill in the comment section.

-Krishann Briscoe

 

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Tada! Red Tricycle’s CEO Reveals Her Fave Kids Gear

by writerredtri

Ever wonder what Jacqui Boland, Red Tricycle’s founder and CEO, considers her can’t-live-without kids styles and gear? Well, now’s your chance to get to know Jacqui as she reveals her fave cool things from hard-working outdoor gear that makes it fun to play in the rain to cool new must-try toys to kids clothes with an utterly playful design. If you know Jacqui, having fun with her six-year old son, Jamie is serious business in the Boland household and her picks definitely reflect that worldview. Read on as Jacqui dishes to our friends at Tada! her can’t-live-without list.

1. Being warm is a must for having fun in the snow. Polarn O. Pyret makes excellent high-performance all-weather gear, like these snowpants.

2. What better way to ensure happy dreams than with these dreamy striped, bicycle pajamas. Jamie loves the softness of Tea Collection pajamas.

3. A waterproof jacket is a must for Bay-Area living. This J.Crew version is super stylish. Bonus points for being reversible (bright yellow side is perfect for wet foggy days).

4. A fleece-lined hat that covers the ears is perfect for snow play. The pirate design appeals to a six-year-old aesthetic.

5. J.Crew comes through again with multi-functional, stylish kids gear that works for rain or snow.

7. Skinny kid=skinny jeans. Mini Boden does a great job of making soft kids jeans that my son actually likes to wear.

8. Rollnecks are so much easier than turtlenecks for six year olds to put on.

9. Our mini-jetsetter (who already has premier-executive status) definitely needs his own pint-sized headphones. The white makes them easier to spot at the end of a long flight.

Want to hear more? Check out Jacqui’s full list from Tada! by clicking here. 

Tada! shop is a curated discovery shopping site for children’s clothing, toys, and cool gear. Tada! makes shopping for your kids easy and fun by bringing together unique finds highlighted by our editors, combined with the offerings of your favorite brands, from major retailers such as the Gap, to specialty brands and boutiques such as Polarn O. Pyret and Sweet William.

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Pedal On! Best Bay Area Bike Trails for Kids

by Renee M. Rutledge

Strap on the helmets and get ready to go for a ride. Bike-riding is fun, free, and a great way
 to tally up exercise points while spending time outdoors surrounded by some of the Bay Area’s prettiest landscapes. Whether the kids are riding solo, enjoying the view via trailer, or buckled cozily into their bike seats, the following trails make for some carefree riding.

East Bay

Bay Trail in Alameda
Biking families love trekking to Alameda for its accessible, wide paths, flat terrain, and picturesque views of the Bay. Start by the Crab Cove Visitor Center on McKay Avenue, where you can check out the aquarium life before following the path down the entirety of Crown Beach and back. Or, continue on over the bicycle bridge to Bayfarm Island, circling its perimeter before coming back the way you came. Click here for a full map of the area.

Richmond Bay Trail Landfill Loop
Richmond’s 30 miles of Bay Trail surpass that of any other Bay Area city in sheer number. One section that we love is the Wildcat March & Landfill Loop, an easy four miles by bicycle, with plenty of opportunity to stop and birdwatch along the way and a one-mile, scenic trail built into the upper slopes. Richmond Bay Trail’s beautiful tidal marshes and vistas peppered with wildflowers are largely undiscovered. Click here for a full map of the area.

Marin County

Marin’s Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Located in the wooded hills of Marin, Samuel P. Taylor State Park features a paved, three-mile bike trail near the campgrounds. Because it follows the former Northwest Pacific Railroad right-of-way, the trail is nearly level. Enjoy the trickle of a creek and see if you can spot some wildlife along the way. Be sure to check their website for park closure info and direction.

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Wildlife Trail
Nearly four miles of level trails make this 383-acre reclamation area accessible to walkers and bicyclists. Find migratory birds, enjoy the wildflowers, and check out the freshwater and saltwater marshes. You’ll also have a view of the Sleeping Lady as you enjoy your lunch on a picnic bench. 

San Francisco

Presidio Promenade
About two miles long, this multi-use trail is wide and stable, with minimal sloping and maximum views of Golden Gate Park and the city skyline. Begin at Lombard Gate and continue on down, passing the Crissy Field Overlook and the San Francisco National Cemetery along the way.

The Embarcadero
The Embarcadero has a convenient BART exit and paid parking lots near Fisherman’s Wharf. Flat and five-plus miles long, the running, walking, and biking trail leads all the way to the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, with many exciting stops along the way, from cotton candy at Pier 39 to the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier.

Peninsula

San Mateo’s Sawyer Camp Trail
Bike this hidden gem of a trail to its halfway point at about 3.5 miles, where you can show the kids the oldest California bay tree. Then, head back alongside shady trees and reservoir waters, or continue to the end of the 6-miles.

Half Moon Bay’s Coastside Trail
This easy-going five-mile bike ride takes you past beach after beach. The most difficult part will be choosing where to stop and have your picnic. Park at Pillar Point Harbor, where there’s a tiny village to explore.

Los Gatos Creek Trail
A special thanks to our readers for giving us the heads up about Los Gatos Creek Trail, which meanders through San Jose, Campbell and Los Gatos. Hop on anywhere on the 11-mile trail and you’ll be greeted with easy to navigate roads, nature, and stunning views at points. We love that this trail is kid-friendly and you’ll be totally surrounded by nature. At the same time, the long trail is close to urban centers, which means it’s easily accesible for all of us city folk.

Other Options:
With the warm Bay Area fall weather creeping up on us, you’re going to want to get the family outside! If you’re still looking for kid-friendly bike trails in your neighborhood, check out these other honorable mentions.

The Iron Horse Regional Trail in Lafayette

Bayfront Park and Bothin Marsh in Marin

Shoreline Park in Mountain View

Monterey Recreational Trail

Oakland’s Lake Merritt

Did we miss your family’s favorite bike trail? Let us know where you and the kiddos strap on the helmets and pedal away in the comment section below!

— Renee Macalino Rutledge

RELATED STORIES:

Ditch the Pedals: A Guide to Picking the Right Balance Bike

Build a Love of Bicycles to Get Kids Pedaling

15 Utterly Awesome Kids Bike Helmets + DIY Helmet Ideas

Gyrowheel Now Renting Their Famous Wheels for Kids

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Worth the Drive: Channel Islands Adventure

by writerredtri

Certainly someone somewhere has done a study on how travelers approach the various national parks of California (we picture them doing this study while wearing a very smart and crisp ranger uniform). Visitors to the redwoods might make a point to hike, say, while people who go Death Valley commonly pack a bicycle, say. And the Channel Islands? They are quite popular with the day-trippers who get a good sense of the glorious and gloriously wild islands. But others choose to build a longer trip around the well-preserved Pacific jewels. They want to spend a night and see corners that only people making a longer excursion get to savor. Is this you, or the you you want to be? Then best read more about the new Channel Islands Adventure from REI Adventures.

To read NBC Bay Area’s full story on the Channel Islands Adventure, click here.

Each week NBC Bay Area will provide Red Tricycle readers with the inside scoop on a special destination that’s always “Worth the Drive.” NBC Bay Area uncovers and connects their users to all that the city has to offer so they can be true city insiders. They go beyond the obvious and provide access to untold stories and the stories behind the stories.

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