ML Interest Tag: free-tours

Green Scene: Environmentally-Conscious Fun for the Entire Family

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Contrary to what Kermit the Frog has to say, it is easy being green…especially around D.C. From huge family-friendly green festivals to awesome community gardening opportunities, it’s no sweat to get your environmentally-conscious crew out, learning about and experiencing the great outdoors and how to preserve it for years to come.

Photo: montgomerycountygreenfest.org

Montgomery County Green Fest
Come get to know how Montgomery County is being green! Hands-on demonstrations will show your little greenies how to save energy and reduce waste in their everyday lives. You might not even have to remind them to turn off the lights or water in your abode anymore…maybe. Transportation-fans will want to find out what fuels the energy-efficient Ride-On bus and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission BioBus. Then, everyone can grab a sustainability-sourced lunch and enjoy the free music. Bring a reusable bottle to score discounts on drinks! Events will be held at both the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Jesup Blair Local Park across the street, so check out the schedule beforehand to map out the most efficient day.

When: March 28, 2015, 11 am–4 pm
Cost: Free

Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring
7995 Georgia Ave. (Silver Spring, Md)
240-777-6507
Online: montgomerycountygreenfest.org

Photo: cityblossoms.org

City Blossoms Community Green Spaces
Whether the colors of your tots’ thumbs are green or not, drop by either (or both!) of the two D.C. community gardens that City Blossoms cultivates. City Blossoms is all about preparing the next gen in organic, sustainable gardening that thrives with the local environment and even helps their neighbors. Your gardener-in-training will help with garden maintenance and could even take home a small harvest, when available. They might even be inspired to start planting something on their own at home!

When: April – November (check days and times online)
Cost: Free

Girard Children’s Community Garden
15th and Girard Sts., NW (Columbia Heights)
(or)
Street Intergenerational Garden
1519 Marion St., NW (Shaw-Howard U)
443-854-1669
Online: cityblossoms.org

Photo: USACE HQ via Creative Commons

Howard County Green Fest: Living with Wildlife
Perfect for the animal-lovers in your herd, this year’s theme at the Howard County Green Fest is “Living with Wildlife.” Learn how Fido’s daily walk (and poo) affect the environment, how to attract butterflies to your garden, and what the buzz is all about with bees. For the caffeinated bunch, taste-test some fair-trade coffee. Later, spend an hour on an organized trail walk, or saunter among the booths to enter giveaways. In the Quad you’ll find an outdoor nature play space and green crafts for the kiddos.

When: April 18, 2015, 10 am–4 pm
Cost: Free

Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy. (Columbia, Md)
443-518-1000
Online: howardcountymd.gov

Photo: greenfestivals.org

Family Fun Pavilion at Green Festival Expo D.C.
This Expo will have hundreds of exhibitors showcasing products to help you and your clan work and live green. But since navigating a crowd may not be your idea of a good time, scope out the expo map online first. Definitely plan to hang out at the Family Fun Pavilion where there will be puppet shows, interactive demonstrations, and music. Hint: the products for green kids and pets are right around the corner from the pavilion. When ready for a meal, head to the food court, which is stocked with delish gluten-free and vegan options.

When: June 5, 12pm–6pm; June 6–7, 10am–6pm
Cost: One-day, $15; Weekend $25 (discounts to be announced); Free for kids 18 years and under

D.C. Convention Center
801 Mt. Vernon Pl., NW (Mt. Vernon Sq.)
Online: greenfestivals.org/wdc

Photo: Haleyface via flickr

Derwood Recycling Center Tours
Do your tykes get excited when the recycling truck comes through the neighborhood? Do they ever wonder what happens to the paper and aluminum cans after that? Then head on over to the Derwood Recycling Center for a free tour to learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling. They’ll get to see the big sorting machine that knows plastic from metal, and find out what they can and cannot recycle at home. Guided and self-guided tours are available.

When: Groups of 10+ guided tour, Mondays–Thursdays, 10 am–2 pm; Self-guided tour, 7:30 am–5 pm
Cost: Free

16105 Frederick Rd. (Derwood, Md)
301-417-1433
Online: montgomerycountymd.gov

Are there any other green-themed activities that families around D.C. should know about? Tell us about them in the Comments section below. 

—Lisa Ng

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Hidden History! Check Out Los Peñasquitos Ranch House

by BriGeeski

Imagine a big countryside ranch right in our own backyard. Nestled behind the Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, this hidden gem will get the kiddos jumping for joy. There are goats, chickens, veggies and large open spaces for playtime. Pack a picnic, take a hike, or just hang out at the Los Peñasquitos Ranch House.

The old ranch house built in 1823 by the recipients of the first Mexican land grant in San Diego County and is the second oldest standing residence. In 1862 the house was enlarged and is now a National Historic Archaeological District. The house is surrounded by canyons filled with trails. Free tours are available on the weekends or by appointment. The tours illustrate the life of its Spanish, Mexican, and early American inhabitants. The younger ones may not appreciate its history, but they’ll sure enjoy the sound of the wooden boards beneath their running feet.


Even when there are no tours available there’s plenty to do in this wide open space available anytime of year. They can create a “castle” out of a tree, chase each other through the “woods” and play hide and seek all within mama’s view. If you feel like adventuring beyond the Ranch House, put one some walking shoes and journey down one of the many hiking trails. Kids will love the waterfall that’s about three miles into one of the trails.


The center of the old ranch house hosts the perfect size water fountain for toddlers to check out. Bring your extra pennies and have the kids make a few wishes and toss them in the water. Keep your eye on the adventurous ones though, they may try to step in!


Your kiddos will really get a kick out of the two super tall goats and the active chickens. The goats are pretty humorous and very willing to step by the little ones. If you get worn out from all the fun just throw out a blanket and have a picnic.

Be sure to wear closed-toed shoes and put on some sunscreen. Although there is shade under the trees, the grounds can get a bit warm when the sun in shining. You may also want to pack some water and snacks since there aren’t any food shops on the Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve.

Los Peñasquitos Ranch House
12020 Black Mountain Rd.
San Diego, Ca 92129
(858) 484-7504

Website: co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/openspace/penasquitos.html

What hidden spots of history have you found in San Diego? Tell us in the comments.

– Brianne Grajkowski

Images by BriGeeski

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Island Time, Local Style: 3 Kid-Friendly Seaside Day Trips

by Erin Cranston

Exploring quirky shops in tiny seaside towns, licking drippy ice cream cones with the sun on your face, digging your toes into warm sand as your kids collect shells and find tiny crabs…finally, you and your family are going on that totally awesome tropical island vacation, right? But hold the alohas and grab the car keys because we’ve rounded up three island day trips where there will be no need for triple checked packing lists, no apologies to weary seat-mates as they brush soggy goldfish off their laps, and no tiny airplane bathroom diaper changes on a flight that feels like it took off three days ago. These totally relaxed, totally local island day trips will leave you and your family saying “Don Ho who?”

Bainbridge Island

Is everyone in the family claiming boredom by 9am? Only 35 minutes away from downtown Seattle by ferry, Bainbridge Island’s downtown Winslow is the perfect answer to “what should we do today?” The area hosts a variety of spur of the moment, family-friendly and easily walkable goodies along Winslow Way to keep you and the Littles entertained from the moment you step off the ferry (and even before).

Explore
The small but mighty Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) is ideal for the 0-10 set, where kids can spark their imaginations with a giant Lite Brite, learn about physics via golf balls (or just see how many they can collect) in the Motion Madness Room or get their hands dirty with themed events like Messy Mondays. The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (across the parking lot from KiDiMu; admission is free) and KiDiMu are currently co-hosting an Artful Discovery scavenger hunt until September 21. Grab a clue card and search both museums for eight kid-friendly items (and win a treat from local candy store Bon Bon). Speaking of scavenger hunts, the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association (BIDA) is currently hosting “Frogs on the Rock”, 36 frog sculptures decorated by local artists and displayed (or sometimes hidden) throughout the island. Pick up a postcard with a list of Froggy’s hideouts at BIDA or check out the map here.

Taste
Nearby family-friendly restaurants abound. Check out Blackbird Bakery just down the street from KidiMu for gorgeous cakes, gooey pastries (including gluten-free options) and a to-go cup of Seattle’s Herkimer Coffee for the easy-peasy stroll back to the ferry. If your family’s screamin’ for ice cream, Mora Iced Creamery will please even the pickiest vanilla-only cone licker. Make sure to taste a few flavors before deciding—we suggest pink grapefruit. Need more than a sugar rush? Kid-friendly and parent pleasing Madison Diner’s all-day breakfast is sure to be a home run. Their hand dipped milkshakes and always-a-winner Mickey pancakes will silence every last “I’m huuuuungry.”

Navigate
All locations listed above are easily reached by foot from the ferry terminal. Your boat-loving kiddo will go crazy when you walk onto the ferry, and you’ll appreciate the savings—parking in downtown Seattle for a few hours costs less than the ferry’s car rates. Rather leave the stroller at home? The brand new Frog Hopper bus takes you to and from the Winslow ferry terminal on weekends (July through September), with routes on Winslow Way and along the north and south ends of the island to places like the Bloedel Reserve and Bainbridge Island Brewing (where kids are welcome!). Tickets can be purchased at the kiosk in the ferry terminal and are good for all day hop-on-and-off privileges ($7 for adults, $5 for seniors and kids 12 and under, and $20 gets families with 3-5 members an all-day pass). If you just have to have the kid taxi nearby, parking is always free along Winslow Way and in the museums’ shared parking lot.

Vashon Island

West-Seattleites consider Vashon an extension of their ‘hood, and with the cool 20-minute ferry ride from Fauntleroy, it’s no wonder. Hop in the car with your sunscreen and your sense of adventure, and get ready to take a short trip to a quiet place that slows your blood pressure (and calms your kiddos) the moment the ferry bumps against the dock.

Explore
Once off the ferry, point your car south towards Point Robinson Park, a pretty 12-mile drive across the island. The park houses a working lighthouse, and retired Coast Guard Captain Joe Wubbold gives free tours (amazing views included) on Sundays from 12-4pm through September. Sundays are too full of soccer games and trips to Grandma’s? Call Captain Joe anytime, year-round at (206) 463-6672 to schedule a tour—he’s happy to accommodate almost any schedule and any size group. If tours aren’t your thing, just let the little ones roam the wide, driftwood-strewn beach, and you might see a baby harbor seal sunning itself, or a giant container ship making its way (very close to the shore) to points south. On your way back to town, check out the new Burton Adventure Recreation Center (BARC), where you can catch some air on your skateboard or inline skates during Open Skate for only $6 (or buy a year membership for $10 and the price goes down to $3), a surefire way to get out the wiggles before the quiet ferry ride home. Check the website for current hours.

Taste
Need a pick me up (and a sweet treat for the kiddos) on your way into town? Snapdragon Café is the ultimate in rustic, homemade food that will make you and your little foodies want to visit Vashon daily just for their Classic Danish Cinnamon Roll with fresh apples and currants, or a few of their doesn’t-matter-what-size $2.50 espressos. (Don’t rush there on Mondays or Tuesdays-they’re closed). Famished after a day of exploring? The historic Hardware Store (yes, it was once a hardware store) is a local favorite and serves up hearty and delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners, seven days a week.

Navigate
Vashon isn’t walkable from the ferry, but the above restaurants are located along Vashon Highway in downtown Vashon, which is the main road to and from the terminal. BARC is located just off the Vashon Highway near Burton; Point Robinson Park is on Maury Island (connected by road; check Google Maps for the route) and there is ample parking in the shady upper lot. Parking is free throughout the island.

Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island’s motto is “The Shortest Distance to Far Away,” and when you enter the quaint town of Coupeville, on the island’s east shore, you immediately see why. Founded in 1853 and full of small town charm, homemade food and gorgeous views, you and your kids will love the old buildings, cool local artifacts and slower pace found along Front Street. And did we mention the food?

Explore
Park along Front Street and head over to the Island County Historical Museum, where the kids can puzzle through the wonder of a 120,000 year old Ice Age tree trunk, squished flat by the Vashon Glacier, or picture the animal that went with the bones on display in the Mammoth Exhibit, evidence of a large mammoth population that once lived on the island. After cramming their heads full of cool history, walk across the street to the Coupeville Wharf, where you can stroll the pier, taking in the views of Penn Cove, and say hi to Rosie, the 32-foot skeleton of a young Gray Whale on display in the Breezeway.

On the walk back to the car, peruse the battery-and noise-free toys (hallelujah!) at the sure-to-please toy store Honey Bear (open daily, 10:30am-5:30pm) before your leisurely drive (and hopefully naptime) back to the ferry. If your kids refuse to snooze, stop at farm and local food haven Greenbank Farm, or take a short detour to Fort Casey, where you can take a fantastic 45-minute guided tour (1pm Fridays & 1pm and 2:30pm Saturdays and Sundays, Memorial Day-Labor Day) of the historic gun batteries, complete with four artillery guns standing their silent guard over Puget Sound. The adventurous in your tribe will love the pitch black Tunnel Room, always a hit with kids and sure to silence the five-year-old’s questions, at least for a few minutes. Call 360-678-4519 for current hours; tours are free.

Taste
Grab an espresso and a freshly baked, melt in your mouth Everything Cookie (believe us, it’s the best cookie we’ve ever had) from local favorite Knead and Feed (open til 4pm weekends and 3pm weekdays), or if the kiddos are fall-apart famished after your road trip, take in the view and the delicious kids’ menu at Front Street Grill, where local Penn Cove mussels are on the menu for you while the kids munch on crispy fries and Kobe beef sliders on pretzel buns. If the kiddos are high on sun and low on sugar after their seaside adventure, grab a freshly made waffle cone at Kapaw’s Iskreme (open every day at 11:30am, March through November).

Navigate
You’ll need your car for the drive to the Mukilteo Ferry and to get to Coupeville, but the town is completely walkable and street parking is free. Fort Casey is eight minutes south of Coupeville by car.

Island Alert
The ferry system can get crazy busy in the summer months, especially on festival weekends (and there are a lot of festival weekends!)  Always check the WSDOT Ferry website for current delays, prices and times (most routes have varying weekend and weekday schedules) and pack lots of snacks and water before embarking on your island adventure.

Does your family have a favorite island? Let us know in a comment below.

–Erin Cranston

Photos courtesy of: Erin Cranston, Kids’ Discovery Museum, Andrea Mackin, Allison Sutcliffe, Jim Patton, Pete Salutos/Kids’ Discovery Museum, Sue via Flickr, Chas Redmond via Flickr and Jeff Wilcox via Flickr

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4 Inspiring Picnic Spots (And Where to Get Your Grub)

by Selena Kohng

Finger food. A cozy blanket. Space for kids to run around. No dishes to wash. Clearly, picnics were invented by a parent. In Chicago, we take advantage of the sunshine when we can, so pack up the family and move mealtime outdoors. If you want to skip sandwich-making duty, grab your grub on the way. Here are suggestions on local grocers and nearby parks that, paired together, add up to easy-breezy urban picnicking.

Lincoln Square
The grocer: Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
The park: Welles Park

Gene’s is a neighborhood gem with German roots, and it attracts loyal patrons from all over the city. It’s easy to see why: The one-stop shop offers exotic meats (like boar sausage), fresh produce, wine and spirits, and hard-to-find European sweet treats at unpretentious prices. Pack your picnic basket with homemade potato or pasta salad for under $5 a pound and some deli meats and pretzel rolls; or, go for a pre-made pretzel bread sandwich for $4.99. If your stomach is really rumbling, branch out with authentic staples like schnitzel, potato pancakes and pierogi. Dessert is a must: Chocolate-covered Bahlsen biscuits will elate the kiddies and whole cherry pies are ample enough for everyone to share. Be a good Chicagoan and return later to grab brats to grill for dinner.

For your picnic, walk a few blocks south on Lincoln Avenue to Welles Park, where green space abounds. Stake out your spot close to the north end where you’ll find a charming gazebo and a new toddler-friendly playground — you know, the kind with cushy rubber mats and those swanky bucket swings. After your meal, let your little monkeys loose on the jungle gym. The water play area comes in handy for hosing off sticky hands and faces.

Tip: Venture to the south end of the 15-acre park at Montrose Avenue to find more picnic-perfect space. There’s an older playground there, complete with wood chips and all.

Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
4750 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-728-7243
Online: www.genessausageshop.com

Welles Park
2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
312-742-7511
Online: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

West Loop
The grocer: J.P. Graziano Grocery
The park: Mary Bartelme Park

Randolph Row may be home to culinary heavyweights like Avec and Girl and the Goat, but just a few blocks west sits J.P. Graziano Grocery, a 75-year-old family-run business that’s a Chicago foodie’s best-kept secret. The hefty Italian sandwiches have ingredients like artisan-cured salame and truffle-mustard balsamic vinaigrette; and simple but tasty classics like turkey or ham please picky eaters. The line to pay gets long, mainly due to the motherly cashier chatting with customers. While you wait, grab a carton of imported Aliseo blood orange juice from the fridge to wash down the sammies. Browse the pre-packed olive salads, Miele Thun honey flavors, homemade giardiniera, and barrels of dried herbs and beans to stock your pantry. Soak up the humble family atmosphere and count how many times you hear an affectionate, “How you doin’?”

Head four blocks south on Peoria Street to Mary Bartelme Park for your picnic, but be forewarned: Once your kids see the industrial-cool playground they’ll be deaf to your pleas to “Stop running” or “Eat first.” Thankfully, a few tables and chairs welcome you right next to the play structure so you can refuel and keep watch. This isn’t your red-checkered picnic blanket scene, but what the park lacks in grassy knolls it makes up in edgy urban details, like sculptural metal archways that spray a cooling mist on warm days. Even the furriest of your family members can stretch his legs in the attached dog park.

Tip: If you’re driving, breeze past the metered streets and park on Adams Street between Peoria and Morgan streets; it’s free.

J.P Graziano Grocery
901 W. Randolph St.
312-666-4587
Online: www.jpgraziano.com

Mary Bartelme Park
115 S. Sangamon St.
312-746-5494
Online: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Gold Coast
The grocer: The Goddess and Grocer
The park: Washington Square Park

After a morning of shopping downtown, you and your squirmy sidekick deserve a break. Take a two-minute walk from Water Tower Place to The Goddess and Grocer and plan a feast with prepped food like crab cakes, butternut squash ravioli and carrot ginger soup. Or put in an order for the signature Goddess Garden Wrap, brie and apple panini, or chorizo torta. Sound too fancy-pants? The kids’ menu has failsafe favorites like PB&J and grilled cheese. If you lose sight of your tot while you’re ordering, don’t be alarmed; he’s glued to the baked goods case, eyeing the dreamy rainbow cake.

Afterward, walk two blocks west on Delaware Place to picturesque Washington Square Park. Lay out your spread close to the fountain in front of Newberry Library for Instagram-worthy shots. It’s a great people-watching spot loaded with history as Chicago’s oldest small park as well as the site of famous soapbox debates.

Tip: Time your visit to take advantage of events at Newberry: It hosts free tours Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings, and an annual used book fair the last weekend of July.

The Goddess and Grocer
25 E. Delaware Pl.
312-896-2600
Online: www.goddessandgrocer.com

Washington Square Park
901 N. Clark St.
312-742-7895
Online: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Hyde Park
The grocer: Hyde Park Produce
The park: Burnham Park/Promontory Point Park

Load the family bikes and soccer balls and head to Hyde Park for a fresh view of your favorite skyline. But first, stop at Hyde Park Produce and fill up on fresh produce and deli staples. While the foodstuffs here are basic, standouts include house-made guacamole and plantains. If you’re sandwiched out, hot meals like jerk chicken or barbecued ribs will satisfy.

Drive just over a mile to Burnham Park/Promontory Point Park, which was home to Chicago’s second World’s Fair in the early 1930s. Similar to other lakeshore oases around the city, this place wins thanks to its dense, lush greenery and castle-like tower monument. Enjoy hours of unplugged fun on the bike trails or exploring the rocks along the shore.

Tip: There are fire pits, so grab s’mores ingredients and matches from the store. You can also make a full day of it and bring a mini grill and stock up on meats accordingly. The fire pits were originally designed as council rings, so consider the grilling time as a teaching moment for your tribe.

Hyde Park Produce
1226 E. 53rd St.
773-324-7100
Online: www.hydeparkproduce.com

Burnham Park/Promontory Point Park
5491 S. South Shore Dr.
312-747-6620
Online: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

What do you like to pack in your picnic basket? Let us know in the Comments section below.

— Selena Kohngx

Photos (from top to bottom): @Ron Chapple|Dreamstime.com, Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen, Chicago Park District, J.P. Graziano Grocery, Chicago Park District, The Goddess and Grocer, Chicago Park District, Hyde Park Produce, Chicago Park District

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Portland Kids: Explore International Rose Test Garden/Washington Park

by writerredtri

A visit to Portland’s International Rose Test Garden should be on the ‘must-do’ list of locals and tourists alike. The expansive garden boasts more than 10,000 plantings of over 500 varieties. Situated in Washington Park, it is also worth noting that the Rose Test Garden’s immediate surroundings are ripe with popular family friendly destinations and must-see natural attractions including a playground, hundreds of miles of lush hiking trails, the Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, and the Portland Children’s Museum,

Go: Year-round, but the roses are most likely to be in peak bloom between mid-May and June. The International Rose Test Garden is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm daily.

Approximate travel time: 5 minutes from downtown Portland, via Hwy 26 West, take exit 72.

What to see: Enjoy the serene view of colorful roses as far as the eye can see, and give your kids an impromptu English lesson at the Shakespeare Garden which features roses named after characters from the illustrious Bard’s plays.

Possible lunch spots: Pack a picnic to enjoy in the Shakespeare Garden, which is a choice spot to grab a patch of shady lawn and feast your eyes on flora while feasting on your food. If you didn’t bring a bountiful basket on your trip, take a trek to the nearby zoo and grab a bite at the Cascade Grill.

How to dress: Casual, seasonally appropriate. SPF and sun hats would be a good idea on sunny days.

Need to know: June 1st through September 21st, free tours of the rose garden are offered at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm on Tuesdays and 1:00 pm on Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays. Meet at the Rose Garden Store. Donations gladly accepted.

Bonus: Treat the kiddos to an enchanting four-mile train ride through the forests of Washington Park, to a station above the International Rose Test Garden, and back to the zoo. The journey lasts 35 minutes. Click here for more information and specific running times of train rides and fares.

Cost of trip: Admission to the International Rose Test Garden is free, but donations are accepted.

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