Jennifer Marino Walters

Latest posts by Jennifer Marino Walters

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience Brings a Magical Walk-Through to the DC Area

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 11/04/2022 - 9:10am

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is a magical adventure for all.

Harry Potter fans, rejoice! A portion of Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia has transformed into Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, a magical walk-through that takes guests along a nighttime woodland trail filled with creatures, characters, and scenes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Spectacular lighting and sound effects, mist, and interactive elements make visitors feel like they've truly stepped into the Wizarding World.

My family recently had the opportunity to visit Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. Read on for my full review, and check out our review of the Yorktown Heights, New York experience. Be sure to purchase tickets soon: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is only in town until January 29, 2023, and tickets are selling fast!

18 Family-Friendly Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 8:56am

Have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Seasons 52.

Hosting Thanksgiving at home is a lot of fun, but let's face it—it's also a lot of work. Gathering the crew at a restaurant instead allows everyone to be together on Thanksgiving without all the hassle of cooking and cleaning. Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants open on Thanksgiving in DC and its surrounding areas where you can do just that.

Here are 18 restaurants open on Thanksgiving in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia in 2022. Not only are all of them kid-friendly, but many even offer special pricing for kids ages 12 and under. If you see something you like, make a reservation ASAP, as spots will fill up quickly.

Wherever you choose to gather this Thanksgiving, bring some laughter to the table with our list of 25 Thanksgiving jokes for kids. For even more Thanksgiving fun, try one of our 50 Thanksgiving crafts, games, and activities for kids and families.

All Aboard a Polar Express Train Ride, Plus More Christmas Trains Near DC!

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 10/23/2022 - 10:00am

Meet Santa aboard the Strasburg Railroad. Photo courtesy of the railroad

Nothing adds magic to the holiday season quite like a festive train ride. To help your family experience that magic, we've rounded up a variety of Christmas trains near DC, including several options for a Polar Express train ride. From trains that transport you to Christmas tree farms to those that bring classic Christmas stories to life, these Polar Express and Christmas trains near DC will make even your Grinchiest family member's heart grow three sizes. And all of them are within a three-hour drive from DC!

Check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids to help you plan more holiday fun this season, and get a jump on your holiday decorating by trying some of these 101 Christmas activities for kids. Santa will be here before you know it!

Top Montessori Preschools Near DC

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 10/21/2022 - 9:01am

There are many great options for Montessori preschools near DC. Photo courtesy of Fiore Montessori School

Few decisions can cause parents more agony than picking out a preschool. That decision can be even harder for DC-area parents because there are so many great preschools near DC to choose from, from dual-language and immersion programs to play- and nature-based preschools. And if you've got your heart set on a Montessori program, there is no shortage of Montessori preschools near DC.

Montessori is an educational philosophy developed over a century ago that encourages independence and self-directed learning. Classrooms are typically mixed-age, with younger students learning from older ones, and outfitted with specific learning materials. Specially trained teachers observe and facilitate the learning.

Here are some of the top Montessori preschools near DC, including programs in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the District itself. For more solid preschool options, check out our list of 15 popular preschools near DC. If you want to extend your child's learning beyond preschool, visit our Guide to Classes for Kids Near DC.

National Harbor with Kids: 21 Best Things To Do in National Harbor, Maryland

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 10/16/2022 - 10:00am

National Harbor has plenty of things for kids to do, including an Americana-themed carousel. Photo courtesy of the Capital Wheel

If you're craving some waterfront family fun in the DC area, look no further than National Harbor. This 350-acre Maryland town on the banks of the Potomac River seemingly has it all: over 150 shops, 40 restaurants, a 180-foot Ferris wheel, world-class hotels, and gorgeous views and sunsets. Plus, there are so many things to do in National Harbor with kids, from free festivals, outdoor movies, and concerts to the famous Christmas activities at the Gaylord National Resort. Plus, it's only minutes away from the city, making it one of the best day trips from DC for families.

Here are 21 fun things to do in National Harbor, Maryland with kids, including fabulous National Harbor hotels and kid-friendly National Harbor restaurants.

15 Best Halloween Towns in the US: From Salem, MA to the Winchester House

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:44am

Step into the legend of Ichabod Crane in the town of Sleepy Hollow. Photo courtesy of Visit Sleepy Hollow

If your family really wants to get into the Halloween spirit, skip your local pumpkin patch and make a pilgrimage to a truly terrific Halloween town. A Halloween town might be a city that goes all out on Halloween, like Los Angeles; it might be a town with a storied history, like Salem, MA or Sleepy Hollow in NY; or it might even be an actual ghost town.

Here are 15 of the best Halloween towns, haunted locals, and spooky cities in the country to visit with kids. Here you'll find haunted attractions, ghost tours, creepy parades, and more—these towns just ooze Halloween. For more Halloween happenings in your own city, check out your local Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids—if you dare!

Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat Near DC

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 10/14/2022 - 9:08am

Great Falls hosts an annual Halloween Spooktacular on the Village Green. Photo courtesy of fairfaxva.gov

There's nothing more exciting for kids than going trick-or-treating on Halloween. Luckily for DC-area children, there are tons of great neighborhoods to trick-or-treat near DC. Residents of these Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC neighborhoods love to do it up, from extravagant decorations and crazy costumes to haunted houses and tons of candy.

We did research and interviewed locals to put together this list of 12 great neighborhoods to trick-or-treat near DC, all of which are sure to put your family in the spooky spirit. For more Halloween fun this month, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC, our list of top Halloween events in DC for kids and families, and our roundup of where to trunk-or-treat near DC.

Where to Trunk-or-Treat Near DC for Halloween (for Free!)

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 10/09/2022 - 9:48am

This trunk was voted Most Festive at the 2021 Towson Trunk-or-Treat. Photo courtesy of the event

While trick-or-treating on Halloween is a rite of passage for kids, it's not without its downsides. First, it happens only on one day out of the year. Second, traipsing around the neighborhood can be quite tiring for little superheroes and princesses. Luckily for DC-area kids, there is an alternative—free trunk-or-treats! This year there are plenty of places to trunk-or-treat near DC on different days in both Maryland and Northern Virginia, offering kids plenty of opportunities to collect more candy—and wear their Halloween costumes.

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, trunk-or-treats are events at which organizations, groups, or individuals decorate the trunks of their cars with fun Halloween displays. Kids can visit each trunk and receive candy and other goodies.

Read on for our list of free events where kids can trunk-or-treat near DC. For more Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Washington, DC Kids and our list of the best free Halloween events near DC for kids and families.