Katie Sivinski

Latest posts by Katie Sivinski

Best Coffee Shops in DC to Visit with Kids

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Sun, 01/15/2023 - 10:00am

A cup of coffee from Open City is the perfect complement to a National Zoo visit. Photo courtesy of Open City DC

Ah, coffee. So comforting. So rejuvenating. So... difficult to sit and enjoy with kids around—at least in my experience! If you need more coffee in your life—and the chance to actually finish it—we've rounded up the best coffee shops in DC to visit with kids.

Want to meet up with friends and their kids for a play date? DC has a coffee shop for that. Want to enjoy a cup of java and a snack with your little one without having to worry about them being too loud or messy? There's a coffee shop for that, too. There are even coffee shops in the area with built-in entertainment for kids!

Here are 12 of the best coffee shops in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia to visit with kids. If you need some heartier fare, check out our Kid-Friendly DC Restaurants Guide for more places to enjoy a meal with little ones, including family-friendly DC vegan restaurants and restaurants near DC where kids can play.

12 Restaurants Open on Christmas in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Sun, 12/11/2022 - 10:11am

Brasserie Liberte provides a cozy setting for Christmas dinner. Photo courtesy of the restaurant

You've decked the halls, trimmed the trees, and bought the presents. Now it's time to plan your holiday dinner. If you've run out of steam, don't stress. There are several restaurants open on Christmas in DC and the surrounding areas that will give your family a memorable meal without all the cooking and cleanup.

Here are 12 family-friendly restaurants open on Christmas in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia in 2022. You can also visit them on Christmas Eve while you wait for Santa to arrive. Many of these restaurants have special pricing for children, and several offer an eat-at-home option for those who don't want to go out. Make reservations or order take-home meals soon, as these restaurants open on Christmas in DC are sure to fill up quickly!

For ideas on fun things to do with kids before or after your Christmas meal, check out our roundup of what is open on Christmas Day near DC and our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids. And don't forget—we're always adding more fun activities to our events calendar!

14 Holiday Volunteering Opportunities for Kids and Families Near DC

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Fri, 11/18/2022 - 8:30am

Kids of all ages can participate in Wreaths Across America. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

The holiday season can be stress-inducing for anyone, with all the cooking, shopping, and other holiday tasks. But for families that lack the resources to make the holidays special, it can be extra difficult. Sign up for one of the many holiday volunteering opportunities available in the DC area to help make Christmas and the holidays brighter for some of these families.

There are volunteering opportunities to fit any interest and ability, whether it's donating toys, running in a race, buying pies, or shoveling snow. Some volunteering opportunities are only open to ages 13 or 14 and above, so be sure to check the organizations' websites for any age requirements. You can also check out our list of more organizations that provide free Christmas and holiday toys to kids.

Here are 14 holiday volunteering opportunities for kids and families in 2022.

100 Classic Toys for Kids: Favorite Classic Toys, Retro Toys, and Vintage Toys

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Tue, 08/30/2022 - 10:33am

Remember getting your first Cabbage Patch Kid? Photo by Charlotte B

After much reminiscing and debating, we’ve winnowed down our list to the 100 top classic toys for kids. What you'll see below are the best classic, retro, and vintage toys—the ones that capture the nostalgia of childhood and the pure bliss of playtime. Now, this is not a list of simple games and fun like kick the can or hide and seek. This is a list for your ultimate inner child—the one who wants all the toys! Perhaps the most amazing thing is that you can still buy every single one of them, either for yourself or to share the classic toy fun with your own kids. So sit back, remember, and possibly be inspired for your child’s next birthday or holiday. Or maybe your own?

Looking for more childhood favorites and classics? The bookworms here (that's pretty much all of us) brainstormed a list of 100 Kids' Books Every Child Should Read, and we've also got ideas for family movie night on our list of the 50 Best Kids' Movies of All Time.

Awesome Trampoline Parks Near DC for Indoor Family Fun

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Fri, 08/12/2022 - 12:21pm

Getting ready to fly high. Photo courtesy of the Atomic Trampoline Fun Center

When your kids are bouncing off the walls, your first instinct is probably to send them outside. But if the weather is too hot, cold, or rainy, hop on over to one of DC's amazing indoor trampoline parks instead. These trampoline parks near DC are great places to burn off energy, have fun, and get those sillies out without breaking any lamps in your family room.

Here are seven fun trampoline parks near DC where kids from toddlers to teens can bounce, jump, and play the day away. These trampoline parks have a combined total of 20 locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland. For more fun ways to blow off steam indoors, check out our Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces for Kids in DC.

Fishing Lakes Near DC and More Kid-Friendly Places to Go Fishing

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Fri, 07/29/2022 - 10:00am

Fishing is a great way to bond with the family in nature. Photo courtesy of Montgomery Parks in Maryland

Fishing is a fun way for families to spend time together outdoors, and there is no shortage of kid-friendly fishing lakes near DC. There are also plenty of other places to go fishing near DC along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, in parks, and more. There are so many fishing spots, in fact, that it was tough narrowing this list down to the ones you'll see below.

Grab your fishing poles, hooks, and tackle boxes and head to one of these 12 fishing lakes near DC and other family-friendly places to go fishing. These fishing spots in DC, Maryland, and Virginia are some of the top places for families to try their hand at snagging a big one.

For more outdoor family fun, check out our Outdoor Activities Guide for DC Kids.

Outdoor Swimming Pools Near DC with a Daily Pool Pass Option

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Fri, 06/17/2022 - 10:00am

Get a daily pool pass at several DC-area swimming pools. Photo courtesy of Visit Montgomery

When the summer heat descends on Washington, DC, there are plenty of free public swimming pools that families can visit to cool down. But for those who live in the DC suburbs, it may seem like paying for a pricey summer membership is the only way to gain access to an outdoor swimming pool. We're here to assure you that is not the case. There are plenty of outdoor swimming pools near DC that offer a daily pool pass option for families who can't commit to a whole summer of swimming. From hotels with pools in DC that offer families a luxurious daycation to community swimming pools with lots of fun features for kids, these pools are all great places to spend a hot DC summer day.

For more ways to make a splash outdoors, check out our lists of 12 outdoor water parks for kids near DC and 17 sprinkler parks, spraygrounds, and splash pads near DC for kids. Stay cool this summer!

How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs: An Earth-Friendly Craft for Kids

Submitted by Katie Sivinski on Thu, 06/16/2022 - 11:11am

Find a bare patch of soil to place your seed bomb. Spread them far and wide! Photo by the author

Here's a fun summer craft for kids of all ages that helps pollinators and ecosystems, too: making wildflower seed bombs. Maybe you've heard that pollinators are in danger, but you don't know how to help or maybe don't even know what a pollinator is. Well, here's the scoop, along with a quick, easy, and fun craft for kids that also helps the earth. When you make wildflower seed bombs, you can plant flowers—without any digging or trowels—in your backyard, a flower pot, around your city, or even gift them to neighbors and friends to spread far and wide.

Here's how to make your own wildflower seed bombs that are perfect for whichever pollinators buzz in your backyard. Check out more green activities for kids in our Earth Kids Guide to Green Activities for the Planet.