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Take the Kids: A Big-City
Adventure in Washington, D.C.
By Peggy Sijswerda
1975 words
Dressed to the nines, my
youngest son admired his image in the mirror of our room at the Ritz-Carlton in
Northern Virginia. The two of us were spending a few days in our nation’s
capital, and Ross had donned a suit and tie for the very first time. Initially
I was afraid he’d balk at trading in his “skater” attire for fancier duds. Yet
here he was, combing his hair, straightening his tie, even fashioning a napkin
into a spiffy hanky to decorate his breast pocket.
I could tell he liked what he
saw in the mirror. I did, too. My little boy was growing up—right before my
eyes.
I had decided to take Ross, who’s
eleven, on a spur of-the-minute spring break trip to D.C.—just the two of us.
We planned to see new sights, visit old favorites, dine in stylish restaurants,
and enjoy the big-city vibe. Besides spending quality time together, I looked
forward to showing my son what marvels exist beyond the confines of his
sixth-grade worldview.
Just like adults who get caught
in a rut, doing the same thing week after week, kids need a break from the
ordinary now and then. Sure, a week at the beach offers R & R, but
vacations that introduce kids to new ideas and great art pique their natural
curiosity. And parents everywhere will agree that encouraging children to look
past two-dimensional screens requires extreme effort. I’ve found removing them
from their comfort zone and placing them in a different environment helps kids
to be more open to new experiences.
UNEXPECTED DETOURS
With that in mind, Ross and I
decided to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Tyson’s Corner in McLean, Virginia. This
luxurious property offers surprisingly good value, especially on weekends, and
is perfect for introducing your child to the finer things in life. As we
entered the hotel, Ross, normally a rough-and-tumble boy, suddenly seemed
calmer, as if the soothing ambience of the Ritz-Carlton entered his soul. After
checking into our room, which had a fabulous view northward toward Maryland,
Ross and I were ready to head toward the city.
With all the choices of what to
see and do in D.C., making a game plan is important. You may be tempted to fit
in as much as possible, but with kids, planning fewer activities ensures you
and they won’t get burned out. Each day consider visiting only two or three
attractions, and if your stay in D.C. extends beyond a weekend, build in some
recreational outings. Plan meals carefully because they represent a chance for
your family to rest before gathering steam for the next activity. Allow for
flexibility, too. If one of your chosen attractions is totally packed, then
look for a more peaceful venue nearby. Sometimes the unexpected detours yield
the most rewarding experiences.
For example, on our first day in
the city, after visiting the National Zoo and the National Building Museum,
Ross and I had about an hour before our dinner reservations. The only museum
open until 7 p.m. in our vicinity was the National Portrait Gallery and the
American Art Museum, both housed in an exceptionally beautiful building
resembling the Parthenon. Ross and I wandered inside and found a folk art
exhibit that enchanted us both. There’s something about folk art that’s
childlike and innocent, making it more accessible for children than formal
portraits by European masters. And let’s face it: some folk art is downright
wacky.
Ross was drawn to a sculpture
exhibit by an artist who enjoyed playing with the same motifs in each work.
Amazingly Ross deduced this after a few moments of studying the sculptures.
“Look, Mom. Each one has a
ladder-like thing, a pyramid, and a sphere,” he said. I was impressed not only
that he saw the connection among the sculptures, but that he could articulate
it so easily. Maybe I have a budding artist on my hands.
That’s why museums are so
important. They open up the world to our kids, inspire them to make connections
and to see their surroundings in a different way. Video games, on the other
hand, with their noisy sound effects, garish colors, and repetitive tasks seem
like blinders, keeping kids from experiencing the real world around them. Can
you tell I’m not a big fan of gaming?
PLENTY TO PLEASE
Another way we educate our
children is by introducing them to fine dining, and Washington, D.C. offers
world-class cuisine prepared by top-drawer chefs. Of course, taking kids to
elegant restaurants may be dicey if your child is a difficult eater. Luckily
Ross has an adventurous palate and usually finds plenty to please him.
Our first night in the “big city”
we dined at a fashionable restaurant called Acadiana. Casually chic, it proved
to be a perfect choice. The welcoming décor—downhome Louisiana meets upscale
urban—added to the happy Friday-evening vibe.
Not long ago in New Orleans a
friend introduced me to Pimm’s Cup, a cocktail which combines the liqueur of
the same name with a sour mix. When I saw that on the menu at Acadiana, I knew
Ross and I were in for classic Cajun cuisine. From the melt-in-your-mouth
charbroiled oysters to the trio of housemade sorbet, our meal was an amazing
journey that transported us from downtown D.C. to the land where roux and
remoulade, gumbo and jambalaya are king. My entrée was a perfectly prepared
redfish served atop soul-satisfying seafood risotto. Ross tucked into his New
Orleans-style BBQ shrimp, voted a Top 25 dish by USA Today, and he was in
heaven.
In fact, Ross behaved like quite
the gentleman that evening, placing his napkin in his lap and using his fork
and knife properly. Don, our waiter who was originally from Transylvania,
provided charming service, and by the time dinner ended, I was already
contemplating when I would come back for more of those charbroiled oysters.
The next day we lunched at a
unique restaurant near the International Spy Museum called Zaytinya, which
specializes in Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese cuisine. We’d eaten there once
before, and Ross remembered the “puffy” bread, which is like a very delicate
pita puffed full of air. Served with olive oil dotted with pomegranate molasses,
the bread is a treat by itself. Ross and I studied the assortment of mezzes on
the menu and chose tzatziki, a cucumber-yogurt dish; French fries cooked in
olive oil and served with a yogurt sauce—decadently divine; a green salad,
which Ross promptly put in a piece of “puffy” bread, and kolokithokeftedes,
savory zucchini-cheese patties. The atmosphere at Zaytinya is Middle Eastern,
but we felt right at home.
That night we traveled,
figuratively speaking, to Italy, a cozy restaurant called Notti Bianchi near
Georgetown University featuring authentic Italian fare. At first Ross was taken
aback by the Italian on the menu, but when I showed him the translations, he
relaxed and found what he was looking for: spaghetti—the quintessential
kid-pleaser.
I pursued a more adventurous
path, first sampling a house specialty comprised of braised pork cheeks, tender
and flavorful, balanced perfectly by creamy porcini polenta. Next I ordered
asparagus served with housemade pancetta, a farm-raised poached egg, and parmesan
vinaigrette. My entrée, a half portion of risotto simply prepared with
chantrelle mushrooms and garlic, tasted like spring. For dessert Ross and I
shared espresso semifreddo, a frozen dessert served with hazelnut biscotti,
light and delicate with a toothy crunch.
A FEW FAVORITES
When we weren’t eating, Ross and
I wandered the streets of D.C. from one cool museum to the next. Here are a few
of our favorites:
• The International Spy Museum –
The only public museum in the U.S. solely dedicated to espionage, the Spy
Museum will keep you and your family riveted with its historical exhibits,
artifacts, and fascinating displays about spying. Entry fee. www.spymuseum.org
• National Museum of the
American Indian – This huge museum features the largest collection of American
Indian art and cultural objects in the world. Free entry.
www.americanindian.si.edu
• The U.S. Holocaust Memorial
Museum – The haunting sadness and powerful images of the permanent exhibit are
appropriate for children 11 and older. Free entry, but advance tickets needed
during busy months. www.ushmm.org
• National Gallery of Art – Ask
for a copy of “The Great Picture Hunt” at the information desk, which lists
paintings of special interest to children. After finding them all, Ross
entertained himself by sliding down the banisters on the front steps while I
found a sunny spot and watched the world go by. Free entry. www.nga.gov
• The National Museum of Natural
History – If your kids like dinosaur bones, they’ll love the 40-foot T. Rex on
display. With surprises around every corner, this museum is a favorite with my
family. Free entry. www.mnh.si.edu
• National Zoological Park –
Besides the famous giant pandas, you can view komodo dragons, Asian elephants,
scarlet macaws, and orangutans. Visit the website beforehand and print out
activity sheets for your kids. Free entry. www.nationalzoo.si.edu
• National Air and Space Museum –
Embark on a journey from the early days of balloon flight to modern exploration
on Mars. A new branch of the museum called the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles
airport contains even more artifacts and exhibits. Free entry. www.nasm.si.edu
• The National Building Museum –
Housed in an impressive building, this museum is dedicated to structures large
and small. A David Macaulay exhibit opens this summer that promises to
entertain. Save time for the gift shop when you visit. It’s been voted a D.C.
favorite. Free entry. www.nbm.org
• The National Mall - Visiting
the memorials on the National Mall is a must, but wear comfortable shoes
because it’s quite a hike from one memorial to the next. Your kids will
definitely want to go up the Washington Monument, so make sure you call the
National Park Service Reservations system in advance to procure tickets:
800-967-2283. Free entry. www.nps.gov/wamo
TAKE A BREAK
If your children are like mine,
they can only take so much art, history, and culture. Do yourself a favor and
take a breather at one or more of these picturesque spots around D.C.:
• Mount Vernon Bike Trail – Rent
bikes at the Washington Sailing Marina and follow the trail south along the
Potomac River twelve miles to Mount Vernon (worth a visit as well!) or north
six miles to the Washington Monument. Next door to the marina, Indigo Landing
is an awesome place to eat. www.washingtonsailingmarina.com
• Rock Creek Park – An oasis in
the middle of D.C., this park is perfect for picnics, Frisbee, a hike, or a
snooze on a summer afternoon. Free. www.nps.gov/rocr
• Great Falls Park – Fourteen
miles upriver from D.C, this Virginia park is known for its magnificent
scenery. Entry fee. www.nps.gov/grfa
• U.S. National Arboretum – One
of Washington’s best-kept secrets, this living museum features stunning
collections of shrubs, trees, and flowers. Free entry. www.usna.usda.gov
Every time I visit I find more
to love about our nation’s capital—and more reasons to come back. As Ross and I
headed back home, I realized sharing the city with children makes it even more
special. It’s hard sometimes to justify taking time off from our busy lives,
especially when there’s always so much to do. But those daily tasks will never mean
as much as enjoying a big-city adventure with my youngest son.
For information about visiting
the nation’s capital, visit www.washington.org
For information about the
Ritz-Carlton Tyson’s Corner, visit www.ritz-carlton.com and click on locations.
Weekend rates are as low as $179 per night. Summer packages are available for
concerts at nearby Wolf Trap. Sunday brunch is highly recommended.
Peggy Sijswerda is the editor
and publisher of Tidewater Women magazine and lives with her husband and three
sons in Virginia Beach. |
