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- Hello, I'm Alexis. Welcome to Capitol Momma! I'm always out having fun with my little ones, exploring all that there is to see & do in the DC Metro area for kids. Join us on our adventures!
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Monthly Archives: August 2014
Clemyjontri Park
Clemyjontri Park
6317 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101
(703) 388-2807
(703) 388-2807
Clemyjontri is hands down the best playground we have visited in the area. I first discovered the park a couple years ago and have been taking my girls here ever since. It is so colorful and full of fun equipment. Yesterday, we made another visit to the park to meet our friends for a play date.
Open daily 7am to dusk
The parking lot directly next to the park is small and often fills up quickly. There is additional parking just across Georgetown Pike. Sometimes, this lot is also full and in that case there is more parking further east on Georgetown Pike at the Langley Fork Park.
For my girls, the highlight of this park is the carousel. Tokens are $1.75 per ride. The carousel is lowered to ground level so that it is accessible for wheelchairs. This was the last week the carousel was open during the week days. In September and October it is only open on the weekends.
Located in the center of the park
My girls!
Includes Chariots, a spinning teacup, & 14 horses
The playground is amazing in that it was designed so that children of all abilities can play side-by-side. The park was made so that children in wheelchairs, walkers or braces, or who have sensory or developmental delays can have an equally fun playground experience. The special features of Clemyjontri include:
• Ramps connecting structures
• Wide openings for easy access to play areas
• Rubber ground surface
• Sensory rich equipment
• Lowered monkey bars
• Swings with high backs, arm rests, & safety features
The 2-acre playground consists of 4 outdoor “rooms”. The first room is the Rainbow room. Clara actually calls this park the “Rainbow Playground” because of this archway.
Rainbow Room also includes a variety of swings
The next room is the Schoolhouse and Maze.
Maze includes learning panels
Teaches “where am I” with maps and a globe
The Moovin & Groovin area is next.
Includes transportation themed equipment such as planes, trains, & cars
The last room is Fitness & Fun.
Includes the largest jungle gym
There is also a musical area with various drums & noisemakers
Structures designed to challenge physical strength
There is very little shade on the playground. However there are a few tent sails over picnic tables and benches.
Picnic table area
Other helpful information:
• Picnic Pavillion can be rented out for parties, etc
• Bathrooms include changing tables
• Vending machines on site
• No bikes or scooters allowed on playground
• Playground does get very busy between the hours of 10am-3pm
Homestead Farm – It’s Apple Picking Season
Homestead Farm
15604 Sugarland Road
Poolesville, MD 20837
301-977-3761
www.homestead-farm.net
Homestead Farm is one of our favorite pick-your-own farms in the area. It isn’t as crowded as other farms and it is located in a scenic and peaceful area. I received the email update earlier this week announcing that Honeycrisp apples were in great abundance and ready for picking. So, the girls and I headed out to the farm this afternoon.
Homestead is open 7 days a week 9-6pm
After entering, we picked up a cart and bucket at the market. It is a bit of a walk from the market to the apple fields, so I gave the girls a ride in the cart.
Much more fun than the stroller
Follow the signs
The signs direct you to the rows that are ready for picking. The rows that are not yet ripe are roped off.
Honeycrisp is Homestead’s fastest selling variety
Clara did all the picking while Mae & I ate
Delicious!
After picking apples, we stopped by the cut-your-own flower patch.
Bags and scissors are provided
Clara was oohhing & ahhing over the colorful flowers
After picking flowers we headed over to feed the goats. Animal feed is available to purchase in the market.
Friendly goats
The goat walk is pretty cool! On the far left post is a pulley with a small bucket for food. You can then send the bucket up to the top to entice the goats to climb the beams.
Goat walk
Today we also saw some chickens and an alpaca. Other times we have been at the farm there have been cows and pigs as well.
Mr Alpaca was eager to meet us
There is also a hay bale area for the kids to play.
I love this place!
Other useful info about visiting Homestead Farm:
• No pets allowed
• No birthday parties
• Porta-potties only
• The market sells a variety of seasonally fresh fruits & veggies, local honey, & preserves
• The market accepts credit cards
• A food stand is open on the weekends where they sell hotdogs, hamburgers, desserts, etc
• Sign up on their website for the email updates so you know what is available to pick
We will definitely be going back in a month or so to pick pumpkins and go on a hayride.
Build-a-Bear Workshop
Build-a-Bear Workshop
Montgomery Mall
7101 Democracy Blvd
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301) 365-8388 http://www.buildabear.com
(301) 365-8388 http://www.buildabear.com
This past Saturday it was a rainy day here in DC so I needed to come up with an indoor activity for the girls. I decided to take them to the Build-a-Bear Workshop in Montgomery Mall. We had never been before and Clara has been asking to go here for a while. It is located on the lower level near Sears.
Since we were new to this Build-a-Bear process, I asked a salesperson (here they are called Bear Builder Associates) to walk us through the steps. First, you select your bear (now they also have: My Little Pony, Disney Palace Pets, Furever Princess, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) at the Choose Me station. Clara chose Lil’ Almond Cub for Mae and the Pink Disney Palace Pets cat for herself. Then you go to the Love Me station. This is where you can give your furry friend its unique personality traits that are added to the red satin heart which is inserted into the friend at the Stuff Me station.
Love Me station
Add unique traits to your friend
Next station: Stuff Me.
The Stuffin Machine
The Bear Builder Associate let Clara use the foot pedal to stuff Lulu.
Pinky getting the stuffin treatment.
the last seam of stuffed animals is neatly pulled shut, nearly completing each new best friend. Before stitching the furry friend, a Bear Builder associate inserts a barcode, allowing it to be reunited with its owner if ever lost and returned to Build-A-Bear Workshop. – See more at: http://smp.newshq.businesswire.com/pages/build-a-bear-workshop-inc#sthash.fkgoxCzF.dpuf
The Bear Builder Associate then inserts a barcode before stitching, allowing it to be reunited with its owner if ever lost and returned to the workshop.
Next up is the Fluff Me station where you can scrub your friend in the digital bath tub. It kindly lets you know once your friend is officially clean.
Clara scrubbing Pinky
Lulu takes her bath
Then it’s time to take your friend over to the Dress Me station. Warning: this is where you can very easily rack up the bill. Especially if your child likes accessories. I’m still in sticker shock from this experience. Two stuffed animals = $115. But we do have a stuffed cat that is complete with shoes, roller skates, a crown, a bow for her tail, a dress with tutu, a collar, and a leash.
Dressing Room
Accessorizing!
The next step is the Name Me station where you use the “Bear-O-Scope” to reveal the special attributes you added to your friend. Here, you also create a one-of-a-kind birth certificate that includes a photo of your new friend.
Personalized Birth Certificates
The final step is the Take Me Home station where you receive the birth certificates and a special Cub Condo carrying case.
The finished products
Clara pulled Pinky throughout the Mall and got many compliments on her new friend. Overall, it was a fun experience that is worth trying, especially on a rainy day.
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POSTED IN: Build-a-Bear, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Mall, Montgomery Mall, Westfield Montgomery Mall
POSTED IN: Build-a-Bear, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Mall, Montgomery Mall, Westfield Montgomery Mall
Nationals Park with Toddlers in Tow
Nationals Park
1500 South Capitol St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
We have been wanting to go to a Nationals game all summer. Finally, we had a free Sunday so I bought tickets for the family to go to the 1:35pm game against the Giants. We decided to drive down to the stadium and of course, we got stuck in traffic. We ended up getting down there a little after the start of the game and pulled up to the closest parking garage to surprisingly find that they still had spots available. Parking was $30 but definitely worth it since we were late and only had a short walk to the stadium.
Good information to know before you go with little ones:
Children 2 years of age and under are not required to have a ticket as long as they sit on the lap of an accompanying adult.
Yay, Mae you are free!
Strollers are allowed in all concourse areas at Nationals Park. Strollers that are unable to fold and fit under the seats have to be checked either at a Guest Services location, the Center Field Plaza or behind Sections 131 or 321. I brought our City Mini stroller, so I checked it at the Guest Services that was located just inside the Center Field gates.
Guest Services – Stroller Check
Our seats were great! We sat on the third base side of the field, so we were not directly in the sun. And the bathrooms (including family restrooms equipped with baby changing stations) were located in the concourse directly behind our section. Always a good thing to be near bathrooms when you have toddlers and babies with you.
Left Field Baseline
The girls were content in our seats for a while noshing on hotdogs, Boardwalk fries, and popcorn.
Filling Bellies
After filling their bellies with ballpark fare, the girls were getting antsy so I took them over the jungle gym located in the Right Field Gate. We had to wait in line for 10 minutes to get inside. They only allow about 10 kids in at a time and give them 10 minutes to play before they rotate them out for the next group. There are lots of places to climb up and a few different slides on the structure. Best for ages 3-8, but my little Mae (13 months) had a blast running around and climbing up on the lower platform areas.
Also, fun for kids ages 12 and younger is the Jr. Nationals Kids Club. Members receive a membership card, messenger bag, coupon book for discounts on tickets, front-of-line privileges for Kids Run the Bases and more. The Jr. Nationals kiosk is located just in front of the kids play area. For details, go to nationals.com/jrnats. I didn’t register the girls for the club but I do think it would be great to do when they are older and we can attend more games.
After select Sunday home games, children can take part in the Kids Run the Bases. All kids ages 4-12 are encouraged to participate. We didn’t stay for the whole game this time but next summer I would love to have Clara participate in this; she would absolutely love it.
We had a great time at the Nationals game as a family. After about three hours, Mae was wiped out, so we decided to head home and she immediately fell asleep in the car. Clara had so much fun and did not want to leave. Her favorite part was cheering! She has asked a few times if we can go to another game.
Cute little Nats fans!
Potomac Community Center & Playground
11315 Falls Road
Potomac, MD
240-770-6960
We have taken many classes at the Potomac Community Center through Montgomery County Recreation including Funfit Tots and Abrakadoddle. Clara was also enrolled in the Coach Doug Summer camp here last week. It is a great place to take a class because it also has a playground next to the community center, so you can get two activities in at one stop.
The community center has several rooms for holding meetings and classes, a fitness center, ping pong tables, and a basketball court.
The small playground is just on the other side of the parking lot. It includes swings, a construction themed play structure with a small slide, a larger structure with 2 slides and various climbing options, and two motorcycle spring toys.
There are also two tennis courts and two basketball courts just beyond the playground area.
Here are my girls playing after Clara’s camp here last week.
Chevy Chase Playground
Chevy Chase Playground
5500 41st Street NW
Washington, DC 20015
Washington, DC 20015
Age Recommendation: 0-12
We met some friends at the Chevy Chase Playground on Friday. This has been one of our favorite places to play this summer. It is great for the toddler ages and has kept my girls busy for hours. The main play area has a rubber surface (good for crawlers) and is enclosed with a fence (good for keeping the toddlers contained). There are also several ride-on toys and trikes available for the kids to use.
One end is a sprayground.
There are four other structures with various slides and climbing options.
There are also swings within the fenced area. Including two bucket swings for the babies.
Just beyond the fence is a sandbox. And beyond the sandbox is a play area for older kids – ages 5-12. Including another set of swings, monkey bars, and a slide.
A small rec center is located between the little kid play area and the big kid play area. It has a bathroom with a changing table and compared to most playground bathrooms, it is actually not too bad.
Also at this park is a baseball field, two tennis courts, three basketball courts, and a wall court. There are quite a few trees surrounding the playground, so there are shady areas around the perimeter. It is street parking only, but I’ve never had a problem finding a spot right next to the park.
Here are a few photos of my girls having fun on our most recent visit to the playground.
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POSTED IN: 41st & Livingston, chevy chase, chevy chase playground, Livingston, play ground, splash park, spray ground
POSTED IN: 41st & Livingston, chevy chase, chevy chase playground, Livingston, play ground, splash park, spray ground