Monthly Archives: April 2012

Spring in DC Area – 3 More Beautiful Spaces to Visit

We have a Special Guest Blogger who has written a series of posts highlighting places to visit during spring in DC. Sara is a longtime host mom in our cluster.
Post 5 of a 5 part series. To read all the posts click HERE.

Azalea_Glenn-Dale-AZ-HS_trail-built-1998_BLB-04-01_300x200Some nature spaces in DC are free, but some require good knowledge of the bus system or a car. The National Arboretum is off Route 50 (New York Avenue) in northeast DC, and is a great place to learn about local trees, but also includes international plantings. There is plenty of space to run around. The Bonsai trees are special – it’s amazing how something so small can be so old! The National Aquatic Gardens are in Southeast and are usually at their peak in May. The National Cathedral in Northwest has a great Bishops Garden. There is also a great view of Washington DC and Montgomery County from the top of the Cathedral, which has just opened up again.

Spring in DC Area – Dunbarton Oaks Gardens

We have a Special Guest Blogger who has written a series of posts highlighting places to visit during spring in DC. Sara is a longtime host mom in our cluster.
Post 4 of a 5 part series. To read all the posts click HERE.

doaks_ggr_cherry_hillDumbarton Oaks Gardens in Georgetown is a special place worth visiting.  They charge a nominal admission fee: http://www.doaks.org/gardens/ (bring your student ID). They are worth a visit at the height of spring. There are a lot of steps, so the gardens are not great for children in strollers. Walk over from Dupont Circle, cross over the P Street Bridge and head up to R street for a chance to see quiet DC side streets and discover just how walkable DC is. Georgetown homes tend to have small gardens, so it’s worth a walk through the side streets to see what people have planted.

Spring in the DC Area – Rock Creek Park

We have a Special Guest Blogger who has written a series of posts highlighting places to visit during spring in DC. Sara is a longtime host mom in our cluster.
Post 3 of a 5 part series. To read all the posts click HERE.

Rock-Creek-ParkFor those of you who enjoy hiking and biking, Rock Creek Park runs north/south from the Canal in Georgetown to the Maryland border. There are bicycle paths and dirt paths through the trees. Beach Drive closes to cars on weekends if you like the idea of a bicycle trek. The C&O Canal runs from Georgetown in DC out to Cumberland, Maryland – over 180 miles away. You don’t have to walk or bike the entire distance to enjoy it on a warm spring day. In addition to entering at Georgetown, Great Falls in Maryland is another place to visit (especially after a rain when the falls become even more impressive). The Billy Goat Trail is great for adults and older kids. The Falls overlook is stroller accessible.

Passover is April 7-13

Passover, also known as Pesach or Pesah, is a Holy Day, observed by several religions, beginning on the evening of the 14th day of Nisan and lasting seven days (in Israel and among some liberal Diaspora Jews, and eight days among other Diaspora Jews) that commemorates the exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Egypt; it is also observed by some Christians to commemorate the deliverance from sin by the sacrifice of Jesus.

Here is a website with Passover activities, crafts and recipes for kids: Chabad.org