Review: Cox Farms Winter Wonderland (Centreville, VA)

5 out of 5 Ants Rating!

Cox Farms Winter Wonderland (Get Directions Here) is part two of a truly spectacular experience at this venue.  See my previous review for the Cox Farms Fall Festival, which is a new tradition for our family.  For winter (open November 23 - December 24), Cox Farms pulls out all the stops for their Christmas tree lot.  The Winter Wonderland is not on par with the Fall Festival in terms of activities, etc. - the point is to sell the trees - but this still deserves a full five ants rating for fun, in particular because it is free (the fall festival is at a cost).  

Here is my attempt to capture everything this place has to offer....so much, it seems too good to be true.  But it's true!  

1. Christmas trees (we haven't had ours more than a day, but they seem like great quality and were good prices) and the customer service on trees is outstanding (pick one out, tag with your name, meet you in the parking lot whenever you are ready to go, but no rush; when you get there to pick it up, all set in the mesh, put on top of or in your car for you, easy peasy)
2. Bonfire and Smores (bonfire enjoyment free, Smores kit $4.99)
3. Santa (check times, not there everyday/all the time, but when he is, it was a good one and pics are free taken on your own camera)
4. Tons of photo ops (with gingerbread cut outs, reindeer displays, animals in santa hats, etc.)
5. Slide with snow tube (small and slow, for little kids, really fun)
6. Live animals (bunnies, goats, chickens...)
7. Big climbing ship/structure for kids to climb and slide down and crawl through
8. Market with cider, kettle corn, jarred goodies, etc.
9. Free Cox Farms ornament when you check out
10. Free candy canes for all

At the end of our fabulous time, and what will become a new Christmas tradition, we had the great staff there put our tree on top of the car.  My husband attempted to give them a tip and we were told they cannot take tips, but would be happy to donate the funds to a children's charity for us.  Seriously?  Cox Farms, you rock.

Review: The Little Gym of Falls Church (Falls Church, VA)

4 out of 5 Ants Rating!

The Little Gym of Falls Church (Get Directions Here) is part of The Little Gym franchise operation, with locations around the country.  They offer a variety of classes from infant on up through grade school, with a focus on gymnastics/tumbling, dance, sports, a bit of music and a lot of movement.  Miss M and I recently enrolled in their Beasts/Super Beasts class at the Falls Church location and we really love it!  The classes are very structured with a set curriculum that you can find out about ahead of time.  Activities are organized around themes (such as colors, numbers, direction) each week or several weeks. 

Things we love about The Little Gym (Falls Church to be specific as we've never tried another location): we love the instructors, who are very energetic, pleasant and remember the kids names.  We love the variety of equipment in the gym to play with and that the instructors re-arrange the equipment all the time so that the gym feels different and new each visit and we love that there is a mix of new things to do each week (new skills and activities) blended with repeats (kiddos love consistency!) like bubbles and playing with balls.  We love that The Little Gym is so flexible, with makeup classes allowed, practice time and a general understanding and appreciation that kids like to explore and might not follow the class exactly (it's totally acceptable to roam!).  

Once you signup, you are booked for a full school year of weekly classes (through first week of June - and then they do have a summer session that is separate, at additional expense); you can join anytime during the school year and they will pro-rate your fees.  

We highly recommend The Little Gym Falls Church for those looking for structured activity, interaction with other kids and instructors/teachers and really good physical exercise (it can even be a bit of a sweat for parents/caregiver if you really jump in and roll around with your child; or if you prefer, you can stand by and be less active yourself).  The only hesitation on a full 5 ants rating for this review is the price of The Little Gym.  Given the curriculum, planning, really nice equipment, well-trained and happy staff, I understand the price - but it will be too hefty for some families.  I also wish they had more open gym times (right now, only one practice session open for Beasts).  It would be nice to be able to drop in more often.

Can't wait for next week's Beast class!

Review: National Arboretum (Washington, DC)

3 out of 5 Ants Rating!

The National Arboretum is a hidden gem, tucked away in northeast DC (Get Directions Here).  The grounds are massive, with sections for every kind of garden species and tree.  The highlights include a spectacular Bonsai exhibit (even in the winter, many of the Bonsai are still green, including those in the indoor tropical exhibit) and the columns from the US Capitol way back in 1828 (though only installed at the arboretum in the 90's).  

The Capitol Columns are eery and magnificent at the same time

This is a great place to take a child to stretch their legs.  Admission and parking are free.  There are tons of paved areas to walk (long distances if you'd like), perfect for strollers or toddling.  You could get a great workout here.  I highly recommend coming for the fresh air and tranquility.  Miss M enjoyed running around the Bonsai exhibit, particularly as the trail inside is made up of small rocks, which she enjoyed picking up and moving around (well, ok, you got me - she enjoyed throwing them around).  

Beautiful trees throughout the arboretum

I give this venue a couple ants shy of 5 because there are not any specific young kid activities here (e.g., a playground or hands on exhibits, at least not when we visited), you can't navigate a stroller inside the bonsai exhibit area (small rocks everywhere) and you have to be a bit careful walking on the roads throughout the park as most folks don't obey the 20mph rule (more like 50mph).  Overall, the National Arboretum makes for just a quiet lovely day.  My mind always feels clear and calm after leaving there.  Can't wait to return in the spring when everything is in full bloom!

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Review: The Puppet Co (Glen Echo Park, MD)

5 out of 5 Ants Rating!

The Puppet Co is a must-do with kids (of all ages!).  Located in Glen Echo Park (Get Directions Here), this is fully outfitted playhouse with kids in mind.  They feature puppet shows of many types, including: hand puppets, rod puppets, sock puppets, marionettes (string puppets), masks, costume figures, etc.  In addition to adult shows and regular storybook shows, they feature a "Tiny Tots" program for the 0-4 crowd on various days during the week at 10:00am.  My daughter and I recently attended the "Baby Bear's Birthday" show on a Sunday and really enjoyed it.

Marionettes in the lobby

We sat on the floor in the very front and Miss M was mesmerized!  It did take her a few minutes to warm up and figure out what was going on, but then she loved all the tricks that Baby Bear and his friends were up to. The puppeteer at our show has been practicing his craft for decades and I overheard someone say he had worked on Mr. Rogers and The Muppets.  Definitely a class act of a program.  During the Tiny Tots shows they leave the lights up, shorten the program to just 30-minutes - and everyone seems ok that kids might wander or make noise.  

Puppet stage

Get there early.  We lined up by 9:30 for the 10:00am show and within minutes there was a very long line behind us (seating is first-come, first-serve).  Don't miss this.  It's a unique experience to share with your child!

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Review: The Children's Museum (Glen Echo Park, MD)

2 out of 5 Ants Rating!

(Based on Walk-In Experience, Not Classes/Programs)

The Children's Museum at Glen Echo Park (Get Directions Here) is run by the Living Classrooms foundation, a nonprofit that, "strengthens communities and inspires young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training, using urban, natural and maritime resources as 'living classrooms'."  Miss M and I had a nice time, but I was underwhelmed by the museum.  Admission fees are low; $5 for my toddler the day we visited, which was nice and reasonable.  That said, the path leading up to the museum is extremely difficult for a toddler to navigate (rocky path = tripping hazard for younger ones) and the indoor activities were only so-so.  There are some climbing structures designed to look like trees and a variety of reptiles in aquarium tanks.  Miss M liked the turtle a LOT and the bunny was cool.  

Checking out the turtle

There was one staff person inside while we visited and she was cleaning the animal cages.  She said hello, but made no effort to orient us (we were the only people there) or teach my daughter about nature (I thought that was the point?), etc.  We had just missed the "animal encounter" a few minutes prior, but I doubt they really did it as there was no one there when we arrived.  It's not an awful place by any means.  It's just a bit dull.  I see that they have lots and lots of classes and programs, which we have not tried, so perhaps those are really great.  

On the way out, we saw a craft area (but it wasn't clear who can do crafts and it wasn't staffed), but we went ahead and invited ourselves to color a little bit.  Miss M definitely enjoys getting out the crayons!

Miss M coloring in the craft area of the museum

On the way out, we also tried the outdoor sand pit.  That was nice.  It was in a pretty spot, surrounded by a bamboo forest.  Overall, I would skip this as a destination in itself.  If you find yourself at Glen Echo Park for a show at The Puppet Co or to use the park's facilities, it might be worth stopping in for a bit.  But you aren't missing too much if you don't.

Sand pit in front of the museum

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Review of Chibis Indoor Playground (Ashburn, VA)

 

4 out of 5 Ants Rating!

Chibis Indoor Playground is an awesome place.  Located in Ashburn, VA (Get Directions Here).  Open 7 Days a Week, for children ages 0-6.  They have a few different admission prices based on age, but top tier for walkers is $10 for 90-minutes.  Beautifully clean and well managed.  They have a snack area, an infant soft play area (up to age 3), plastic slides and cars, kid-sized play kitchen and living room furniture, a train and toy area and of course the best part....a very large indoor climbing structure.

Climbing structure, holds many adults and kids - 

they encourage you play there with your children!

Chibis was nearly a 5 out of 5 ants experience; it lost one ant in the rating because of a hole with stairs on the upper level of the climbing structure.  This oddly placed hole is iffy for toddlers who will require direct adult supervision as a result (as in = I sat in the hole to keep my daughter from falling through while she was running around up there). Once kids are sure on their feet and watch where they run, it would be less of an issue, but a 2-year old could still hurt themselves in that spot.  

Infant soft playroom area, wonderful!

All-in-all a great way to spend a day indoors and we'll be back again!  Definitely worth a bit of a drive out there from the DC suburbs.

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Review of Our Special Harbor Spray Park (Franconia, VA)

5 out of 5 Ants Rating!

Our Special Harbor Sprayground is perhaps one of the coolest places to take a toddler or young child in the summer months in the DC-area.  The venue features an impressive spray feature and zero depth water play area.  Our Special Harbor really should get 6 out of 5 ants for the added touch of it being entirely handicapped accessible (including water safe wheelchairs children can borrow to participate).  

As we pulled up to the Sprayground for the first time my husband said, "are you sure this is free?"  It's that impressive.  Even when it is busy, there is still plenty of room for the kids to play.  The Sprayground is fully enclosed and heavily staffed.  There are a lot of rules, so check those out on their website before going (for instance, your child needs to wear water shoes, no exceptions).  

Miss M was just learning to walk this summer and played in the more low key areas

In addition to a seriously fun water park, there is also a stellar playground (again, handicapped accessible, which I might add is also so nice for the learning-to-walk toddlers; ramps are easier to navigate than stairs) and a "tree house" which is a beautiful decked walkway leading to an overlook in the woods.  Tip: take a picnic and spread out on a blanket or towel on the overlook.  I saw a family doing this and copied her idea my second time there; we had such a lovely time before going to play in the water.  So relaxing.  Very safe.  Very clean.

PB&J sandwiches on the tree house overlook

I dare you to be bored at Our Special Harbor.  Even if you get sick of the water park, playground and tree house, you can still head over to Lee Recc Center (this is all on the same campus) and play beach volleyball, play on two additional playgrounds, use their massive pool and hot tub, roll around in the soft playroom or workout in the gym!  Wow!  

Is it summer yet?

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Review of Cox Farms Fall Festival (Centreville, VA)

5 out of 5 Ants Rating!

Cox Farms Fall Festival is a family activity that should become an annual tradition (or in my case, we went twice this year!).  Located in Centreville, VA (Get Directions Here) and open as the Fall Festival from September - November, this is a place you cannot miss.  The highlight was the hayride, which was the best I've ever been on (it was at least a half hour long, tractor pulled, through the woods, fields and literally through the pond; live actors, music, cartoon characters, a haunted barn, real cowboys and girls on horses...the list goes on!).  The slides are definitely the second best aspect of a visit here.  There is a little something for everyone - taller slides that give a bit of a thrill on the way down for adults or teens, and smaller, more manageable slides you can take a toddler on with an adult.  

The family that slides together stays together... 

Our third favorite part of a trip to Cox Farms was playing with all of the adorable goats (especially the babies who are so itty bitty my toddler could pick them up!).  It's an up close and personal encounter with a goat.  Miss M was thrilled!

Yay, goats!

There are lots of other activities to explore, including: a toddler play area (with "corn crib" instead of sandbox), many animals to see, pumpkin games, a corn maze and more.  Free cider and apples for all and the really decent infant/toddler changing station and nursing area (as nice as it can get in an outdoor farm environment!) are a great touch.  I recommend buying tickets in advance online, print them out and bypass the lines through the e-ticket booth.  It would also be wise to show up right at opening before the crowds get heavy and parking is tight.  I see that Cox Farms has some winter/Christmas activities as well; we'll have to check those out!  Have you been?

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