Jennifer Marino Walters
Jennifer Marino Walters is the DC and travel editor for Mommy Poppins and the author of over 20 beloved children's books. A proud mom of three—plus twins!—she lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and busy brood. When she’s not writing or editing, you’ll find Jennifer cheering from the sidelines of a baseball game, supporting her daughter’s cheerleading squad, diving into a good book, or exploring new destinations. Connect with her on Instagram @jmwalters718.
Latest posts by Jennifer
While trick-or-treating on Halloween is a rite of passage for kids, it happens only on one day out of the year. But there are plenty of places to trunk-or-treat near DC throughout the month of October. These free trunk-or-treats in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia offer kids plenty of opportunities to collect more candy—and wear their Halloween costumes.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, trunk-or-treats are events at which organizations, groups, or individuals decorate the trunks of their cars with fun Halloween displays. Kids can visit each trunk and receive candy and other goodies.
Read on for our list of free events where kids can trunk-or-treat near DC. For more Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Washington, DC Kids and our list of the best free Halloween events near DC for kids and families.
Thinking of visiting Great Country Farms with kids? We highly recommend it!
DC-area families looking to spend a fun-filled day on the farm have no shortage of nearby options. There are so many fun farms in Maryland and Northern Virginia that offer family entertainment like giant slides, corn mazes, petting zoos, and so much more.
But my family particularly loves Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia. Located about 75 minutes from DC by car, this family-owned farm is open year-round and offers a 12-acre play area; opportunities to pick pumpkins, apples, and other produce; seasonal festivals; and so much more.
Read on to learn all about why we love Great Country Farms. Then visit our Pick-Your-Own Guide to Farms in DC to find more fun farms to visit.
Corn mazes are a popular fall activity for many families. Navigating twisty paths cut through giant stalks of corn—often while solving clues and finding hidden surprises—is a great way to bond while enjoying the crisp autumn air. The best corn mazes near DC have fun themes, multiple challenge levels, or even flashlight nights, when visitors can tackle the mazes in the dark with only flashlights to guide them.
Here are 16 of the most ah-maize-ing (sorry, couldn't resist) corn mazes near DC for kids and families, including three haunted corn maze options for only the bravest teens. Many of these corn mazes in Maryland and Northern Virginia are part of larger harvest and pumpkin festivals that offer fun activities like hayrides, giant slides, petting zoos, and more.
Looking for even more fun things to do with kids this fall? Be sure to visit our Fall Fun Guide for DC Families and our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in DC.
If you've got older kids or teens who love a good scare, a ghost tour is a unique and fun way to learn more about DC's spooky history. And while fall is the perfect time to do a ghost tour, most ghost tours near DC are offered throughout the year. These nighttime walking tours take visitors past places that are said to be haunted by the ghosts of presidents, assassins, heroes, and more.
Read on for 10 of the best ghost tours near DC for spooky family fun. Our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for DC Kids is full of more creepy (and not-so-creepy) ways to celebrate Halloween, from the best pumpkin patches near DC to the best Halloween events in DC for kids and families.
Visiting a farm is the perfect way to spend a beautiful day outdoors with kids. That's why many families head to farms to pick pumpkins and other fruit or to pet and feed animals.
But while those activities are fun on their own, some farms near DC really step it up when it comes to family entertainment. We're talking giant slides, hayrides, corn mazes, games, pony rides, and loads more. Some of these farms only offer these activities during fall festivals and other special times of year, while others bring the fun nearly year-round.
Here are the 12 best farms with family entertainment near DC, located in Virginia and Maryland. Find even more farm fun in our Guide to Farms in Washington, DC, from animal farms and petting zoos to apple-picking orchards.
Language immersion and dual-language preschools provide so many benefits for young children. Fluency in more than one language offers kids more communication opportunities and a greater understanding of other cultures. Studies have shown that learning a new language also strengthens brain function, improves planning and focus, fosters greater empathy, and can increase kids' job prospects later in life.
With the DC area being so diverse, it's no shock that it's home to such great dual-language and immersion preschools. Here are some of the top language immersion and dual-language preschools in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia where kids can learn Spanish, French, Russian, or Mandarin.
Find more great preschool options in our lists of 15 popular preschools and the top Montessori preschools near DC.
If you don't want to deal with the hassle of air travel for your next family vacation, there's no need to: There are are loads of great family road trips from DC that will entertain the entire crew. Whether you're looking for a beach retreat, a big-city adventure, an active outdoor vacation, or just a change of scenery, there are so many great places to visit within a five-hour drive from the DC area.
Here are 15 fun family road trips from DC, including some fun-filled places in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina. Check out our Guide to Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways From DC for even more great places to visit. And, our Ultimate Road Trip Guide for Families will ensure the trip runs smoothly.
DC panda lovers have two giant reasons to celebrate! The Smithsonian National Zoo announced in May that it will welcome two new giant pandas from China by the end of 2024—Bao Li and Qing Bao. After saying goodbye to pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji in November 2023 during a series of events called Panda Palooza, this is welcome news for a city that has grown to cherish these animals.
Read on to learn all about the new giant pandas coming to DC. Then check out our guide to visiting DC's National Zoo with kids.
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