Jennifer Swope

Jennifer Swope, a DC resident since 2003, transitioned from humanitarian work to freelance editing in 2012 to stay home with her two kids. This shift sparked her passion for finding fun ways to keep them entertained—and inspired her to contribute to Mommy Poppins. When she's not navigating DC's chaos with her kids, she and her husband love watching sports, planning their next trip, and attending concerts. Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jenniferswope.

Latest posts by Jennifer

Visiting Massanutten Resort and Water Park with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 05/10/2024 - 10:00am

Families will never run out of fun activities at Massanutten Resort. Photo by author Jennifer Swope

Massanutten Resort is well-known among DC families as a winter ski destination, but it actually offers four seasons of family fun. My family was invited to visit Massanutten ahead of its summer-season kickoff to check out activities and experiences that go beyond the ski and tubing hills.

In full disclosure, this was not our first visit to Massanutten Resort. My family has visited during a winter ski season and over a fall long weekend. We had a blast each time.

During this trip, my 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son tried nearly every activity available and could not pick just one favorite. That's how much fun they had! Read on for my full review of Massanutten Resort and my tips on how to make the most of a trip there.

Check out our Guide to Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for more great places to visit near DC.

Easter Weekend 2024 in DC: Easter Egg Hunts, Blossom Kite Festival, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Wed, 03/27/2024 - 9:11am

Celebrate spring at McLean Community Center's Spring Fest. Photo courtesy of the community center

DC is hopping for Easter weekend 2024! There are, of course, tons of Easter events, but also several events for those who want to enjoy spring.

Kids of all ages can join in one of several Easter egg hunts held around the area, or they can hop on over to meet the Easter Bunny. Two of the most popular cherry blossom events are also this weekend—the Blossom Kite Festival and Sakura Taiko Fest, both at the Washington Monument.

Two local theater productions end their runs this weekend—Junie B. Jones, The Musical at Adventure Theatre and Inside Out and Backwards at Imagination Stage.

Whether you celebrate Easter or just enjoying spring, we hope this Easter weekend 2024 is full of all things sunny.

Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience Brings Happy Vibes to Washington, DC

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 01/14/2024 - 10:00am

Diving into a ball pit will make any kid smile!

Dopamine is what gives our brains feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation, and that's what Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience in the Friendship Heights area of Washington, DC does. This paid experience invites visitors to activate dopamine through immersive activities in media, technology, and play.

With my 12-year-old daughter, I went through Dopamine Land during a preview event at which we learned a little about what satisfies our brains.

Read on to learn all about Dopamine Land, and don't miss our Guide to Indoor Fun for DC Kids to help with staying busy during these cold months.

Pictures with Santa Claus in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 11/26/2023 - 12:00pm

Take pictures with Santa and enjoy loads of other holiday activities at Gaylord National Resort. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National

The holiday season is full of festive photo ops, including the most important photos of all: pictures with Santa. There are so many places for families to meet Santa Claus and take Santa photos throughout DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. You can take pictures with Santa at the mall, visit him at fun events, and even see him on the rails at the National Capital Trolley Museum.

Many visits with Santa are free with the option to purchase photo packages, but there are even some places where you can get free pictures with Santa. Don't forget to secure a reservation ahead of time at most of these places—Santa is very busy this time of year.

Read on for our list of places to take Santa pictures near DC. Then check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids, which includes our roundups of must-do Christmas events and holiday activities in DC, where to have breakfast with Santa in the DC area, and more. Happy holidays!

Best Museums for Kids in the DC Area: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 10:00am

What masterpieces will your kiddo create at the National Building Museum’s PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit? Photo by Anne McDonough, courtesy of the museum

Washington, DC is known for its amazing free museums, including the world-famous Smithsonian institutions. That's why DC museums that charge admission are often overlooked. But, trust us—there are several fantastic museums in DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland that are truly worth the price of admission.

On a cold or rainy day, these museums offer something new and interesting for families to experience, whether it's exhibits just for young visitors, planes or trains to marvel at, optical illusions, or hands-on activities such as building and art.

Here are our favorite museums for kids and families in the DC area that are worth paying for, including children's museums and more. We've also included a few of the free museums near DC that are especially kid-friendly. Read reviews of some of these places in our Museum Guide for Kids and Families in Washington, DC, which includes our list of free museums in DC to visit with kids.

Panda Palooza: A Farewell to the National Zoo's Giant Pandas

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 10:00am

The National Zoo's giant pandas are set to return to China by December 7, 2023. Photo credit to Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Farewell, giant pandas!

It's time to say goodbye to some of Washington, DC's most beloved residents. Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, the Smithsonian National Zoo's giant pandas, are scheduled to fly home to China by December 7, 2023. While the pandas' departure is bittersweet for the DC area, it is also a chance to celebrate the conservation efforts for this species and the collaboration between the National Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

To help local families see the pandas off, the zoo is hosting a nine-day Panda Palooza full of panda-themed games, activities, entertainment, and more. Here's what to know about this celebration and the beloved pandas.

Extreme Sports and More Thrilling Activities for Kids Near DC: Go-Karts, Axe Throwing, and More!

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 08/11/2023 - 4:23pm

Axe Throwing isn't just for grown-ups! Photo courtesy of Bad Axe Throwing

If you have an adventurous kid who likes to climb to great heights, race as fast as they can, and try new (and maybe a little scary) things, extreme sports like aerial arts, axe throwing, and go-karting might be right up their alley. Extreme sports may seem, well, extreme, but they're totally safe and quite thrilling for kids who need a little adrenaline rush. They're also perfect things to do with teens and tweens who may roll their eyes at less exciting activities.

We've rounded up the best extreme sports and activities in the DC area, from flying trapeze and indoor skydiving to archery and whitewater tubing. For even more thrills, check out our lists of trampoline parks, ninja warrior and parkour gyms, skate parks, and rock climbing gyms near DC.

Best Dance Classes Near DC for Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 08/06/2023 - 10:00am

Tiny Dancers offers laid-back dance programs for kids ages 2-12. Photo courtesy of Tiny Dancers

One perk of raising children in the DC area is the volume of high-quality classes for kids of all ages, including dance classes. Whether you have a budding ballerina or Baryshnikov or a kid who wants to learn some smooth K-pop or break dancing moves, there's a dance class for them in DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia.

Read on for our favorite dance classes near DC, from ballet and tap to hip-hop, modern dance, and other styles. For more great classes for kids—including art classes, cooking classes, and swimming lessons—visit our Guide to Classes for Kids Near DC.

Jennifer Swope

Latest posts by Jennifer

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