A Memorial Day Weekend Getaway to Washington, D.C.

Somewhat impulsively (or as impulsive as you can be with a couple kids in tow), we made a quick trip down to Washington, D.C. over Memorial Day weekend. This beautiful city, steeped in history and national pride, is a fun-filled and educational destination for families. Our goal for the weekend was ambitious: visit a few of the city's historic sites, a museum or two, the zoo, and oh yeah, maybe relax a little bit. Luckily we were able to achieve that last part in spades, thanks to our stay at The Omni Shoreham Hotel. This luxurious hotel made us feel at home and comfortable almost immediately, and frankly, kind of hard to leave once we arrived!

First, a few words on why The Omni Shoreham is a great space for families visiting the DC area:

Location. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, which is a must-do for any animal lover. We arrived mid-afternoon and headed straight for the panda exhibit (got to see them munching on bamboo... too cute). We also saw an Asian elephant, cheetah, crocodile & more snakes than I care to remember. My personal favorite was the gorilla habitat. So many adorable animals! And admission is free, too, by the way.

And speaking of location, because The Omni Shoreham is situated away from the main part of town in leafy Woodley Park, it felt like we had sort of gotten away from it all when we returned each day. The hotel grounds back up to Rock Creek Park, so the pool area and hotel "back yard" are very quiet. At the same time, you're not far from the heart of the city - a metro stop is one block away (though for this quick trip, we took Lyft everywhere and nothing was more than a 10 minute drive). Hurrah!

Second, Omni Kids! The hotel is very welcoming to kids and families, and their Omni Kids program is an excellent example. Upon check-in, kids receive a backpack filled with fun items designed specifically for them (our contents included a coloring book & crayons, game and a cool pair of binoculars). Kids also receive milk and cookies to their guest room on the first night. Naturally, my girls loved them! And if you dine at Robert's Restaurant in the hotel, they'll bring you a coloring menu and crayons-- always a benefit when eating out with kids.

Third, and I think this goes without saying, the POOL! The pool area itself is huge and we loved having access to the snack bar and wait service (I highly recommend the Mango Mule, for the record). While the girls and Husband swam, I made use of the hot tub. So relaxing! Wish I'd had a chance to check out their spa and gym, but there just weren't enough hours in the day.

Much like NYC, Washington, D.C. is a city you can keep coming back to, seeing something new on every visit. There are SO many world-class museums (many of them free, thanks to the Smithsonian) and monuments, tours, parks and restaurants. On our main day, we visited the Lincoln Memorial, walked along the Mall and past the National Monument, then all the way down to the Air & Space Museum. After lunch at the American Indian Museum, we walked over to the National Portrait Gallery. I think we walked almost 3 miles that day! And still, only the tip of the iceberg.

We'll be back, DC. You're a bit of a treasure. You, too, Omni Shoreham (I'm ending with a few more pics because clearly, I wish I was back on vacation)!

Disclosure: I was provided with two nights lodging in exchange for promotion and this review. All opinions herein are my own.

Mrs. Schmidt Goes to Washington

Apologies for the late 1930's movie reference, but I couldn't help myself (thanks, Dad!) This past week, I found myself at the gates of The White House for an event with First Lady Michelle Obama and the team behind Let's Move!, an initiative she began in 2010 to help kids and families lead healthier lives. But before I continue, let me take a step back to a couple weeks ago when I received an email with the following subject line:

SPECIAL INVITATION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE + POPSUGAR

The audible response went something like this: "Sqeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" after which I promptly called/emailed/texted everyone I know to excitedly share the news.

Awkward hand pose. Check.

Along with 150 other bloggers and content creators from around the country, I packed my bags and headed for our nation's capital to listen in on a thoughtful conversation around the health of our country's children.

When we arrived at the White House on Tuesday morning (my birthday, a happy coincidence!), we were invited to explore a handful of rooms on the first and second floor at our leisure, one more beautiful than the next. I was too nervous to drink from the White House china, instead opting to (discreetly?) slip a few embossed napkins in my purse for souvenirs. Shhh....

After we had a sufficient amount of time to ogle everything and take/tweet/IG/SnapChat a million photos and videos (#LetsMove), we were escorted into the East Room. What an honor it was to hear from representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services, The President's Council of Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (Olympian Dominique Dawes, who was lovely), The Department of Agriculture [USDA], and the Partnership for Healthier America.

The epidemic of childhood obesity is a very real, complex issue (1 in 3 American children are overweight or obese, and the ramifications are far-reaching). Fortunately, the Let's Move! initiative has accomplished a great deal to fight this problem. Here's some of what I learned:

• 1.6 million kids attend healthier daycare centers where fruits and vegetables have replaced cookies and juice.
• 2 million kids now have a Let's Move! Salad Bar in their school.
• Over 10 million kids attend Let's Move! Active Schools where they strive to get 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
• Over 30 million kids have access to healthier school meals.
• Nearly 80 million people live in a Let's Move! City, Town or County.
• 200 corporate partners have made commitments for a healthier America.
• The creation of Choose My Plate by the USDA, which illustrates the 5 food groups that are building blocks for a healthy diet.

Additionally, did you know that through Every Kid in a Park, fourth graders nationwide can obtain a pass for free entry for them and their families to more than 2000 national parks for an entire year? How awesome is that! I also loved learning about the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, which invites kids ages 8-12, in collaboration with a parent or guardian, to create an original recipe that is healthy, affordable and delicious. One winner from each state will be flown to DC for the Kids' State Dinner at the White House. So fun! If you know someone who might be a good fit, they have until April 4th to submit their recipe.

When The First Lady entered the room to give her remarks, everyone was SO excited. I've been such a huge fan of hers from the days of the first campaign trail until now, so it was a huge moment to be in the same room with her. As she lamented on her days as a busy working mom with two young daughters, not always feeding them the healthiest meals, she became not just The First Lady but another mom with similar worries and goals for her children. Luckily, she was able to turn things around in her own family, but the issue of children's health has never been far from her heart.

Mrs. Obama assured us that this is a cause she will continue fighting after leaving the White House, saying, "If we want to keep seeing better food options for our families, then we need to keep raising our voices." Oh, I just loved hearing her speak. So real, so relatable. Fan Girl Status, complete.

We wrapped things up with a tour of the White House Kitchen Garden in the South Lawn, which is used by The First Family for receptions and state dinners, in addition to a local organization that prepares fresh meals for the homeless. I might have regretted my choice in footwear, but that's okay. If you're motivated like me to eat more greens, check out White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerord's Must Have Tuscan Kale Salad recipe!

I left with one quote from The First Lady ringing in my head:

"We don't have the luxury to ignore the issue of childhood obesity. 

It's up to us, as parents, to do something about it."

Will you take a step towards a healthier diet for you and your family? I generally feel as if my family eats fairly healthy, but I know we could do better. Food for thought (literally). I'd like to thank PopSugar once again for this tremendous once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's one I'll not soon forget.





Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this trip. All opinions are my own.