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.

A Pumpkin Patch Day Trip with Enterprise Car Share

This post is sponsored by Enterprise Car Share. Thanks for supporting Baby Meets City!

I look forward to many things about fall, and a day out of the city for pumpkin picking and taking in nature's changing colors is at the top of the list. And while we do own a car, it's quite old and not exactly reliable for longer drives, so I was more than happy to learn about an easy replacement for the day: Enterprise's new Car Share program, which is available here in NYC and other cities around the country (including my hometown of Charleston, SC)!

The process for using Car Share is quick and easy. After becoming a member online (you'll need to submit a photo & your driver's license), you'll then receive a card in the mail with a unique member ID number. Download the Car Share app to scan available cars in your zip code, and book using the app -- it only takes a few moments! When you arrive at a garage to pick up your car, as I did, just swipe your membership card over a sticker on the drivers' side windshield. The door will unlock and your keys will be inside.

Vehicles are parked in designated spots all around the city, giving you 24/7 access. Should you need a car at 3am, you can find one! And reservations can be as short as 1 hour or up to 7 days. Enterprise Car Share is determined to make the ability to enjoy a day out of the city or a quick trip to the grocery store as easy as possible.

What a gorgeous fall day, and it was made SO much easier by the use of Enterprise Car Share. And guess what? Exciting news. Enterprise would like to offer Baby Meets City readers a special promo. With this link, you can sign up for the Car Share program for $0, get your first year membership for $0 and receive $20 in driving credits. And remember, you don't have to save Car Share for roaming around the countryside. It's great for grabbing groceries (we love the parking lot at Fairway on 125th Street!), a cool furniture find on Craigslist or picking up a friend from the airport.

While you mull over the convenience of 4 wheels, here's a few more pics from the pumpkin patch...

Disclosure: I was compensated for this review. All opinions, as always, are my own.

A Catskills Getaway (Part II)

I'm so happy we could get away for a few days last week. We drove up to the Catskills (basically two hours north of the city), and honestly I could feel the stress peel away as we first encountered those gorgeous hills and fresh mountain air. Is it possible to be both a city and country girl at the same time? Discussion for later date.

We spent our first two nights at The Emerson Resort followed by a night of camping at Mongaup Pond in Livingston Manor. On Thursday, we visited friends renting a house on Lake Dutchess before heading home. Short. Sweet. Perfection. Oh and we saw a bear crossing the highway one afternoon. That was maybe not my favorite part, but sure spiced things up a bit. Here are a few pics of our time away... enjoy!

Phoenicia Diner is a must-do if you're in the neighborhood. Excellent food & atmosphere!
With my southern roots, I had to try the shrimp and grits special. Did. not. disappoint.

Despite not being the sight of the ACTUAL Woodstock in 1969, Woodstock, NY has embraced its name and is a fun little town to walk around. Great restaurants, shops and street art. We went to Landau Grill (it seemed to have the best kids menu) and Taoo Juan's for ice cream afterwards. Fun day!

Mongaup Pond... we love this campground so much. After setting up our tent, we walked down to the "beach" for swimming with ducks and canoeing. We went in to Livingston Manor for an early dinner (don't miss Main Street Farm) and came back to our site in time to roast 'smores over the campfire. While I can't say I LOVE sleeping on the ground, the girls had a blast and I will happily do it again (although next time with a better mattress underneath me!)

This moment was near perfection. Sigh. I hope they'll still want to go camping with us when they're teenagers.

Serene and lovely Lake Dutchess in Holmes, NY.

Because when you're passing the Red Rooster Drive-In on your way home, you stop.

Happy New Year from the Hampton Inn

After a lovely, snowy Christmas visiting Husband's family in Wisconsin (check out some fun pics over on Instagram), we headed home with the goal of making it back to NYC in time to watch the ball drop... from the comfort of our cozy couch. Well, what's that thing that people say? Oh yeah... life doesn't always go according to plan.

Yep. That's our car being towed away from a rest station in rural Pennsylvania. Not exactly what we planned on. Luckily -- and I'll probably say that more than once -- the car decided to break down between two small towns, and not amidst the miles & miles of Pennsylvania interstate where there is literally NOTHING around but deer and trees. So, after calling AAA, a tow truck arrived to haul us to Dubois, PA, and the only auto repair shop still open (it was New Years Eve, you remember). They weren't optimistic about the work needed, but they promised to give it a shot. Which was about all we had to go on for a town quickly closing down to celebrate the new year.

A good Samaritan gave us a lift to a nearby Hampton Inn (again, lucky that our favorite road trip hotel was in this town) & over the next two days, we made the most of our surroundings. On New Years Day, we walked the length of the mall about 10 times & took the girls to see the only kid-friendly movie playing, involving a certain obnoxious chipmunk that will remain nameless. Boredom & feeling anxious about the state of your transportation are weirdly conflicting feelings.

Making the most of a bad situation

Two thumbs up to the Hampton Inn, though. They gave the girls coloring sheets, post cards & crayons, puzzles, & of course, having a pool down the hall wasn't too shabby, either. And yes, they didn't want to leave when the car was finally fixed!

All in all, we got lucky. It was a frustrating process to not know what was happening with our car & when we'd be on our way towards home, but could certainly have been MUCH worse. In the end, what's important is that we were together & as comfortable as possible... in an uncomfortable situation. Thanks to all the Good Samaritans out there & having a comfy place to rest our heads!

I feel like I can finally say HAPPY NEW YEAR and really mean it.

Baby Meets Philly

We made a quick, overnight trip to Philadelphia recently, and I cannot say enough about the City of Brotherly Love's incredible children's mecca, the Please Touch Museum. When I tell you we spent nearly the whole day here and could have stayed longer, I am not exaggerating. 

Housed in Memorial Hall, a national historic landmark, there is SO much to do at this enormous museum, and everything is (hence the name) hands-on for kids. Sending "rockets" flying in the Flight Fantasy room, going "grocery shopping," immersing yourself in water play or Alice's Wonderland, riding the carousel and making music in the "rainforest rhythm" room... well, that's just the tip of the iceberg, and I highly recommend if you're visiting Philadelphia with children in tow. 

The girls jumped, danced and twirled their way through the museum in dresses by Little Flock of Horrors, a children's clothing brand out of New Zealand. Specializing in merino wool -- which I must admit I knew next to nothing about beforehand -- I loved that the dresses were soft to the touch and comfortable for all day wear.

Merino is a type of ultra-fine soft wool, and its benefits are plentiful. Besides being environmentally-friendly (biodegradable, renewable & sustainable), merino's fibers are easy to clean, odor resistant and insulated in a way that regulates body temperature... thus perfect for kids. Oh, and it's particularly resistant to fire. Clearly it's time to jump on the merino bandwagon! Little Flock of Horrors aims to please with a hip line of basics for your "little monster" and is sold online and in the US at Barneys.

Other quick recommendations for Philadelphia are all food-related (a girl's gotta eat!) -- Reading Terminal Market is incredible to walk through and will no doubt leave your mouth watering for a Philly cheesesteak, and Sabrina's Cafe is a must for brunch.

As we were only there for about 24 hours, there wasn't enough time for a visit to the Liberty Bell or an attempt to jog up the steps of The Philadelphia Museum of Art like Rocky. But, that's just an excuse to go back for another visit soon...




Disclosure: While the Little Flock of Horrors dresses were sent to me for review, all opinions expressed herein are my own.