Hello!
I'm newer to the DC area and like to show my kids (2 and 5) some of the fun holiday events here. Where do you take your kids to get them, but also you in the holiday spirit? Also, what Santa do you like taking pics with?
Thanks Moms! Hope you have a happy holiday :)
Thank you for taking time to advise. Great ideas I never heard of. We sadly ended up only seeing the trains at the Botanical Gardens (pretty and smelled great!) and the Ellipse set-up. If you haven't visited Santa at Santa's Workshop in the Ellipse, go. We went during the week and waited for less than 10 mins and got a free pic. Plus, when we left Santa we could see all the 50 trees and the cool trains they display. My 5 and 2 yo girls loved it! Hope everyone did have a wonderful Christmas and that 2012 is a great year for you!
The Gaylord Hotel, and their ice show, is really fun! A bit pricey, but definitely a unique experience. The lobby (where we go after the ice show) has a train you can ride, great decorations, a fountain light show and it snows at preset times throughout the day indoors. Very cool!
The Botanical Garden is nice, as someone posted -- but be aware that if it's a weekend, there can be very long lines for their display.
You're in Lorton so this would be a haul, but the nighttime lights at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD are fantastic. You park and walk through so bundle the kids up, but it is SO worth it; absolutely magical and there is also a greenhouse full of a wonderful train display. Look it up online for times and cost. It really is a gem and we adore going there. It's not far off the Beltway via Georgia Ave. and one very short turn on Randolph Road, so don't let the directions daunt you!
If you do Brookside, be sure to get there pretty early when they open the gates for the evening (probably around 5-5:30??). It does get crowded and the parking is somewhat limited, but again, it's so lovely it's worth it.
Union Station in D.C. also is all decked out. Not any kid-specific activities but a gorgeous huge space gorgeously decorated, and there usually is a very large model train display. Another place people go now is the new National Harbor on the Md. side of the river, across from Alexandria; they have huge themed displays indoors, but do be aware that it's costly. For my money I'd rather go to Brookside -- less commercial.
Well, go to the National Harbor and do ICE! We are going again this year and it's amazing! Tickets can be pricey, but it's so worth it. And it's just outside of DC.
http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national/christmas-o...
There is a ton of stuff in Southern Maryland too, about 90 minutes south of the city. There is a place called Flat Iron Farms (I think it'd be worth the drive). It's a farm that lights up like crazy and you put your radio on a certain station and the lights dance :).
http://www.flatironfarmchristmas.com/
There is also a place called Anne Marie Gardens and they do the Garden in Lights. So pretty!
http://www.annmariegarden.org/annmarie2/content/garden-li...
I'm not sure about what there is to do IN DC, aside from just the city being gorgeous. Merry Christmas!
I agree with the Brookside Light show. Pack a car with friends and walk through. In the visitor center is hot chocolate and music and in the conservatory is a miniature train set up. You do want to plan ahead but there are 3 parking lots so even if you walk in a little farther, you can typically get in. You might want to try one of the lots closer to Kemp Mill Rd. like the conservatory lot or the Nature Center lot.
There are also trains at the College Park Aviation museum, which you can see any day, but on Saturday (the 3rd) they are doing a Santa fly in with pictures for the price of admission. That runs 12-4, I believe.
The Santa I found last year that I loved was at the Lake Forrest Mall in Gaithersburg. Their set up is impressive and it's not under any sky lights so there's no blurry picture nonsense like at some other malls. I got an absolutely charming picture of DD talking to Santa and not just the usual face-on pose.
Hi Michelle,
My kids are all either grown or preteen now but I am hoping to visit
The National Tree that will be lite 12/2/2011 in downtown DC and in Columbia, MD (Howard County) will sponsor a Symphony of Lights at the Merriweather Post Pavillion (I'm not sure of the ceremonial date but you can check the Washington Post for the dates, cost and times). It used to be per car load could bring in non perishable food items, but I haven't been in quite a while so I am not certain how they operate it now. The Washington Post is a good resource also for local holiday events! You can also check with the local malls to see when Santa is available for breakfast and photos. Hope this helps. Have a wonderful and safe Christmas holiday!
What great ideas! Thought I'd add a couple more. We live just south of Lorton and my kids have always enjoyed the Bull Run festival of lights. It's about $10 per car and you drive through a state park listening to Christmas music and looking at a great light display. There is usually a little carnival at the end open on weekends. Also, we just did the zoo lights last weekend at the national zoo in dc. my kids 7,4,2 and 9 months really enjoyed walking around in the dark and looking at the lights. The reptile house, mammal house and ape house are all open so you can see a few animals too. It's about $15 to park but admission is free. Also, many of the suburbs have their own Christmas parades. I think Santa comes in by boat in the Occoquan area. Manassas has a nice parade. My kids always love the smaller parades (more candy and closer to the action:) Enjoy exploring and Merry Christmas!
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I always took my kid to the Botanical Garden in DC when she was smaller. They are decorated and have trains going through. It was always really nice. Afterwards we walked to the Air and Space Museum and had lunch at the Cafe.
