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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

15 Family-Friendly Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 11/07/2025 - 11:00am

There are so many family-friendly restaurants open for Thanksgiving dinner in the DC area! Photo by Cotton Bro Studio via Pexels

Hosting Thanksgiving at home is a lot of fun, but let's face it—it's also a lot of work. Gathering the crew at a restaurant instead allows everyone to be together on Thanksgiving without all the hassle of cooking and cleaning. Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants open on Thanksgiving in DC and its surrounding areas where you can do just that.

Here are 15 restaurants open on Thanksgiving in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia in 2025. Not only are they all kid-friendly, but many even offer special pricing for kids ages 12 and under. If you see something you like, make a reservation ASAP, as spots fill up quickly.

Wherever you choose to gather this Thanksgiving, bring some laughter to the table with our list of 25 Thanksgiving jokes for kids. For even more Thanksgiving fun, try one of our 50 Thanksgiving crafts, games, and activities for kids and families.

Read more.

Best Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near DC (2025 Guide for Families)

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Mon, 11/03/2025 - 8:24am

Enjoy milk and cookies and meet Santa aboard the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad's North Pole Express. Photo by Kimberly Byard

Nothing adds magic to the holiday season quite like Polar Express train rides and festive Christmas trains. To help your family experience that magic, we've rounded up a variety of holiday train rides near DC for 2025, including several options for where to ride the Polar Express near DC.

With twinkling lights, holiday music, delicious hot cocoa, and visits from Santa himself, these festive train rides will make even your Grinchiest family member's heart grow three sizes. And all of them are within a three-hour drive from DC!

Check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids to find more of the best local family Christmas activities, including our list of must-do Christmas events with kids. Santa will be here before you know it!

Read more.

Christmas Towns & Festive Hotels Near DC That Will Blow Your Mind

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 11/02/2025 - 8:04am

Gaylord National Resort's ICE! has a fun new theme every year! Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort

Parents in the DC area (or visiting in December) looking for magical, over-the-top holiday destinations within driving distance—look no further! We've rounded up places to take kids to see incredible decorations, visit Santa, enjoy seasonal activities, and possibly stay overnight for a holiday-themed getaway.

These holiday getaways near DC offer all the sparkle and wonder of the holiday season. Families can enjoy twinkling trees, sparkling light shows, festive shops, and so much more.

Here are 10 festive hotels and Christmas towns near DC that will get the whole family into the holiday spirit. For more seasonal fun, from where to see Christmas lights near DC to the best Christmas events near DC, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids.

Read more.

Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Tue, 10/28/2025 - 12:12pm

Enjoy lots of spooky Halloween decorations in Georgetown! Photo by Diane Krauthamer via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Looking for the best places to trick-or-treat in the DC area? Here are 16 great neighborhoods for trick-or-treating in 2025.

There's nothing more exciting for kids than going trick-or-treating on Halloween. Luckily for DC-area children, there are tons of great neighborhoods to trick-or-treat in DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Residents of these neighborhoods love to do it up, from extravagant decorations and crazy costumes to haunted houses and tons of candy.

We did research and interviewed local parents to put together this list of 16 great neighborhoods to trick-or-treat in the DC area, all of which are sure to put your family in the spooky spirit. For more Halloween fun, check out our Halloween Events and Activities Guide for Kids in Washington, DC, which includes our list of the top Halloween events in DC for kids and families. 

Read more.

Things To Do in DC That Everyone Will Love—From Toddlers to Teens (and Parents Too!)

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 10/26/2025 - 10:00am

The National Museum of the American Indian's imagiNATIONS Activity Center is full of interactive activities for kids. Photo by the author

When you've got kids of multiple ages, it can be hard to find activities and attractions that will appeal to everyone. Tweens and teens have outgrown playgrounds, for example, while toddlers would get bored in most museums.

But that doesn't mean the days of family adventures are over! The key is to find places that have multiple types of activities to keep every age group happy. And luckily, there are many things to do in DC with kids of all ages.

From parks and museums to entertainment spots and fun restaurants, here are 15 things to do in DC with toddlers to teens. These kid-friendly DC attractions for families are sure to keep everyone happy. Find more ideas for all-ages activities in DC, like amazing indoor water parks near, in our Indoor Fun Guide for DC Kids.

Read more.

50 States, 50 Kid-Approved Adventures You’ll Never Forget

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Thu, 10/23/2025 - 9:00am

There are many places to take in the views from up high at Acadia National Park. Photo by Kelley Heyworth

While traveling with kids can be a logistical challenge, it's totally worth it: there's nothing quite as magical as seeing the world through children's eyes. Traveling to different countries is amazing, of course, but there are plenty of kid-friendly adventures all across the USA.

We've shared the best family activities in every state and DC. Whether it's a national park, a zoo or museum, a cool city, a theme park, or another unique attraction, each pick is truly worth the trip—a one-of-a-kind, kid-approved adventure. We've picked one must-do activity per state and provided insider tips and family-friendly hotels for each one to help you plan some bucket-list family trips.

Read on for our favorite kid-approved adventures in the USA. Then check out our Kid-Friendly Travel Guide for more family vacation ideas in the US and abroad, from the most unique family vacations in the USA to our 100 best family vacation destinations.

Read more.

Pumpkin Hill at Nalls Produce: A FREE Hidden Gem for Fall Family Fun Near DC

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 10/12/2025 - 10:00am

Take a picture in front of the famous pumpkin wall at Nalls Produce! Photo courtesy of the author

For over 30 years, visiting Nalls Produce and Garden Center in Franconia, Virginia has been a fall tradition for many families. Each autumn, Nalls opens Pumpkin Hill, a free play area with tunnels to crawl through, a mountain of pumpkins to climb, farm animals to meet, and a famous pumpkin wall that provides the perfect family photo op. 

But despite its popularity, I'd still call Nalls a hidden gem. That's because if you don't know about it and you're driving by, blink and you'll miss it. From the street, Nalls looks like a small garden center and produce stand. But pull into the parking lot and you'll find a fall wonderland for families. Pumpkin Hill is geared towards toddlers and preschoolers, but older kids and grown-ups will also love soaking up the autumn vibes. 

I recently stopped by Nalls Produce's Pumpkin Hill with my husband and 11-year-old daughter. We walked away with lasting memories and some pretty perfect pumpkins. Read on to learn all about what to expect at Nalls in the fall. Then check out our DC Fall Activities Guide for more autumn fun with kids, including our ultimate fall bucket list. 

Read more.

Best Kids' Ride On Toys for Kids of All Ages for a Gift That Will WOW

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Tue, 10/07/2025 - 12:00pm

The Licensed Land Rover Ride On Car Toy is one of the coolest ride on toys for kids.

Ride on toys are the perfect gift to give a child if you really want to "wow" them. After all, what's more fun than zooming around town—or the house—on two, three, or four wheels? Plus, many kids' ride on toys have the added benefit of building balance, coordination, muscle strength, and fine motor schools.

We've rounded up 21 of the best ride on toys for kids of all ages, from toddlers all the way through teens (and even adults). These kids' ride on toys run the gamut from ride on horse toys to scooters to tricked-out electric cars for kids. With these ride on toys, your kiddo will surely be cruising the neighborhood in style.

Find more awesome gifts for kids, from the best first birthday gifts to the best gifts for tweens and teens, in our Mommy Poppins Gift Guide.

Read more.

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