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
Water park lovers, rejoice! A new Kalahari Resort with a massive indoor water park is coming to Northern Virginia in 2026. The resort is set to open in Woodford, Virginia in Spotsylvania County, about an hour's drive from Washington, DC. It joins Kalahari's four other locations in the Poconos; Wisconsin Dells; Round Rock, Texas; and Sandusky, Ohio.
Find out everything we know about the new Kalahari Resort and water park below. Then check out our Guide to Family-Friendly Resorts & Hotels and our Washington, DC Theme Parks & Water Parks Guide to find more great places to stay and make a splash with kids.
In the weeks leading up to Halloween, it's not uncommon to see people dressed like ghosts, goblins, and other creepy characters at Halloween events all over the DC area. But if you're looking for a more authentic experience this October—or all year long—why not try a DC ghost tour? These nighttime walking tours take visitors past places that are said to be haunted by the ghosts of presidents, assassins, heroes, and more.
My family recently went on a DC Ghosts ghost tour operated by US Ghost Adventures. It was the perfect activity to kick off Halloween season, and it taught us some interesting DC history. My 12-year-old twin sons and 9-year-old daughter enjoyed the ghost tour as much as my husband and I did, and while the stories were definitely creepy, the tour wasn't overly scary. In fact, there were several other children in our tour group and no one went home crying. Our kids are still talking about how cool it was.
Did we see any ghosts? You'll have to read on to find out! After you do, visit our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for DC Kids for more spooky (and not-so-spooky) ways to celebrate Halloween, from the best pumpkin patches and corn mazes near DC to the top free Halloween events in the DC area.
All aboard! Fall train rides are a fun way for DC families to soak up the autumn spirit and see the gorgeous fall foliage.
Some fall train rides offer a festive way to see the fall colors in all their glory. There are also Halloween train rides that offer both spooky and not-so-spooky activities such as pumpkin picking, trick-or-treating, ghost stories, and costumed characters. Whatever your family is looking for, there are fall train rides for every age and interest level within a four-hour drive of DC.
Here are 18 fall train rides and Halloween train rides to add to your fall bucket list. Find even more autumn fun, including our lists of the best harvest and pumpkin festivals and the best pumpkin patches near DC, in our Fall Fun Guide for Washington, DC Families.
Once our kids reach a certain age, it can often feel like we are spectators in their lives. That's why it's important to bond with children while they're still little by taking one of many great Mommy & Me classes throughout the DC area. These Mommy & Me classes in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia are not only fun, they also teach kids (and their grown-ups) new and interesting things.
Check out our list of great Mommy & Me classes near DC, from dance classes and music classes to swimming lessons and yoga. For more great classes for children, check out our Guide to Classes for Kids Near DC.
Classes are a great way to keep toddlers and preschoolers entertained, engaged, and learning—especially if they're not in daycare or preschool full-time. They also help little ones make new friends and bond with their caregivers. And they help young children determine and develop interests that may last them a lifetime.
Here are some top classes near DC for preschoolers and toddlers, many of which are Mommy & Me classes so parents can get in on the fun. These classes near DC include everything from art classes to sports classesfor the under-5 set. Check out our Guide to Classes for Kids Near DC for even more great options.
Great Wolf Lodge Maryland, North America's 20th Great Wolf Lodge resort, opened its doors in late June 2023 in Perryville, MD (under an hour's drive from Baltimore). With 700 family-friendly suites, a 126,000-square-foot water park with 22 water slides, and loads of indoor attractions (plus an outdoor pool), the resort is the largest Great Wolf Lodge location to date.
Great Wolf Lodge Maryland hosted my family for a weekend in late August, and we partook in almost all of the resort's activities. My 12-year-old twin boys and 8-year-old daughter all had a fantastic time.
Read on for my honest review of Great Wolf Lodge Maryland, including tips and tricks on making the most of your family's stay. Then check out Mommy Poppins' reviews of Great Wolf Lodge Poconos and SoCal. You'll find even more great places to stay on your next family vacation in our Family-Friendly Resorts & Hotels Guide.
Lady Liberty has come to the DC area—well, sort of. Reclining Liberty, a 25-foot sculpture modeled after the Statue of Liberty in New York City, was installed on the front lawn of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Arlington in Virginia on August 3, 2023. The statue, made by sculptor Zaq Landsberg, depicts Lady Liberty lying on her side with her head resting on one hand.
Reclining Liberty was originally installed in NYC's Morningside Park in 2021, then moved to Liberty State Park in 2022. It will remain on view at MoCA Arlington until July 28, 2024.
For more information about museums and exhibitions in the DC area, visit our DC Museum Guide for Kids and Families.
With breathtaking waterfalls, massive granite rock formations, ancient giant sequoias, and more, Yosemite National Park should be on every family's travel bucket list. But you (understandbly) may have some concerns about visiting Yosemite National Park with kids. Like, are they any kid-friendly hiking trails? Are there things to do with kids at Yosemite besides hiking? Are there kid-friendly places to stay nearby?
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