D.C. ranks #12 in the list…

of America’s best cities for the outdoors! So there’s hope for us yet! D.C. does have plentiful parkland with Rock Creek Park, city parks, National Mall/tidal basin/Potomac River area and trails. But what I thought was really cool was this snippet from the Forbes’ article:

“In Washington, D.C., advertising company Clear Channel Outdoor has partnered with the city’s department of transportation to provide bicycle rentals for an annual membership fee of $40. The bikes, available at 10 locations around the city, can be checked out for three hours at a time.D.C. already ranks in the top 15 on our list for its high per-resident spending, moderate weather, large percentage of park land and high number of recreation amenities. But with innovative programs like this, first-class cultural offerings and great jobs, the urbanite may finally have an alternative to countryside envy.”

So, all those options, but I’m stuck inside this afternoon due to a tornado warning in Stafford County…

Mark your calendars…

for National Trails Day!! Next Saturday, 7 June, seek out your favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects. There are heaps of events going on all around the country.

I’m taking the kids to an REI work project in Rockville, Maryland. We’re going to work on the Croydon Creek Nature Center. And as we’ve never been there, it will be a new place to explore. So check out an REI event in your area!

The unofficial start to summer…

So, Memorial Day weekend has come and gone… and the pool at the Maryland condo is finally open! Kai was so excited to go that he was dressed in his swim attire - complete with goggles and kickboard - by 7 am, even though the pool didn’t open until 11.

I guess I should have warned him that the water would be a bit cold because he didn’t get in much deeper than his ankles - he’s only completely wet because of the shower he took beforehand. I think that’s the real problem with these pools - we take a warm shower to rinse off before getting in, which just makes the pool water feel colder!

Anyway, he decided he preferred the kiddie pool - although he was very disappointed to discover he couldn’t actually stand or ride on his kickboard. He decided that it needed handles, a motor and wheels - I’ll let you know once he invents it. Either that or he’s destined to become a surfer - it must be the Hawaiian in him.

I’m just hoping that this doesn’t scare him off of the swim lessons he’s signed up for in a few weeks at the Montgomery Aquatic Center - at least it’s an indoor pool — and a great, all-around facility with a huge slide, weight/fitness room, saunas, outdoor lighted jogging trails - they even offer scuba and kayaking lessons. I’ve been amazed to find all of the programs the Montgomery Country Recreation Department offers for summer - we signed up for swim lessons through their summer camp program which offers everything from nature and arts and crafts camps to cooking and ice skating camps - you don’t have to be a county resident to sign up, but do have to pay about $10 more per course. I wish I could sign Kai up for more, but decided we’ll focus on swimming for this year. The best place to find swim lessons all over the country is Club Swim.

So, to get Kai ready for his lessons, we’ve been focusing on water safety. It’s amazing to me that the second kids get around a pool, they want to run - or may be they run all the time but it only worries me when they’re around a pool so that’s when I notice it. Anyway, no running, no pushing, no diving, no going in the pool alone, no chewing gum in case you choke on it - I know, I know where did all the fun go. At least the advice to not swim for an hour after eating has proved to be an old wives’ tale (unless you’re actually doing some hardcore swimming, which we don’t have to worry about - we’re just hoping to actually get Kai in the water).

Happy swimming!

Father and son campout…

First, let me introduce myself. I am Kaleo and other half to Jana. Noticed I said other, because she is the better half. So Memorial weekend has come and gone, not without a bunch of time spent outside. But the best part of the weekend came in the very beginning, Friday night. Kai and I went out camping for the night. Now, this wasn’t the first time that Kai had been camping. But the last time was about 18 months ago, on the beautiful northeast coast of Tasmania, Australia on the pristine beaches of the Bay of Fires. This camp out was nothing like that one.

We left after work Friday night, with my brother-in-law and his two little boys. We headed out deep into the forest until we came upon this great little spot at The Do Little Farm. OK, so we didn’t go into the woods at all, just went out into the field and pitched the tents. The boys loved being out and running around. This was a big group camping trip - actually a father and sons trip. Sorry all you little girls out there, but I am sure that there will be a father and daughters trip also. With about 30 people there, I think that we were the only ones that brought kids under the age of 4. There were dirt bikes going and 4-wheelers. The boys stood there in amazement watching the older boys having a great time. Of course the first thing out of Kai’s mouth was ” Dad, I want a go-cart!” I told him that we will work on that…

We set the tent up and got the sleeping bags ready. Then headed over to the camp fire where the boys were taught the single most important camping lesson that a father can pass down to his sons — how to make SMORES. Armed with some tree branches, a bag of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars, we proceeded to impart this all important knowledge. Kai didn’t understand why it took so long for the marshmallow to cook just right, but when it did and I put the smore together for him, he quickly understood that patiences really is a virture. I think he ate about 4 that night.

Well it was just a one night trip as both Dads had to work the next morning. We put the boys to bed in the tent and we sat outside and talked for a little while. Every now and then we would hear little footsteps on the tent floor and the boys talking and giggling. Isn’t that what camping is all about? I think so, it was a great one night trip.

So I encourage all of you to get out and enjoy the world around you. Even if it is just for one night, you and your kids will love it. You might make some good memories also, I remember making smores with my dad at these same type of camp outs. Of course, the night wasn’t without its problems - I had to remove Kai from the playground when I saw him on the top of the slide planning to pee down it. And, as we couldn’t bring our camping equipment back with us from Australia, we didn’t have any sleeping bags which made for a long, cold night - but it’s those things that make the memories.

I think I can, I think I can…

Last night, after we got the boys to bed, Kaleo and I decided to take a short bike ride (don’t worry - Grandma was around - we didn’t just leave the kids home alone). Our Virginia house is at the end of a long private road, so it’s perfect for a quick ride or walk. While we often play with Kai on our bikes, as he just got his first big boy bike for his birthday, we haven’t had a chance to go for an actual ride since we returned from Australia. So, we were hyped to get out for a bit. That is, until we realized that the years since we’ve ridden have taken a toll on us… In our defense, the road is incredibly hilly, but still we were all jelly-legged by the time we got home. There go my ideas of getting a bike trailer and towing the boys behind me… Well, at least on that road.

I’m hoping that by the time Taz is old enough to sit in a bike seat or trailer, Kai will be up to riding beside me (on a flat road that is…) so I’m looking into family friendly trails in the D.C. area. One of my favorites - from my pre-kid days - is Prince William Forest Park just off I-95 South near Quantico. Not only do they have a designated bike lane on much of the road (a portion of which even blocks off half the road so traffic can only go in one direction and bikers get an entire lane for themselves) but there are wonderful off-road paths with plenty of parking available. And one of the best parts is that it’s rarely busy - considering it offers great hiking and camping as well, I’m surprised it’s not chock full every Saturday - but that’s all the better for us. Now, it is a national park, so an entrance fee does apply - an annual pass for the park is $20, but I prefer to opt for an annual all-park pass which is good at any national park in the country for $80 (it has gone up a lot over the last few years, but what hasn’t…).

Another flat path that I’ve loved in the past and want to try out with Kai is at Great Falls National Park (see - you’re using your national parks pass already) which has portions on both the Virginia and the Maryland side of Potomac River (the Maryland side of the park is part of the C&O canal National Park). Only about a 20 minute drive out of D.C. up the George Washington Parkway, it feels a million miles away from the city. It’s a great place to explore and escape - but because it’s so close, it does get crowded. The Maryland side has a straight path which runs along the canal so is better for children - the Virginia side caters more to trail riding and exploring.

Speaking of the George Washington Parkway, a fantastic, easy trail for kids runs along it known as the Mount Vernon Trail - it extends all the way from Teddy Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon. As it is so close to the city, it can be very busy with riders and runners, but it’s a gorgeous ride along the river and through forests. It does pass through Old Town Alexandria so, at times, I prefer to drive to the southern side of the trail and start my ride there. And while it is also part of the National Park Service, this one is free.

Naturally, the bike options in the D.C. area extend far beyond the National Parks. The leading authority on trails in the area is the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. They include information about on-road as well as off-road riding - but with kids, I definitely prefer designated off-road trails. Another useful website is Bike Washington which lists paths all over the region. While it hasn’t been updated in a few years, it still has an incredible amount of information for biking in the area. You can also check out a comprehensive link to all biking groups in the area - it even includes some national and international links.

For nationwide trail listings, visit American Trails. There are also hundreds of National Parks around the States with heaps of different recreational options. Just looking at their website makes me want to go exploring!

And for good measure, as I’m finding with Kai, it’s essential to teach kids about safe riding before taking them out on the paths. Check out Biking for Kids for helpful tips including how to look for cars, how to stop and even how to fit a helmet properly.

As I explore trails in the area, I’ll be sure to write about their kid-friendliness. And as a preview of what my next post will be about, Kaleo and Kai are on a father-son campout tonight. I can’t wait to hear the report - somehow I doubt Kaleo’s getting much sleep…

Do you know the way to…

Mozambique? And why, you ask, would I want to write about Mozambique? Because my step-dad, Bill, who works for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees should be landing there right about now - and I wish I was too. Not that it’s a pleasure visit - he’s there on short-term assignment to help with the refugees pouring over the border from Zimbabwe. Back in the 90s, my step-dad and mom were posted to Mozambique for a few years and I loved being able to visit them during my school breaks - we had amazing journeys to pristine, empty beaches and crazy car trips along potholed roads caused by landmines from the civil war. Okay, so that may be a strange thing to long for - but we had great adventures.

Of course, one of the highlights of traveling to Africa in my early days was being able to go on safari and see wild animals in their natural habitat. While there’s not much opportunity for that in the big city (unless you count squirrels and they’re just rats with better packaging), at least D.C. has an incredible, free zoo, which is easily accessible by metro (which I prefer as it’s part of the day’s adventure for kids - red line to Woodley Park/Zoo station) or car (though it can add up quickly - $10 for the first hour alone). The zoo is easy to navigate as everything is basically off one main path and the great thing about it being free is that you don’t have to squeeze everything into one visit. If you arrive by car, you’ll most likely enter at the bottom (the path through the zoo does meander up a slight hill, which you don’t really notice unless you’re pushing a 4 year old who’s balanced on the push bar of a stroller…) where the petting zoo and kids’ farm area is. They have a giant pizza there that little tykes can play on (the point is to teach kids that all the ingredients come from a farm, but I don’t know if mine gets that yet). From there, you can slowly make your way to the top (where you enter if you come by metro) past the staple zoo animals to one of the highlights - the cuddly pandas. They’re part of a fantastic new Asia exhibit with lots of hands on learning at each animal enclosure. One cool thing about the zoo’s website is that, even if you miss your favorite animal because they’re in hiding, you can see them from the comfort of your own home via live animal web cams - it’s like Ed TV for our furry friends.

The thing that never ceases to amaze me about the zoo is that it would be impossible to exhaust all the possibilities. It is so not just about showing up to see a few animals in cages. The zoo has everything from preschool programs to summer camps to birthday parties to sleepovers. You can even rent out the entire zoo to host your own event. For Kai’s first birthday, my wonderful friend, Annie, gave him a membership to Friends of the Zoo. Not only did we get free parking for every visit, but we got first dibs on special events like Boo at the Zoo on Halloween. I haven’t renewed our membership, but like to visit regardless. Even in the rain when Kai still insists on going as planned…

So, unless there’s some big underground fine furniture racket in Africa that Kaleo can tap in to, I probably won’t be able to show my kids exotic animals in the wild. Still, there’s fantastic perks, like the zoo, to living near a big city. And while seeing deer and rabbits out our window in Virginia isn’t nearly as exciting to me as giraffes and elephants, we’ll take what we can get.

How I love small town festivals…

It was gorgeous out yesterday - a clear, crisp Virginia spring day - so we headed out to one of my all time favorite small towns - Warrenton for their spring festival. It was full of little booths filling the old town main street, yummy food stands and even performances by the local dance school (yes, it brought back frightening flashbacks of my own dance costumes when I performed at county fairs as a tween - there is such a thing as too much sequins). Kai couldn’t get enough of the little train that meandered around the booths - and I loved letting Taz touch his first cow and try out a drinking fountain (rigged up to a fire hydrant - how genius is that?) But what festival would be complete without an organ grinder? Ah, I love small towns.

My find of the day was a sensory blanket for Taz made by a local mama. I first saw these blankets at the Salamanca Market in Hobart, Tasmania - and I’ve regretted not buying one ever sense. (For those of you in Tasmania, check out Anna Jayne Designs - her stuff is fabulous) So, this time I snatched one up and Taz absolutely loves it. In case you’re not familiar with sensory blankets - they are squares of quilted fabric rimmed with loops of different types of ribbon which allow the baby to play (or suck on as my child chooses to do) with different textures.

Keep your eye out for more local mama items in the future - I love to support homegrown businesses. Anything to oppose the megamart…

Thought for the day…

“The cure for boredom is curiosity.  There is no cure for curiosity.” (Dorothy Parker)

Kensington Playground

No matter how much time I want to spend outside, the day often fills up with errands - especially as my mom and step-dad arrived back in town last night (thus a midnight run to the airport and a lack of energy today) so there was lots to catch up on. So, just before meeting some family for dinner - and after way too many hours in the car, we came upon a gorgeous playground while exploring Kensington, Maryland. Kensington is such a charming neighborhood, so no surprise that the playground was charming as well - completely engulfed in huge old trees and a stream running beside it. I’m all for playing in a stream whenever possible so when Kai asked if he could go in, I told him to go for it. I soon realized that Kai is still an outdoorsy-type-in-training as he immediately freaked out about the slimy mud and his shoes getting dirty and his feet being wet (what part of stream didn’t he understand) and needing to pee (I guess the stream was inspiring for something other than exploring). Of course, I wasn’t wearing the shoes for climbing up and down a stream bank - but somehow managed to get his shoes off, clean the mud off his feet and carry him up a hill back to the car. In the end, I ended up more muddy than he was, just adding to the spit-up Taz had previously deposited on my shirt. I was hoping to be able to head back to the condo, shower and change before the restaurant, but just after getting back in the car, Kaleo called to say we were meeting earlier so I had to settle for him bringing me a new shirt and changing it in the bathroom of Cheesecake Factory. An outdoorsy mom never minds showing up in public covered in mud, right?? Right!!

Maryland vs. Virginia

Settling in the D.C. area has not turned out to be cut and dry as we once thought it would be. We first thought we’d stay at Kaleo’s family’s house on 10 acres in the outskirts of Stafford, Virginia - until Kaleo got a job in Silver Spring, Maryland - a 1 1/2 hour commute with no traffic. So, we’re alternating between Virginia and my family’s condo in Maryland - very convenient, but also very cramped - though liveable when my mom and step-dad are out of town. Both have their perks - and, hey, it just gives me more area to explore. So, for now, we’re in a high-rise just outside the beltway in Maryland - with the sound of traffic and sirens ringing in my ears as I write. Luckily, there are lots of trails, parks and adventures, just waiting for us to discover them.