The Residence Inn, VA Beach

Yes beach season is over as we move into fall, but this is the best time to head out and get to Virginia Beach on a nice, sunny weekend.  Virginia Beach is such a fun place to go and as soon as the high of the summer season is over, the fun gets even better.  The crowds die down, not gone, but die down and when it is sunny it is still nice and beautiful.  The Residence Inn at Virginia Beach ocean front is probably one of the best kept little secrets.  It is perfect for family travel and they allow pets so the whole family can enjoy a little vacation!  After Labor Day dogs are also allowed on the beach with a leash.  Being a pet friendly hotel I was a bit worried about how clean everything was going to be, and someone that is a germaphobe with an infant in toe, it was immaculate.  The room was beautiful!  All rooms are suites with a kitchen and living room area and all have a balcony overlooking the ocean, which is amazing watching the dolphins in the early morning with a cup of coffee. 

The Residence Inn is a beautiful hotel with great rooms and great services.  The staff is very helpful and they offer great amenities.  There is a big breakfast in the lobby area every day, there is always fresh coffee and ice water out and some evenings they offer a dinner/ appetizer buffet as well.  It really is a great deal for what you pay for such a nice hotel.  The pool is indoors so it is nice if the weather turns bad and there is also a hot tub.  Staying in a suite with two children is definitely the way to go when traveling to a hotel.  It is so nice to have the convince of the at home amenities.  The Residence Inn in VA Beach is a great hotel that I will visit again, and for anyone else looking for a weekend beach trip it is worth checking out!

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The Washington Plaza, DC

                The Washington Plaza Hotel is a little tiny slice of Miami put in the middle of Washington DC.  The architecture of the hotel is very modern and airy with elegance.  It is light and vibrant with some color which is different and refreshing for being in Washington DC.  Most of the hotels in DC don’t have the resort fell to them and the Washington Plaza definitely does.  The rooms are very spacious with comfortable and fun colors.  There is a huge presidential suite that can be rented for a very large amount of money, but if you are looking to have a Miami experience in DC, and have the money, then it could be worth it!  The big draw to the Washington Plaza Hotel is that there is a beautiful outside pool.  It is very chic and there is pool service from the bar and restaurant.  Most of the hotels in DC, if they have a pool, it is indoor, so this is one of the most appealing features of the hotel. 

                The hotel also offers two tasty restaurants, the International Bar and Ten Thomas Restaurant.  Ten Thomas serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, which for the most part is all reasonably priced.  Some of the entrees may get a little expensive for what the meal is, but most everything is locally grown and the chef prepares everything fresh in a very chic setting.   The food is very tasty and the setting makes a fun day or night out.  The International Bar serves a variety of fun drinks and cocktails and offers a smaller menu that is very affordably priced.  I don’t know if I would say that the hotel is an overall child friendly stay.  There were children in the pool and walking around with families, it is to be expected when you visit Washington DC, but most of the singles laying poolside were not happy when they got splashed.  Though this would not rate as one of the top hotels to take your children, I think it is fine to take children there, my toddler did great, but it is a more mature cliental.  No matter what age you are staying at the Washington Plaza Hotel is an enjoyable experience. 

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The Sculpture Garden

One of Washington DC’s best little secret, especially during the hot summer, is the Sculpture Gardens.  If you have the family out exploring “The Mall” area you need to stop by and explore the Sculpture Gardens.  The abstract sculptures that make up this garden are entertaining and fascinating as it is all set in a very European setting with gardens and long path ways.  And in the middle of everything there is a huge fountain that you are able to cool off by putting your feet in.  The whole scene looks like it comes directly from Paris.  There is a little bistro café with beautiful outdoor seating and it is a tossup if the fountain or all of the sculptures are the main attraction!

This is a great place to come and bring the children to enjoy looking at larger than life pieces of art as well as letting them enjoy splashing around in the fountain.  The Sculpture Garden is hidden behind gates and it is almost as if nothing was there until you go in.  It is located down the street from the Natural History Museum.  It is hard to bring children to an art museum, so this is the perfect setting because it is outside where they can run around, the art is so big and exciting that it intrigues even a toddler and if all else fails; the fountain is a great place for them to splash around and cool off.  On top of the good entertainment value for children it is so spread out and enclosed that it makes a very relaxing setting for someone opening up a book or getting a coffee. 

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River Farm Garden Park

River Farm Garden Park is nestled on the Potomac in Alexandria, VA.  It is the perfect place to spend the afternoon having a picnic with your little one!  This park is part of the American Hortircultural Society but is open weekdays to the public, and the grounds are beautiful.  The grounds itself offers literature to read about all of the gardening and different types of local flowers that are grown there.  There is an education office with people to answer questions and give tours and everything is self-labeled so it is easy to walk around and enjoy the sites and learn about the gardening that takes place there.  It is all set in a beautiful, colonial setting. 

This is a great place to take your toddler to run around for a couple hours, or to enjoy a picnic.  There is plenty of climbing areas and manipulatives available.  There are also plenty of big and smaller tables set up just for that beautiful lunch hour in the garden.   I went there not really knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.  There is plenty of nature’s beauty as well as the history.  It is very easy to get to, just down the road from Mount Vernon.  These gardens also make the perfect backdrop for a wedding.  It is such a beautiful and romantic setting overlooking the Potomac.  I would highly suggest checking out the River Farm and Gardens on a beautiful and sunny day!

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Washington Suites, Alexandria VA.

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