Explore NOVA & DC with Kids
Favorite local restaurants
These are our go-to places close to home.
Everything is amazing, great atmosphere and it’s a short walk from our home. Ruthie’s lives up to its “all day” name because we go here for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The octopus appetizer is amazing, I love the pimento breakfast sandwich and they have a smoker for great bbq. Definitely recommend!
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Ruthie's All-Day
3411 5th Street SouthEverything is amazing, great atmosphere and it’s a short walk from our home. Ruthie’s lives up to its “all day” name because we go here for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The octopus appetizer is amazing, I love the pimento breakfast sandwich and they have a smoker for great bbq. Definitely recommend!
If you like Armenian food, then you know what I mean when I say not to miss Ámbar. Absolutely delicious. Great date night place.
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Ambar Clarendon
2901 Wilson BlvdIf you like Armenian food, then you know what I mean when I say not to miss Ámbar. Absolutely delicious. Great date night place.
Thai Square
3217 Columbia PikeOur go-to Thai place for take out but also nice to visit.
From our house, you can walk just around the corner to watch a movie or a comedy show in this cool old school theater. Servers bring you a cocktail, beer or wine to your seat and they also have food. Must-see local landmark.
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Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse
2903 Columbia PikeFrom our house, you can walk just around the corner to watch a movie or a comedy show in this cool old school theater. Servers bring you a cocktail, beer or wine to your seat and they also have food. Must-see local landmark.
Rebellion On The Pike
2900 Columbia PikeLove getting drinks on the patio. Good nachos!
Kabobistan
3400 Virginia 244Great new addition to the neighborhood!!
Ledo Pizza
1035 S Edgewood StLedo’s is our regular Friday night pizza place.
Pupatella makes delicious wood oven personal sized pizza but they are big enough to share.
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Pupatella
5104 Wilson BlvdPupatella makes delicious wood oven personal sized pizza but they are big enough to share.
Stellina is a local award winner. Pizza is amazing and everything else too. Great low-key date night, brunch or lunch place. It’s in Shirlington (5 min drive from our place) so you can get a pizza then go to the movies or walk around the corner for fro-yo.
Stellina Pizzeria
2800 South Randolph StreetStellina is a local award winner. Pizza is amazing and everything else too. Great low-key date night, brunch or lunch place. It’s in Shirlington (5 min drive from our place) so you can get a pizza then go to the movies or walk around the corner for fro-yo.
Love working from the patio. Their sandwiches are incredible.
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Northside Social Coffee & Wine
3211 Wilson BlvdLove working from the patio. Their sandwiches are incredible.
Best pizza selections and giant pies. My kid who doesn't like pizza will eat Lost Dog. Plus if you want to eat in it's very friendly for kids and they have a nice micro-brew selection.
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Lost Dog Cafe
5876 Washington BlvdBest pizza selections and giant pies. My kid who doesn't like pizza will eat Lost Dog. Plus if you want to eat in it's very friendly for kids and they have a nice micro-brew selection.
DC Food Scene
Here are some of our fave places to go out for brunch or a date in DC.
The Duck & The Peach
300 7th Street SoutheastHeartbreakingly - this place closed in March 2023, but I'm leaving it here as a memorial because I love it so much. :(
I go here every year for my birthday and it does not disappoint. Everything is amazing but make sure to get the roasted cauliflower and hanger steak.
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Estadio
1520 14th St NWHeartbreakingly - this place closed in March 2023, but I'm leaving it here as a memorial because I love it so much. :(
I go here every year for my birthday and it does not disappoint. Everything is amazing but make sure to get the roasted cauliflower and hanger steak.
Great coffee & chocolate croissants. Nice place to work as it’s big open and airy plus street parking is not too difficult to find.
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Open City
2331 Calvert St NWGreat coffee & chocolate croissants. Nice place to work as it’s big open and airy plus street parking is not too difficult to find.
Patisserie Poupon
1645 Wisconsin Ave NWDelightful bistro in Georgetown.
Belga Café
514 8th St SE
Maydan
1346 Florida Ave NWNeighborhoods
Arlington Heights is solid gold. One of the most diverse zip codes in America, we have a culturally rich neighborhood that shows up in festivals, ethnic restaurants spanning the globe, and welcoming neighbors who value inclusivity.
It’s a perfect place for young kids (and probably older ones too but ours are young so that’s all we can speak to). There are parks, bike paths, splash pads and tons of other kids and parents to meet just by walking out your front door. Each street has their own vibe and many have annual block parties and sometimes live music.
Arlington County has a plethora of offerings for kids and adults at their many community centers.
Plus you are minutes from downtown DC, the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums, and the tidal basin for the cherry blossom festival.
Arlington Heights Historic District
Arlington Heights is solid gold. One of the most diverse zip codes in America, we have a culturally rich neighborhood that shows up in festivals, ethnic restaurants spanning the globe, and welcoming neighbors who value inclusivity.
It’s a perfect place for young kids (and probably older ones too but ours are young so that’s all we can speak to). There are parks, bike paths, splash pads and tons of other kids and parents to meet just by walking out your front door. Each street has their own vibe and many have annual block parties and sometimes live music.
Arlington County has a plethora of offerings for kids and adults at their many community centers.
Plus you are minutes from downtown DC, the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums, and the tidal basin for the cherry blossom festival.
The best place to window shop in DC. Be prepared for crowded sidewalks, but if you can stroll M street and up Wisconsin Ave you’ll likely fall into a cute shop or 2 (or 10) and find a perfect coffee and snack. Parking is a bear so don’t go if you’re in a hurry.
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Georgetown
The best place to window shop in DC. Be prepared for crowded sidewalks, but if you can stroll M street and up Wisconsin Ave you’ll likely fall into a cute shop or 2 (or 10) and find a perfect coffee and snack. Parking is a bear so don’t go if you’re in a hurry.
Parks and Playgrounds
These are our favorites that we visit all the time a few special places that we love.
Great play area with a bathroom in the community center. There are wooded trails that lead to an outdoor amphitheater. Everything is very accessible including the trails and toys. There is not a lot of sun cover so on a sunny day, this park is very hot.
Lubber Run Park
200 N Columbus StGreat play area with a bathroom in the community center. There are wooded trails that lead to an outdoor amphitheater. Everything is very accessible including the trails and toys. There is not a lot of sun cover so on a sunny day, this park is very hot.
Less than a mile from our house so we go here a LOT especially when it’s hot because there is a stream and lots of tree cover. There are bathrooms.
Alcova Heights Park
901 S George Mason DrLess than a mile from our house so we go here a LOT especially when it’s hot because there is a stream and lots of tree cover. There are bathrooms.
About a mile from our house, we bike here a lot for a playtime picnic lunch. A pavilion and lots of picnic tables and grills make this super easy for picnic and parties. There aren’t bathrooms so be prepared for kids to pee in the bushes :-)
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Penrose Park
2200 6th St SAbout a mile from our house, we bike here a lot for a playtime picnic lunch. A pavilion and lots of picnic tables and grills make this super easy for picnic and parties. There aren’t bathrooms so be prepared for kids to pee in the bushes :-)
Flat running and bike path great for kids and adults. Links several parks together so makes for a fun day of exploring outdoors.
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W&OD Trailhead
Washington and Old Dominion Railroad TrailFlat running and bike path great for kids and adults. Links several parks together so makes for a fun day of exploring outdoors.
Bluemont has a playground with bathroom that is connected to the W&OD Trail. There is a stream that we sometimes have a picnic by and let the kids splash after a bike ride.
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Bluemont Park
601 Four Mile Run TrailBluemont has a playground with bathroom that is connected to the W&OD Trail. There is a stream that we sometimes have a picnic by and let the kids splash after a bike ride.
A 10 minute drive from our house you can be in the Capital’s largest green space. There are moderate trails great for letting the kids run or getting out for a wooded hike. There is parking and bathrooms.
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Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
5200 Glover Rd NWA 10 minute drive from our house you can be in the Capital’s largest green space. There are moderate trails great for letting the kids run or getting out for a wooded hike. There is parking and bathrooms.
Our local library is only a block away. It’s just been renovated and now has a great kids reading zone with a phenomenal collection. We spend a lot of time there! Also, you can use the bathrooms if you go to the school playground next to the library!
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Columbia Pike Branch Library
816 S Walter Reed DrOur local library is only a block away. It’s just been renovated and now has a great kids reading zone with a phenomenal collection. We spend a lot of time there! Also, you can use the bathrooms if you go to the school playground next to the library!
This bouncy park is alive with kids around twilight. The bouncy surface makes it especially friendly for small kids, but big kids love it too. It's right in Ballston so you can walk to get dinner and have a whole outdoor evening of kid friendly entertainment - everyone's happy!
Mosaic Park
538 N Pollard StThis bouncy park is alive with kids around twilight. The bouncy surface makes it especially friendly for small kids, but big kids love it too. It's right in Ballston so you can walk to get dinner and have a whole outdoor evening of kid friendly entertainment - everyone's happy!
Sightseeing
There is a giant indoor play area that is a god-send on hot summer days in DC. With activities for kids, exhibits that are interesting for adults and a cafe we can spend the all afternoon here. We recommend getting there when it opens because sometimes exhibits will sell out. We also pack a lunch and have a picnic indoors or on the yard. 5 Stars super duper recommend for small kids!
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Museo Nacional de la Construcción
401 F St NWThere is a giant indoor play area that is a god-send on hot summer days in DC. With activities for kids, exhibits that are interesting for adults and a cafe we can spend the all afternoon here. We recommend getting there when it opens because sometimes exhibits will sell out. We also pack a lunch and have a picnic indoors or on the yard. 5 Stars super duper recommend for small kids!
Kids of all ages, from littles to adults, will love this new museum. It is imaginatively interactive. Everyone of all ages will learn something while exploring and kids can touch all the multi-sensory exhibits. If you want to go to Immigrant Food which is connected to the museum, I recommend making a reservation.
Planet Word
Kids of all ages, from littles to adults, will love this new museum. It is imaginatively interactive. Everyone of all ages will learn something while exploring and kids can touch all the multi-sensory exhibits. If you want to go to Immigrant Food which is connected to the museum, I recommend making a reservation.
Consejos para la ciudad
Viajar con niños
Kid Friendly DC blog is solid gold!
Make sure to check out "Kid friendly DC" blog that has an unbelievable amount of information about all things kids related in the DMV. This woman is incredibly, and speaks from experience. We've use it almost every weekend we are in town.