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
Here is our Big Free Bucket List: 101 Free Things To Do in DC with Kids!
Families in the DC area sure are lucky: From free museums and nature centers to amazing playgrounds and fun festivals, there are so many free things to do with kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. That means visitors from out of town can also have a fabulous family vacation full of historic and cultural experiences, nature, and play time without breaking the bank.
We present our big free bucket list: 101 free things to do in DC with kids. For even more ways to have fun without reaching into your wallet, check out our guide to Free Things To Do in DC with Kids.
Looking for the best inexpensive all-inclusive resorts for families? We've got nine great options for you!
All-inclusive resorts are a fun and convenient way to travel as a family. There are plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained, the food and drinks flow freely, and you don't even need to reach into your wallet while you're there! But while all-inclusive resorts can be expensive, there are some great affordable options.
Here are nine of the best inexpensive all-inclusive resorts for families in Mexico and the Caribbean. We also included a US option for those who don't want to leave the country. These fun spots feature awesome kids' clubs, great pools and/or beaches, lots of fun activities, and plenty of food and drinks.
For more great places to stay, check out our Guide to Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels, which includes our list of the best all-inclusive resorts in the US, Caribbean, and Mexico for kids.
Cold and rainy days make it harder for kids to burn their energy and stretch their little legs—especially without spending some serious money. Luckily, there are many free indoor things to do in DC with kids. From play areas at free museums to free nature centers to free mall playgrounds, these indoor places to play in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia are all great options for bad-weather days.
Here are 21 free indoor things to do in DC with kids who need to blow off steam and burn some energy. For more family fun that won't break the bank, check out our guide to Free Things To Do in DC with Kids. Plus, our Guide to Indoor Fun for DC Kids includes even more places to play indoors when the weather outside is frightful.
While we love to share all of the fun things to do in our own cities with kids, we also enjoy getting out of town and exploring other amazing places. And in 2024, Mommy Poppins writers and editors visited some incredible destinations. We traveled across the US, from California all the way to Florida. We also had some adventures abroad, including in Europe and Toronto.
If you have an animal lover in your family, you've got to check out our posts about our writer's trips to the Galapagos islands and on African safari. She shares all the scoop on how to have these bucket-list experiences with your own kids!
Here are our favorite family vacation destinations of 2024, including fun cities, sunny beach vacays, and kid-friendly hotels and resorts. Check out our Family Travel Guide for even more great places to visit with your family. And, join us in 2025 to see where we'll go next!
Need something to do on Christmas Day? Here are some places you can visit near DC.
Birmingham, Alabama is perhaps best known for its role in the civil rights movement. While it remains an important center of civil rights history, Birmingham is also home to a thriving dining scene, fantastic urban green spaces, great cultural attractions, and plenty of other things to do with kids. Today, Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama.
Here are 20 top things to do in Birmingham, Alabama with kids, from the world-class Birmingham Zoo to family-friendly restaurants and hotels in Birmingham, AL. Visit our Southern States Vacation Guide for more cities in the south to visit with kids, like New Orleans and Charleston.
Winter in the Washington, DC area can be a parenting challenge in the best of times, but there's no stopping us. We are here to help you keep boredom at bay during the colder months with this ultimate winter bucket list.
With so many things to do in DC and nearby during the colder months—from outdoor activities like ice skating and snow tubing to indoor fun such as trampoline parks and tons of free museums—even the most finicky kids will remain entertained until the warmer weather returns.
Here are 35 things to do near DC to cross off your winter bucket list with kids. For even more fun, check out our Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids. We're also adding more fun events to our events calendar each day.
As the saying goes, there's no place like home for the holidays. But we say home is wherever your family is. And if your family is looking to get away this holiday season, book your trip now—some of the best family resorts are booking up quickly!
We've rounded up a dozen great family resorts to spend the holidays at with the whole gang. Some of these family resorts go above and beyond with holiday decorations and activities, making your family feel like they're in a Hallmark Christmas movie. Others are near destinations that do it up for the holidays, including Disneyland and Disney World.
Prefer to spend the holidays in paradise? We've also included some of our favorite all-inclusive resorts and other hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii. These family resorts, along with others on our list of warm and sunny family vacation spots, provide a welcome respite from Jack Frost nipping at your nose.
See our Family Resorts and Hotels Guide for more great places to spend the holidays with your family.
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