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

Top Spots for Mother’s Day Brunch in DC with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 04/14/2024 - 12:00pm

Put on your finest and head to Mother's Day brunch 2025 at one of many great restaurants in the DC area. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

Mother's Day brunch is a cherished tradition for many families, including my own. While I'd be thrilled if my family whipped up one of these kid-friendly Mother's Day brunch recipes, I love to go out on Mother's Day and really be pampered. Lucky for me, there are tons of great restaurants in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia serving up a delicious brunch on Mother's Day 2025, which is Sunday, May 11.

Here are 17 of our top picks in and around DC for Mother's Day brunch with kids. We chose these places because they are especially suited to moms and families with children, whether they have special kids menus, buffet spreads the whole family will enjoy, or even kids' activities.

Looking for something to do with Mom after brunch? Try one of the fun activities on our list of things to do on Mother's Day near DC, or visit our Spring Activities Guide for DC Kids and Families. Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Mommy Poppins!

A Visit to South Mountain Creamery with Kids: Feeding Baby Cows Near Washington, DC

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 04/12/2024 - 10:00am

Feed calves directly from a bottle at South Mountain Creamery.

If you've got a child who loves cows, like my daughter, South Mountain Creamery in Middletown, MD is a must-visit. At this family-owned farm less than a 90-minute drive from DC, visitors can tour the maternity ward and other farm areas, play on a playground, eat delicious homemade ice cream, and even feed baby cows. And the best part is, it's FREE to visit (though you'll have to pay for the calf feeding and certain other activities).

Read on to learn all about my family's visit to South Mountain Creamery. Then visit our Guide to Farms in Washington, DC for more farm fun with kids, from great animal farms and petting zoos near DC to awesome places to pick your own produce.

100 Field Day Games and Activities

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Tue, 04/09/2024 - 12:00pm

Get the kids up on their feet and moving with a hopping -fun sack race.

Tasked with planning field day for your child's school? Our massive list of field day games for kids will help make the event truly epic. We've got fun ideas to delight all ages, including racing and tag games, water play, dance challenges, arts and crafts, and so much more.

Here are 100 fun field day games and activities for kids. For more ideas for outdoor fun, check out our Guide to Outdoor Activities for Kids, where you'll find everything from classic outdoor games to outdoor birthday party games.

Great Art Summer Camps in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia for Creative Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 04/07/2024 - 1:58pm

Budding fashion designers can sew their own creations at Creative Youth Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Washington, DC is a creative city that's full of culture, so it's no surprise that it is bursting with great art summer camps for your future Picasso. These summer art camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia allow preschoolers, kids, and teens to explore their creative side through painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, theater, and other types of art.

Here are our top picks for art summer camps in the DC metro area. For more summer camps near DC, including STEM summer camps and sports summer camps, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide.

Find a full listing of local summer camps in our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

Visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon Near DC with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Fri, 04/05/2024 - 10:00am

Kids of all ages will find lots to explore at Mount Vernon. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

Washington, DC—home of the Smithsonian—is known for its fantastic free museums. But there are also some great museums in and near DC that are absolutely worth paying to visit. One of them is Mount Vernon, George Washington's home in Alexandria, Virginia. Roughly 15 miles south of DC, Mount Vernon is full of interesting places to explore, historic items to see, and hands-on activities to enjoy.

Here's everything you need to know about visiting Mount Vernon, America's most popular historic estate, with kids. Find more great museums to explore, including our list of the best museums for kids in the DC area, in our Museum Guide for Kids and Families in DC.

Book Yourself the Ultimate Moms’ Weekend at Lansdowne Resort

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Wed, 03/20/2024 - 9:00am

Lansdowne Resort is a 500-acre, AAA Four-Diamond, award-winning paradise right outside DC. Photo courtesy of Lansdowne Resort

Lansdowne Resort–just 30 miles outside DC–features a luxurious spa, top-notch golfing, tennis, pickleball, pools, and more, making it the perfect destination for a moms’ getaway, a girls’ weekend, a Mother’s Day retreat, or even a relaxing family vacation.

If you’re dreaming about a break from homework help and the school drop-off line, call off the Google search and consider a stay at Lansdowne Resort. The 500-acre, AAA Four-Diamond, award-winning paradise along the Potomac provided a much-needed and glorious retreat for me and one of my closest friends, so I’ve pulled together everything you need to know to plan your own girls' getaway or family vacation at Lansdowne.

Spring Break 2024: 21 Fun Things To Do in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 10:10am

Smiles will bloom at all of the fun National Cherry Blossom Festival events. Photo courtesy of the Photo courtesy of the festival

Spring break 2024 is coming to the Washington, DC metro area! If your family is not traveling, that means you'll have a week or more to take part in all of the fun activities and events the DMV has to offer this April.

When is spring break 2024? For DC public schools, it's the week of Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19.

For most Northern Virginia public school districts—as well as Montgomery County, Charles County, and Prince George's County public schools in Maryland—spring break 2024 is Monday, March 25 - Friday, March 29 (with many districts also giving students the following Monday, April 1 off, and Fairfax County also making Tuesday, April 2 a student holiday).

Check out our list of local school-year calendars to find out when your school district's spring break falls. Then read on for 21 fun things to do with kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Our Spring Fun Guide for DC Kids and Families will give you even more ideas.

If you'd rather get out of town for a last-minute family vacation, get inspired by our list of cheap spring break travel ideas for families.

Best Family Resorts in Florida

Submitted by Jennifer Marino... on Sat, 03/16/2024 - 12:00pm

Kids can play safely in the zero-entry pool at the Omni Amelia Island Resort.

Looking for the best family resorts in Florida? We've got you covered with some great picks near the Orlando theme parks, up and down the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and all the way down to the Florida Keys.

Because many families head to Florida for fantastic beach vacations, we tried to include a resort in or near some of our favorite beach cities, like Amelia Island, West Palm Beach, Naples, and Destin. We considered factors such as the resorts' activities and amenities, kids' clubs, proximity to local attractions, room types, and more. We also included some great family resorts in Florida that were recommended by our writers and editors.

Here are 21 of the best family resorts in Florida to consider for your next visit to the Sunshine State. Be sure to check out our Florida Family Travel Guide to help you narrow down your location!

Jennifer Marino Walters

Latest posts by Jennifer

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