Eat Well and Sleep Cheap in Dallas

A Dallas mini-trip report
I had a building conference to attend this weekend, (the National Green Building Conference). Not a family roadtrip, but a trip worth reporting on nonetheless. In a couple of days, I'll drive to Houston to visit sdome job sites and shoot video. I'll check in with a Houston mini-report too.

Hotels.com: an excellent suite for $50 per night
Well, not every night; it was $40 for a couple of the nights. The room has a nice living room with couch and desk. The desk faces one of two wonderful flat screen TVs. So I could actually work through my inbox and watch playoff basketball at the same time. Other features: luxe bathroom, fridge, microwave, and Starbuck’s coffee packets. Did I mention the little balcony? The king bed takes up most of the bedroom, which is ok for a single occupant. It would be pretty cramped, I imagine, for a couple


Uncle Julio’s: Great Mexican food
I like warm salsa. Uncle Julio’s has warm salsa. Normally I ask for more salsa as soon as they bring the first bowl because I know my track record. I forgot to ask for more this time, but when I saw that we were running low, I asked for more. Before I ran out of salsa, my dinner was served and then along came the salsa. I ordered a nice grilled chicken dish with rice and beans (can’t remember the name of it). The only thing that was a bit disturbing was that about 20%-25% of the items on the menu contained frog’s legs—which might be a hit with young boys.
Bottom line: Great food, expensive margaritas (and not great—stick to Shiner Bock beer), great service, and good prices (High teens, low $20s).

Gloria's: Excellent food
Gloria’s main room is one of those big rooms with a high ceiling and not much fabric on the walls to absorb sound. Consequently it was loud. Other than that, it had a nice atmosphere. The wait for a table was nonexistent if we chose to sit outside, so that’s what we did. Unfortunately the table we got was right under the speaker, so outside wasn’t much quieter than inside.

The food was fantastic. I had a Salvadoran grilled chicken and sausage dish with plantains, yucca, and a nice green salsa.
Bottom line: Excellent food, excellent service, good prices ($20s).

Frankies Sport’s Bar and Grill: Burgers and beer
We wanted to watch the Red Sox-Rays game, which was the Sunday night ESPN game, figuring we had a good chance we looked for a sport’s bar. Frankie’s had the Red Sox-Rays on about 60% of the twenty TVs inside. On the other 40% of the TVs was the Celtics-Magic playoff game, and on a couple of straggler TVs was the Bruins-Hurricanes playoff game. Good night for Boston Sports (All three Boston teams won).

I had the ‘Spank-me Burger’ (loaded with jalapeños, onions and a horseradish sauce).
Bottom line: good food, good atmosphere, good service and great prices $12-15s.

Is Las Vegas a Family Destination?

In a word, maybe. In two words, probably not.

I've been AWOL from the blog in the last few months. Sorry about that, I've been working nights and weekends to get www.greenbuildingadvisor.com (my day job) launched. It's launched, I'm back. GreenBuildingAdvisor was launched at the International Builder's Show in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago. It was my second time to Vegas.

In the past twenty or so years, Las Vegas has been trying to re-make itself as less of a 'Family' place and more of a family destination, if you know what I mean. Less La Cosa Nostra, more Ward and June Cleaver. Or something. Many of the casinos are themed: New York, New York, Excalibur Castle, and Treasure Island. But theme is only skin deep.

Beneath the surface is boobs, booze, and broke gamblers
Please don't get me wrong, the FamilyRoadTrippers are not prudes by any means. But there's still something unmistakably 'not-very family-oriented' about the place. While the incessant blinking lights are something that most kids will probably like, and the zillions of pictures of barely-dressed show girls are something that most boys aged 8 - 98 wouldn't object to, the round-the-clock-gambling and prostitution are something I suspect most families would rather avoid. As you walk down the street on the strip, people hand out business cards for prostitutes. Now, this can be a fun game, try to get fifty-two different cards to make a full deck from, it just sort of sends the wrong message to youngsters. And even if the card hander-outers don't hand them to the kids, the streets are littered with them (and kids are closer to the ground than adults, so they tend to pick up on it more readily).

If that's not enough, there are also the driving billboards
The last time I was there I saw one that said something like 'Full Service.' This time it was just 'Hot Babes Direct to You.' I wondered what I would say to Tom if he asked me what 'full service' meant. I suppose I would tell him that they'll change the oil in addition to filling the tank, but more likely I would change the subject.

What did I like best about my trip to Las Vegas?
A great little Italian restaurant outside of town.

Glad to be back in the saddle (so to speak), I'll see if I can get back up to my regular weekly postings.

Anyone have good stuff to say about Vegas?

City Guide: Belfast, Maine

A waterfront city with magnificent downtown buildings is experiencing a wonderful renewal.

I'm a little prejudiced towards Belfast, Maine. Much of my family lives there, I visit whenever I can, and it feels like home. Home away from home, anyway. We've written about Belfast in the past.

My mom wrote about it when she was in elementary school:

Belfast is a little city
Nestled by the sea.
It's not much, but what the heck
It's good enough for me!

Belfast has gotten even better since then.
The harbor is full of boats, the waterfront is buffered by a park, the downtown is thriving with stores, restaurants, and service providers. And no big box sprawl to speak of. There are big stores, but no sprawling strip like almost every other town in America. The Victorian and classic revival buildings downtown are occupied and busy. There's even a new hotel in an old downtown building shooting for four or five stars. When I remember the name of it, I'll link to it.

If 4 star suites don't fit your bill, the Northport Campground fills in the other end of the spectrum.
We have a very big tent, and we camp there frequently. A tent site is $23 per night, so a week's worth of camping costs the same as a night at the Comfort Inn (every room has a great view of the bay), which is where we stay when camping won't work.

There's a footbridge over the river that feeds the harbor.
The name of the river is the Passagassawakeag River, which is Indian for "Pass a gassy wax egg". I'm not exactly sure what that means; I think maybe something got lost in the translation, but the kids sure enjoy saying it. And the footbridge is fun to run across if you're a kid. It's also a popular fishing spot.

Belfast City Park is a great place to spend the better part of a day.
Playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, a city pool, picnic spots with built-in barbecue grills overlooking Pennobscott Bay. Rolling grassy areas shaded by mature trees. There's even a hot dog/hamburger stand. Why would anyone ever want to leave?

To go to Perry's Nut House, of course.
It's a combination wacky-stuff-candy-nuts-chocolate-fudge store and a weirdy museum. If that makes any sense. Goofy kids toys, books, treats, mummies, and shrunken heads. Not to forget the funny mirrors. And the carousel ride out front goes forever on 50 cents. An excellent value and a good way to amuse youngsters.

The Belfast Coop has good foods and great coffee.
And newspapers if you want one. And wine, beer, meat and cheese.

The Army-Navy store has some odd camp essentials
I went into the Army-Navy store downtown looking for enameled steel coffee mugs and mantels for out Coleman lantern. They had the mugs, but not the mantels. As we were about to leave, I looked up to see a Martin Backpacker guitar. I've been leaving my full size guitar at home over the years because it won't fit in the car and it's too expensive an instrument to take camping or road tripping. The Martin Backpacker isn't that valuable ($200). But what it lacks in value, it gains in portability. What a great score. Who knew an Army-Navy store would sell guitars (they had other styles too)? My kind of Army-Navy store.

One more landmark in Downtown Belfast is Colburn's Shoe store, the oldest shoe store in the country. And my Grammy used to work there when she was a girl. I bought my shoes there as a kid and convinced Tinsley to buy a pair there last month. She was thrilled with the experience, the shoes, and the nice folks who work there.

25 Things We Love to Do in D.C.

Fresh off the Fodor's Travel Wire, some stuff that's already on our list, but a bunch (of not really kid-stuff) that's not.

Washington, D.C. is the center of everything political in the U.S., and as such has never been short on intrigue and scandal. But beyond all the shenanigans you'll find a rare city, one that balances truly rich history and culture within a dynamic and ever-changing urban setting. Indeed, where else can you see a Gutenberg Bible, visit a spy museum, eat Ethiopian cuisine, view a Degas painting, and see a tarantula feeding all in one day? Here's a list of our favorite things to do in D.C. What do you recommend?

On the Mall
1. See the original Spirit of St. Louis airplane that Charles Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris in 1927, and then learn how things fly at the National Air and Space Museum.

2. Watch films of flying saucers at the National Archives. (The films were used in Congressional hearings in the 1950s when people we're convinced that aliens had invaded the country.)

3. Gross out your friends at the Natural History Museum's Insect Zoo. Note: Tarantula feedings are Tuesday through Friday at 10:30, 11:30, and 1:30.

4. Twirl around the ice-skating rink in the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden.

5. View astonishing wooden masks at the National Museum of African Art.

6. Taste North, South, and Central American cuisine at the National Museum of the American Indian's Mitsitam Café.

7. Check out the sometimes offbeat portraits of 20th-century Americans (Warhol's Marilyn Monroe prints, a Time magazine cover of Madonna) on the third floor of the National Portrait Gallery.

8. Pose next to sculptures by Rodin and Henry Moore in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden and then venture inside to see one of the world's great collections of modern art.

9. Learn how to make money -- literally -- at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where paper money has been printed since 1914.

10. Follow the lives of those who lived and died in Nazi Germany at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Around Town
11. See giant pandas, elephants, and lions (and sloth bears and giant salamanders) at the National Zoo.

12. Top everything and anything with chili at Ben's Chili Bowl, a U Street institution since 1958.

13. You have to plan weeks or months in advance, and you're only allowed into eight of the 132 rooms, but there's no denying the kick of touring the White House, if for no other reason than to fantasize about what you might do differently with the Green Room.

14. Watch congressmen and women debate, insult, and wrangle their way through the job of making laws in the Capitol's House and Senate chambers (check out www.senate.gov for info on free passes and how to set up a visit).

15. Pick up organic fruit and eclectic local crafts at the Eastern Market. (The main building suffered a fire in 2007, but visitors can still pick up fresh produce, flowers and crafts at the market's outdoor section.)

16. Order a pint and listen in as Congressional staffers gripe about their famous bosses at the Hawk & Dove, the quintessential D.C. bar.

17. Take a break from debate to contemplate the Gutenberg Bible, the lavishly sculpted Great Hall, and the splendor of the gilded Main Reading Room at the Library of Congress.

18. Indulge your inner James Bond with a look at 007's Aston Martin from Goldfinger, along with more serious toys used by the CIA, FBI, and KGB at the International Spy Museum.

19. Complete your Jackie O look at Nana, a D.C. favorite for its stock of new and vintage women's clothes, handmade jewelry, and cool handbags.

20. Take in the scene at Dupont Circle, where artists, power-lunchers, chess players, and Olympic-caliber bike messengers abound.

21. Scope out the art scene on the first Friday of every month, when Dupont Circle's art spaces are open late and score complimentary wine as a bonus.

22. Eat with your hands at Etete (1942 9th St. NW), the best of the city's Ethiopian restaurants.

23. View the heavens through one of the world's most powerful telescopes at the U.S. Naval Observatory.

24. Wrinkle your nose at the Corpse Flower, explore the jungle, gawk at the orchids, or stroll the paths at the new National Garden at the United States Botanic Garden.

25. Celebrate happy hour like a local on Capitol Hill at the stylish Lounge 201 (201 Massachusetts Ave.), where you can sip a half-price Martini on Tuesdays. Or grab a beer and half-price nachos until 6:30 at Bullfeathers (410 1st St. SE).

New York City with Kids

I'm sorry to be so lame by posting second hand info lately, but hey, it's the holidays and I'm busy making a closet into a bathroom.

This one is from Fodor's Travel Wire, also see Our Kid-Friendly Guide to New York City

New York City with Kids
Even though much of New York is focused on the adult pursuits of making money and then spending it, kids can run riot in this city, too. Below are our Top 10 kids' favorite attractions.

American Museum of Natural History. This museum contains more than 30 million specimens and cultural artifacts. Exhibits range from dinosaurs to gems and minerals, from life in the sea to cultures from around the world to the ends of the cosmos.

The Bronx Zoo. The Bronx Zoo is the country's largest metropolitan wildlife park, home to more than 4,500 animals, including endangered and threatened species. Kids can peek at a subterranean naked mole rat colony or watch big and beautiful endangered cats through the glass at Tiger Mountain, a not-to-be-missed exhibit.

Central Park. Central Park is to New York as the sun is to the solar system. Need to let the kids burn off some steam? Head to 67th Street and 5th Avenue for the tree house playground. A playground at 99th Street (east side) accommodates children with disabilities. Other playgrounds are on the east side at 71st, 77th, 85th, 95th, 108th, and 110th streets and on the west side at 68th, 81st, 85th, 89th, 91st, 93rd, 96th, 100th, and 110th streets.

Central Park Zoo. A perfect destination for little ones, the zoo is walkable and stroller-friendly, and even the youngest tot can see the animals from low-lying or low-sitting carriages. Three climatic regions -- the Rain Forest, Temperate Territory, and Polar Circle -- form the focal points.

Children's Museum of Manhattan. Exhibits in the five floors of exhibition space change frequently. You can follow the dream-adventure of Alice in Wonderland or bring literacy to life with Clifford the Big Red Dog and his friend Emily Elizabeth. The fun continues with a special Dr. Seuss celebration, where your child's imagination can run wild.

Museum of Modern Art. Nicknamed MoMA, this museum maintains the world's foremost collection of 20th-century art: more than 135,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects.

New York Aquarium. Alongside the cotton candy and amusements of Coney Island, this aquarium is home to more than 10,000 species of marine life, including beluga whales, giant sea turtles, sand-tiger sharks, and sea otters.

New York Botanical Garden. Nearly 50 gardens and plant collections make up this landmark. Its hands-on activities, imaginative exhibits, and fanciful gardens are exciting and inviting.

Sony Wonder Technology Lab. You're not just going to just see technology here; you will become part of it during an adventure through four floors of hands-on educational fun. Don't despair if you and your kids are not techno-whizzes; helpful guides throughout the lab will answer your questions and offer assistance.

South Street Seaport Museum. Whether it's a concert, a show by street performers, guided tours, or family programs, there's always something happening at the museum. Family Gallery Guides direct you around the world's largest collection of items related to New York's port.

Cheap Kicks in Boston: 25 Things to do for Under $25

Here's one from the The Boston Globe, not all of them are kid-type activities, but maybe the parents can split up and enjoy a little "Mommy time" (Dad can do #1 with the kids while Mom does #10...)

25 Things to do for $25 or Less
1. Cheer along at a Celtics game
2. Skate along Boston Common's Frog Pond
3. Enjoy the fine art at Boston’s International Fine Art Show
4. Grab a cup of tea
5. Savor a delicious fondue treat
6. Curl up with a good book
7. View the official lighting of the Boston Common tree
8. Bring the kids to a Candy Land adventure
9. Savor a steaming cup of hot chocolate
10. Indulge in a spa treatment
11. Karaoke your heart out
12. Extend your Japanese culture
13. Catch a comedy show
14. Enjoy a delicious brunch
15. Get in shape indoors with a yoga session
16. Celebrate the King’s 73d Birthday
17. Peruse the crafts at the Castle
17. Peruse the crafts at the Castle
19. Celebrate Boston’s First Night
20. Plan your wedding at the Boston Wedding Show
21. Plan your next RV or camping adventure
22. Curl up with a cocktail by the fire
23. Enjoy the beauty of spring in the winter
24. Jam along to some jazz
25. Hang out with the dogs at the Bay Colony Dog Show

What do you do for cheap kicks?

City Guide: Camden, Maine

Mid-coast Maine (Penobscot Bay in particular) is the most beautiful part of the state. Camden is family friendly town with loads of recrfeational and photo opportunities within a short drive.


Where the mountains seet the sea, Camden is a popular destination. The harbor, the architecture, the landscape, and recreational features are vast and varied; and the food is pretty darned good too (hint: Cappy's Chowder House).

With a river running through town and emptying into the harbor as a waterfall, there are some great photography choices (hint: footbrige in early evening). Many of the shops and boathouses are built on pilings that are set into the water.

There are parks within walking distance to town as well as a short drive away, where you'll find warm water fun on the many lakes and ponds.

You can also hike or drive, up one of the mountains in Camden Hills State Park for sensational vistas (hint: bring a tripod, and go during leaf-peeper season).


Camden is also especially dog-friendly
Ol' Ralf can swim, chase balls (or sticks) in the inner harbor, and get fresh water at one on many dog bowls put out by local businesses along the sidewalks. Poop-bag dispenser boxes are conveniently scattered around the parks, and there are even a couple of doggie boutiques.

The two hotels that are down town, the Lord Camden Inn and the Camden Riverhouse Inn and Suites, each have dog policies.

Other photo oportunities are numerous and varied too. Morning and evening light in the harbor and parks can be magical (I don't say that things are magical very often; it's just not a word I normally use, but the light at thosae times is pretty cool). The wiki map below shows some of the places we like (give me a few more days to get little photos in the map please), you can add your favorites too.

Things to do with kids:

Play in a park or on the beach -- At Camden's inner harbor is a grassy park great for exploring the beach, picnicing, relaxing, or burning off steam. There are also lot's of ducks here. You can also head south on Bay View Street and you'll get to a little park on the left with swingsets, playground, and a semi-sandy beach great for swimming, sunbathing, or exploring intertidal sea life.

Walk the breakwater out to Rockland light house
This 1 mile round trip is a fun way to get a little excercise after dinner, a good photography opportunities, and a popular fishing spot. Kids love to run along breakwaters on top the rocks, and when they run this one, you can bet they'll be tired enough to go to bed without much guff!

Swim at Lincolnville Beach -- a sandy beach on the rocky coast. There's a good little seafood stand down by the ferry terminal and there are some stores for kids to pick up souveneirs, sodas, and sweets. At low tide, you can walk way, way out and look for sand dollars.

Ride the ferry to Islesboro -- board at Lincolnville beach, north of Camden. Get some fried clams at the clam stand while you wait.

Visit Camden Hills State Park -- Auto road up Mount Battie, trails up Bald Rock Mountain and Maiden's Cliff, camping in the campground.

See the National toboggan Championship races at Camden Snow Bowl (or ski there)

Cruise the Bay on a Schooner! book passage on the waterfront.

Places to eat:

Cappy's Chowder House -- You've got to eat at Cappy's at least once. A great lunch or dinner spot (tip: try the chowder). Kid's meals come in big cardboard classic cars. It's crowded, but in the off hours, seating isn't such a problem. Bloody Marys got greast reviews from the folks I sat next last.

Camden House of Pizza has the best pizza; at least if you like traditional pizza. Good for eating in the room while doing laundry and packing the night before leaving for home.

Su Casa -- A great Mexican restaurant opened by two guys: one from Corpus Cristi and the other from Ecuador via Seattle. The salsa is fresh pico de gallo, and the entrees are fantastic. The margeritas are nothing to shake a stick at either.

Camden Deli -- good sandwiches, good coffee, enclosed sun room seating overlooking the harbor. A little congested up front, but there's plenty of room in the back.

Mariner's Grill -- A kid-friendly restaurant with "The best haddock sandwich I've ever had!" says Tinsley. And the cole slaw was "to die for". A nice quiet peaceful place to get away from the mob; the service was fast and friendly. The blueberry pancakes are awesome as well. And there's a deck overlooking the harbor.

Peter Otts Tavern has been the traditional fine dining choice in Camden, but reviews of this placu under its new ownership haven't been great.

Places to stay:
Camden Riverhouse Inn and Suites -- our favorite for the homey one bedroom suites.
Norembega Castle -- great place for a second (or first) honeymoon.
Lord Camden Inn -- haven't stayed there, but the balconies look over Main Street and the harbor. It could be a nice place to stay.

Weekend Philly Trip

Philly is a very walkable city with great architecture, food, and nice folks. In short, Philly is Phantastic!
(sorry, I couldn't resist)



I wanted to drop in on the Congress for New Urbanism conference in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to meet some of people who were speaking there, so I really only needed to take a couple of hours on Saturday and again on Sunday to listen to their presentation and then schmooze afterward. As a roadtrip-addicted family, we used the opportunity to have another FamilyRoadtripper weekend adventure.

We had never really been to Philly before and we were happily surprised at how cool it is. We'll be back, early and often!

As usual, we took back roads
We try to avoid interstates unless we're truly in a hurry, or if it's night time and there is nothing but dark to see out the windows. We took 84 west to Port Jervis, and then hopped onto the back roads whittling our way to Route 611 along the Delaware River (a great American back road) and right into the heart of Philly (see the map below). The road ended three blocks from our hotel, so in addition to being a scenic route, it was a direct route too.

Before going, I went to Fodor's forum to ask advice about kid-friendly places and activities. As usual, the Fodorites had a handful of tips and tactical advice.

At the top of the list was the Reading Terminal Market
What a great place. Almost everything you need under one roof. I say almost because we didn't actually explore the whole place enough to be sure that something was missing, but just about everything I need was there: Mexican food, sushi, Greek food, Philly Cheese Steaks, jalepeno hummus (!), beer garden, wine store, bakery, ice cream restaurant, bee store (bees wax, honey, etc), toys, post cards, beer garden, fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, meats, flowers, coffee, did I say beer garden?

Needless to say, we started the days at the public market, and ended them there as well. We went to the Liberty Bell and the Independence Mall, taking the advice of PaulRabe not to stand in line to see the Liberty Bell because you can see it through the window, and the kids can play on the mall.

China town was right there by our hotel, and Tinsley found herself in seventh heaven when she noticed a Chinese dollar store. All of the kitchy little Chinese lanterns and budahs and dragons that you see in Chinese restaraunts for a buck. It so happened that this weekend was Lilly's second birthday, so Tinsley bought a bunch of party supplies (noisemakers, silly hats, a mask for lilly...) and we had a birthday party up in the hotel room, then Lilly got a birthday bath and went to bed!

Below is a little map with our stops:

Washington DC Restaraunt Guide

From Fodor's Travel Wire:
D.C.'s a Dish: Savoring and Saving in the Capital City
Visiting dignitaries may find dining in Washington D.C. to be a staid and stiff affair, but the Beltway's best restaurants come in all sizes, styles, and budgets. From the Hill to Chinatown, here are a few of our favorite eats in the capital city.

Local Favorites for the Family
A day of culture-hopping in museums is bound to take a toll on your family's energy level. Fast-food joints can provide a quick fix for low blood sugar, but if you're looking for something more uniquely D.C., pop into one of the city's many bustling casual cafés and diners. Jimmy T's, a Washington institution a few blocks from the Capitol, serves breakfast all day along with greasy spoon fare like burgers and milkshakes.
Other hits with little eaters:
Pizzeria Paradiso, Georgetown
The Market Lunch, Capitol Hill
Ben's Chili Bowl, U Street

Fine Dining on a Balanced Budget
Few U.S. destinations offer better value for travelers than D.C. Sure, hotels are pricey, but free admission to world-class museums and an efficient Metro system (no need for a rental car here) make the city surprisingly affordable. D.C. also has great dining bargains. We're partial to the well-priced bar menu at Palena, the four-star Cleveland Park baby of Chef Frank Ruta and Pastry Chef Ann Americk, two former White House kitchen staffers. Fried lemon wedges, pàté, and a truffle-adorned cheeseburger are just a few delicacies on offer -- all $15 and below. Portions are small-ish, but savoring flavors this big at this price feels like a steal.
Other wallet-loving eateries:
Osteria Galileo, Italian, Downtown
Teaism, Asian, Downtown and Dupont Circle
Bistro du Coin, French, Dupont Circle

Tasty Tasting Menus
Plate after plate of haute cuisine might seem excessive, but if you're out to impress or celebrate, you can't go wrong with a reservation at a top restaurant's private chef's tables. The service and selections are exclusive; sitting close to (or even in!) the kitchen is a high honor at several high-end dining rooms around town. Foodies with a sense of humor should snag a stool at Café Atlántico's second-floor hideaway, Minibar. The private six-seat counter scores points for its roster of edible fantasies. The 30-course menu ($85) is prepared barside and sometimes includes such curiosities as cotton candy foie gras (right) and a deconstructed glass of white wine. Minibar fills its reservation book quickly; Café Atlantico's deluxe tasting menu spotlighting its Nuevo Latino specialties ($35) is a well-priced backup.
Other options for exciting multi-course experiences:
Laboratorio del Galileo, 12 courses, $110-125, Downtown
Citronelle, $85-150, Georgetown
2941, Falls Church, $75-110

I Spy a Senator
Just as some visitors to Los Angeles or New York pine for a glimpse of Hollywood royalty, some D.C. tourists live for the day when then can "bump" into famous political pundits. "Let's do lunch" means something in D.C.; mid-day is your best chance to see members of the city's political machine rubbing elbows. Unassuming Monocle is a magnet for members of Congress who head to the unassuming Capitol Hill eatery for Chesapeake crab-cake platters.
Other dining rooms frequented by the Who's Who of Washington:
TenPenh, Downtown
Montmarte, Capitol Hill
Capital Grille, Capitol Hill

United Nations
Chinatown may be D.C.'s only official ethnic neighborhood, but chances are the international cuisine you're craving is dutifully represented somewhere in the city. Zaytinya's medley of Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese offerings, small mezze plates, make it an ideal destination for groups keen to share the wealth.
For the best in globetrotting menus also try:
Full Kee, Chinese, Chinatown
Jaleo, Spanish, Downtown
Sushi-Ko, Japanese, Georgetown

Sweetly Southern
Cherry blossom trees bursting with pinkish hues aren't the only sign you're heading south -- all those restaurants serving up Southern comfort cuisine are another tell-tale sign that you're leaving the Beltway. The specialties at Vidalia aren't squarely centered on the restaurant's namesake. Elegant seasonal dishes, like rabbit loin wrapped with applewood bacon, round out a menu laced with quiet Old South influences. Don't forget to toast the day's discoveries with fresh mint juleps.
Other spots with sensibilities from the Low Country to Cajun Country:
B. Smith's, Capitol Hill
Horace & Dickie's, Capitol Hill
Bardia's New Orleans Café, Adams-Morgan
---Katie Hamlin

Kid-Friendly Guide to New York City

New York City is a great place to goof around with kids. Let them choose the pace and you'll all have a ton of fun. There are many kid-friendly attractions in and around Central Park; use this as a home base and you'll always have a bench close by to relax on while kids to burn off excess energy. Just don't forget to pack the snacks!

We feel strongly that family travel should be fun but educational, so we look for one or two aspects of an area to learn about and then choose our itinerary based on that.
Read also the first installment of city guides for kids for overall strategy advice; and please, add to this wiki-map by clicking "Contribute to This Map" below.

The points on this map came personal experience and some discussions at Fodor's Forum about taking kids to NYC. the below info is aditional advice from the Fodorites.

"Here's a long list of Central Park stuff.
After goofing around in Central Park and its adjacent attractions (and a decompression session back at the hotel) plan an early dinner along with an evening boat ride past the Statue of Liberty lit up for the evening. This is a nice way to wind down an event-filled day (also a good photo-op for little photographers). "

"Before you leave check for free kids events:
NY Magazine and gocitykids.com"

"In May & June NYC streets are filled with fairs and festivals. Check to see if the Big Apple Circus is in town, or something else of that nature..."

"Blue Man Group is still a favorite of 5 year olds."

"Kids love just looking around NYC -- allow time for the kids to experience New York - a hot dog or pretzel from a street vendor, lots of subway rides, Times Square, Central Park, the excitement of all the big buildings in the Times Square area and Downtown (Wall Street area)."

City Visits: Keep Your Sanity While the Kids have a Blast

You’re visiting the City for the first time and you may not get back for years. You want to see (and show your kids) as much as possible, but where do you begin? Lower your expectations and increase flexability with smart planning.

It always seems like a great idea to plan lots of stimulating things for kids to see in the big city. After all how often do you get to visit New York City (or Washington DC, or Chicago, or Boston…)?

Considering that kids are equally amused by a revolving door as a $120 Broadway show, it’s usually worth scaling back your expectations and focusing on a few really cool things. Keep your daily itinerary realistic. Just like Christmas, if you keep giving kids more and more presents, each previous one loses its luster. Make a list of the things you really want to do and then cross out half of them. Stick with cool things that they can explore, and let them dictate the pace. Within reason.

But cutting the itinerary in half is just one way to boost your chances of a successful city visit. There are a few other factors that can make or break the experience: pick the right hotel, don't get caught waiting for food, let them play hard, but give them a chance to rest (even if your kids “don’t nap”).

Your hotel room can be your happy place
We like suites so that there is at least one private bedroom and a kitchenette. They also often have two bathrooms. As we say frequently on this blog, we like Residence Inns because they’re very kid friendly, they allow dogs, and there is a good (at least good enough) breakfast buffet each morning (some even have espresso machines). And there are also the Marriott Rewards points that Dan racks up during business trips.

Eat breakfast in the room, pack some snacks, and don't sweat lunch
Finding a place for lunch can often take a lot of time and energy, so have snacks on hand to take the edge off. If there is a breakfast buffet at the hotel room, grab an apple or two and a couple of mini boxes of cereal.

In New York and many other cities there are enough street vendors to make lunch easy. You can also get a deli recommendation from the hotel and buy some sandwiches before you head out. Also if the museum has a cafeteria, convenience may trump cuisine. That being said, there are also a lot of great places to eat, just have things planned so that you’re in the neighborhood (and stocked with snacks) before the lunch bell rings.

Make time for playing
Find a playground for a lunchtime picnic or a post lunch play session. Kids love to run, climb and blow off steam even more than they love visiting museums. Hard to believe, but true. Not only will the kids get to play hard, but the parents get to rest and people-watch. Central Park in New York City and The National Mall in DC are great for this.

Take a break before dinner
Because the lines are shortest at museums and such, it often behooves you to get started early. As mentioned above, a quick breakfast in the hotel room or the lobby is a good strategy. But after an early start, an exciting museum, and playtime after lunch, the kids and parents are bound to be a bit tired. Do yourselves a favor: head to the hotel around 4:00 and kick back for a little while. Let the kids watch TV while you visit the cocktail lounge, take a shower, nap, read a book... whatever it takes to re-charge a little bit. Dinner will be a much better experience because of it. And depending on the age of the kids, you may even be able to sneak in an evening adventure (such as a ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty) after dinner without fear of an exhaustion crash.

Are we missing anything? Leave a comment and let us know!

Kid-Friendly City Guide to Washington DC

Washington DC is a fantastic place to visit with or without kids. During bad weather there are many indoor museums to visit (most of them with kid-focused exhibits); for better weather there are outdoor monuments, boat rides, and crab shacks. The Zoo has places to visit during all types of weather.

DC, with it's well thought out Metro system, is a great place to visit with kids. In fact, there is so much to see in DC that it’s impossible to see it all on a week end trip. A great strategy for places with a plethora of stuff is to choose some sort of theme and pick activities based on that. We feel strongly that family travel should be fun but educational, so we look for one or two aspects of an area to learn about and then choose our itinerary based on that.
See also City Visits: Keep Your Sanity While Your Kids Have a Blast!

Here is a list of fun stuff from our own experience ans well as stuff gleaned from Fodor’s Talk forum (in no particular order):

FDR Memorial is the kid-friendliest monument: There is a lotta watta, space to run, and places to sit.

Bull Run Campground outside of DC in Manassas is huge with playground, picnic areas, stables, disc golf, pools, wildlife trails, and other stuff. If traveling without a car, take a cab from the metro station. A great place for kids to burn off energy.

and maybe a night tour of the monuments...

why not go to a foreign restaurant in the area near Dupont Circle. For example, DC is one of the few places in America where you can eat at an Ethiopian restuarant -- and everybody I know who tried it, loved it. Also Japanese, Greek, Indian, .... There are lots of different restuarants in a small area. Do a little research and make a short-list of places within your budget.

Check washingtonpost.com for free entertainment in the city--there are often free concerts in the lobby at the Kennedy Center or at various government buildings, and the KC is another spot with a killer rooftop view.

The National Spy Museum really did look fabulous and people affiliated with the CIA and KGB contibuted to creating it.

The “Goes without Saying” section:
The Smithsonian: the Smithsonian website also has info on the other DC museums in order to help kids get more out of them.
The National Zoo -- Pandas!
The National Gallery
Air and Space Museum

Please comment on this blog and/or add to the wikimap with your own suggestions.