Glen Echo

To start things off, we went to Glen Echo Park today with Ben's grandma (my mom), an occasional fellow traveler and a Northern VA local. Mom called this morning wanting a lunch and play date that involved a carousel ride, and since the weather was sunny, how could we refuse? I picked Glen Echo because it was relatively close to our homes and had a cafe. So after nap time was over, I strapped Ben into his throne and off we went.

When you park in the back entrance, the first thing you encounter is a waterfall. Since we got there first, it's a good thing the waterfall was there. Ben has a thing for water. In fact, some would call it an obsession. He loves to swim, splash, spray, and otherwise get wet. So we watched the waterfall for a few minutes while we waited and he was enthralled. Soon our co-conspirator arrived and off we went into the main part of the park.

The major attraction for the preschool set is the beautifully restored 1921 carousel, complete with its own pneumatic organ. The mirrors reflected the sunshine, the brass gleamed, and all the carousel animals were in lovely shape, each seeming to be their own unique critters. Ben dropped my hand and trotted off yelling "Carousel!" No, really, he loves carousels (I will discuss others in future posts - I promise).

Clearly lunch could wait. We bought our tickets, a score at $1.25 and watched until it was our turn. Ben rode an ostrich and I spotted; Mom rode in comfort and style in a sleigh next to us. The music was loud and tinny, the movement was smooth as we enjoyed our ride. The kids who were on a field trip filled the places around us and made things much more lively. So while Ben took it all in, I went on a trip down memory lane and got to re-live the fun of a carousel ride. My one disappointment is that this carousel does not have rings to grab. The ride operates Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm and 12pm to 6pm on the weekends.

Ride over, we headed to the cafe that is attached to the Spanish Ballroom for a lunch of pre-made sandwiches and salads. They also have ice cream available, and next time, I think I'm definitely going to save some room. The toddler was not interested in eating, however, and kept trying to run away to the small playground adjacent to the picnic area. Eventually we followed him and found a small climbing structure and some swings.

I've become something of a playground connoisseur since having Ben and I wasn't super impressed with the equipment. There wasn't much there, but there were three other lovely families with toddlers of varying degrees of wobbliness. In a small play area, the people really do make the experience, and we had a good time playing with the other families.

We are most definitely planning on going back, probably this weekend to enjoy the Washington Folk Festival. There are also tons of classes and events ongoing, and it would be a shame not to enjoy Glen Echo's wealth of resources for creating and enjoying the arts. I expect we will be able to spend a lot of time here as a family.