Dumbarton Oaks Park

K- Near Georgetown there is a gorgeous, little park called Dumbarton Oaks Park.  Last weekend took Heidi, the dog, for a humid, adventurous walk to see what this park was like. We walked for two hours and didn’t see the whole thing. Part of the reason is we ended up on “Lover’s Lane,” which is kind of part of Rock Creek Park and goes to Dumbarton Oaks Park. However it was a nice path in itself. Despite the recent rains and a bit of mud, quite a few people were walking about and enjoying the scenery.  Everything was pretty and green and the creek made a nice burbling sound as the water rushed through. If you are looking for a place to have a Zen moment, I recommend coming here and having a leisurely walk or picnic.

There are several ways to access Dumbarton Oaks Park. Many or most people take a short stroll downhill along an asphalted pedestrian-only lane, Lovers’ Lane, which descends from R Street NW in Georgetown. Lovers’ Lane is located approximately 200 feet east of R Street and 31st Street NW.  Lovers’ Lane separates Dumbarton Oaks estate from Montrose Park and is signposted by a green-on-white wooden plaque reading,  “Dumbarton Oaks Park, Open Dawn to Dusk.”  The lane descends one-fourth of a mile to the Park entrance at the bottom of the hill. Free, street parking is available on R Street NW.

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Leaf Peeping

Not Shenandoah but pretty leaves nonetheless!

K- The East Coast is one of the best places to leaf peep. The brilliant, gold and scarlet leaves are still clinging to the tree branches and one of the best places to check out the colourful foliage is Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.  Although the peak colour has passed there are still some trees that are hanging on to their leaves in the lower elevations of the park.

Check out the foliage report here to find out what the leaves are doing whether there are still a few to enjoy or if all of the trees have lost their vibrant colours.

Charlottesville in the Rain

K – It’s a bit ironic that when I went to Charlottesville for an audition it was raining and now as I write it’s pouring outside.

I’ve been to Charlottesville a few times. It’s a nice little college town with a pedestrian mall where it’s easy to hang out, shop, have a coffee and lunch or dinner. When it’s nice outside there are quite a few restaurants that have outside seating.

Unfortunately that day I was unprepared for the rain so I didn’t stay as long as I had wanted to – but I did take some photos. As you will see in the photos it was pretty quiet that day due to the weather even though it was lunch time.

If you want to stay near Charlottesville to visit other sites – since it’s also near Monticello, the wine trail and Montpelier – there are plenty of places to stay. One place that I’ve stayed before  – for a special occasion – is the Clifton Inn. It was a great place to relax, have a swim, take a walk, enjoy a wonderful dinner and I could bring the dog!

Charlottesville is about a 2 hour and 15 minute drive from Washington D.C. There are two parking garages that are near the pedestrian mall – Market Street and Water Street as well as other parking options.

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The Spa at Mandarin Oriental

C – Sometimes, you just need to get away. Even if away is really just down the road. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental is a great way to take a mini-break. (In my case, an ultra mini-break.) I love a good spa, and the Mandarin Oriental didn’t disappoint. But it wasn’t a totally perfect experience.

First, I was welcomed with tea and slippers. Nice touch. One of three attendants helping me gave me a tour of the women’s facilities. Spotless. It was a typical women’s locker room, but there was a water suite beyond one door that had, without a doubt, the best steam room I’ve ever been in. It was the perfect temperature, and the seating was quite comfy. I had it all to myself, and it was a Saturday. I was given a robe that was a bit over used. Strike one.

I waited in the relaxation room for my 4 pm Oriental Essence Massage. The room looked quite nice, but the recliners were in no way comfortable, and there wasn’t enough room for all those waiting for treatments. Strike two.

The massage was good. Not the best ever, but worth the money. Then I got their basic pedicure and everything turned around. First pedi of the season, so my conversation with the technician was peppered with apologies. This woman was a miracle worker. Not only did she get my feet in summer condition (not that it matters right now with this weather) but she took extra time. About 20 extra minutes. That’s unheard of in the spa biz.

I was there almost 5 hours and I didn’t manage to make it to the indoor pool, which I’ve heard has spectacular views. I think next time, I’ll save some money, skip the massage and spend the rest of my time poolside.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
1330 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20024
(202) 554 8588

BONUS: they take Spa Finder gift certificates!

 

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival

K- Over the weekend I went to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Dulles Expo Center to check it out – as I’d never been before –  and maybe get some Christmas shopping done.

The Expo Center isn’t as large as it used to be. It used to be in two buildings but apparently Walmart has the other one now. That being said, there were plenty of things choose from.

As I walked through the aisles I was overwhelmed with all of the stuff. There were booths that had fine jewelry, costume jewelry, hats, rocking horses, stained glass, Christmas ornaments, menorahs, pottery, hand-crafted furniture, paintings, cakes, cookies, jams, organic chocolate, soap, and so many other crafts. One booth had “steampunk” items, like balloons, airplanes and figures made out of pieces and parts such as beer mugs, napkin rings, nuts, bolts, etc.

Jack the Pumpkin King ornament

Another purchase from the fair

The tickets are a bit pricey but you may be able to get them cheaper online and ours was good for the whole festival – 3 days. You might even be able to split the cost with a friend.

Although the festival is over, there will be another in January to perhaps start your Christmas shopping extra early!

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Day Trip to Philly

C – It’s not 2 hours to Philadelphia. Let’s just clear this up right now. We all have it in our heads that it’ll take 2 hours from basically anywhere in the DC Metro Area to get there. But, in reality, it’s closer to 3. That said, it’s still do-able as a day trip. So fill up the tank and get going. There’s lots to see in the city of brotherly love.**

When you get there, park and leave your car. You can do quite a bit in one concentrated area near Independence Hall, so walking is where it’s at. First stop: Independence Visitor Center. Go straight to desk for the (free) timed tickets to Independence Hall. You can’t miss it. It’s right next to the large, plastic likeness of Rocky. (I’m not kidding).  If you’re really crafty, you’ll reserve your tickets in advance, online for a $1.50 convenience fee per ticket at www.recreation.gov.

Take the time waiting for your tour to start to explore the immediate area. Head to the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Franklin Court. The museum opened to the public on August 24, 2013, and I just happened to be there. It was great. Ben Franklin was fascinating and kind of a funny dude. A very well done museum for adults and children. Something for everyone. Check out Franklin’s pen names in the picture below. And, just in case you’re wondering, Twitter will not let you use Abigail Twitterfield as a handle. I tried it.

On your way back to Independence Hall, take a stroll past Carpenters’ Hall. This was the site of the first Continental Congress in 1774. Make your way to Independence Hall now and line up for your tour. You really only see two rooms but it’s worth the time. The tour guides are excellent and they’ll tell you all about the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the drafting of the US Constitution in 1787, among other hugely historic moments. It’s important and it’s free. You won’t regret it.

Hungry? There’s a great restaurant attached to the Hotel Monaco. Red Owl Tavern features “American Food” — steaks, fish, burgers and, my favorite, the wedge salad. It’s casual but with an upscale feeling. If you’re looking for something a little more low key, we had a lovely and very casual lunch outside at La Scala’s, just two blocks away from Independence Hall. Great service, nice atmosphere and very affordable.

Once done with lunch, get ye to the Liberty Bell. Don’t let the crazy line intimidate you. it moves pretty fast. You will first see exhibits detailing the history of the bell. It’s interesting, but know that you don’t actually have to view it in line. If you want, you can whip right past everyone and go straight to the prize. Tip: you might be tempted to take a picture of the Liberty Bell with Independence Hall in the background, but with the mid-day sun, you end up with a very dark bell. Take a picture from the other side. It’s less crowded and it will actually show up in the picture.

There are so many other things to see in Philadelphia. You can’t really cram it all into a day trip, but you can get a good overview by visiting these sites. On your way out of town, make sure to swing by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Don’t park in the garage – it’ll cost you $14 and you’ll have to get your ticket validated inside. Try street parking or the metered lot at the back near the river. Unless you’re actually going for the art, of course. We went for a quick run up the steps a la Rocky Balboa.

**One little issue: this post was written in October 2013 during the US Government Shutdown. Many of the items on this tour are National Parks and, if the shutdown is still on, they may be closed. Check online before you go.

Weekend in the Finger Lakes

K- A couple of weeks ago I went to New York’s Finger Lakes region – mainly Cayuga Lake –  and spent a few days playing tourist. The Lakes are about a 5 to 6 hour drive from the DC area but is totally worth it.

The area has a lot to do. You can go hiking, see a multitude of waterfalls and lakes, visit various wineries (there is supposedly more than 100) as well as walk around Ithaca.

One of the falls I hiked to was the Taughannock Falls. The falls plunge 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge and it is one of the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains.

Other nearby places to the Finger Lakes that you can visit are Elmira, which was where Mark Twain’s summer home was and where he is now buried  and Corning where you can check out the Rockwell Museum of Western Art.

As it’s quite a drive you will want to stay at least over night and there are a lot of bed and breakfasts in the area. One I stayed at, the Rufus Tanner House, was cozy and very nice. The owners Donna and Rick were very friendly and have lots of information about things to do and restaurants in the local area.

There are a few good restaurants in the area. One I had been wanting to go to for a long time was the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca. I was not disappointed! The food was fabulous and I can’t wait to go again!

Overall, I highly recommend a visit to this area especially if you like to drink in beautiful scenery, relax and be away from it all.

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Bull Run Hike

K- Thanks for joining us again! Summer is almost over but the activities never end!

As you may know from previous posts, I love hiking. One of the hikes I often take is the Bull Run- Occaquan Trail, especially with the dog. The trail is 17 miles  – no, haven’t done the length of it yet – summer and fall the trail is full of flora, fauna and history.

On the weekends the trail can be quite busy with trail runners, families, hikers and dogs. You may see a couple of horseback riders too.  There is no fee for the trail.

I always begin at Fountainhead Regional Park – no particular reason. The part of the trail that I’ve walked is pretty tame. Although it’s a bit rough in some spots or steep, there aren’t any rocks to scramble, cliffs to climb or crevices to leap. However I believe shoes sturdier than flip flops are in order.

Every time I walk the trail there I notice something new like strange mushrooms growing along trees, a deer or two, a turtle, toads, interesting trees, etc. The trail is especially beautiful in the autumn when the leaves are turning. Whenever I go to Bull Run I’m never bored.

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Open: Daily, dawn to dusk per the schedule.

Directions:To reach Fountainhead, take I-95 south of the Beltway, exit at Occoquan and travel north on Rt. 123 approximately 5 miles. Turn left onto Hampton Road and drive 3 miles to the entrance on the left.

Hiking Great Falls

K – Great Falls Park isn’t very far away and I’ve had quite a few friends recommend it to me for hiking but I’ve always put it off to next weekend. Well, I finally decided this was the time to see what it’s all about. So off I went, sans dog, as I heard some of the trails can be a bit difficult (in fact, the website describes the trails and their level of difficulty) and I wanted to “test drive” them myself before I brought him along.

As Great Falls Park is part of the national park service there is a fee to enter however I think it’s worth it. Besides hiking, the park offers birdwatching, bicycle trails, climbing, boating, fishing and horseback riding trails. It is a trash free park and all trash bins have been removed from the park. But they do have trash bags that you can bring with you and take out of the park for disposal. I will say that the trails were pretty trash-free, which was nice to see.

I began my visit at the park by stopping by the overlook to see the Great Falls. I found them pretty amazing and was not expecting them to be so huge.

The trails are marked very well and there is a map that you can use to decide how far and where you want to go. I went the River T

Part of the River Trail

rail, part of the Ridge Trail and ended with the Matilda Trail. The River trail is a beautiful walk along the river but it is a bit challenging and I would highly recommend proper shoes as parts of the trail you must scramble or climb over rocks and there are some steep hills. The other trails offered beautiful scenery as well and I got to see some deer, lots of butterflies and although I didn’t see any, I heard lots of frogs.

After hiking the trails I went to check out the visitor center to see what they had inside. They had quite a few informative and interactive displays and a snack bar. It was interesting but it seems more targeted to children – so if you have kids, they probably would find it fun.

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Overall the park had some great trails, gorgeous scenery and would be a lovely place to picnic. If you haven’t been, I’d highly recommend it!

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Great Falls National Park

9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102

Open daily from 7 a.m. until dark. The Visitor Center and bookstore are open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily.

Pick your own

I love this time of the year! I love all of the fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs that are available. I know you are thinking “how can that be?” with the awesome heat and incredible heat index and humidity we’ve had, but I do. It’s not summer without it and think of all of the great things that come with it – pools, beaches, gardening, eating outdoors and berry picking!

The last couple of weekends I’ve gone to Butler’s Orchard to go blueberry or blackberry picking. I love getting a few pounds of berries and using the fresh ones to munch, make drinks, bake or freeze so I can use them to make pies, muffins or smoothies later in the year.  There’s something about picking my own fruit and using them in the food or drinks I make. They seem to taste so much better!

If you decide to pick berries get there early (they open at 8:30 a.m. on the weekend) as it’s cooler and much less crowded. Bring some containers to place the berries you pick. You can buy little buckets there (don’t know about other orchards/farms) but if you have your own containers, that’s one less thing you have to worry about. Once you get to the fields, you should get your container weighed as they subtract the weight of the container from the total weight so you only pay for the berries, which cost $2.69 per pound. And no, they don’t weigh you on the way in or the way out of the fields in case you want to do a “taste test.”

If you are going to pick blueberries you need to hurry, the season lasts from June to early August and the later in the season, the fewer there are to pick. For blueberries at Butler’s follow the signs to park your car and once you arrive, there are people that will show you where you can park. You will see a little “stands” where you can weigh your containers as well as pay afterwards. You will also see a line to ride the passenger cart that is pulled by a tractor.  The tractor takes you to the blueberry bushes where you will be able to pick as many as you are able and ride back so you can pay.

For blackberries the season is mid-July through August. To get to the field you just follow the signs, get your containers weighed and head to the blackberry bushes to pick. When you pick the berries the best and sweeter tasting ones are fully black without any red on them.

So if you are deciding what to do this weekend, head out to an orchard or farm and pick some berries.  But if you’d rather have someone else do the work then you can go to their market where they sell fruit, vegetables, jams, etc. That being said, I’d highly recommend picking your own, they just taste so much sweeter!

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Butler’s Orchard

22200 Davis Mill Road

Germantown MD 20876

Telephone – 301-972-3299