The Three Hits of X-Mas Part Three: Going Godzilla for Quadrilla

     About three weeks before Christmas I took Jackson to my favorite toy store to see if we were missing anything he might like. By the end of the visit I was pretty sure I was going to need a tranquilizer dart gun when it was time to make our exit.  At The Dancing Bear my son encountered his favorite marble run ever. Quadrilla!! Jack is the proud owner of a few plastic marble runs that he had gotten hours and hour of entertainment building and watching, tearing down and building again. A Quadrilla marble run however is the major league of marble runs.

Jack's Red Rider BB Gun for 2010

     Manufactured by Manhattan Toys Quadrilla is a toy that I imagine will be in the family for generations to come. It's sturdy construction and multiple assembly options completely justifies the rather expensive price tag that comes along with it.

     Initially the 105 piece Twist set we selected can seem daunting to construct, especially when a hyped up 3 ½ year old bouncing on your back and screaming for you to hurry up. After a few attempts however it becomes quite easy, even enjoyable for Mom or Dad to put together. After a few dozen times you begin to see the educational value of the toy.

Every Configuration Brings The Same Smile

     For lack of a better term Jackson's engineering imagination began to take hold in a way I had never seen before. If I placed one of the color coded pieces in the wrong place, he would be there to point it out. When something isn't quite right he follows the marbles very closely and helps adjust the imperfection.

     This toy is without a doubt a 10 out of 10. One of the best investments we have made for our child thus far, swing by your local toy store to check one out.

Only a Few Days Left For Xmas Myrth.

Only a few days to go until Christmas Day and if you have you stuff together than you have most of your shopping done, and are making plans to entertain family.  Heck maybe you will manage a few afternoons off if things are slow at the office.  This is a great time to find those hidden treasures that are out there in the Baltimore/Washington area.  I will Highlight a few that The Traveling Tots try to make annual pilgrimages to.

Today...The Festival of Light at the Mormon Temple.

Located just outside of Washington D.C. the Temple is one of the most unique sights on the capital beltway.  Every year the Temple sponsors a free light display that rivals any of the drive thru pay displays.  Located near my childhood home this destination was a yearly event for my family and though I live a little farther away these days I try to make it down every year. 

The display is quite vibrant, yet markedly humble.  No gaudy blinking Santa lights, or synchronized dancing lights broadcast from a low F.M.  It is an appropriate tribute to the beauty of the season and the warmness of the temples followers.  Parking is free and usually organized well.  You do have to drive through a residential neighbor hood so please be respectful!!

I also recommend the visitor center which has a Christmas Tree display from LDS temples around the region.  There is also a well done museum outlining the history if the LDS Church.  I have never been approached by a volunteer and been solicited to join their faith, so I suggest leaving stereotypes at the door and just enjoy the spirit of the holidays.    

If you get there early they have top notch choirs perform nightly as well.  All is all this is one of the quintessential local D.C. experiences for family to enjoy.  And it's Free!!!

Here are the directions:

DC LDS Temple

And here is official website with a list of performers:

http://dctemplelights.lds.org/

Attraction Rating: 8 out of 10

Experience Rating 9 out of 10

Driving on Ice to see ICE!! at the National Harbor

     My wife Becky and I like to think of ourselves as experts on traveling with children.  We have one trip to New Orleans, dozens of trips to local destinations without so much as a flat tire, or forgotten necessity for the children in 3 plus years of child rearing. 

      Two things snuck up and chomped us right in the tooshies this week. 1.) Always check the weather in the winter before buying the tickets. 2.) NEVER!! EVER!! Let them get hungry.

       This past Thursday the wife I took the Travelin Tots to see ICE!! at the Gaylord hotel in the National Harbor.  For those of you not blessed to live the Washington D.C. area and equally blessed not to have driven the Capital Beltway a killer mistake a traveler can make is not checking the weather when you purchase non-refundable tickets to an event that is on the opposite end of the beltway. 

        What was supposed to be a light dusting of winter weather quickly turned into a two inch slushy mix.  Being a life long D.C. resident I quickly recognized the dilemma and sped up the preparation for our 1 P.M. entrance time.  We figured a two hour head start from Frederick Maryland to the National Harbor in D.C. was a good bet. 

Fail!

    Snow fall + Idiots + Construction on the VA side of the of the Beltway = a two hour trip in what was supposed to be non-rush hour traffic.  Can someone tell me why the VA side of the beltway always looks like Optimus Prime and Megatron just fought it out in a lame slow motion fight sequence?

     After getting to the Gaylord, well after our entrance time we rushed into the facility to find that we had made the right call by going on a weekday.  500 feet of empty serpentine ropes and foreboding signs approximating wait times cheered our effort.

     As we approached the entrance we were given a bright blue Parka which, which no matter how many layers you have worn is completely necessary.  For such an ordeal ICE seemed smaller than I expected.  However the event was a huge hit with our 3 Y.O. Jackson. 

     

     The artistry was impressive and the slides were super cool.  It would have been better if the slides were closer to the end of the display b/c it  wound up being very difficult entice Jackson out of the room.

     Upon exiting the exhibit failure#2 reared it’s ugly head.  Jack had had a small breakfast b/c of the rush getting on the road, and it was now 2pm. Never ever allow such stimulation and hunger to intersect in your travel plans.  The temper tantrum was a top ten episode in the life of our child.  After 25 minutes of calming him down we had to do something I never wanted to do again.  Eat at the Gaylord.  For those of you that have not to have done this…Don’t!!  Pack a lunch.  Two adult meals at a small coffee shop $30.16.  But it did allow us time to enjoy the fountain and the lovely view of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. 

     If you follow this experience up with a slow slog through rush hour traffic that put another 2 ½ hours on our “half day trip” and you get some tired cranky parents and two sleeping children upon arrival at home.

Overall Rating

Attraction: 7 out of 10     ICE at the Gaylord National Harbor

Experience: 6 out of 10

National Harbor: 5 out of 10