In an Octopus' Garden in the Shade: U.S. Botanic Garden

One of our favorite wintertime activities (because it is frequently the ONLY thing open during D.C.'s random, but too frequent in the last few years, ridiculous snowstorms) is to visit the U.S. Botanic Garden.  Around the winter holidays, the Garden has a really sweet model train display.  And since its hot and humid in there, we usually save it for the winter months.  But since we learned about the Children's Garden, which is outside and only open during the warmer months, we couldn't wait to hit it up in the summer.  So on a recent very hot hot day, we trained it down there.  It didn't disappoint.  There were some really cool fountains to play in, including one with a well pump that you could use to squirt water out of a fishy's mouth, a garden-roofed playhouse, lots of mud for digging, and tons of plants to water.  To no one's surprise, we got right in there and soaked ourselves.  Fortunately, it was 8,000 degrees outside (it was actually cooler inside in the rainforest exhibit), so we dried out quickly.  There were a few watering cans to play with, but some little girls also shared theirs.  So on our list to bring for next time is bathing suits (duh) and some water toys.  And on the way out we ran through the sprinklers on the lawn of the National Garden, which earned some looks from some nice old ladies.  Jealous much?

Oh, and the National Museum of the American Indian is right across the street, which has a kick A cafe.  We're talking coffee rubbed pork loin, delish totopos, cedar planked fire-roasted salmon.  They have a kids' menu, too, but we usually go for the legit goodness.   Definitely worth it if you are in the 'hood.