Dear FAMILY Friend,

FAMILY has exciting news- we've joined Instagram! You can follow us @ familymagdc or take a look online here.

Looking for something both you and your children can enjoy this summer? How about planting a butterfly garden? Gardening has been known to relieve stress and can be a great bonding activity for you and your family to try that will last the whole summer! Click here to see how and which plants attract butterflies the most!

FAMILY FUN EVENTS

4th Annual Annapolis Irish Festival

The festival will be a celebration of Irish traditions and customs and will feature local and international Celtic bands, step dancers, pipes and drum corps, entertainers, over 90 vendors offering authentic Irish foods and crafts, and children's activities.

When: Friday, July 11 - Saturday, July 12

Cost: Free - $20

Time: 4 pm - 10 pm on Friday, 11 am - 12 pm on Saturday

Location: Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds

1450 Generals Highway
Crownsville, MD

For more information, click here!

Constitution-in-Action Learning Lab

Families are invited to take on the role of researchers and archivists for a day. This is a great way to explore the history, learn more about the National Archives, and gain a greater understanding of the role the Constitution plays in our daily lives.

When: Thursday, July 10 - Tuesday, July 29

Cost: Free

Time: Varies per day

Location: National Archives and Records Administration- Boeing Learning Center

700 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC

For more information, click here!

Guys and Dolls

The McLean Community Players will present Guys and Dolls, a musical comedy.

When: Friday, July 11 - Sunday, July 27

Cost: $18 - $20

Location: Alden Theatre, McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Ave.
McLean, Virginia

For more information, click here!

London Nights with Whistler

Examine Whistler's paintings and prints of London, and then use paper, cutouts, pastels, and wax gilt to create night scapes of your favorite outdoor nighttime activities.

When: Saturday, July 5 - Sunday, July 13

Cost: Free

Location: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
1050 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC

For more information, click here!

School's Out for Summer!

Are you looking for an exciting day trip for your kids this summer?

Why not plan a visit to Washington, D.C., a city brimming with tons of fun things to see and do? Everyone knows the grand monuments and well-known historical spots that cover the city, but there's more

to D.C. than just that. If you're looking for something a little off the beaten path, why not visit Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C.?

More than just a wax museum, Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C. is a fully interactive experience, where visitors are able to touch, see and hear historical icons and celebrities like never before. You can meet all 44 presidents and brush shoulders with your favorite celebrities and sports stars!

Sound like your kind of fun? Book your tickets online and save up to 40% off here!

Mom Blog: The Music Momma
Title: Summer Learning Loss

It has been unquestionably documented that those lazy summer months result in an unfortunate effect known as Summer Learning Loss. The name is fairly self-explanatory: Every summer, our students lose some of the knowledge they gained over the previous school year.

Summer is a great time to relax, recharge, prepare for the coming year (mentally and emotionally), and to just enjoy being a kid. That there is a tradeoff to what is often no more than three months of extended playtime is not surprising.

What if there was an incredibly simple way to keep our students' brains active and engaged during the long videogames-and-summersports months? The answer... to read the rest, click here!

Thank you for reading!

If you have a great time at one of these events or have a story to tell, please share it with us! It is our mission to experience the great adventure of parenting with you!

Sincerely,

Your Friends at FAMILY Magazine

CONNECT WITH US

The results are in! Our "Best for FAMILIES" winners and finalists list can be found here and in our July 2014 issue, out now! We hope you enjoy and keep a look out for next year's survey!

SPONSORS