Exploring the Franciscan Monastery in Northeast DC. As we all collectively grasp at the last days of summer, we felt a lot of pressure to do something special on Labor Day. I have been told I am something of a planner so it was surprising we had no big plans – nothing to do, nowhere to go. We threw out ideas from visiting Virginia Wine country to driving two hours to Dutch Wonderland for the girls. Too hot, too far, too…
At one point we were all buckled up in the car, at the stop sign, stalled. We ventured down the road slowly, still undecided. That is when we noticed the worst traffic city in America is surprisingly empty on Labor Day. Yippee!
With no other cars in our way, we headed into DC. It was early so we landed at the new playground down the street. When that went well we went full tourist and visited the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland.
The church and gardens are a peaceful oasis right in the middle of the city. The girls roamed around and I got time with Virgin Mary outside. Besides beautiful architecture and gardens, they have replicas of holy sites from Jerusalem.
“I’m kind of hungry,” said my husband, which naturally led us to our favorite cheap Chinese food restaurant near Gallery Place, further into downtown: Full Kee. A few shrimp balls stuffed with scallops later, we walked out happy.
“Can we get ice cream?” asked the five-year-old. “Of course!" we answered in our new, laid back attitude.
But not just any ice cream. The flavors at Ice Cream Jubilee at Yards Park do not play around: Blueberry Pie, Thai Iced Tea, Gin & Tonic, Honey Lemon Lavender, Banana Bourbon Caramel, Coconut Lychee Lime, Passionfruit Guava. We fought with the two-year-old to help her eat some of it in addition to smearing it all over us.
Sticky with melted ice cream all over our hands and chins, we looked toward the water.
"Want to dip your feet?” led to a splash fest in the Yards Park wading pool. We never got to grilling or the road trip. But despite our lack of planning and indecisiveness, the day unfolded on its own.
It was a good day to stay in the city.
At one point we were all buckled up in the car, at the stop sign, stalled. We ventured down the road slowly, still undecided. That is when we noticed the worst traffic city in America is surprisingly empty on Labor Day. Yippee!
With no other cars in our way, we headed into DC. It was early so we landed at the new playground down the street. When that went well we went full tourist and visited the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland.
The church and gardens are a peaceful oasis right in the middle of the city. The girls roamed around and I got time with Virgin Mary outside. Besides beautiful architecture and gardens, they have replicas of holy sites from Jerusalem.
“I’m kind of hungry,” said my husband, which naturally led us to our favorite cheap Chinese food restaurant near Gallery Place, further into downtown: Full Kee. A few shrimp balls stuffed with scallops later, we walked out happy.
“Can we get ice cream?” asked the five-year-old. “Of course!" we answered in our new, laid back attitude.
But not just any ice cream. The flavors at Ice Cream Jubilee at Yards Park do not play around: Blueberry Pie, Thai Iced Tea, Gin & Tonic, Honey Lemon Lavender, Banana Bourbon Caramel, Coconut Lychee Lime, Passionfruit Guava. We fought with the two-year-old to help her eat some of it in addition to smearing it all over us.
Sticky with melted ice cream all over our hands and chins, we looked toward the water.
"Want to dip your feet?” led to a splash fest in the Yards Park wading pool. We never got to grilling or the road trip. But despite our lack of planning and indecisiveness, the day unfolded on its own.
It was a good day to stay in the city.
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