Tips for Obama girls on fun side of D.C.

By Gabriella Boston (Contact) and Karen Goldberg Goff (Contact) | Sunday, December 21, 2008

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Dear Malia and Sasha,

Welcome to Washington! You are going to love it here. There is a lot to do. We know life will be different, what with being the president's daughters and all, but let's hope you still will be able to get out and do what kids in D.C. do. You can even take your Secret Service guys with you.

Sure, there are the usual Washington field trip-type places to go - the National Zoo, the Smithsonian, etc., etc. We're thinking you won't wait in line like the rest of us for a White House tour, considering it is where you will be living and all. However, we at The Washington Times' family section definitely have the inside scoop on school-age fun, so here are a few activities off the beaten path:

• Soccer, anyone? - Malia, we hear you are an awesome soccer player. Check out D.C. United, Washington's Major League Soccer team, as well as the Washington Freedom, the women's team, when it returns to town this spring.

United games are played right in the District at RFK Stadium. The Freedom, led by two-time World Cup team member Abby Wambach, will play at Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown. (www.washington freedom.com,www.dc united.com).

• The first president's home - We know who the 44th president is, obviously, but you also can learn all about the city's namesake and first president, George Washington. Stop by his former home, Mount Vernon, which is across the Potomac River near Alexandria. Mount Vernon has a new visitor's center. There are interactive exhibits, a look at how the farm was run, informative films, and just the general feel that the surroundings were pretty, but life was probably not luxurious for GW's family. (www.mountvernon.org)

• After-school hangouts - We hope you are looking forward to attending Sidwell Friends School, which not only is a great school, but also is located on a strip of Wisconsin Avenue Northwest that is popular with students. Among the stops across the street: piping hot pizza at Two Amys (3715 Macomb St. NW); an old-time selection of toys and art supplies at Sullivan's (3412 Wisconsin Ave. NW); some of the best tortilla chips, guacamole and quesadillas at Cactus Cantina (3300 Wisconsin Ave. NW); and, of course, the ubiquitous Starbucks, where we used to see former first daughter Chelsea Clinton ordering frappucinos after school more than a decade ago, back when she was Sidwell student.

• Take me out to the ballgame - We know the Washington Nationals aren't as long-suffering as the Chicago Cubs and not recent World Series winners like the Chicago White Sox, but baseball in D.C. is fun anyway.

The highlight of the games here is the presidents' race, where Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt have footrace during the fourth inning. OK, you got us - they're not the real presidents, but big-headed caricatures. Teddy Roosevelt is a crowd favorite, but he finds more ways to blow it than those cursed Cubs.

Also fun at the ballpark: A soft W-shaped pretzel from Noah's Pretzels or a chili dog from Ben's Chili Bowl, the famous Washington restaurant that has a stand at the shiny new Nationals Park. The 2009 home opener is April 13 against the world champion Philadelphia Phillies. Maybe your dad would like to throw out the first pitch? (www.washington. nationals.mlb.com)

• Sledding! - Big snows in D.C. are much fewer and farther between than in the Windy City, but there is one absolute: The schools will close. What better way to say "snow day" than to grab your sled and hit the hills. A couple of good spots in town: Rock Creek Park south of Calvert Street, Montrose Park in Georgetown and Fort Reno Park just north of Sidwell Friends.

• Tea at the Ritz - This one is for mom's day out when your dad is busy with foreign dignitaries and whatnot. Ritz locations at Pentagon City and Tysons Corner have the most delicious tea in town, with individual pots of yummy blends or hot chocolate, teeny finger sandwiches, fantastic pastries (we like the scones) and strawberries and cream. (www.ritz carlton.com)

• Puppy Kindergarten - We are so excited you are getting a dog! Perhaps he will be here in time for Christmas? No matter what breed you decide on, we are sure you will need some sort of training to make sure Fido has manners suitable for the White House. Scratching the furniture in the Lincoln Bedroom would be a first-family faux pas for sure.

Popular doggie day care Dogma (821 Virginia Ave. SE) has a two-week Best Behaved Dogs training program. Well-regarded trainer Janet McMillan also can come to you for private lessons. (www. dog-ma.com)

• Imagination Stage - This Bethesda theater group, which features fantastic children's and family-friendly performances, built a state-of-the-art facility a few years back. Two upcoming shows are the classic "Heidi," and "Lyle the Crocodile." There are all kinds of after-school classes, too, from acting basics to computer animation. (www.imaginationstage.com)

• So dramatic - The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the place to be for all sorts of ballet, music and theater. By the time you arrive in January, you will have just missed tween favorite "Legally Blonde, the Musical." However, you'll want to see "Unleashed! The Secret Lives of White House Pets," a story about a young girl and her Chihuahua who are moving into the White House. They end up on a hilarious journey back in time to meet other first kids and their pets. (The show runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 22, www.kennedy center.com)

• Skater girls - Ice skating in the Sculpture Garden on the Mall is a time-honored favorite among Washington families. Spend an hour on this outdoor ice rink surrounded by wacky sculptures. Then stop in next door at the Pavilion Cafe for a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream. (www.nga.gov/ginfo/skating. shtm)

If you would rather watch than skate, keep an eye out for Stars on Ice and Disney on Ice, both of which make a stop or two at the Verizon Center every year.

• Rock and shop - Very close to the White House is the Penn Quarter, where you can catch a movie at Gallery Place, a concert at the Verizon Center, shop a number of stores and hit the Hard Rock Cafe or ESPN Zone (especially if you are up for a day with Dad; he can watch basketball on the ginormous screens). Also, visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum (www.madamtussauds.com) to see all sorts of actors, singers and historical figures in wax.

Still looking for something to do? By all means, give us a shout - we've got the 411. Hope to see you soon!

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