One of our travel guides partners, Not For Tourists, has several unique
offerings on their website this week. Check out the following
highlights from their Washington, D.C. correspondents...

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 For a Washington, Ride with Junior, by Rin-rin Yu

Cabin John Regional Park

If you want to win points from your niece or nephew for Best Aunt or Best Uncle, swipe the kid for the afternoon to Cabin John Regional Park. Situated in a woodsy part of Bethesda and best accessed by car (borrow your sibling's giant SUV with the car seats). It's more than just a playground--it's like FIVE playgrounds built into the rustic scenery. Not only that, the playgrounds are like the kind you remember from your childhood days of breaking teeth and banging your head, made from recycled tires and chunks of wood--not the politically correct jungle gyms of today (though they are still very safe, just watch for splinters).

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French Toast For the Breakfaster's Soul, by Elisabeth Grant

Open City

I have three words for you: Breakfast. All. Day. That's right, at Open City you can experience the most elusive, celebrated, and cherished of all meals: brinner. There's something about breakfast for dinner that's so wrong it's right.

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Buy American, Irish Offspring!, by Magda Nakassis

Duffy's

My favorite parts of Duffy's website are the animated shamrock gifs that rotate on either side of the bar's logo. My favorite part of the real Duffy's bar is its Monday night happy hour. The "hour" in this case, is actually eight hours, spanning 4 pm to midnight. During that time, you can score a can of domestic beer for only $1. The selection is a land of contrasts, much like this proud country we call Murica.

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Flower Power, by Rin-rin Yu
           
United States National Arboretum

Somewhat hidden off in otherwise sketchy Southwest holds some of DC's best sites on acres and acres of rolling green space, without all the tourists. Where? you ask. The National Arboretum, which is quite famous, and one of those places every local plans to visit, but never gets around to.

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Government-Funded Freak Show, by Hunter Gorinson
           
National Museum of Health and Medicine

One wonders what the minds behind this Walter Reed museum were wondering when they labeled their oddball collection of deformed fetuses, cannonball-smashed skulls and diseased tissue so mundanely. Housed on the campus of the Walter Reed Military Hospital, this is a must-see for those who skip the Ferris wheel and head straight for the freak show. Between the amputated limbs and outdated surgical implements, it's pretty clear that medical oddities don't get much odder than this. Field trips make up most of the clientele, so come the weekend, the place is usually deserted--and that much creepier.

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For more Washington, D.C. highlights, please see

Check out their website - they have free downloadable guides, maps, gear, and of course, the travel guide books. Not to mention, they are pretty funny people. I am always laughing when I visit their site, or read their newsletter.

Not For Tourists has offered a coupon for Wandering Educators - please use the coupon code: WE for a 10% discount.