The Virginia Tulip Farm that Resembles Holland

Spring has more than sprung by the time this blog post has launched on my site – haha! BUT, one thing reigns for sure, many of us seem to LOVE a good tulip farm or even patch during these warmer months. I used to think that I would have to make the trek allll the way out to Holland to see the best tulips of my life in the Spring time to truly know that Spring has sprung, but that is far from the truth! At the end of this past month aka April as seen on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), my good friend from high school Haley and I went to a gorgeous Virginia tulip farm resembles Holland. This tulip farm is known as none other than Burnside Farms!

Burnside Farms is located in Nokesville, Virginia about an hour South of Washington, DC near Manassas, Virginia in Prince William County. What’s unique about Burnside Farms is that they open for the season when the tulips have fully bloomed for the season. And, in order to prevent crowds and crowds and crowds of people from coming in all at once, Burnside Farms requires a ticketed entry that can be reserved in advance on their website. Haley’s and I’s tickets were about $22.50 each including tax and fees. When visiting, Burnside Farms offers a pick your own option for guests to pick their own tulips, daffodils, and even sunflowers at an extra charge with an adorable and gorgeous straw basket to carry them in (Haley and I chose to just admire them!). Not only does Burnside Farms have a tulip farm, but they also have a sunflower patch in the Summer months and a Christmas tree farm in November and December with similar ticketed entry at least for the sunflower patch. Not to mention, Burnside Farms also has an ADORABLE gift shop filled with local goods, including locally sourced jams aka Papa’s favorite!

Haley and I ended up going to Burnside Farms around 5pm aka the good olde Golden Hour! Burnside Farms has a drop dead gorgeous array of rows and rows and rows of tulips. Many of these rows of tulips are empty, too, making it the PERFECT picture opportunity. You truly feel as if you are in Holland without the hassle and high cost of a trip and plane ticket abroad (BUT, I do wish to travel to see the tulips there someday :)!). Haley and I enjoyed simply catching up with one another as we walked through these gorgeous rows and rows and rows of tulips. We also loved the lack of crowds, especially with the ticketed entry to actually get into visit and see the tulip fields which limited them. Going to Burnside Farms truly felt like I was at a tulip farm that resembles Holland!

My tips for planning your visit to Burnside Farms is to keep an eye on both their website and social media platforms for when their tickets open for each season. Seasons are determined by when the tulips/sunflowers are in peak bloom. Tickets are expected to sell out fast for each season, and they open for each week about a week or two in advance. When I purchased tickets for Haley and I, most of the tickets were already sold out.

For more information on Burnside Farms (which will open in July for sunflowers!) and to plan your own future visit look no further than their website: https://www.burnsidefarms.com

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

The FREE Smithsonian After Hours Parties You Don’t Want to Miss!

So, if you’re living in the Washington, DC area, then you don’t want to miss this FREE opportunity! The Washington, DC’s Smithsonian is notorious for its free museums that boast of variety of historical and cultural exhibits, including paintings by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, portraits of all of the United States Presidents, the Hope Diamond, and a collection of all of the Inaugural gowns worn by almost every United States First Lady. The Smithsonian’s museums are also ALL free to the general public. BUT, what you may not know is that the Smithsonian offers FREE events to the general public after hours, too. A few weeks ago, my good high school friend Wyatt and I went to the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art’s FREE Flowers After Hours After Party.

For the National Gallery of Art’s After Hours events, look no further than here: https://www.nga.gov/calendar/community-events/nights.html

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I posted a few weeks back about the National Gallery of Art’s Flowers After Hours event. The National Gallery of Art is one of my favorite Smithsonian museums, as it is the home to paintings by both Vincent Van Gogh and my favorite artist Claude Monet (whose historic home I visited in Giverny, France while studying abroad in London). The museum was DECKED out in a beautiful array of floral arrangements from head to toe. There was a bar with drinks and snacks at a price for attendees to enjoy a sip as they admire ALLL the gorgeous art work. Essentially, all attendees could admire the beautiful artworks while enjoying a drink or a snack (or two!).

The Smithsonian’s After Parties are usually free for all, but you do have to sign up first tickets online in advance. Admission to get in is offered all throughout the duration of the event, with lots of people arriving right at its event start time. I usually check the Smithsonian’s website for all of their many FREE events: https://www.si.edu/events

As for me and Wyatt, we ended up arriving on the early end (right when the doors opened at 6pm) and leaving about an hour later. We, then, got beer and burgers nearby at MatchBox in Metro Center and caught up on life.

Personally, I most definitely want to check out even more of the Smithsonian’s FREE After Hours Parties, especially as they reopen after COVID-19 put literally everything to a halt. I, especially, want to check out events at other Smithsonian museums, too.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

The Historic Hidden Northern Virginia Gem

The other week, Papa and I went back in time to the 18th century to visit George Mason’s Gunston Hall, located in Lorton, Virginia along the Potomac River just outside of Washington, DC. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I have shared a bit about my adventures at Gunston Hall already. A few months ago, I found a Groupon for two tickets/$8.00 to tour a historic Virginia mansion. Best part?! It was located about 15 minutes from my house! It turned out to be the home of George Mason – a Founding Father. BUT, today, I am here to share a bit more about this magnificent historical experience of mine and Papa’s.

So, George Mason was an influential player in the creation of the Bill of Rights. He was also at the Constitutional Convention and fought in the American Revolutionary War. Although he may not be as notable as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, or James Monroe to us all today, he made a major impact on our country and with providing equal rights to ALL humans. In fact, within the museum at Gunston Hall, there’s an exhibit placing an emphasis on ALL of the rights that George Mason helped grant fellow Americans, including women, BIPOC Americans, Americans with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ Americans. George Mason may just have been the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of his time. Indeed, George Mason paved the way for Ruth Bader Ginsburg to pave the way, herself. That exhibit within Gunston Hall’s museum, to me, showcased the importance of the impact that he made and helped create on all Americans, despite his name not being as prominent as others’ within our history textbooks.

Gunston Hall is located about a 25 minute drive from George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Both mansions are located along the Potomac River, which runs through Washington, DC. Historically speaking, ships could come directly to both George Mason’s and George Washington’s homes, bringing in goods from abroad after most likely arriving from abroad in Alexandria, Virginia. Fun fact: Alexandria, Virginia is a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, DC with the CUTEST Old Town Alexandria in its heart and also located along the Potomac River. Alexandria, Virginia ALSO used to be the United States capital way way way back in the day aka centuries ago! Mount Vernon is located in Mount Vernon, Virginia just South of and around Alexandria, Virginia while Lorton, Virginia is South of Alexandria, Virginia. Lorton, Virginia is right by where I grew up and reside so it’s crazy to think that such a historic gem is nearby!

Unlike George Washington’s Mount Vernon, George Mason’s Gunston Hall is not as well-known. Y’all, I am from the Lorton, Virginia area and hadn’t had been to Gunston Hall in the decades that I have lived here. CRAZY!! Gunston Hall is definitely not as big of a property as Mount Vernon, but it does have some beautiful trails to explore along the Potomac River nearby and a complimentary tour offered every hour or half hour – I forget which since we signed up when we arrived for a tour – HAHA! The mansion was definitely a Grand Millienial like myself’s paradise!!! Not to mention, Gunston Hall has a museum featuring historical significances of George Mason’s time period and emphasizing his pioneering of providing all humans with equal rights here in the United States.

For $8.00 total, I got two tickets to tour a historic mansion, walk its gorgeous grounds overlooking the Potomac River, and visit a museum. While a lot smaller than other historic mansions, George Mason’s Gunston Hall is definitely worth the $8.00 for you and a guest to enjoy a historic afternoon along the Potomac River, admire the gorgeous historical mansion, and learn a few fun facts. It’s a hidden gem for sure that I wish I knew about sooner. My biggest piece of advice is to check Groupon for tickets and get a 3 month voucher, so you can pick a date that works for you or plan ahead on their website. Do whatever suits you fancy, but be sure to have a great time!

For more information on George Mason’s Gunston Hall, check out their website: https://gunstonhall.org

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

My First Washington DC National Cherry Blossom Festival as a Local

If you live in Washington, DC or perhaps the United States, then you know that late March-late April is the 3 week long National Cherry Blossom in the nation’s capital. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I have been sharing ALLL the cherry blossom content on my page, whether it be in my Northern Virginia neighborhood or in Washington, DC on my several weekend day trips there. This year (2022), the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 22-April 17 (website linked here), and I am going to share my experiences with my best friend Shivani at this almost-month long festival so far (hence why this is Part 1 of 2!) in this post!

Part 1 – The Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre

Every year, the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off with an opening ceremony, which this year was held at the historic and drop dead gorgeous Warner Theatre. Shivani and I arrived at Warner Theatre early and *of course* stocked up on ALL of the merchandise that the Cherry Blossom Festival sells each year. This event is FREE and features performers and prominent figures in making the National Cherry Blossom Festival happen from both the United States and Japan. Fun fact: Japan is the home base of the cherry blossom trees, as they were planted by First Lady Helen Taft and prominent Japanese figures, in order to represent and honor the United States’ and Japan’s friendship back in the 1910’s-1920’s. First Lady Helen Taft also founded my favorite-ever museum exhibit – the First Lady Exhibit at the Smithsonian’s American History Museum. We got to see Japanese performers, the United States Ambassador to Japan, a video message from United States First Lady Jill Biden, an Amazon Executive (Amazon is a MAJOR sponsor in the makings of the National Cherry Blossom Festival), and even Washington, DC-based meteorologist Veronica Johnson who was a co-host. It was such a cool and historic experience and very very very special!

Before heading over to Warner Theatre for the National Cherry Blossom Opening Ceremony, Shivani and I met at the National Mall. We walked over to explore the gorgeous cherry blossoms along the National Mall, right by the Washington National Monument. The cherry blossoms were just gorgeous and we were able to get some great photo opportunities in as well. Despite the weather being freezing for this time of year, it was still a pretty great time!

Part 2 – The Tidal Basin

The second part of my National Cherry Blossom Festival Experience was visiting the Tidal Basin aka the BEST place to go to view the cherry blossoms at their peak. In ALL its glory, even on an extremely cloudy and gloomy day, the cherry blossom trees were still quite gorgeous to see. Shivani and I got off at the Smithsonian Metro Station (the closest station to the Tidal Basin), where we walked to the Tidal Basin via passing by the Washington National Monument yet again. The walk to the Tidal Basin from the Washington National Monument is lined with gorgeous cherry blossom trees and is a scenic route in its self with many many many photo opportunities. Once we reached the Tidal Basin, we lucked out to be able to get a spot to enjoy the scenery without crowds interrupting our photos (a normalcy during this time of year at the Tidal Basin!!). People were leaving the Tidal Basin for lunch when we arrived, which made our time there a bit less crowded yet still crowded. BUT, it did sleet and rain quite a bit on and off but luckily we didn’t get too pampered by it as it was on and off. I always like to say that it’s all about the journey and not the destination and that rings true to Shivani and I’s memories made at the Tidal Basin!

I am in love with Washington, DC in full bloom. There’s so much free things to do, even when it’s crowded with tourists and locals alike. I am oh so blessed to be able to live in the nation’s capital and enjoy this extraordinary city too AND with my best friend Shivani! In the meantime, I will be admiring the cherry blossoms locally until I go back into Washington, DC for the Hello Kitty Truck’s visit to the Tidal Basin in just a short week.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee2 Comments

A Day in Washington, DC?! Here’s Some Ideas!

So much to do, yet so little time! A city as big as Washington, DC has so many things to do that it can be hard to decide what to do when visiting, especially for a few days. The same concept goes for only having a day to spend somewhere too. Living in the Washington, DC area has its perks when it comes to sightseeing at my leisure as much or as little as I want to and when, but I also experience the challenges of choosing what to do and when. Whether it be on the weekend or for a weekday, Washington, DC has so so much to offer and here I will be sharing with y’all some ideas for what to do if you only have one day to spend in the nation’s capital!

Things To Do for a Day in Washington, DC

  1. A picnic and stroll along the National Mall – the National Mall offers a vast variety of major sights to see in Washington, DC. From the Lincoln Memorial to the to the United States Capitol to the Washington National Monument to the Smithsonian Museums, there is A TON to see along the National Mall. I would highly recommend spending a few hours here and enjoying a picnic on the mall if the weather permits. Otherwise, I would suggest going to a restaurant or cafe nearby or even a food truck along the mall streets. There are so many opportunities for photos and simply taking in so many sights in an easily accessible and walkable area from one sight to the next. Rain or shine though, do not miss out on the opportunity to walk alongside some fundamental sites that this city has to offer!
  2. Visit a Smithsonian Museum – a ton of Smithsonian Museums are along the National Mall and offer several extraordinary artifacts, pieces of artwork, and much more! Museums include: The Smithsonian American Art Museum, The National Gallery of Art, The Museum of Natural History, The Air & Space Museum, The Renwick Gallery, The National Archives, and The Museum of American History. The National Archives, for instance, is the home of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Meanwhile, the Museum of American History can also be considered Kansas in its own unique way, since it is home to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz‘s iconic red slippers. When walking along the National Mall, visiting one or two or even three of the Smithsonian Museums is an excellent way to spend a half a day or more. The best part?! ALL of the Smithsonian Museums are FREE!
  3. Lunch/dinner, dessert, & shopping in Georgetown – the notable Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC is home to Georgetown University along with a plethora of shops, restaurants, cafes, and dessert shops. Not to mention, there are oh so adorable streets – cobblestone, colorful, and all! You can easily spend either an afternoon or an evening in Georgetown. There are several notable chain shops and bakeries and *of course* Georgetown Cupcake. You can also walk along the waterfront and hang out there, especially in the warmer months. Whether it be shopping, strolling, eating, or all of the above, Georgetown is an easy way to spend a few hours or more.
  4. Enjoy dinner at The Wharf – personally, I have been really wanting to go enjoy an outing at The Wharf! However, I have yet to do so. The Wharf is right by the shipyard in Washington, DC and it is home to several restaurants, bars, shops, cafes, and much more. All in all, it is a super fun place to enjoy the local Washington, DC environment and social life here.
  5. Visit a non-Smithsonian Museum – although several of the museums here in Washington, DC are Smithsonian Museums, there are quite a few that are not. The National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Madame Tussands Wax Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and the International Spy Museum. You can also visit a historical building like the Washington National Cathedral, Tudor Place, and the Dumbarton House. While you do have to pay for admission for the majority of these museums, they are still very much worth the experience. More specifically, if you really want to go make a visit to them.

You can easily combine two or more of these ideas into one full day in Washington, DC. Fortunately, Washington, DC’s Metro transit system is easy to navigate and allow oneself to easily get around the city as well. Here’s to many adventures in this great city!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

The Historic Mansion Nestled in Georgetown

Imagine having a huge backyard and a huge house in the heart of Washington, DC. Well, then Tudor Place is most definitely that rare Washington, DC dream! Growing up, my Mom and I used to visit a lot of places that were rather deemed as off the beaten path. Some of these destinations include Krakow, Poland; Sunapee, New Hampshire, Sofia, Bulgaria; Rila, Bulgaria; and East Grand Lake, Maine. I have learned to truly love exploring some of the lesser known gems as I went off to college and started to travel on my own. That being said, I *of course* had to look for some not as well-known gems in my brand-new hometown of Washington, DC! More specifically, I will be sharing my recent experiences at Tudor Place in Washington, DC.

About Tudor Place

Tudor Place is located in the heart of the oh so adorable, historic, and iconic Georgetown neighborhood – also home to Georgetown University. It was the home of the Peter family from 1805-1983. The home’s first owners were Martha Custis Peter – the daughter of the first First Lady Martha Washington and step-daughter to the first President George Washington – and her husband Thomas Peter. One of the neat aspects of Tudor Place is that it has witnessed a lot of events which shaped the United States and its history: the burning of Washington, DC in 1814, slavery, the Civil War, World War 1, World War 11, and the Cold War. In fact, Tudor Place was used as a Boarding House for Union Soldiers during the Civil War. At the same time, Tudor Place has seen several advancements within technology around the United States and the globe, such as the the typewriter, telephone, lightbulb, and so much more. Since its ending of being a residential home for the Peter family, Tudor Place has become a historic site focused on preservation, education, rejuvenation, and community engagement (all relevant information from the “Our Story” page).

Currently, Tudor Place offers at minimal seasonal free admission to all guests who reserve in advance online to visit. This historical house also hosts events and weddings amongst speaker events and other things, too.

My Experience at Tudor Place

I booked Tudor Place tickets initially for my friend Wyatt and I a month prior to. Unfortunately, I had an event conflict so I had to reschedule my visit. Luckily, the Tudor Place staff were all super sweet and easy to work with and happily willing to reschedule it for us. In other to access Tudor Place, the Washington, DC Metro is a bit further out. However, there are buses that go into and out of the Georgetown neighborhood from Virginia, Maryland, and all over the District of Columbia. Tudor Place also offers parking nearby for all guests and visitors who choose to drive there. Wyatt and I chose to drive in. Upon arriving at Tudor Place, we both both surprised that Tudor Place was located in Georgetown. On a typical day, Georgetown is uber packed with tourists and residents alike. However, we drove a bit outside of the crowds all around the stunningly beautiful cobblestone streets and historic homes to the more quaint part of the neighborhood. All of a sudden, we arrived at Tudor Place, followed the signs for parking, and walked up to the historical home. We were in awe of home quaint and sweet this place truly was!

When arriving, everyone must check in with the welcome center. One very interesting aspect of Tudor Place is tickets. Even when booked online, one does not receive their tickets until they check in through showing their reservation confirmation. The tickets are, in fact, a name tag that must be signed by a staff member on site with the date of your visit upon check in.

Once you check in, Tudor Place tours are self-guided, but they also have an audio guide option that they have upon request at the welcome center. The self-guided tours can be done at your own pace, which is great. It didn’t take Wyatt and I super long to explore the entire Tudor Place that is free to see on tour. We both found it interesting that there were a lot of technological advancements within Tudor Place from when it was first a home in the early 1800’s. Once we toured the Tudor Place interiors, we strolled around the beautiful stunning gardens. The gardens are self-paced too with a map to guide you. All around the gardens, staff members are happily willing to help. Wyatt and I each found the staff members to be extremely friendly and helpful, too. In comparison to Mount Vernon, Tudor Place is most definitely small but it is mighty and has some amazing history to it as well.

Overall, Wyatt and I had an amazing time at Tudor Place. Since living in Washington, DC for almost two decades, Wyatt was shocked and wished he knew about Tudor Place much sooner than we did when going just recently. I was definitely impressed with the utter beauty and rich history that Tudor Place had to offer and I hope to go again, soon and to the nearby and comparable Dumbarton Oaks.

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadeeLeave a comment

The Northern Virginia Winery that I Love

Whether for a girl’s, family, friend group, or mother-daughter outing, a vineyard is an excellent place to catch up with some of the people that you care about. One of the things that I have looked forward to the most was the many outings that I would have at vineyards. Luckily for me, I got to have my first friend outing with one of my best friends: my Big Sis Stephanie at Meredith. Since I know I will be planning many more vineyard gatherings in the future, I thought that I would start to share some of my experiences at the vineyards that I visit. So, I am going to share my experience at Bull Run Winery, which is located right next to the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Centreville, Virginia.

Since I turned 21 in a temporarily social distanced world, I knew that my 21-related outings with friends would be postponed. Although the majority of my first two months being 21 were spent at my house, I have luckily been able to get out a bit and even see a friend for a social-distanced vineyard outing! Even before quarantine began, Stephanie and I have been wanting to check out The Winery at Bull Run due to its historical significance. Fortunately for the both of us, we were successfully able to execute a social-distanced Big/Lil vineyard outing just a sheer two months later. For the both of us, simply getting outside and sharing a bottle of wine was good for our souls!

Historical Significance

The Winery at Bull Run is located in Fairfax County, Virginia – a county located just south of Washington, DC in Northern Virginia. The 2012-established winery stands on 225 acres and is located right next to the Manassas National Battlefield Park and an equestrian farm. To represent the historical significance of Northern Virginia, the winery was construct to symbolize two types barns in the area. Today, the Winery at Bull Run is the largest working farm in Fairfax County, Virginia – a primarily suburban county. It also serves as a venue for many events, such as weddings. Check out more information on the history of The Winery at Bull Run here.

My Visit

Upon pulling into the winery, I was in awe at how gorgeous it was! With its luscious acres and acres of grapevines to barns galore and a few murals, I knew that Stephanie and I made a good choice of a vineyard to meet up at. Excitedly enough, the drive in was only just the beginning of a spectacular afternoon out!

Due to Covid-19, only the outdoor tables were open to visitors – everything else, including the barns and murals was closed off. Visitors could only go inside to order a bottle of wine while taking the precautions of standing 6 feet apart and wearing a mask. Stephanie and I decided to meet up and each bring a family member with us – Stephanie brought her dad and I brought my Papa. Typically, visitors have to reserve a table at the winery. However, since my group and I showed up on a Wednesday afternoon and it was not crowded, we were luckily able to get a nice table in the shade with a view.

When it came to food, to save money, we each grabbed out picnic baskets and coolers and brought in our own food. The Winery at Bull Run lets their guests bring their own food but not drinks. Stephanie and I both brought nuts, while she brought some cheese and crackers and I brought some prosciutto and salami. For drinks, we all decided to split a bottle of The Winery at Bull Run’s 2018 Chardonnay. The best part was that Stephanie and I unintentionally both wanted the Chardonnay! The Chardonnay was definitely a great choice, and I LOVED getting to enjoy it on a hot summer’s day with some cheese, prosciutto, and crackers. Cuisine-wise, I have to say we definitely had typical vineyard experience at a fraction of the price!

Along with amazing wine and gorgeous barns, The Winery at Bull Run also offers historical tours and tastings. The tours and tastings were not available when we went due to the coronavirus, but Stephanie and I are definitely putting a tour and tasting when it’s safe to do so. In addition to tours and tastings, I am pretty sure that the winery also offers concerts and other lively events, which I hope to attend when it is safe as well.

Ever since I rode through the main entrance of the winery, I knew that I was in for a treat. The wine was delicious and the opportunity to bring your own food to go with it at a fraction of the cost was such a plus. Besides the food and wine, there were breathtaking views everywhere that I turned. I definitely would like to come back with Stephanie as well as with some of my family members and friends. Knowing that I visited The Winery at Bull Run while social distancing was such a great experience, I know that coming back when social distancing measures have been lifted a bit more will be another experience for the books!

XOXO – Katie <3

thepinkchickadee2 Comments