🐼 Day 5: Family Day with Uncle Joe & Dan
Charlotte's Special Family & Zoo Day! 🐼👨👨👧
"Today was SO special! In the morning, I got to meet Uncle Joe and Uncle Dan - they're Daddy's step brothers! We had a wonderful time getting to know each other and they told me fun stories about Daddy when he was younger. Then in the afternoon, we all went to the National Zoo together! I saw the adorable giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao munching bamboo, fed friendly goats at the Kids' Farm, watched huge elephants playing in their pool, and saw magnificent lions and tigers! We had to rush a bit because the zoo closes at 4 PM, but we managed to see all the highlights. It was amazing to share this experience with family!"
👨👨👧 11:00 AM - Meeting Uncle Joe & Dan!
👨👦👦 Daddy's Step Brothers!
This morning, I met Uncle Joe and Uncle Dan for the first time! They're Daddy's step brothers, which means they're part of our extended family. It was so exciting to meet new family members! They were really nice and friendly, and we talked about lots of things.
They told me funny stories about when Daddy was younger and what it was like growing up together. Uncle Joe and Uncle Dan asked me about school, my friends in Korea, and what I think about visiting America. They were so interested in hearing about my life! It's special to have family in different countries - it makes the world feel smaller and more connected.
We spent the morning catching up and getting to know each other better. They were excited to take us to the zoo in the afternoon! Having them with us made the day even more fun because we got to share the experience together as a family.
🐼 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - National Zoo Adventure!
🚇 Metro: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan (Red Line)
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Tight 3-hour schedule!)
🎫 Entry: FREE! National Zoo is always free!
👨👨👧 With: Uncle Joe, Uncle Dan, and Daddy
🌟 Charlotte's Zoo Priority List!
1:00 PM - Giant Panda House (MUST SEE!): Bao Li (宝力) and Qing Bao (青宝) are the star attractions! These adorable pandas arrived in 2024 and are about 4 years old. Bao Li loves to show off his acrobatic skills while Qing Bao carefully selects the perfect bamboo. They eat 26-84 pounds of bamboo every day! Watch them munch, climb, and tumble - they're like big teddy bears!
1:45 PM - Kids' Farm (Interactive Fun!): This is where I get to be a real farmer! I can pet and feed friendly goats, brush soft sheep, see intelligent pigs, meet gentle cows, and say hello to chickens. The zookeepers might let me help feed the goats - they love vegetables! Each animal has its own personality. It's like visiting a farm right in the middle of DC!
2:30 PM - Elephant Trails: The Asian elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth! Watch Kamala, Swarna, and the herd use their incredible trunks (with 40,000 muscles!) to pick up food, spray water, and communicate with each other. They might take mud baths or play in their pool. If we're lucky, we'll see them showing affection by wrapping trunks together. So gentle and intelligent!
3:15 PM - Great Cats (Final Stop!): African lions with magnificent manes, tigers (the largest cats in the world!), and cheetahs (fastest land animals at 70 mph!). Lions spend 20 hours a day lounging, so we might see them taking a nap. Each tiger's stripes are unique like fingerprints. The cheetahs chirp and purr like giant house cats - they can't roar!
🍽️ Dinner After the Zoo! (4:30 PM - 6:00 PM)
After a fun but tiring day at the zoo, let's enjoy a delicious family dinner together!
1. Duke's Counter (Across from Zoo!) - Closest Option 🏆
📍 3000 Connecticut Ave NW Ste J (Right across from zoo entrance!)
📞 (202) 733-4808
⏰ Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-9pm
💰 $$ | 🧒 Kids menu with Nutella press & free animal crackers
🍔 #1 rated burger in DC! Huge sandwiches, salads, curries
🕐 Happy Hour: 12pm-7pm daily
⭐ East London-inspired pub - perfect post-zoo spot!
✅ Walk-ins welcome | 🌐 dukescounter.com
2. Lebanese Taverna (Woodley Park Metro) - Family Favorite
📍 2641 Connecticut Ave NW (Across from Woodley Park Metro)
📞 (202) 265-8681
⏰ Sun-Thu 11:30am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm
💰 $$ | 🧒 Kids menu with chicken shawarma & vegetarian options
🥙 Mezze platters, falafel, kabobs, warm pita, baklava
🅿️ FREE 2.5-hour parking behind restaurant (alley off Woodley Rd)
🕐 Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 4pm-7pm (lounge/bar)
⭐ Family-owned, staff trained for families, kitchen tours sometimes available!
📝 Reservations via OpenTable | 🌐 lebanesetaverna.com
3. Founding Farmers (Foggy Bottom) - Farm-to-Table Excellence
📍 1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW (15-min drive from zoo)
📞 (202) 822-8783
⏰ Mon-Thu 7am-10pm, Fri 7am-11pm, Sat 8:30am-11pm, Sun 8:30am-10pm
💰 $$-$$$ | 🧒 Excellent kids menu
🥗 Farm-fresh chicken, mac & cheese, cornbread, grass-fed burgers
⭐ Open 365 days! Farmer-owned, sustainable, great for groups
📝 Reservations strongly recommended via OpenTable
🌐 wearefoundingfarmers.com
4. Old Ebbitt Grill (Historic DC Institution)
📍 675 15th St NW (Near White House, 15-min drive)
📞 (202) 347-4800
⏰ Mon-Fri 8am-2am, Sat 9am-1am, Sun 9am-1am (Kitchen closes 1am)
💰 $$-$$$ | 🧒 Kids menu available
🍔 Classic burgers, oysters, pasta, steak, American comfort food
🏛️ DC's oldest saloon (since 1856)! Presidents have dined here
📝 Reservations highly recommended - can get very crowded
⭐ Historic atmosphere, casual but classy
🌐 ebbitt.com | OpenTable available
5. Baked by Yael (Sweet Treats Near Zoo!)
📍 Near National Zoo area
💰 $ | 🧒 Kids LOVE it!
🧁 Rainbow cake pops, tasty cookies, freshly made bagels
⭐ Perfect for a post-zoo sweet treat!
✅ Walk-ins welcome
💡 Great for a quick dessert stop before heading to dinner
👨👨👧 Family Dinner Recommendation:
Most Convenient: Duke's Counter - Literally across the street from the zoo entrance! Walk out of the zoo and you're there. #1 rated burgers in DC, kids get free animal crackers while waiting, and they have a fun Nutella press dessert. Perfect when everyone is tired and hungry! No reservation needed.
Best Value: Lebanese Taverna - Right at Woodley Park Metro (same metro as zoo!). Family-owned with staff trained to engage kids, FREE parking, and amazing Mediterranean food. Great for a special family meal with Uncle Joe and Uncle Dan! Reservations recommended via OpenTable.
Special Occasion: Founding Farmers or Old Ebbitt Grill - If you want to make it a really special celebration dinner (meeting step brothers for the first time!), these are amazing options. Both require reservations and 15-min drive, but worth it for the experience and quality!