Candyce H. Stapen

It's always a comfortable 84 degrees at any of Great Wolf Lodge's 16 indoor waterpark locations. Image Source: Great Wolf Lodge

Kids love getting doused, sprayed, swirled and splashed at waterparks. At an indoor waterpark, the temperatures hover at a constant 84 degrees, plus rain and sun burn can’t ruin your getaway. The recent expansion at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Pocono Mountains makes its mega-indoor park the largest in the U.S. Great Wolf Lodge, with a chain of 16 indoor waterparks in the U.S. and Canada, has keeping kids entertained down to a science. Most of these parks also feature outdoor pools that seem to intrigue the kids less than the indoor water jungles.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too. You just need the right attitude, a glass of wine, and another adult to cover watching the kids so you can reclaim some quiet time and take two aspirin for your burgeoning headache. Your kids will be grateful and the Facebook posts and Instagram shots are fun. 

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Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Pocono Mountains now claims to be America's largest waterpark. Image Source: Kalahari Resorts and Conventions

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

A recently completed expansion brings Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Pocono Mountains waterpark to a whopping 220,000 square feet, making it, according to the resort, America’s largest indoor waterpark. The rides are named after African landmarks and creatures.

Tweens and teens like to tackle Rippling Rhino, the park’s longest tube slide at 400 feet, and Screaming Hyena, a slide with a trap door that propels you down the slide at speeds up to 25 mph. Families can swirl down the twisting Smoke That Thunders water slide, jump through waves in the wave pool, and swirl down the Lazy River together. Little kids splash and play at Coral Cove.

For those who want some sunshine, Kalahari Poconos also has an outdoor pool. The soon-to-be opened outdoor area Bugs Burrow will engage young kids with giant-sized bugs and water-splash activities. Out of the water at Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventures Ropes Course, kids can glide along ziplines and challenge themselves on ropes courses that feature tightropes, tunnels and swinging steps.

If you haven’t guessed already, Kalahari Poconos is big, offering 1,000 guest rooms, including suites that have one, two, three and five bedrooms — an easy way to accommodate multiple generations.

Kalahari also has waterpark resorts in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Sandusky, Ohio; and Round Rock, Texas.

It’s 84 degrees at the 16 indoor waterparks in the Great Wolf Lodge chain. That’s long been a selling point because the chain started in states with cold climates. The parks created summer temperatures and year-round water fun.

At Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains, you and your kids get wet at the 79,000-square-foot indoor waterpark that features 13 waterslides, six splash and play pools, a four-story treehouse with geysers, water guns and sprays, plus a giant bucket dump.

Out-of-the-water kids can get their mani/pedis at the Scoops Kids Spa, roast S’mores at the Racoon Lagoon Play Park, and act like knights with their MagiQuest wands, fighting evil dragons and defeating wicked kings. Although fun for the kids, this can make for a bustling lobby as youngsters run around excitedly pointing wands at everything. Youngsters get to play morning games with character Wiley and friends and settle down in the evening with a PJ party in the lobby. 

Along with standard rooms, most Great Wolf Lodges offer KidCabin and Wolf Den themed rooms with separate bunk bed areas for children.

Along with a Pocono Mountain facility, Great Wolf Lodges are in Ontario Canada and in the U.S. in Anaheim, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Grand Mound, Washington; Atlanta/LaGrange, Georgia; Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina; Grapevine, Texas; Williamsburg, Virginia; Bloomington, Minnesota; Cincinnati/Mason, Ohio; Kansas City, Kansas; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Missouri; Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and Boston/Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

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Even in summer, an indoor waterpark resort vacation makes sense. Indoor waterpark resorts, such as the Great Wolf Lodge franchise, are weatherproof and help you avoid sunburn, scorching heat or unseasonable cold. Here are some good options for you and the family this summer.

Waterparks: Make a Splash This Summer

Enjoy Miami's miles of white-sand beaches this Memorial Day Weekend.

If Memorial Day has caught you with your plans down, then consider the popular start-of-summer getaways searched by users of Hotwire.com, a site that offers discounts on unsold airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars. Nevada, Florida and Texas rate among the top places researched, especially by those in Nebraska, Washington and Ohio: states with less warm and sunny climates.

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It’s off-season for much of Florida, Hotwire’s most searched travel destination. Miami offers miles of white sand beaches that edge a variety of neighborhoods. You can opt for the bustle of see-and-be-seen South Beach, the trendy hotels in Mid-Beach or the more laid-back and family-friendly North Beach. Hotwire, as of posting, offers a Miami 3.5-star hotel for Memorial Day Weekend from $72 per night.

You can find four-star hotels in California for $70 per night.

For Memorial Day, California is especially popular with residents of Nevada and Arizona. Base yourself in Los Angeles to experience Hollywood, Universal Studios, Griffith Park and the Getty Center. Hotwire lists a four-star hotel room from $70 per night.

Bring the family to The City this Memorial Day Weekend.

Manhattan and the Hamptons offer great adult and family vacations. Get a panoramic city view from the Empire State Building, try inline skating Central Park, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and take in a Broadway show. In the Hamptons, savor some sun and sand. Hotwire lists a 3.5-star hotel room near the Empire State Building from $78 per night.

Nevada is increasing in popularity as a Memorial Weekend getaway, Hotwire says.

Nevada is experiencing a large increase in people entering the sate versus leaving the state for Memorial Day Weekend, according to Hotwire. Las Vegas pulls you into the action with casinos, thrill rides, day pool parties, and nightlife. Hotwire lists a 3.5-star hotel room in Las Vegas from $56 per night.

Find rooms in Texas for as low as $84 per night, Hotwire says.

The Lone Star State lures travelers to its deserts, mountains and coast. Galveston offers beaches, Dallas has museums, and San Antonio the Riverwalk with its cafes and shops. Hotwire lists 3.5-star hotel rooms in Texas from $84 per night.

Haven't made Memorial Day plans yet but don't want to pay high rates on hotel rooms, rental cars and airfare?  Check out Hotwire.com's deals on popular destinations such as Florida, Nevada, California and Texas. 

New apps aim to lessen the hassles of traveling. Order airport food to go with Grab. Book a hotel for a few hours of sleep with Dayuse. Choose lodging with input from your traveling buddies with Chatnbook. Discover a walking itinerary in a city that leads to places you like.

 Nobody likes plane food — unless they sit in business or first class. When seated in economy, a long day of flying can feel like a hunger strike or forced feeding of junk food. Airport eateries at least give you more choice, but you need the time to line up and order — unless you download Grab.

With Grab, you can review the airport’s eateries that subscribe to the service, see their menus and order on your smartphone. Then you walk by the restaurant and literally grab your grub. Not all food vendors at an airport use Grab and neither do all airports. Grab is currently available at 16 airports, including Pittsburgh International, Richmond International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Denver International, and Los Angeles International. Slated to come onboard soon are JFK International, Newark International, Miami International, and Las Vegas International.   

If your hotel requires you to check out by 11 a.m., but your flight home doesn’t leave until 11 p.m., let Dayuse find a room at a hotel the day. The service promises rates up to 75 percent less than typical overnight room rates.  You can book without a credit card, paying only at the hotel and cancellation is free.

Dayuse works with 4,000 hotels in 20 countries. List your requirements such as luxury hotel or budget option, room to work in or a pool area for lounging. Include the range of hours you require. The app returns real-time information on availability. New York and Chicago are the company’s top U.S. cities. Properties are also available in Paris, London, Madrid, Dubai, Berlin and other locales.

 This app aims to eliminate the tedium of browsing long lists of lodgings in your desired destination and then talking about it with your travel companions. You enter your date, destination, and your preferences as well as the contact information for your travel buddies

The app delivers photos and information. You “like” the ones that interest you and the app states it will get you the best available price. If interested, use the app to book the property.

 If, like me, your favorite way of discovering a city is by walking, then Sidekix can be a useful tool. Instead of just telling you how to get from point A to point B, the app plots routes based on your interests, including fashion, food, culture, art or nightlife.

Are you a foodie in Brooklyn? Then Sidekix might direct you to Red Hook’s food vendors and cafes. Looking for interesting entertainment in Jerusalem? The app directs you to an underground nightlife tour of Jerusalem.

Apps can make traveling easier. Four new apps remove the stress of buying airport food in time for your connecting flight, booking a day rate at a hotel, selecting lodging with your travel companions, and walking to places you want to see in a city. Download these apps now to streamline your next travel experience.

	Prepare yourself for a wild ride on this summer's six best roller coasters.

This season’s crop of new roller coasters delivers heart-pumping thrills. Two parks — Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia, and Kings Island, Ohio — add new wooden coasters with big drops and fast speeds. Three Six Flags parks launch the Joker, a free-fly, frighteningly fun ride. Scream-worthy experiences also debut at SeaWorld San Antonio; Casino Pier, Seaside Heights, New Jersey; and at OWA, a new theme park on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. 

 Wooden roller coasters rock — literally. The cars’ slight sway and clackety-clack add to the anticipation. InvadR, the park’s first wooden coaster, bundles nostalgia with the 21st-century plunges on nine hills, including one that plummets riders 74 feet at speeds up to 48 miles per hour. “With a 46-inch height requirement, InvadR is designed as a true family attraction,” says David Cromwell, Busch Gardens president. “It’s perfect for children ready to ride their first big coaster — a ‘Ride of Passage,’ if you will. But trust me, this is a big-time thrill.”

Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

Six Flags New England, Agawam, Massachusetts

 Gut-wrenching thrills await at three Six Flags parks that debut the Joker, a new coaster.  Forget about planting feet firmly in the ride’s car. As a free-fly coaster, the Joker doesn’t have cars. Instead, passengers hang suspended — legs dangling — outside of the track as they scream through multiple flips and drops.

 Mystic Timbers, a wooden roller coaster, debuts in July at Kings Island. The ride zooms down 16 hills at speeds reaching 53 miles per hour, and whips riders through an S turn. For the most airtime, sit in the back of the train. At the end, the Shed immerses passengers in a mix of lights, music and videos of creepy critters. Mystic Timbers, notes coaster reviewer Jeff Putz, “gets us back to the idea that a ride doesn’t have to be the tallest in the world to be really excellent.”

 SeaWorld’s new coaster, Wave Breaker, adds thrills to the park’s new image as a place for wildlife conservation and protection. Dubbed a rescue coaster, Wave Breaker simulates an animal rescue mission as riders straddle jet ski-style cars that race through 2,600 feet of track, much of which runs over water.

 OWA is a new theme park slated to debut this summer on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, some 7 miles from the beach.   Steel coaster Rollin’ Thunder, the park’s star attraction, will drop riders 100-nearly vertical feet, then roll them through a 98-foot loop at almost 65 mph.

 Hydrus is slated to become iconic. The new coaster replaces the Jet Star, the roller coaster Hurricane Sandy dragged into the ocean in October 2012. The new ride features a 72 foot nearly vertical drop at speeds reaching 45 miles per hour.

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Whether you're looking for a thrill ride on a modern, steel coaster, or you appreciate the classic wooden variety, American theme parks are debuting some new, exciting options this summer. Find out where to ride the best of this summer's new roller coasters. Busch Gardens is rolling out the wooden coaster, InvadR. Several Six Flags locations are cashing in on the comic-book movie buzz with a new Joker ride. And Sea World, San Antonio has created a new roller coaster that simulates an animal rescue.

Check Out The 6 Best New Roller Coasters

Based on WalletHub's 22 factor criteria, South Dakota ranked in the top 10 most fun states.

 has just released its 2017 Most Fun States in America report. Fun for WalletHub, a personal finance review site, always includes destinations that offer cost —effective entertainment as well as the most variety of options. Nevada, home of Las Vegas, ranked as the top state for fun. Interestingly, South Dakota come in second and Colorado third.  Alabama, came in at 48 out of 50; West Virginia came it at 49, out of 50. The least “fun” state according to WalletHub: Mississippi.

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Some additional surprises: Alaska, New York and Vermont  tied for having the most performing arts theaters per capita; Massachusetts ranked as #1 and New Hampshire, as #2, for the most fitness centers per capita; and Maine, grabbed the top spot, and Vermont came in second for the highest variety of arts, entertainments and recreation establishments.

Remember, in doing big data analysis, WalletHub is likely counting numbers and not necessarily quality. If so, that may mean that  New York City’s Lincoln Center may count as one theater and a summer playhouse community theater will also count as one. As always, use these and other studies as a rough guide and not gospel.

WalletHub compared the 50 states using 22 factors to define “fun.” To determine an entertainment and recreation score, analysts considered the number of attractions, movie theaters per capita, beach quality, restaurants per capita and the variety of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments, among other items. A perfect score equals 80. Nightlife counts for 20 points and includes beer and wine prices, performing arts theaters per capita, casinos per capita, and nightlife options.

WalletHub’s 10 Most Fun States in America 

Most Golf Courses & Country Clubs per Capita

Least Golf Courses & Country Clubs per Capita

Highest State & Local Expenditures on Parks & Recreation per Capita

State & Local Expenditures on Parks & Recreation per Capita

Find the states with the most variety of fun at affordable prices. WalletHub's  recent study ranks Nevada as the top state for fun and places Mississippi at the bottom.


The Most Fun States in America

The Museum of Science and Industry provides loads of hands-on learning opportunities.

The best children’s museums engage kids with hands-on exhibits that make learning fun. Bond with your youngster by inventing an animated character at ¡Explora!, Albuquerque. Or discover what genes make us alike and different from other creatures at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. A final option: morphing into a clown at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Children’s museums offer affordable, learning adventures. 

¡Explora! the city’s hands-on, not-just-for-kids museum. Here children and adults push, pull, twist, turn and build things.

“Explora is part science center, part children’s museum, part free-choice school, part grandma’s attic, part grandpa’s garage, part laboratory,” reads the facility’s website.

Interestingly, most exhibits have few or no instructions. We watch others and then create our own interactions. We fashion 8-inch bubbles from Frisbee-size wands. We help a fourth-grader construct a Rube Goldberg-like chain reaction machine by setting the ramps that lead a golf ball down a track that flips a seesaw that topples a block. We watch a sixth-grader create an animated character.

The museum’s so popular that it had to create an adults-only night to stop some parents from pushing kids out of the way to create too.

The Museum of Science and Industry. Hands-on learning makes discovering a range of science and technology facts and principles fun. This summer, inspire budding architects at Brick by Brick. The exhibit showcases LEGO-built, large structures, such as a 60-foot Golden Gate Bridge, and replicas of the International space Station and the Roman Colosseum. Additional admission required. Through Sept. 4, 2017.  The Genetics and the Baby Chick Hatchery exhibit mixes the sight of fuzzy baby chicks hatching in an incubator with facts about what genes and traits separate us from chicks, worms or other critters. Discover the science behind lightning, fire and tornadoes and walk into a wind tunnel booth to experience the force of 80 mph winds.

Your kids will be glad you brought them to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. 

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. One of the world’s largest children’s museums at 472,900-square feet, the Indianapolis facility features a wide range of exhibits plus a play area for little kids. At Circus—Starring YOU!, which debuted in February, experience the thrills of tightrope walking by wearing a virtual-reality headset, learn juggling, and dress as clowns to cram into a clown car. Through Nov. 26, 2017.

Go back millions of years ago to the age of dinosaurs at Dinosphere. Meet Bucky, the Teenage T. rex, dig for faux dino bones, and touch a real T. rex fossilized leg. In Beyond Spaceship Earth, discover the history of U.S. space travel, try on space gear and learn just how astronauts conduct experiments in a weightless environment. At Playscape, designed for babies through 5-year-olds, kids can fish in a pond, play musical instruments, climb on a rope area, and mix and build with sand.

Children's museums don't just have to be for children. Many feature exhibits that are equally engaging and entertaining for adults. Share creative experiences with your kids at three of the US's best children's museums. Each offers its own spin on imaginative fun.

Bring Your Kids to These 3 Great Children's Museums

River cruises have been a mainstay for a while among Baby Boomers. Now the lines are also trying to attract Millennials.

River cruises are more popular than ever before. To accommodate passengers, many lines have launched new ships in the last few years. 

, an upmarket cruise line, launched river cruises in July 2016 and will add two new river boats this year. 

, which began in 1997 with four ships, today has 64 river boats. Viking launched 10 new river boats in 2013, 14 more in 2014 and eight more in 2015.

Baby boomers like river voyages’ small ship experiences, cabin amenities, value, and choice of active and experiential — culturally immersive &mdash; shore tours. Families find that some river lines cater to them with children’s activities onboard and family activities on shore. Next year Uniworld launches a product just for millennials. Here’s the latest news from Uniworld, Tauck, and AmaWaterways.  

 On multigenerational European sailings — called Generations cruises — Uniworld offers some activities for children as well as kid-friendly menus. The line also offers shore tours geared toward families with active teens, as well as kids who like art and science. Ages 4 through 17 cruise for half price on select itineraries and departures.

 To lure millennials, Uniworld plans to launch U by Uniworld in 2018. These ships will target passengers 21 to 45 years old. Painted black on the outside and containing what Uniworld hopes will be cool, hip interior décor, the boats will have silent discos — plug in earphones and dance to music that won’t annoy other passengers. In addition, U Hosts will lead the partygoers to night spots on land.

 Tauck’s Bridges program, aimed at families and multi-generational groups, has been operating on European rivers for more than seven years. Onboard, families can sign up for cooking classes and storytelling, and onshore, families bike along the river and may engage in medieval games at a castle.

 AmaWaterways attracts families by partnering with Adventures by Disney River Cruises, available on select itineraries. Along with Disney movie nights for youngsters, AmaWaterways offers shore tours for families that, depending upon the itinerary, include marionette shows, biking, canoeing, and ziplining as well as checking out European sites that have appeared in Disney movies.

The AmaViola, launched in 2016, and its sister ship AmaStella, were built to accommodate multi-generational families. These ships, and likely the AmaKristina, feature interconnecting cabins, some of which have couches that convert to beds.

River cruises are no longer for the old and sedentary. Baby boomers and families are discovering why river cruises are booming in popularity. Next year there will be ships just for millennials. Check out some of the other new trends in the river cruise industry.

Family Friendly and Millennial-Themed: The Latest River Cruise Trends

San Antonio is an ideal family vacation destination with a good mix of historic sites and fun attractions. Image Credit: C.H. Stapen

In San Antonio, find first-class museums, centuries-old attractions as well as plenty of parks, plus 15-miles of paths along the famous River Walk. History slides down easily at the Alamo and other missions; dinosaurs tower over visitors at the Witte Museum; and dolphins, killer whales and gut-wrenching rollercoasters engage kids at SeaWorld. Here are five family-friendly things to experience with your children when visiting San Antonio.

Dinosaurs from the region that became Texas dominate the first-floor of the 

, a pterosaur with a 36-foot wingspan, flies in the entranceway, an 

steps into molds of the critter’s actual footprints found in a Texas creek, and a full-size T-rex towers over visitors. At the Lifeways Lab, budding archeologists use brushes to uncover a skeleton and can peer into discovery drawers to ogle real dino bones.

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, the 24-minute light and sound video projected onto the façade of the 18

 century San Fernando Cathedral, dazzles kids with its mosaic of morphing images and kaleidoscopic colors. Fire-lit cave paintings, falling rain, battle scenes, and faces, plus Indian chants and country music combine to present an experiential sense of the city’s history.

: The city’s jewel, the River Walk, consists of 15 miles of pathways that hug the San Antonio River. Hotels, shops, restaurants and cafés  line the five miles that cut through downtown. Kids like the 35-minute boat rides, not so much for the historic narration, but for the cruise’s scenic views, cool breezes, and reveals of murals hidden under the bridges.

See the bullet holes in the walls of the 

, a.k.a. Mission San Antonio de Valero, a result of the 1836 battle in which Texan defenders were ultimately killed by the Mexican army. The Mission San José’s green lawn, and centuries-old walls and church create a peaceful place to learn about the goals and history of missions in the Southwest.  

: Those are two of the many encounters available at 

. Although the SeaWorld parks are phasing out some animal shows, you can still watch Shamu and pals perform as well as ogle the last baby Orca whale bred and born at SeaWorld. For thrills, plunge 15-stories on the Steel Eel, turn head-over-heels on Great white, and lean into turns while straddling a jet ski-style car on Wave Breaker: the Rescue Coaster, a coaster debuting this summer. Little ones like the carousel and character-themed rides at Sesame Street Bay of Play.

: Well-located in San Antonio’s downtown, 

, faces Travis Park’s greenery and sits within an easy stroll of the Alamo and the River Walk. The national historic landmark renovated in 2015 offers upmarket accommodations, but is far from stuffy. Youngsters like strolling Peacock Alley, the long lobby with its row of pillars and elaborately decorated piano. Foodies, both teens and adults, will appreciate the fare and the flashy atmosphere of 

Explore San Antonio with your kids and teens. The city features historic attractions, parks, the restaurant and shop lined River Walk plus SeaWorld San Antonio's critters and rollercoasters. 

San Antonio: 5 Family Friendly Things to Do

	The Mid-Atlantic Dental Meeting arrives in Washington, D.C. this week, running from May 5-6.

A planned city, Washington, D.C., was built to embody the new country’s aspirations. The broad boulevards and wide circles, laid out when horse trails marked the town, show the breadth of the Founding Fathers’ dreams. The District unfolds as a graceful mix of monuments, memorials, museums and neighborhoods. There’s always more to see, whether you visited last year or toured with your high school buddies decades ago.

 brings you to town from May 5-6, you’re in luck. Spring is the best time to explore. The mild weather makes walking a joy and the profusion of tulips, dogwood and azaleas sweeten the scenery.

Washington, D.C., is a feast for the eyes. No other city has the White House, the Capitol, and the National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are on view. The scores of monuments and memorials pay official homage to our country’s heroes, and the Smithsonian Museums (

The newest Smithsonian museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which debuted last September, presents the African American experience in the United States. The multi-layered story starts with slavery, winds though segregation and protest, and culminates with black triumphs in sports, stage, movies and other arts. Because of the museum’s popularity, visitors must obtain free timed-entry tickets. Check the Smithsonian website.

Find out about bugs, bones, blue whales and much more at the National Museum of Natural History, home to the 45.5-carat Hope diamond. At the Hall of Human Origins, you can merge your face with that of a pre-human, and visit the Insect Zoo for the tarantula feeding. The National Museum of American History houses such favorite and eclectic finds as the flag that flew over Fort McHenry (the original Star-Spangled Banner), First Ladies’ gowns, Thomas Jefferson’s lap desk, and Dorothy’s ruby-red slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”  

At the National Air and Space Museum, peruse the history of aviation from the dreams of the Wright brothers to space flight. A swirl of curves, the 250,000-square-foot National Museum of the American Indian, constructed of yellowish Kasota limestone, glows softly like an adobe-built kiva at sunset. The facility presents artifacts and cultural information about native nations hailing  from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego.

Three non-Smithsonian facilities well worth touring are the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which tells the somber story of the millions of Jews and other victims of Nazi brutality in World War II; the International Spy Museum, which delivers the low-down on espionage; and the Newseum, whose scores of theaters, galleries and interactive stations demonstrate how free speech, supported by news-gathering and distribution, is essential to democracies.

Take advantage of spring’s warm weather to walk or bike the National Mall and adjacent areas, pausing at the Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II memorials, as well as the Washington Monument. To tour the U.S. Capitol or the White House, obtain tickets well in advance by contacting your senator or representative. The Capitol Visitor Center distributes a limited number of same-day tickets. Even without passes, allow time to explore the exhibits at both the Capitol and the White House visitor centers.

At Arlington National Cemetery, across Memorial Bridge in Virginia, hundreds of thousands of people who served the United States are buried. Watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier always re-enforces the solemnity and seriousness of war. Other famous gravesites there include those of John F. Kennedy; his widow, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; and Robert F. Kennedy. 

The District blooms with interesting places to eat, ranging from Michelin two-star dining rooms to spicy cheap eats at food trucks. The recent Michelin Guide awarded stars to 12 area restaurants, and an additional 19 eateries made Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list, which features the best moderately priced eateries.

Chef Aaron Silverman, known for his playful and unlikely combinations of ingredients, features a 13-course tasting menu at two-Michelin-starred Pineapple and Pearls. At his casual, one-starred Rose’s Luxury, tables can be had only by lining up in advance. Usually, you need to be there by 3 p.m. or so for the beginning of the dinner seating at 5 p.m. Professional line sitters—yes, they exist&mdash;hold the places of those who can’t or won’t queue up.

Chef Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiola, a noted Italian restaurant, received one Michelin star. His Fiola Mare, even without a Michelin star, rates as one of  the District’sbest restaurants and the dining room comes with a Potomac River view. The one-star Blue Duck Tavern serves seasonal and innovative American cuisine. Chef Nick Stefanelli’s Masseria, also the recipient of one Michelin star, plates memorable Italian cuisine. Diners choose either a four- or five-course meal or a six-course tasting menu. Zaytinya, among Michelin’s Bib Gourmand recommendations, serves savory Greek/Mediterranean tapas near the Verizon Center.

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Sometimes when exploring a museum, it’s most convenient to eat there. Mitsitam Cafe, at the National Museum of the American Indian, and Sweet Home Café, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, rate as two of the best Smithsonian cafeterias. Mitsitam (which means “let’s eat” in the language of the Piscataway and Delaware peoples) serves Native American tacos, fry bread, squash, grilled salmon, and other traditional foods. Sweet Home features African American-influenced fare from the Creole Coast, the agricultural South, the industrial North, and the West.  Entrees often include Gulf shrimp over grits, buttermilk-fried chicken, and pan-roasted rainbow trout. Desserts can be sweet potato pie and praline bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce.

To stretch your budget, get lunch at one of the many food trucks. Fill up on homemade stuffed pockets at DC Empanadas, tasty pizza at DC Slices, and for snacks, try the ice-cream sandwiches, cookies and milk from Captain Cookie and the Milk Man. Track the moving feast online at Food Truck Fiesta (foodtruckfiesta.com).

For D.C. nightlife, think theater. Two noted companies offer innovative takes on the Bard, as well as other productions. The Shakespeare Theatre hosts “Macbeth” from April 25 through May 28, and the intimate Folger Theatre presents a program of medieval troubadours’ songs and poetry April 28 to 30, followed by Shakespeare’s “Timon of Athens,” May 9 to June 11. 

But it’s not all Shakespearean classics in the capital. Arena Stage has been at the forefront of nurturing new plays and updating definitive American plays since its founding in 1950. The facility hosts “A Raisin in the Sun” on its main stage (March 31 to May 7) and “Smart People,” billed as a “controversial and fiercely funny new play,” is in the Kreeger Theater (April 14 to May 21).  

Along with hosting plays, the Kennedy Center is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Ballet. The boxy building on the Potomac provides Washington with an extraordinary artistic menu of theater and musicals, dance and ballet, and multi-media performances, as well as chamber, jazz, orchestral, popular and folk music. The Millennium Stage offers a free performance every evening.  

Cool off by running through the synchronized sprays with your kids at Georgetown Waterfront Park, an oasis at the foot of M Street NW. Nearby, concrete steps lead to the river, getting you close enough to feed the ducks. The recommended treats for the quackers aren’t crackers or bread. Instead, bring birdseed, barley or oats to toss.

Little ones like riding the carousel on the Mall near the Arts and Industries building. At the National Museum of American History, hands-on activities captivate tots through 6-year-olds at Wegmans Wonderplace, and budding inventors, ages 6 to 12, craft musical instruments, create fashion from trash, or try their hand at being a disk jockey at the museum’s Draper Spark!Lab. Turn your grade-schoolers and teens into secret agents by taking part in Operation Spy, a one-hour, hands-on secret mission at the International Spy Museum that’s fun. Purchase tickets in advance.

Want great city views? Then paddle the Potomac River with a rented canoe or kayak from Thompson Boat Center, something that is likely to please the entire family, even teens. If your your child is 16 or older, consider ending your day together with an evening Segway glide-by of the illuminated monuments. Companies include City Segway and Segs in the City.

Whatever your age or your politics, you are sure to discover many engaging experiences in Washington, D.C.

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The Mid-Atlantic Dental Meeting arrives in Washington D.C. on May 5 and concludes on May 6. For doctors who are attending, Spring is an ideal time to visit the District. Temperatures tend to be tamer, and flowers and trees will be in full bloom. While you're in town, here's where you'll want to spend your time, including bars, restaurants and museums.

Fresh towels? Friendliness of hotel staff as well as cleanliness of the room factor heavily into Hotels.com's hotel perfection equation.

What’s the most important factor when picking a hotel? Do you look for a convenient location, good value, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, a quiet room? Cleanliness and comfort are 35 times more important than a lavish breakfast or a luxurious swimming pool, according to Hotels.com’s analysis of 148 million comments. The online booking site developed a formula that quantifies the elusive elements of a “perfect hotel stay.” 

The Hotel TripAdvisor Users Love the Most

“While we all dream of luxurious hotels and sun-soaked beaches, in fact the things we value most when selecting a hotel tell us something far more fundamental about the human condition,” said consumer psychologist, Dr. Simon Moore, who led Hotels.com study. Dr. Moore feels that risks and discomfort outweigh positive benefits by a ratio of five to one.

“Cleanliness and comfort fulfills our need for relaxation, safety and security. A good location fulfills our needs to feel connected to others and that we have somewhere we can escape to in times of such need,” said Dr. Moore.   

Friendliness came in first. “The fact that staff friendliness plays such an important role in guest satisfaction shows that, as intrinsically social creatures, we love to be greeted with a smile and a chat. It makes us feel welcome and part of the group,” said Dr. Moore.

Peer to peer reviews provide useful insight into a property. “We know that reviews are becoming even more important that the traditional star ratings,” said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com.  “But sometimes there is so much information out there it can be hard to decipher what’s important, our handy new formula helps settle the debate of what makes the perfect hotel stay.”

To rate the elements of a perfect stay, Hotels.com extracted the 500 most commonly used keywords from its more than 5 million 2016 reviews. Next, the site analyzed 148 million sentences using these words to weight the responses and devise a formula.

Hotels.com reported that almost 100 hotels in the U.S., including 21 in Las Vegas, match the formula, as do the 2,500 Hotels.com Loved by Guest award-winners. 

How do you determine the perfect hotel? Is it all about the location? The cleanliness of the room? Or is free Wi-Fi more important to you? Hotels.com recently released how it makes the determination by mathematical calculation. The website draws on its customer reviews to help make the determination.