I love living in a dynamic city like Washington, DC, but for shopping, I always head out to the burbs. I find the ease, abundant parking very convenient, especially if I’m with baby Dining Traveler. I was recently invited to Congressional Plaza, located in Rockville, MD. This walkable shopping center is a quick 30-minute drive from DC. My friend K, baby Dining Traveler, and I spent a Saturday shopping there and loved it. About our experience…
Getting There
We drove from Northeast Washington, DC and it took us around 30 minutes by car. There’s also ample free parking. Disclaimer: for those who don’t live in the District: let me tell you free parking is an incentive to come out! Congressional Plaza is also accessible by metro, just a ten-minute walk from Twinbrook metro stop on the WMATA Red Line.
The Stores
We appreciated that Congressional Plaza was a right combination of national and local owned stores. You have shops such as Saks Off Fifth, Buy Buy Baby and Neiman Marcus Last Call, but you also have smaller, local-owned stores like Child’s Play, and Richey & Co. Shoes.
I’m a sucker for Saks Off Fifth because you can get great designer finds at a reasonable price. The downfall of some of these designer discount shops is that they can be a mess, I was pleasantly surprised to see how everything was neatly displayed. I walked away with a gorgeous DVF shirtdress at 65% off, Betsey Johnson pants for la Piccola, and couldn’t resist getting her very first pair of chucks!
La Piccola is almost two, and her visit to Child’s Play was her first visit to a toy store. I’ve been holding back because I’m not a fan of big box toy stores filled with junk. I loved that Child’s Play had a fantastic selection of educational toys, and I literally wanted to buy every book in their adorable book section in the back. I only wish space was a bit bigger because on a Saturday you have a lot of parents with strollers trying to get by.
The Food
I remember when I first fell in love with Modern Market. I was in Boulder, Colorado on a business trip. Their fresh food, made to order is a healthy and affordable selection of always a good stop. We had a delicious brunch with eggs, sausage, and fresh avocado. Since I needed some energy for a full packed shopping day, I indulged in a nitro iced coffee to get the day started. This particular Modern Market does not have a dedicated kids menu for breakfast, but most of their items are very kid friendly.
I was happy to spot one of my local faves, Lebanese Taverna at Congressional Plaza. This family-owned local chain of Lebanese food is a DC metro area staple. Indulge in their creamy hummus and savory shawarma.
Make a stop at the end of your shopping day at The Fresh Market. This gourmet supermarket is one of those places that you’re like “oh I need to go for bread and leave with 10 other items”. Their impeccably butchered meat, an abundant selection of teas, and bakery make it worth the drive alone.
Congressional Plaza: The Verdict
Beyond the food and designer dresses, there’s plenty more to discover at Congressional Plaza. You can stop for a mani/pedi at Nails by Sean, stock up on beauty supplies at ULTA, or get a bike tuneup at Performance Bike. For a full listing of shops, check out their website.
Congressional Plaza, 154 Congressional Ln, Rockville, MD 20852, Website
