{"id":6171,"date":"2018-09-12T13:36:09","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T13:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/?p=6171"},"modified":"2018-09-12T13:44:58","modified_gmt":"2018-09-12T13:44:58","slug":"escapes-shopping-day-at-congressional-plaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2018\/09\/escapes-shopping-day-at-congressional-plaza.html","title":{"rendered":"Escapes: Shopping Day at Congressional Plaza"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2026<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n I was happy to spot one of my local faves, Lebanese Taverna<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201coh I need to go for bread and leave with 10 other items\u201d. Their impeccably butchered meat, an abundant selection of teas, and bakery make it worth the drive alone.<\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
Getting There<\/h2>\n
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The Stores<\/h2>\n
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The Food<\/h2>\n
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Congressional Plaza: The Verdict<\/h2>\n