Make a Reservation

Here's your plan for cozy private gondola wine tasting with scenic mountain views in Leesburg. Watch the video 👇

Tis the ski-son for the coziest, most unique wine tasting for you to try this winter! You’ll reserve your own beautiful and private ski gondola to sip on a wine flight, while taking in the beautiful views. This is the perfect, Instagrammable experience that will give you après-ski vibes right here in the DMV area! 

Wine Tasting in a Private Ski Gondola 🚠⛷️🍷

At Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg, reserve a private ski gondola for a unique wine tasting with mountain views. Perfect for a cozy, Instagrammable experience.

Gondola Wine Tasting

✅ Before you go
• Make a reservation here: https://www.exploretock.com/stonetowerwinery/experience/452079/ski-gondola-flight-reservation
• Reservations are available until the end of March 2024. Make a reservation ASAP, check the website frequently for the dates and times you want, or join the waitlist! 
• Check out the location, hours, and more for Stone Tower Winery: https://www.stonetowerwinery.com

💪 Pro tips
• Ski Gondola Reservations are available until the end of March 2024. Make a reservation ASAP, check the website frequently for the dates and times you want, or join the waitlist! 
• Check out their other unique wine experiences and property tours: https://www.stonetowerwinery.com/cellar-tours
• Make reservations for their other experiences here: https://www.exploretock.com/stonetowerwinery/

Reserve the private ski gondola wine tasting experience at Stone Tower Winery

Tis the ski-son for the coziest, most unique wine tasting for you to try this winter.

You'll reserve your own beautiful and private ski gondola to sip

on a wine flight while taking in the scenic mountain views.

This is the perfect instagrammable experience that will give you

après-ski vibes right here in the DMV area.

First head to the stunning Stone Tower winery in Leesburg, Virginia.

This family owned winery just unveiled three

beautiful gondolas on their outdoor terrace.

gondola fits two people and overlooks a breathtaking mountain backdrop.

A sommelier will guide you through a wine tasting of three

popular wines from Stone Tower Winery in the ski gondola.

We sipped on their rosé, chardonnay and Cabernet sauvignon.

Your reservation also includes their housemade

ciabatta bread and signature butter board.

You can even order off their full bistro menu from the comfort of your ski gondola.

Their hogback pizza was divine and their dessert was a decadent finale.

We love trying the wines, getting cozy in the

ski gondola, and taking in the mountain views.

This was such a relaxing and private experience.

We loved spending our afternoon here. after your reservation,

explore all of Stone Tower winery’s offerings or even tour their property.

The tower view tasting room is exclusive to members while the

harvest barn tasting room is open to the public.

If the weather is nice, you can even sip and dine outdoors.

make your reservation soon and ski ya later.

Kraken Kourts & Skates has an activity for everyone, whether you are looking for pickleball, roller skating, darts, or even table tennis. It’s the perfect place to try something new (and as you can tell, I am definitely a roller skating beginner)!

An Afternoon of Adventure in NoMa 

Kraken Kourts & Skates offers roller skating, pickleball, and fun games for all skill levels—rent equipment and try something new in this lively Edgewood spot.

Roller Skating & Pickleball

✅ Before you go
• It’s close to a Metro stop (via the red line) and there’s parking nearby if you are driving over. 
• Make sure to check their website to see if you will need a reservation (especially for lessons!). 

💪 Pro tips
• They rent out roller skates, pickleball paddles, balls, etc.- so don’t worry about trying to find a pair of skates before you go. 

Kraken Kourts & Skates 🛼

Metrobar offers creative cocktails in a chill indoor/outdoor space featuring a real Metro car—perfect for post-skate drinks or reserving a fire pit with friends.

Drinks at Metrobar

🚈 Metrobar
• Metrobar is a unique indoor/outdoor bar less than a block away where the focal point is a real Metro train car.
• Consider reserving one of their fire pits for a post-skate chalet moment 🔥

Your Next Location for Drinks 🥂

Catch a movie and enjoy dinner at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, just steps from Kraken Kourts & Skates—perfect for unwinding with great food and films after your adventure.

Movie & Dinner

🎬 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
• It’s across from Metrobar and also less than a block away from Kraken, so it couldn’t get any closer! 
• They have a full menu available, along with the traditional movie theater snacks.
• Sitting for for a movie is the perfect way to relax after an afternoon of activities. 😌


If You’re Looking for Dinner & a Show 🍿

If you've been looking for something that feels

a little different than your usual night out,

Kraken Courts and Skates has a roller skating rink,

and a snack bar in case you need a pick me up in between rounds.

They also have some fun games like Connect Four and darts,

and it's impossible not to have a good time with everything they have to offer.

If you don't want to just go for it and hope.

they do offer private and group roller skating lessons,

The vibe is really fun without being overwhelming,

It's also right next to Metro Bar and an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema,

so you can easily turn this into a fun night out.

Consider this your sign to try something new at Kraken Courts and Skates.

Here’s your affordable spring night out. This immersive spring experience on a DC rooftop is in bloom for just 2 more weeks and you have to come visit soon. This 50 foot spherical dome has transformed for spring and you’ll love watching these spring cherry blossom inspired visuals.

Immersive Digital Spring Art on a DC Rooftop!

Relax under cherry blossom-inspired digital art at Hi Lawn's rooftop dome. Enjoy immersive visuals and spring cocktails. Limited-time event!

Immersive Cherry Blossom Art

✅ Before you go
• Get your tickets and check out the information: joyraft.com/event/peak-bloom-dome-experience-hi-lawn-x-artechouse-washington-1034924

💪 Pro tips
• The dome at Hi Lawn and ARTECHOUSE have joined forces to transform this iconic rooftop into a breathtaking digital cherry blossom show.
• If you can, visit on a weekday during the day for their ‘Happy Hour’ tickets, where you can get a ticket for $20 and a $7 specialty drink! 

Visit the Peak Bloom: Dome Experience at the Hi Lawn Rooftop in DC 

Here's your affordable spring outing in DC.

This immersive spring experience on a DC rooftop is in bloom for just 2 more weeks,

This 50 ft spherical dome has transformed for spring,

and you will love watching these spring cherry blossom inspired visuals.

have joined forces to transform this iconic

rooftop into Breathtaking digital cherry blossom show.

I went with some friends to the media preview,

and we love sitting in their comfy chairs and watching the beautiful art,

and butterflies transform the whole space.

We ordered some of their refreshing signature cocktails that are

spring inspired and watched the stunning immersive projections above.

Share this with your friends and visit before the end of April.

Here's your plan for a personalized, stress-free ear piercing with expert advice and a discount. Watch the video 👇

Visit this personalized piercing spot at Union Market DC for quick, stress-free piercing experiences! 

Personalized Piercing Spot in DC + Discount!✨

Get a personalized, stress-free ear piercing at STUDS in Union Market DC, complete with expert guidance and trendy jewelry options.

Ear Piercing

✅ Before you go
• Make an appointment: https://studs.com
• At STUDS, they make ear piercing fun, personalized, and stress-free with expert piercers, complimentary consultations, and ear piercing with needles (never piercing guns!)

💪 Pro tips
• Discount: Use code 'JOYRAFTDC20' to get 20% off your jewelry purchase at Studs. FYI - it is limited to 1 use per customer. For piercings, you will need to mention the discount code in stores at checkout, it does not work for online piercing appointments. 

Visit STUDS at Union Market DC or one of their local DMV area locations for a piercing! 

let's go get a piercing at the Studs Union Market DC location.

personalized consultation and piercing appointment while I

was here to provide support and to shop for earrings and jewelry.

Make an appointment and visit your nearest Studs location

where you'll start by receiving a complimentary personalized consultation.

The piercer was so helpful and advised my friend on

which piercings and jewelry work best with her ear anatomy.

While my friend was deciding on her piercing,

I finally decided on these gold French twist hoops.

The piercer was so friendly and answered all of her questions.

then marked the dot on my friend's ear to make sure she was happy with the placement.

The piercings here are always done with the needle.

The process was so quick and the results were exactly what she wanted.

Check out the discount code below for your next piercing.

Here's your plan for grabbing seafood and picnicking on Sandy Point beach near Annapolis. Watch the video 👇

Grab seafood and take it to the beach! Only an hour from DC. Annapolis is very close by, so feel free to stop for their signature naval town charm.

Picnic on the Beach⛱️🧺

Pick up fresh seafood for a beach picnic or dine riverside at Cantler's, a beloved Annapolis spot known for Maryland blue crabs and waterfront charm.

Seafood takeout

• You could dine in here instead of picnicking, especially if you want to crack open some whole MD blue crabs or anything that gets messy. It's a charming riverfront locale with outdoor seating. On the other hand, there could be a long wait for a table.
• Peak crab season is late summer/early fall, if you want to come back!

Pick up food at Cantler's Riverside Inn

Enjoy a relaxing picnic on the sandy Chesapeake Bay shore, swim, birdwatch, or stroll the mile-long beach at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis.

Beach Picnic

• May 1-September 30 weekends and holidays $5/person, weekdays $4/person; October 1-April 30 $3/vehicle.
• Spring is the perfect time to go before the sands get burning hot and the crowds hit!
• Don't forget a picnic blanket and some sunscreen. Alternatively there are lots of picnic tables and pavilions with grills if you don't want to sit on the sand.
• The bay water is calm and easy to swim or wade in (where permitted). No lifeguards until Memorial Day.
• The park is ranked #2 in Maryland birding hotspots. You can see them on the Symbi Trail and Blue Crab Trail.


Picnic on the beach at Sandy Point State Park

Here's a perfect activity for the warmer weather: picnicking on the beach.

water with excellent views of the Chesapeake Bay.

The road there will take you past a great opportunity to pick up food,

as if we'd somehow forgotten where we are,

Cantler's Waterfront Restaurant and Crab House,

Then you're almost to Sandy Point State Park.

Set up at South Beach and enjoy your picnic and

views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Sandy Point Lighthouse.

The sandy stretch is about 1 mile long and pleasant to walk along.