✈️🍕 Our First Family Outing of the Season: CatBoat Pizza Bar + A Turkish Surprise
Even though summer hasn’t officially started — and even though Greyson still has a few weeks of school left — the sunshine has been calling our name. Big Sis Natalyn has already been home for a few weeks, and that alone makes everything feel like summer in our house. So, we decided to kick off the season early with our first family outing: a trip to CatBoat Pizza Bar in Alexandria, Virginia.
And let me tell you… it was exactly what we needed.
🌤️ A Scenic Drive + A New Adventure
CatBoat Pizza Bar is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from our home in Ellicott City — the perfect distance for a mini‑adventure without feeling like a full road trip.
When we arrived, the weather was perfect, the breeze was soft, and the waterfront was glowing. The whole place has this relaxed, coastal vibe that instantly puts you in “summer mode.”
✈️ Plane‑Spotting Fun (Dad’s Specialty)
One of the BEST parts of CatBoat is that it sits right along the water near the flight path for planes landing at Reagan National Airport. So while we ate, we got to watch planes glide right over the river.
Dad had an app open that told us:
- Which airline was coming
- What time it would pass
- What direction to look
So, every few minutes, we’d all look up at the sky to see if he was right. It became a whole family game — and Greyson LOVED it.
🍕🥗 Food + Slushies + Sister Moments
CatBoat keeps their menu simple, and honestly, I love that:
- Slushies (non‑alcoholic + alcoholic)
- Pizza
- Salads
- Wine + beer
- Other Snacks
We ordered slushies, pizzas, and salads — and the highlight of the meal was Greyson’s new obsession: Caesar salad.
She’s been loving them lately, and we’re giving full credit to Big Sis Natalyn for that one. There’s something so sweet about watching your older child influence your younger one in the best ways.
🌊 Greyson’s Favorite Part: The Pier
After eating, we walked along the pier — and Greyson was in heaven.
She loved:
- Watching the sailboats
- Looking at the water
- Taking in all the movement and colors
It was the perfect sensory‑friendly moment: calm, open, and full of gentle visual stimulation.
🍵 A Surprise Stop: The Turkish Lady Café
On the way home, we were on a mission: find matcha for our eldest daughter.
But instead, we stumbled upon something even better — a cozy little café called The Turkish Lady.
And here’s the sweetest part: I met my husband in Turkey in 1996. So anytime we find a Turkish spot, we have to stop. It’s our little tradition — a way to share a piece of our story with our girls.
Inside, the café was warm, colorful, and filled with Turkish décor. We ordered:
- Hot chai (Apple Chai — our favorite!)
- Snacks
We soaked in the nostalgia…
Greyson loved flipping through the Turkish books about tea and coffee. It was such a simple moment, but it felt meaningful — like a tiny bridge between our past and our present.
💛 A Perfect Start to the Season
This outing had everything we love:
- Family time
- Good food
- Planes + boats
- Sister bonding
- A surprise cultural moment
- Sunshine + water
- And Greyson exploring the world in her own joyful way
If this is how our “not‑quite‑summer” is starting, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings.
