Strolling through the Children’s Garden at Brookside
Monday – Wander around the beautiful grounds, play in the cute Children’s Garden, and walk among hundreds of butterflies at the annual Wings of Fancy exhibit at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md. The park is open sunrise to sunset, the Visitor Center 9am – 5pm, and the exhibit 10am – 4pm. Admission to the park is free, but it’s $6/adults and $4/ages 3-12 for the butterflies.
Tuesday – See an amazing collection of model ships, peer into a real periscope, sit in the gun seats of old fighter planes, view naval artifacts hundreds of years old, and much more at the U.S. Navy Museum. Located on the Navy base in southeast DC, it’s a treasure trove of fascinating exhibits. Hours are 9am – 5pm. Admission is free.
Wednesday – Take a Winnie the Pooh inspired wagon ride through Riverbend Park. Journey through the woods to Poohsticks bridge, listening to Winnie the Pooh’s story on the way. The fun begins at 10am, cost is $5 for Fairfax county residents, $7/non-residents. Register here — space is limited, but if you can’t get a spot on the wagon, explore on foot instead. The park has easy trails, great nature viewing, and there’s never a big crowd. Plus, the Visitor Center is open 9am – 5pm on weekdays.
Thursday – Let the kids to shop at the market, tend to the ranch, bake in the kitchen, decorate cupcakes, and do some art projects — all possibilities in the Playseum’s various themed rooms and crafts areas. Visit the Capitol Hill or Bethesda location and plan on lunch while you’re out; both are convenient to many eateries for a pre- or post-play meal. Admission is $7/person (siblings under 11 months are free) and is good for the whole day.
Friday – Drop in for story time and other activities at your local library, or just go to check out books. See this post from the early KFDC days for a little background and quick links to libraries around the area.
