King of the jungle at the National Zoo
Tuesday – Have a wild time at the National Zoo, as there’s barely a crowd on weekdays. Check the Daily Programs schedule before you go to help plan your outing or pick your animal visits as you go. Grounds are open 6am – 8pm, exhibit building hours are 10am – 6pm. Admission is free, though parking in the Zoo lot for non-members is $16 for three hours, $22 beyond three (free for members). You can also try parking on Connecticut Avenue or a side street, or take Metro to Woodley Park or Cleveland Park stations.
Wednesday – Head out to Dulles for Air & Space exploration beyond the District. The Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center showcases flight artifacts they can’t fit into the museum on the Mall. See all kinds of air and space crafts, pretend to pilot in a flight simulator, get hands-on in a discovery station, and much more. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free, but parking is $15.
Thursday – Join the Boogie Babes for a morning of music and more fun at Eastern Market as The Singing Lizard plays her kiddie pop tunes in the North Hall. Showtime is 10:30am, and admission is $5/child, siblings 6 months and under are free. Stay after for lunch in the market or at a nearby eatery. (Note: There will also be shows on Wednesday at Union Market and Friday at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, also at 10:30am.)
Friday – See a fairytale classic on strings at The Puppet Co. The theatre is currently presenting Pinocchio with half life-size rod puppets, performed in the Italian “Comedia del Arte” style. Showtimes are 10am and 11:30am. Tickets are $10.
FYI as of April the zoo changed it’s parking. Now it is $22 regardless of the leangth of time parked.