Checking out the river at Bladensburg Waterfront Park
Monday – Hike among the woods and wetlands of Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. Turtles, frogs, and birds are among the wildlife you could see. Stop by the nature center for even more exhibits and animal encounters. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free. You can read more about it among the big list of outdoor recommendations.
Tuesday – Spend the morning at the National Building Museum, where the Book of the Month program will take place in the Building Zone. Readings of B is for Bulldozer by June Sobel and Melissa Iwai will begin at 10:30am & 11:30am. Get there early for play time, as entry is on the hour ($3/person). Afterwards, stay to romp in the Great Hall or check out the PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit upstairs ($8/adult, $5/child).
Wednesday – Let the kids romp on the playground and in an old train car, discover some history of the area, and take a pontoon boat tour at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. The FREE boat rides are offered Tuesday through Friday 12-12:45pm. Admission to the park is also free.
Thursday – Celebrate Bolivian culture at the American Indian Museum during their annual festival showcasing the South American country. The five-day event will feature dance groups, storytelling, folk music, art demos, food, and fun for all ages. It’s running through June 8, and museum hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.
Friday – Visit the animals, take a tractor-pulled wagon ride, play on kid-sized tractors and playgrounds, and much more at Frying Pan Farm Park. The locale in Herndon is a guaranteed hit with kids, and parents always rave about it, too. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk, the farm is open 9am – 5pm, wagon rides 10am – 4pm. Admission is free, though the wagon rides cost a little extra.
I am biased because we live near Frying Pan but it is such a great place. My son has more or less grown out of it so now I have a few years until I can put on the overalls and drive the tractor around. FYI, the country store there is also great including ice cream and farm-fresh eggs (when available), plus crafts, games, etc.