Where to Play on the Weekdays: August 25-29

Monday – Visit the National Arboretum on one of the two weekdays it’s open to the public (it’s closed Tuesday – Thursday). Tour the plant collections, visit the Washington Youth Garden and play in the natural playground, romp at the old Capitol columns, see the details of the bonzais. There are acres upon acres to explore! Hours are 8am – 5pm, and admission is free.

Tuesday – Play in the sprays at Canal Park. The recreational space in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood has both a gentle, shallow fountain that is perfect for really little ones, plus a bigger one for more enthusiastic play where the ice rink is in the winter. Admission is free. Grab a bite to eat at the Park Tavern on premises at another nearby eatery (there are options right across the street and food trucks often in the area), or pack lunch for a picnic.

Wednesday – See a show especially for little ones at The Puppet Co. Mother Goose Caboose is this week’s Tiny Tots, where the lights stay on and doors stay open during performances for the youngest audiences. Showtime is 10am. Tickets are $5 for everyone, including babies. Plan to hang out at Glen Echo Park for some fun on the playground afterwards.

Thursday – Go play at Clemyjontri, the brilliantly colored, sprawling playground in McLean that accommodates kids of all abilities. Hours are 7am to dusk, and admission is free.

Friday – Get creative at a National Portrait Gallery Open Studio Friday session. All ages are welcome to explore a different art medium each week with all kinds of fun projects. Drop in anytime from 1-4pm. Admission is free.