Get a little wildlife viewing fix at the Rock Creek Nature Center
Monday – Take the money tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It’s a perfect outing for DCPS kids off from school, since programs are only offered on weekdays. This post has all the background and details you need to plan for it.
Tuesday – Let little ones romp at the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center in Alexandria. Recommended by a KFDC reader, the facility has a soft playroom that is apparently loaded with toys for the 5 and under set. Hours are 9am – 9pm. Admission is $5 per half-hour
Wednesday – Learn about the area’s wildlife, enjoy hands-on activities in the Nature Center, take a hike if the temps rise, and visit horses at Rock Creek Park. The Nature Center is open Wednesday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm, and admission is free. You can also visit the Horse Center, which is just a stone’s throw from the Nature Center, for free. (Note: Pony rides are not offered this time of year.)
Thursday – Locate secret doors, see outrageously fabulous themed rooms, and browse a trove of secondhand treasures on a tour of The Mansion on O Street. The Dupont Circle landmark is a mansion, museum, restaurant, vintage store, and hotel all in one — and visitors are welcome to explore it all. Open daily 11am – 4pm. Self-guided tours start at $10.
Friday – Catch a performance of Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp, the latest show on the main stage at The Puppet Co. Show times are 10am and 11:30am. Tickets are $10.
While I haven’t been there in a while (live in Arlington), a friend who lives closer to Chinquapin recently told some of us a story about feces – animal or human – being found at the Chinquapin soft playroom. It was said that they’re short staffed and the room isn’t a priority. Not sure how much to believe, so please take caution when and if you go!
Yikes! I’ve actually never been….as mentioned, another reader recommended it, but I can’t imagine someone would go out of their way to let me know about it if it wasn’t a decent space.