Spring Things to Get Excited About Around the DC Area (Beyond the Cherry Blosssoms)

 

Spring used to be a time when there were so many awesome events and activities around the area, it was sometimes hard to choose which to do.  While Covid has changed that this year, there still are plenty of exciting happenings — museum re-openings, sports seasons beginning, special exhibitions, flower blooms (beyond the cherry blossoms, which have passed the peak), berry picking, and more. Here are some things to get excited about this season, some mentioned already, some of them new, but now all in one place to help your planning. Happy Spring!

 

Planet Word
Where: | Downtown DC
When: Started April 1, Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The museum dedicated to language opened briefly last fall before closing due to rising Covid rates, and they started welcoming visitors again on April 1. Three levels full of interactive and immersive exhibits engage, educate, entertain, and delight. Older kids, tweens and up (and that includes the kid in us adults), will get the most out of it, but elementary ages definitely could enjoy it, too. Free, timed-entry passes are available and must be reserved in advance through the website.

 

Baseball is Back
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Started April 6
Admission: Varies
The Nats season got off to an interesting start with the first series against the Mets  postponed for Covid-related reasons. Such is the times.  But it has now officially begun (with a walk-off from Soto!), and a limited number of fans, all Nats Plus ticket holders, will be welcome back to the ballpark for games. Most of us, though, will be watching the televised version, but we can do that out of the house at restaurants and bars around DC that have outdoor seating. Eater DC has a list of places for it, several of them family-friendly. Of course, rooting for our home team from home is fun, too.  Host a backyard viewing party — this post may be about a winter set up, but a bunch of the tips are spring-worthy, too.  Update!  The Nats are now offering single game tickets to the general public, including for every game throughout the upcoming homestand April 15-18 vs Arizona and April 19-21 vs. St. Louis. Tickets start at just $14 and will be sold in socially distanced pods of 1 to 6 tickets.

 

Adventure in the Trees
Where: Adventure Park at Sandy Spring
When: Ongoing, opened in March
Admission: Starts at $45/adult, $16/child
The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring has reopened for the season, offering its thrilling aerial forest experience again. Navigating ropes courses up in the trees is a super fun and challenging way to spend a day.  There are 15 trails of varying levels of difficulty, all of them with ziplines, and almost 200 challenge bridges — something for everyone! Extra safety measures are in place for Covid, including required advance reservations, so be sure to book ahead.  Read about one of our past experiences at the Adventure Park.  (There have been many more since then!)

 

SOUNDWALK
Where: Wolf Trap | Vienna, VA
When: April 6 – September 6
Admission: Free
This free, public “sound-art” at Wolf Trap sounds like a unique way to enjoy springtime (and summer) outdoors. The GPS-enabled work created by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid, uses music to illuminate the natural environment. SOUNDWALK has been tailor-made for Wolf Trap and created to encourage calm, reflection, and introspection. It can be experienced while following social distancing guidelines. (PS: Did you know the performing arts venue is also a National Park?)

 

National Building Museum Reopens
Where: 401 F Street NW | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Starting April 9, Friday – Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: $10/adult, $7/child (free for members)
After a veerrry long wait, the National Building Museum is reopening! (Remember, it was closed for renovations pre-Covid?) The museum’s exhibits and shop will be open weekends, and of course you can roam the magnificent Great Hall, one of the most stunning spaces in DC, again. Popular, ongoing exhibitions House & Home and Animals, Collected are back, plus a couple of  important and timely exhibitions, Gun Violence Memorial Project and Justice is Beauty: The Work of MASS Design Group will be on view.

 

Glow With It
Where: Georgetown, DC
When: Starting April 9, on view daily
Admission: Free
See Georgetown in a whole new, cool light — literally! Georgetown Glow, the annual exhibition that usually takes place during the holiday season, was rescheduled for this spring. See the neighborhood sparkle with modern light art installations throughout the bustling community. Works will be on display in both public and privately-owned spaces. You can take the fam to dinner, then go for a stroll to check them all out. Artworks will be viewable by day, but obviously much brighter at night! Special talks and walks will be available, too. Get a glimpse of a past Glow here.

 

Bloom Town
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Varies by locale
Admission: Varies by locale
The cherry blossoms aren’t the only flowers in town! There are more big blooms to enjoy around the DC area, and they’re literally coming up soon. Bluebells, azaleas, tulips, and roses are what you can stop, smell, see, and relish in the loveliness of during spring. This post has details and when and where to catch them at their best.

 

Fairies in the Garden
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Lusby, MD
When: April 9 – September 6
Admission: $5 suggested donation
The annual magicalicious exhibit of fairy and gnome houses begins in spring. As if the sculpture garden in Calvert County wasn’t already wonderful, this annual display adds extra delight to a visit there with its display of handmade fairy and gnome homes scattered throughout the grounds. (The annual festival to celebrate them is still happening, but now you must reserve tickets in advance online.)  This is a place kids of all ages — and even the kid in us adults — will love. There are even more creative works and activities in the Arts Building if you’re comfortable going inside. Read more about Annmarie Sculpture Garden in this KFDC post and this one.

 

Victura Park Opens
Where: The REACH | Kennedy Center, DC
When: Starting April 9, Friday – Sunday
Admission: Free
The family-friendly outdoor pop-up and wine garden at The REACH, the Kennedy Center expansion, is reopening. Food and drinks are available to enjoy in an area set up with picnic tables. We visited several times in the fall, and it’s always a fun, lively vibe.  Be sure to explore the beautiful grounds, stop in The REACH Buildings (if open), stroll the Kennedy Center terrace, and take in sweeping views of the Potomac. Hours are Fridays 4-9pm, and Saturday and Sundays 12-9pm.  Get a glimpse of it in my highlights on IG, and getting there by bike is a perfect way to go to avoid parking.  But if you drive, you can park in the KC garage (though pricey) or try to find street parking nearby.

 

Go for a Train or Carousel Spin
Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Regional Parks, MD
When: Starting April 9
Admission: $2.50
All aboard! Montgomery Park’s Cabin John Train and Wheaton Train and Carousel are opening for the season. Go for a spin around the parks on replicas of the 1863 C.P. Huntington, a 4-2-4T steam locomotive. Or enjoy a whirl on the beautiful Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel featuring 33 jumping horses, three zebras, and two chariots! Read more about Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda here and Wheaton Regional Park here.

 

Go with the Flow
Where: Waterways around the DC area
When: Varies by place
Admission: Varies by place
With warmer weather comes opportunities to enjoy time on the water, and you can rent kayaks, canoes, and other vessels to paddle at a bunch of places around the area. Boating in DC now runs many of the boathouses in the District and nearby. The Wharf location is open, and Key Bridge, Fletcher’s, and Thompson are opening very soon, National Harbor later. A few places within the NoVA Parks system are also offering boat rentals now. And if you don’t want to do the work of paddling (though I highly recommend it!), enjoy a Water Taxi ride — there are several  options for places to catch it! See this post for a round-up of places to go with the flow, and read more about a couple of our paddling adventures around the area here and here.

 

Tudor Place Reopens
Where: Georgetown, DC
When: Starting April 10, Saturday & Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free with timed-entry passes
The Historic House & Garden in the heart of Georgetown will once again welcome guests on weekends. A model of Federal-period architecture in the nation’s capital, Tudor Place shares the stories of multiple generations of Martha Washington’s descendants and the enslaved workers and servants who lived and worked here. With over 18,000 objects, including the largest Washington Collection outside of Mount Vernon, Tudor Place sits on over five acres. Admission is free with a ticket, and note that one ticket offers three options: 1) Self-guided tour of the Historic House 2) Garden visit or 3) both.

 

AdMo Art Walk
Where: Around Adams Morgan, DC
When: April 12 – May 14
Admission: Free
You’ll be able to think of Adams Morgan as your own personal art gallery, thanks to this free, new way to experience art brought to you by the Adams Morgan Partnership BID, the DC Arts Center, local artists, and neighborhood businesses! Walk the streets of Adams Morgan and admire an impressive selection of artworks displayed in various storefronts in a self-guided tour starting April 12. While many events are currently paused, this allows everyone to explore on their own and experience the diverse and cultural arts scene throughout Adams Morgan.

 

Vamos United
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Starting April 16
Admission: Varies
The MLS season kicks off mid-April, and DC United will play its first match on April 17. Fans still won’t Fan will be welcome be back at Audi Field with new social distancing measures in place for Covid. And like baseball, you can also plan to watch games at different places around the area. Many of the restaurants and bars that show the Nats will also have screens dedicated to soccer.  And if you aren’t up for watching elsewhere, gear up to sport your United spirit at home!

 

Take Your Pick
Where: Farms around the DC Area
When: Varies by locale
Admission: Varies by locale
The pick-your-own season begins in late April/early May when strawberries are ripe and ready for harvest.  Several area farms welcome guests to come pick them, and some offer even more fun. This round-up of PYO places around the area has more details.  And it’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go. Sunscreen and hat also recommended.

 

Opt Outside
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
This one is very general and also pretty obvious, but take advantage of the outdoors! Spring is sublime in DC, plus many outside pursuits are great for social distancing. Get back to those places you missed all winter and, of course, discover some new ones. This huge round-up of places to hang outdoors will help with that.