The Weekend Round-Up: April 30 – May 2

The Nats are back home this weekend

Happy Weekend!

Back pocket posts loaded with ideas for ongoing DC fun:
* Spring Things to Get Excited About
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Best Outdoor Spots
* Peaceful Places
* Indoor Outings
* On the Water
* Bike Rides

Nats vs. Marlins
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday – Sunday
Admission: Tickets start at $14
Single game tickets are now available to everyone, so you can return to the ballpark to root for the home team! (And you can do it safely — we know from experience at a recent game.) The Nats are hosting the Marlins all weekend, with an evening game on Friday and afternoon match-ups on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are sold in socially distance pods of one to six tickets.  Be sure to take a look at the Welcome Home page, so you know what to expect. I recommend bringing kiddos only if they’re truly baseballs fans. There is no playground for antsy kids, and getting ballpark treats is a little less fun and convenient with the new mobile ordering system. But for those who are into the game, it sure is great to be there again!

Dentzel Carousel Opening Day
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday, 12-6pm & Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: $5 for a 4-hour time slot
The beloved Denzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park reopens on Saturday! Go for a spin on this local treasure that was installed at the park in 1921. You can reserve tickets in advance or purchase there (I recommend getting them ahead as they are limited). The $5 fee gets you unlimited rides during your time slot. Plan for some time on the playground, too, and bring along a picnic to enjoy at one of the tables in the . Read more about what to expect on the website.

Revisit the 80s at the Drive-In
Where: Alexandria Drive-In Movie Theater | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 8pm
Admission: $40/car
Catch a classic 80s flick from the comfort of your car.  The Breakfast Club is the featured film on the big outdoor screen at the Alexandria Drive-In this week — probably one for tweens and older.  Enjoy some entertainment out of the house and social distance. Food trucks will be there both nights offering savory and sweet concessions with online ordering through Goodfynd! Purchase movie tickets in advance!

Lincoln’s Bike Ride
Where: President Lincoln’s Cottage | Petworth, DC
When: Saturday, 10am
Admission: $50
Join President Lincoln’s Cottage and the DC Cycling Concierge as they recreate Lincoln’s three-mile commute by bike from his Cottage in Petworth to the White House. The day will start with an introduction at President Lincoln’s Cottage (140 Rock Creek Church Road), followed by a guided cycling tour, retracing Lincoln’s commute. The tour will stop at places of note for bits of history and end at the White House. [Note: This sounds like a lot of riding through the city — parents are the best judges of whether their kids are up for it.]

Arlington Scavenger Hunt, By Bike
Where: Around Arlington, VA
When: Friday – Monday
Admission: $35/adult, $15/age 8-17, free/7 & under
Join Phoenix Bikes for a unique way to explore Arlington and sample some community treasures. This socially distanced bike ride will take you on a delightful adventure as you stop at locally owned eateries. Using an online event site, you will be guided to each restaurant location to gather clues to win prizes, learn little-known facts about local shops, and taste delicious treats along the way. The ride is flexible and social-distance-friendly, and it can be done alone or with family, over an afternoon or throughout the weekend.

Blooming Azaleas
Where: National Arboretum | Northeast DC
When: Throughout the weekend, 8am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The azalea bloom at the National Arboretum is very well known among flower enthusiasts, attracting visitors from all over every year. And for good reason: It’s absolutely gorgeous! Even more, the Arb is a great place to spend a day with the family, with plenty of space to spread out with something to enjoy in every area.  Go here for scenes from the bloom, info for checking it out, and more link to tips for exploring the whole place. And FYI:  The Arb has been limiting vehicle traffic for crowd control, so be aware there could be a wait to get in.

Gardening for Wildlife
Where: Locust Grove Nature Center | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
The Nature Center reopens with this event that will be both in-person and virtual. Through demonstrations, workshops, and tours of native plant gardens, learn how to be a better neighbor to birds, butterflies, and bees with what you plant in your own garden.

Pop-Up Consignment Shop
Where: 2456 Tunlaw Road NW | Glover Park, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
PicklesDC is hosting a patio pop-up consignment shop on Saturday. Shop quality brands in excellent condition — children’s clothing, shoes, and toys (size newborn – 12 years). It’s a good chance to get your kids set up with warm weather wear and gear!

May Day Urban Market
Where: The Loop | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the start of May with a one-day urban market and street fest. The Loop, a coworking community and wellness hub, is gathering local artisans for a collective pop-up shop and more festivities in their courtyardat 215 N Payne St. Music, food, and drinks will be on deck all day. Stroll through the vendor offerings and enjoy fare from food trucks and other eateries.

Over the Rainbow & Beyond
Where: Watkins Regional Park
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Here’s an old KFDC fave that’s finally (almost) fully back in action and a great place to spend a day enjoying loads of free, fun activities: Watkins Regional Park!  Kiddos will love frolicking on the adorable Wizard of Oz themed playground. Old Maryland Farm, with animals to visit, is open (though capacity is limited, so there could be a wait). The Nature Center is also welcoming visitors by reservation (go here to book yours), and you can also hike some short trails nearby. Park hours are dawn to dusk, 11am – 4pm at the Nature Center and Old Maryland Farm. Admission to all of it is free.

(Geo)Cache in on Fun
Where: Around the Area
When: Anytime
Admission: Free
Take kids on a “treasure” hunt and have a little adventure along the way. Geocaching is a perfect way to be active and enjoy a day outdoors. Whether you search in the city or seek out a destination that requires a hike in the woods, locating the hidden cache will be a thrill for everyone. See this post about our first foray into the pursuit a few years back.

Go Disc Golfin’
Where: Courses around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Hit the links, the chain links, that is! Disc golf is a great way to enjoy a nice family day outdoors. Not only is it fun and challenging, the courses, many of them set up in scenic places, are lovely this time of year. This post has info about one in College Park, and there are also great courses at Patapsco Valey State Park in MD,  Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, VA,  Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, MD, Burke Lake Park in Burke, VA.

Around the World Virtual Family Scavenger Hunt
Where: Watson Adventures Online
When: Saturday, 4-5:30pm
Admission: $19
Just because you can’t travel widely doesn’t mean your family still can’t go around the world! This global virtual adventure will send you off to explore the world’s best museums and historic locations via links to eye-popping websites. Your challenge: follow our clues, find amazing objects, and answer tricky questions about them. Stops along the way include a 360-degree view of the ancient streets of Pompeii, Italy, prehistoric cave paintings in France, a swim around the Great Barrier Reef and a live panda cam in China, just to name a few.

City Nature Challenge
Where: Around DC
When: Through May 3 (Part 2 May 4-9)
Admission: Free
The DC Department of Parks & Rec has teamed up with Capital Nature and the Nature Conservancy in Maryland/DC to document the biodiversity of the District — and residents of all ages are invited to join them. Nature and animal enthusiasts young and old can help them look for signs of urban wildlife in local parks, waterways, backyards, and even front stoops. All you need is to participate is a smart phone and a sharp eye. Sign up by downloading the iNaturalist app. Once you have it, follow a simple three step process to Find, Photograph, and Share your results!

Ahoy, Matey!
Where: Inner Harbor | Baltimore, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $15/adult, $13/teen, $7/youth
Historic Ships of Baltimore just started welcoming visitors again on the USS Constellation and USS Torsk. Touring the vessels moored at the Inner Harbor is a fascinating experience for all ages. Be sure to check the safety guidelines before you go, and read about one of our past visits there in this post.

More Charm City Fun, Hon
Where: Baltimore, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Enjoy even more fun in our sister city, just 45 minutes up I-95. Explore the exhibits and loads of hands-on activities at the Maryland Science Center. Play the day away at Port Discovery. See some of the quirkiest, coolest art around at the American Visionary Art Museum. Get an eyeful of the underwater world at the National Aquarium. Or learn about Baltimore’s early business days at the Museum of Industry.  All of these places require advance reservations., so be sure to book ahead!

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* A bunch of beloved places are reopening around DC in May, and there’s a new KFDC guide with details on visiting and recs for what to see and do.
* Great news: DC DPR announced that pools and splash parks will reopen Memorial Day weekend! (PS: The annual KFDC Summer Guide with more info will also be back again soon after a 2020 hiatus!)
* If you’re vaxed/comfortable doing things indoors and want to plan a fun date night, The Hamilton is presenting live shows once again as well as dinner and a movie nights.
* Levi and I just celebrated out 20th(!) anni with an incredible dinner last weekend at Sushi Nakazawa — I highly recommend for a very special occasion, one of our best meals ever. (We also celebrated on the actual day with our two favorite peops who weren’t yet around for the wedding.)
* Animals taking selfies
* Vaccine Side Effects, or…? 😂