The National Arboretum is open again!
As this strange coronavirus time carries on, many of us are trying to figure out new ways to enjoy time with our families out of the house and keep everyone active, entertained, and safely social distanced. This list has both ideas for things to do around the area as well as information on reopenings, much of them already mentioned on the blog. And it will be continuously updated as more places become accessible again. Happy adventuring!
INDOOR ACTIVITIES
* See this post for listings of indoor places that are now open.
* For indoor play options (with precaution) especially for little kids, see this post.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Around the DMV
* The round-up of The Best Places in the DC Area to Spend A Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids has an update for every locale on its current status.
* Ride On: Bike Routes for Everyone Around the DC Area
* Pick Your Own places
* Disc golf courses at Calvert Park in College Park, Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, Burke Lake Park in Burke, VA, and Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, VA.
* DCist’s round-up of 11 drive-in movie series taking place around the DC area this summer.
* Eater DC’s running list of restaurants and bars with outdoor seating. And I’m going to add O-Ku, which has a fantastic rooftop overlooking Union Market.
* Open Swim: Places Around the DC Area that Welcome the Public to Take a Dip
* Beaches within day trip driving distance from the DC area.
DC
* Serenity Now: 10 Places to Find Peace and Calm in DC
* DC playgrounds
* The National Arboretum is now open daily, 8am – 5pm. More about the spot, one of our faves, here.
* Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is open again (more about it here)
* The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden has reopened again. Hours are 11am – 4pm daily, admission is free, and no passes are required.
* The Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden has reopened again. Hours are 10am – 4:30pm. Admission is free, and no passes are required, though capacity will be limited.
* The Enid A. Haupt Garden, the grounds behind the Smithsonian Castle, have reopened. It’s open daily from dawn to dusk.
* The gardens at the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland are open.
* It’s a great time to explore the National Mall — there are no crowds, so you can get a close look at the memorials and maintain good social distance.
* You can hang out in the lovely garden area of the REACH at the Kennedy Center — stroll around, check out the sculptures and artfully designed buildings, take in views of the Potomac, and there are tables where you can sit and enjoy a snack.
* DC’s 51 new statehood murals
* Eastern Market’s Tuesday Market is running weekly. And the weekend outdoor market is also open.
* The Kreeger Museum in Northwest DC reopened its Sculpture Garden. It’s limited capacity, so reservations are required. There is a suggested donation of $10/adult, $8/senior, student, military, and kids 12 & under are free.
* The Historical Society of Washington, DC, has a fun DC Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt that you can do in anywhere in the District.
* Trapeze School New York-DC will be offering drop in classes again on weekends starting this Saturday. They will be outdoors only with a limited number of participants, and cost is $65.
* The National Zoo is open again! Hours are 8am – 4pm, and free, timed entry passes will be required — reserve them here. (Update: The Zoo has closed again.)
* The gardens at Tudor Place in Georgetown have reopened. From 12-4pm Thursdays – Sundays, you can take a free self-guided tour through the 5 1/2 acres of flora with a reserved timed ticket entry. Tickets are for two hours of time, but you can reserve multiple slots for a longer visit. (Update: Closed again.)
* And Victura Park, is a new family-friendly outdoor pop-up and wine garden at The REACH. It’s open weekends this summer, Friday 3-10pm, Saturday 12-10pm, and Sunday 12-8pm. (Update: Closed for the season.)
* Foot Golf, with a course at East Potomac Park, is a soccer-golf combo that is played like golf, but instead of using clubs to drive a golf ball down a course and into a small hole, you kick a soccer ball and aim for a 21″ hole. (Update: Temporarily closed.)
Maryland
* The gorgeous grounds of Brookside Gardens are open to visitors, though a limited amount of parking is available to help maintain safe social distancing practices. Learn more and get and a glimpse of what’s there in this KFDC post — but note that the Wings of Fancy exhibit is not happening this year.
* The Wizard of Oz Playground and Old Maryland Farm are open at Watkins Regional Park. The farm is welcoming visitors Tuesday – Sunday 11am – 4pm, and the playground is open daily. Admission to both is free.
* The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring (Update: Closed for the season.)
* Patapsco State Park for hiking and swimming
* Glenstone, the wonderful modern-art museum in Potomac, MD, has reopened on an outdoor-only basis. Hours are 10am – 5pm Thursday – Sunday. Visitors must be at least 12 years old, and reservations are required. Free tickets are released at 10am every Monday in two-week increments.
* A hike and après hike at Sugarloaf Mountain and The Comus Inn make for a fantastic outing.
* TopGolf at National Harbor and Germantown are welcoming visitors to play in their outdoor hitting bays with new health and safety protocols.
* Montgomery Parks tennis clinics are available for middle and high schoolers and adults at Pauline Betz Addie Tennis Center, ranging from beginner to advanced. Sign up at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org (search tennis).
* Woodend Nature Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD, is a lovely place for nature walks with kids. The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free.
* Clarks Elioak Farm, the delightful locale in Howard County is open. It’s open Tuesday thru Sunday, 10am – 5pm. Admission is $8, and some activities are an extra small fee. (Update: Closed for the season.)
Virginia
* Great Country Farms’ play area and the fishing pond are open. Check for any upcoming festivals, too.
* Shenandoah National Park has reopened campgrounds and trails that were closed for awhile. Check out and book available campsites through Recreation.gov. And read more about recreation at the Virginia park in this KFDC post.
* Parks within the NoVa Parks system are open. This includes:
Clemyjontri
Potomac Overlook Park
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Pohick Bay Regional Park
…and many more
* Parks within the Fairfax Parks system are open. This includes:
Riverbend Park
Scott’s Run Nature Preserve
Huntley Meadows Park
Green Spring Gardens
Burke Lake Park
…and many more
* Potomac Overlook Park has a bunch of nature-themed events for families this summer. You must pre-register! The park is also a great place to hike and enjoy some outdoor time.
* Leesburg Animal Park is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday & Sunday 9:30am – 4pm. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
* Barrel Oak Winery and Farm Taphouse in Delaplane, VA, is family-friendly, fun, spacious & scenic, and practicing safety measures. It’s a perfect stop after a hike at Sky Meadows State Park.
* A great place for family hikes and other outdoor activities: Mason Neck State Park in Fairfax. Hours are 8am – 9pm, and admission is $7/car on weekdays, $10 on weekends.
