Tag Archives: Baltimore with Kids

March 12, 2017 · 4:48 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: March 13-17

Doing some sketching at the National Gallery of Art

Monday – Say oui to Yoga in French! This new program from Bilingual Villages, which offers language immersion playgroups and activities for families, is a series of five weekly classes, but you can drop in for single sessions, too. Designed for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers, classes are led by a certified Yoga instructor who is also a native French speaker. Classes run every Monday March 13 – April 10 from 9:30-10:15am. Admission is $20/session or $89 for all five. Bilingual Villages is located at 10518 A Connecticut Avenue, Suite 3 in Kensington, MD.

Tuesday – If the weather forecast is completely off and snow is a no-go… Head up to the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore to for Pi Day (3.14)! It’ll be a celebration of the mathematical constant Pi — and the sweet, circular baked dessert! Enjoy all kinds of Pi- and pie-related activities throughout the day along with all of the ongoing fun, engaging exhibits at the children’s museum. The program runs from 10am -2pm, museum hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is 24.95/adult, 18.95/ages 3 and up, free for 2 and under. Read more about the Maryland Science Center in this KFDC post.

And if it snows, well, get out and enjoy our first (and probably last) real snow of the season! No word yet on whether sledding will be permitted on Capitol Hill (not that a ban ever stopped us before), but I’ll keep you posted.

Wednesday – Go to Story Time in the ReSource Room at the National Archives. The monthly series welcomes children aged 3-5 with accompanying adults to enjoy a book reading, participate in group activities, and create a craft — all with a an Amelia Earheart theme, perfect for celebrating Women’s History Month. The session takes place 10-11am in the Boeing Learning Center. Admission is free.

Thursday – Spend the morning at wacky magic show as The Great Zucchini performs at Jammin Java. Doors open at 10am and the fun begins at 10:30am. General admission tickets are $5. Smoothies, juices, acai bowls, and the coffee menu will be available for purchase, too.

Friday – Get an art fix at the National Gallery of Art! The recently reopened East Building is full of contemporary art with bold colors and captivating designs. Be sure to stop in the Alexander Calder room on the 4th floor, where mobiles of all shapes and sizes will dazzle little ones, and don’t miss the giant blue rooster on the roof. The West Building houses more classical works, the collections featuring many of the masters, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting on public view in the US! Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 2-6

Exploring pointillism at an Open Studio Friday session

Monday – Go see a movie on the really big screen. You’ve got your choice of several IMAX films playing right now: Dinosaurs Alive 3D, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Secret Ocean 3D, and National Parks Adventure 3D are all playing at the Natural History Museum’s Johnson IMAX Theater. And the Air & Space Museum’s Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater presents A Beautiful Planet 3D, Journey to the Stars 3D, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Tickets are $9/adults, $8/seniors, $7.50/youth ($15/adult, $13.50/youth for Rogue One). Be sure to check schedules for showtimes. And, of course, plan for some time before or after to explore the museums, too.

Tuesday – Venture up to Baltimore for a day of play and learning at Port Discovery. Several levels full of awesome hands-on exhibits will keep the kids entertained for hours! Open 9:30am – 4:30pm. Admission is $14.95 for ages 2 and up, free for under 2. And if you think you might go a few time this year, I recommend checking out their membership options.

Wednesday – Explore the grounds and play in the gardens, particularly the Children’s Garden, at River Farm. The American Horticulture Society’s headquarters overlooking the Potomac River in Alexandria are as lovely as they are fun. Hours are 9am – 5pm. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Thursday – Enjoy a musical morning with Boogie Babes as they bring kiddie entertainment to Eastern Market at 10:30am. Admission is $6/child, and siblings 6 months and under are free. Plan on lunch after at the market or nearby — there are lots of options for a tasty bite.

Friday – Head to the National Portrait Gallery for some creative fun at an Open Studio Friday session. All ages are welcome to explore a different art medium each week with all kinds of neat projects. Drop in anytime from 1-6pm. Go earlier or stay after to explore the museum’s collections and hang out in the beautiful Kogod Courtyard. Museum hours are 11:30am – 7pm. Admission is free. Read more about the Penn Quarter gallery in this KFDC post.

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Filed under All ages, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Movies, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Virginia, Weekdays

Tagged as Baltimore with Kids, DC Attractions, DC Kids Activities, DC Museums, DC outdoors, DC Weekday Activities with Kids, DC with kids, Fun Things to do with Kids in the Washington DC Area, Fun with Kids in Maryland, Fun with Kids in Northern Virginia, Weekdays January 2-6

December 26, 2016 · 9:32 am

Where to Play on the Weekdays: December 26-30

Checking out some of the Q?rius collection

Monday – Take advantage of The Beauvoir School’s Winter Break and head to their fantastic playground, open to the public when class is not in session. Open all day. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Hit the trail for a hike. It should be a great day for it as the mercury rises a bit. Riverbend Park in Great Falls, Huntley Meadows in Alexandria, and Roosevelt Island are all great for tramping with kids. And this post has even more recommendations for local walks in the woods.

Wednesday – Head up to Baltimore on a Winter Break day off! Learn about the city’s early business days at the Museum of Industry. The Inner Harbor attraction highlights the trades and people that helped build the port city through exhibits that showcase relics from the past and recreate various industry environments. Hours are 10am – 4pm (Tuesday – Sunday). Admission is $12/adult, $7/ages 7-12, free for 6 and under. If you prefer some fresh air, take a tour of Fort McHenry, birthplace of the National Anthem. The park is open 9am – 5pm. Admission is $10/adult, children 15 and under are free.

Thursday – Get Q?rius at the National Museum of Natural History. During winter break, the interactive and experiential learning space opens earlier at 10am (instead of 2pm). Visitors can view up close — and in many cases handle — real artifacts and specimens from the museum’s collections. It’s recommended for ages 11 and up, but some younger ages could also enjoy it. For really little ones, there is Q?rius Jr: A Discovery Room for more age-appropriate exploring. And, of course, there’s the whole rest of the museum for everyone. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Reach new heights of fun at ClimbZone in Laurel, MD. Kids and adults will have a blast scaling the many colorful, whimsically-themed walls at the new indoor climbing center. Hours are 10am – 9pm (10am – 8pm other weekdays). Admission is $25/ages 6 and up, $12/5 and under for a three-hour session.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: March 14-18

A lily pad filled pond at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Monday – Jump the morning away at Flight Trampoline Park in Springfield, VA. This bouncy nirvana hosts Kid Flight sessions for children 46″ tall & under from 10am – 2pm Monday through Friday for $10/hour (includes accompanying adult).

Tuesday – Take a docent-led tour of the exhibition Twelve Years That Shook and Shaped Washington, 1963-1975 at the Anacostia Community Museum. After, kids can go on a self-guided treasure hunt to test their knowledge, then receive a free gift after completing it. The program is offered at 11am and 12pm. Admission if free. Register in advance and indicate which tour time you want.

Wednesday – Venture up to Baltimore for a day of play and learning at Port Discovery. Several levels full of awesome hands-on exhibits will keep the kids entertained for hours! Open 9:30am – 4:30pm. Admission is $14.50 for ages 2 and up (free for under 2).

Thursday – Get a unique dose of nature in the city at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Go on a nature walk among the ponds and marsh areas filled with giant lily pads and other interesting water plants. Look for geese, egrets, great blue herons, turtles, frogs, and small fish on the way. Hours are 8am – 4pm this time of year. Admission is free.

Friday – Discover Okinawa at an all-ages celebration at the Textile Museum! Origami, a games, crafts, and a photo booth will be among the activities for kids from 11:30am – 4pm. Admission is free.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: April 14-18

Hands on at the Maryland Science Center

Monday – Make your way up to Baltimore to visit the Maryland Science Center, where your crew can explore a variety of exhibits, play in the Kids Room, see an IMAX movie, and much more. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is $16.95/adults, $13.95/ages 3+, free for 2 and under. Read more about the children’s museum here.

Tuesday – Take the money tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It’s a perfect outing for kids on break from school, since tours are only offered on weekdays. This post has all the background and details you need to plan for it.

Wednesday – See a FREE performance of Imagination Stage’s production of Inside Out at THEARC. The storyline follows two children who, instead of preparing for bedtime, use their imaginations to transform their room into fantastical world of play. Recommended for ages 1-5. Showtimes are 10:30am and 11:45am, and even though it’s free, tickets are required. This will also take place on Thursday and Friday.

Thursday – Head to the National Portrait Gallery where they’re hosting special Spring Break activities for kids from 1-4pm. Drop by the Education Center to do a collage project or check out a Portrait Discovery Kit to explore the museum. Read more about the program and NPG in this post. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11:30am – 7pm.

Friday – Hike along the Potomac, see nature indoors and out, have a picnic, and hang out and relax at Riverbend Park. The Fairfax County locale makes for an ideal outing with little ones — easy trails, great nature viewing, and never a big crowd. Free admission, and the Visitor Center is open 9am – 5pm on weekdays.