Tag Archives: DC Winter 2014

December 7, 2014 · 9:43 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: December 8-12

So many delightful details in Santa’s Workshop on the Ellipse

Monday – Show the kiddos relics from the nation’s past and even some from your childhood at the National Museum of American History, where collections include some of the best toys and games of the old days. Other fun exhibits include the First Ladies’ ball gowns and America on the Move, a history of transportation in the U.S. featuring some of the earliest automobiles, a train car, and an old street car that guests can actually climb aboard. The museum is open from 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Let little ones bounce, climb, swing, tumble, and slide at the PG Sports & Learning Complex Gymnastics Center. The hour-long open play session begins at 11:30am, and admission is $6/child. (This also takes place on Wednesday at the same time.)

Wednesday – Experience holiday traditions from a global perspective at the 3rd Annual Winternational Celebration. Festivities include a gingerbread cookie station, complimentary cookies, hot cocoa, and apple cider, sample of global bites, cultural performances, and an international bazaar. This will all take place in the atrium at the Ronald Reagan Building from 11am – 2pm, and admission is free. Want some evening entertainment, too? Head to the Kennedy Center for Merry TubaChristmas, the free Millennium Stage performance at 6pm.

Thursday – Bundle up for a hike at Roosevelt Island, where you can get a dose of nature and history in one fell swoop. The trails are easy for little ones to tramp, and you can explore the Memorial Plaza to learn about the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt. The entrance to the park is located right off the GW Parkway, just past the Roosevelt Bridge. It’s accessible only from the northbound lanes. Hours are 6am – 10pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Visit Santa on the Ellipse. His charming little workshop, where guests can take a photo with him, is open 12:30-9:30pm on Fridays (Saturdays & Sundays, too) through December 21. You can read about one of our experiences there in this past KFDC post.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, Christmas, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Fall, Festival, Free, Holidays, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Nature, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Virginia, Weekdays

Tagged as 2014 Holidays, DC Kids Activities, DC Museums, DC outdoors, DC Weekday Activities with Kids, DC Winter 2014, DC with kids, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Indoor Playgrounds, Things to do with Kids in DC, Things to do with Kids in Maryland, Things to do with kids in Northern Virginia

March 2, 2014 · 10:11 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: March 3-7

Snowmageddon 2010

Monday – When the storm gives you snow, make a snowman. But if it’s not a Frosty-building or sledding kind of day, then celebrate the birthday (a day late) of one of the most beloved children’s authors: Get out the Dr. Seuss books — we all have ’em, right? — and enjoy his wildly imaginative rhymes, illustrations, and stories with the kids.

Tuesday – Head out to Chantilly for Air & Space exploration beyond the District. The Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center showcases flight artifacts they can’t fit into the museum on the Mall. See all kinds of air and space crafts, pretend to pilot in a flight simulator, get hands-on in a discovery station, and much more. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free, but parking is $15.

Wednesday – Pop in for open jump time at Pump It Up in Lanham, Md. Children ages 2-8 and accompanying adults are invited to bounce in the giant inflatables from 10am – 12pm. Admission is $8/child. If you can’t get there that early, go for Family Open Jump from 5-7pm or find sessions on different days or at other area Pump It Up locations.

Thursday – Check out the National Geographic Museum’s newest exhibit, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. Opening March 4, it promises to be an “engaging destination for space fans.” Admission is free. Hours at the museum are 10am – 6pm.

Friday – Catch a performance of Sleeping Beauty at The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park. Showtimes are 10am and 11:30am. Tickets are $10. (Shows are at the same times on Thursday, too.)

Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 24-28

Train ride in the Tyson’s Corner food court

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. For the younger set, head to a local go-to for for fun and educational recreation: The National Air & Space Museum. Filled literally floor-to-ceiling with fascinating exhibits, there’s plenty to interest kids of all ages. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Tuesday – See the city from a new vantage point at the Old Post Office Clock Tower. It’s free to visit and go up to the observation deck of the third tallest building in DC. Open daily from 9am – 5pm on Monday – Saturday this time of year (12-6pm on Sunday). Just head to the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th and Pennsylvania NW and follow the signs once inside.

Wednesday – Spend what’s forecast to be a snowy day at Tyson’s Corner. Take the kids to play in the National Geographic-sponsored play area, go for a train ride around the food court, and, of course, get in a little shopping while you’re there. Update: A few KFDC readers just let me know that the play area is closed for renovations, expected to open after this week. The train is still running, though! For another play area (and shopping), head to Potomac Mills instead.

Thursday – Wander around the beautiful grounds, play in the recently renovated Children’s Garden, and enjoy a winter day outdoors at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md. The park is open sunrise to sunset, the Visitor Center 9am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Catch a performance of Sleeping Beauty on strings at The Puppet Co. Showtimes are 10am and 11:30am. Tickets are $10.