
Monday – Take a walk in the woods and explore the grounds of Woodend Nature Sanctuary in Chevy Chase. The home of the Audubon Naturalist Society is perfect for hiking with little ones. The trails are mellow, there are several small exhibits like bees nests and bird feeding areas, and wildlife sightings are practically guaranteed. Open dawn to dusk. Admission is free.
Tuesday – Take a tour and go for a “swim” at Fun House, the National Building Museum’s big summer exhibition. Timed entry tickets are $16/adult, $13/child and good for an hour in the house, but admission gets you into all of the museum exhibits, so be sure to make time for those, too!
Wednesday – Head to Capitol Hill for outdoor play, kids activities, a performance by 4SW featuring students of Northwest High School, a concert by children’s musician Mister G, and a great lineup of speakers at the Play-In for Climate Action sponsored by Moms Clean Air Force. This family-friendly protest against the air pollution that causes dangerous climate change will showcase exactly what’s at stake as temperatures and sea levels rise: our kids. View more info and register here. The event takes place on the National Mall at 3rd Steet NW & Madison Drive NW. Admission is free.
Thursday – Watch JoJo and the Pinecones play a family-friendly concert at Strathmore’s Backyard Theatre for Children in North Bethesda. The annual summer entertainment series for kids takes place on Thursdays in July. Performances are at 9:30am and 11:30am. Tickets are $8-10.
Later on, get artrageous at Art Attack! From 5-9pm, leave your mark on Lubber Run Community Center in Arlington as they say goodbye to the 1950s and hello to a major 21st century upgrade. All ages are invited to leave a community footprint on the space before it is demolished with paint bombs, murals, a D.J., food trucks, and more!
Friday – Make it a beach day at Calvert Cliffs State Park. It’s a great place to enjoy sand, surf, and some easy hiking (it’s a flat, nature-filled 2-mile walk from the parking lot to the beach). Plan to do some fossil hunting while you’re there — you can find shark teeth and other Myocene Era remnants along the shore. Bring along a picnic, as there are no concessions. Hours are sunrise to sunset, and admission is $5/vehicle for MD residents, $7/vehicle for non-residents.