Kids Activities in the DMV

[Note: This post was written by KFDC Contributor Emily Moise, a local writer and mom of two young children. She always has excellent recommendations for kids’ activities around the DC area. See some of them here, here, and here.]

New business openings hit different post-pandemic — especially ones for kids. In my neck of the woods, almost every kid-centered establishment within a five-mile radius shuttered completely or drastically reduced their offerings between 2020-2022. Eventually, moms groups were drowning in desperation over things to do and places to go.

The news of new openings brings relief, gratitude, and excitement. Things are finally turning around, and, perhaps, these businesses will operate even better for owners and their customers. The kid business can be booming once again. Here are five upcoming openings to look forward to…

LEGO Discovery Center Washington DC
Where: Springfield Town Center| Springfield, VA 22150
Expected Opening: Summer 2023
Recommended Ages: 2-12
A 32,000-square-foot LEGO Discovery Center is under construction at Springfield Town Center. Get ready to launch rockets on a LEGO Space Mission, journey on the Imagination Express, explore a LEGO Mini World, take a workshop with a Master Model Builder, ride a dinosaur-themed carousel in DUPLO Park, experience 4D sensory cinema, and much more!

An indoor waterpark even bigger than this one in Williamsburg is coming soon

Great Wolf Lodge Perryville Resort
Where: 1230 Chesapeake Overlook Pkwy | Port Deposit, MD
Expected Opening: Summer 2023
Recommended Ages: 5 – tween
Lucky us: Great Wolf Lodge’s biggest park yet is set to open just an hour-and-a-half outside of the DC metro area. Aside from the brand new water park, guests can enjoy the interactive MagiQuest game, gemstone mining, bowling, ropes course, arcade, mini golf, build-a-bear workshop, and more. Forest-themed hotel rooms and suites add to the excitement. Read about a KFDC experience at a Great Wolf Lodge here.

Gymnastics classes and fun at Dominic Dawes’ new center

Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academy
Where: 5626 Randolph Rd | Rockville, MD
Expected Opening: Spring 2023
Ages: 18 & under
Former U.S. Olympic gold medalist and Maryland native, Dominique Dawes, is set to open her second Gymnastics & Ninja Academy featuring classes, camps, open gym times, and birthday parties. Dawes is focused on creating a healthy, empowering environment for children, and through ninja warrior activities, developing strength and problem-solving abilities.

Bring kiddos to play at Jolly Yolly

Jolly Yolly Kids
Where: Westfield Montgomery Mall | Bethesda, MD
Expected Opening: Spring-Summer 2023
Ages: 13 & under
A new play space in a popular mall is a big win for local parents. Jolly Yolly Kids is opening its second location, with a street-facing entrance, at Westfield Montgomery Mall. This is everything you’d hope for in an indoor play space, featuring brightly colored structures to climb, slide on, hang on, jump in, and explore. Enjoy open play, camps, and birthday parties.

Kids can scale the walls of a new Sportrock opening later this year

Sportrock Climbing Centers
Where: Rio Lakefront | Gaithersburg, MD
Expected Opening: Late 2023
Ages: 4+
Sportrock Climbing Centers is taking over the large space next to Dave & Busters at Rio Lakefront with its third location. Sportrock boasts the tallest rock climbing walls in the mid-Atlantic and offers a variety of programs to start ‘em young. Youth programs include open climb, The Breakfast Club, Friday Night Heights, Junior Climbing Club, youth teams, camps, and birthday parties.

Are there any new kid places opening up near you? Tell us in the comments!

Goldfish Swim School, the country’s leading water safety and swim lesson school offering infant and child swim lessons, is pleased to announce that construction of a new 8,628 square foot Gaithersburg, MD, location is currently underway. The newest addition to the Goldfish Swim School family will be welcoming swimmers into the pool in January 2021!

Located at 801 Center Point Way, Goldfish Swim School Gaithersburg will provide indoor, year-round swim instruction to children ages 4 months to 12 years-old in a safe, family-friendly setting with highly trained instructors, small class sizes (max 4:1 student to teacher ratio), shiver-free 90-degree pools, and a state-of-the-art water purification system. Goldfish offers perpetual lessons, and families can enroll at any time. Goldfish offers convenient scheduling options and families can easily book makeup classes when necessary.

In addition to swim lessons, Goldfish Swim School offers weekly family swims (for both members and non-members) and party packages. Facility highlights include an air-conditioned viewing gallery for parents to watch lessons, individual/private changing rooms, snack bar, retail shop and warm, tropical décor.

Goldfish Swim School Gaithersburg begins lessons in January 2021. Families can register for lessons now by visiting the website or calling 301/444-6370. Swim lessons are regularly $128/month. The first 300 families to register before the first day of lessons will lock in a monthly rate of $118/month as long as they remain continuously enrolled in lessons. A limited number of six and 12-month membership deals are also available.

Goldfish Swim School Gaithersburg is working closely with local authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safest environment possible for staff and swimmers.

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GIVEAWAY: Goldfish Swim School Gaithersburg is giving away FREE registration and a month of swim lessons to one lucky KFDC reader. For a chance to win, simply leave a comment below telling me what activity your family is looking forward to most this winter. This giveaway will run through ~~Monday, December 7, 2020~~, Friday, December 11, 2020, then the winner will be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter. Good luck!