Tag Archives: Kids Museums

July 24, 2016 · 5:07 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: July 25-29

Gonna eat me a lot of peaches: A PYO adventure from the early KFDC days

Monday – Stay cool and have fun at a pool, waterpark, or sprayground. The Summer 2016 Guide has links to many places around the DC-Metro area where it’s all about being in the water. And you can consider this for any day of what’s going to be a hot week! Hours and admission vary by locale. But if staying cool means avoiding the outdoors altogether, check out The Great Indoors list of more than 80 ideas for adventures inside.

Tuesday – Help kick off the DC leg of Good Humor’s annual Welcome to Joyhood Tour with FREE ice cream handed out by Washington Redskins Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan! This is happening at the Ronald Reagan Building from 12-3pm, and you’ll also have the chance to meet with Ryan, take pictures, win giveaways, and see the Good Humor Truck of the Future, featuring digital screens, music, and more. If you can’t make opening day, the Good Humor Joy Squad will be visiting neighborhoods throughout DC through August 21, surprising and delighting those who live work and play in the city with free frozen treats, giveaways, and more. You can follow Good Humor on Twitter for real-time updates on the Good Humor Truck’s location.

Wednesday – Pick some produce at a local farm! Peaches and blackberries are the main fruits available, but a few other crops are pick-able, too. Just about all the farms listed in this post have something ripe and ready for harvest now. However, it’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go. Sunscreen and hat strongly recommended.

Thursday – Catch a performance of Peter and the Wolf at The Puppet Co. Recommended for ages 4 and up, showtimes are 10am and 11:30am. Read a KFDC review of the production from a few years back — it’s a classic at the puppet theatre. After the show, stay to play at the Glen Echo Park playground and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Friday – Zoom over to the National Air & Space Museum for Mars Day! Celebrating the Red Planet with a day full of fun and educational activities and exhibits. Kids can check out a real meteorite, get news about Curiosity from a science team member, see incredible detailed images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and views of the surface of the planet in 3-D, meet planetary professionals, enjoy Mars-related hands-on activities, and much more. The free event takes place from 10am – 3pm.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: July 11-15

On the trail at Woodend… these boots were made for walkin’

Monday – Go for 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 and mostly shaded, 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 the money tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It’s a great outing with kids while they’re on break from school, since tours are only offered on weekdays. Tours run every 15 minutes 9am – 6pm. Admission is free, but tickets are required, and you can pick them up at the booth on Raoul Wallenburg Place starting at 8am. This post from one of our outings there has more details about the experience.

Wednesday – Head to Capitol Hill for outdoor play, kids activities, performances by Mister G and Adam Gardner of Guster, and more 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 at Upper Senate Park (200 New Jersey Ave. SE). Admission is free.

Thursday – 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.

Friday – See art come to life at the National Portrait Gallery through Portraits Alive!, a theatrical tour of the museum’s collections performed by teens from DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program. The journey takes visitors to a variety of portraits as the students perform biographical portrayals of the people represented in the photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints. Tours begin at 12-1pm and 1:30-2:30pm, and they’re being offered Tuesday – Friday. Admission is free.

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Not all of the fun has to take place out of the house! If you want some new, cool activities for kids that you can do at home, then check out Banish Boredom: Activities to Do with Kids That You’ll Actually Enjoy. It’s written by my friend Rebecca of Not-So-SAHM, and it’s chock-full of awesome ideas for art projects, science experiments, and so much more. A great book to have on hand!

Where to Play on the Weekdays: April 11-15

Watching the wildlife outside at Watkins Nature Center

Monday – Get a nature fix indoors at Watkins Nature Center. There, you can see and learn about birds, reptiles, and other creatures that inhabit the surrounding area. If weather permits, head over to the Wizard of Oz-themed playground to romp outdoors. (Tuesday – Sunday you can also visit Old Maryland Farm where ponies, cows, chickens, rabbits, and other animals live). The Nature Center is open 8:30am – 5pm, the playground dawn to dusk. Admission to everything is free.

Tuesday – Journey into the nation’s past at the National Museum of American History. Take advantage of special “cherry blossom” hours this week and take little ones to play in Wegmans Wonderplace and let older children get hands on in the Spark!Lab. The new Innovation Wing and big exhibits like America on the Move, plus toys and games, sports memorabilia, and the star spangled banner will also grab young kids’ attention. The museum is open from 10am – 5:30pm, the play areas 10am – 4pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Join a story time session at Walls of Books. The shop in the Park View/Petworth area offers weekly readings for ages 6 months to 6 years old. Admission is free.

Thursday – 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 sublime as they are fun. Hours are 9am – 5pm. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Friday – Discover a DC “secret” in Upper Northwest. Amid a small wooded area at Palisades Park is The Glass Forest, a collection of sculptures made from natural and scrap materials that truly is a must-see! Be sure to make time to romp on the park’s playground while you’re there. Admission is free.