Tag Archives: Northern Virginia Parks

June 15, 2014 · 10:07 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 16-20

The Asian Collection at the National Arboretum

Monday – Visit the National Arboretum on one of the two weekdays it’s open to the public (it’s closed Tuesday – Thursday). See the lovely Asian collection, visit the Washington Youth Garden and play in the natural playground, romp at the old Capitol columns, walk among the azaleas and spot toads in the nearby pond. There are acres upon acres to explore! Hours are 8am – 5pm, and admission is free.

Tuesday – Go for a spin on the Chesapeake Carousel, take a train ride through the woods, play mini golf, hike the trails, and visit the Old Maryland Farm animals at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Md. If it rains (or even if it doesn’t), take shelter and see the birds and reptiles at the Watkins Nature Center. The rides are open 10am – 7pm, the farm 9am – 4pm, and the Nature Center 8:30am – 5pm. Admission to the park is free; the rides cost $1.75/person and mini golf is $4.50/person.

Wednesday – See an amazing collection of model ships, peer into a real periscope, sit in the gun seats of old fighter planes, view naval artifacts hundreds of years old, and much more at the U.S. Navy Museum. Located on the Navy base in southeast DC, it’s a treasure trove of fascinating exhibits. Hours are 9am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Thursday – Catch a performance of The Wizard of Oz on strings. The Puppet Co.’s version of the classic is less scary than film — the witch plays a minor role. Showtimes are 10am and 11:30am. Tickets are $10.

Friday – Head up to Baltimore where Port Discovery is hosting a Family Fun Friday. Special activities include a Negro League Baseball Museum Meet & Greet with Luther Atkinson and Ray Banks, story times, interactive games, art activities, and more. Of course, the rest of the permanent exhibits will be open for visitors to explore. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is $13.95.

3 Comments

Filed under All ages, Animals, DC, Farm, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Nature, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Spring, Theatre, Weekdays

Tagged as DC Kids Activities, DC outdoors, DC Parks, DC Weekdays June 16-20, Northern Virginia Parks, Port Discovery, Things to do with Kids in DC, Things to do with Kids in Maryland, Things to do with kids in Northern Virginia

June 8, 2014 · 9:57 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 9-13

Play time at Wheaton Regional Park

Along with these suggestions for weekday activities, keep The Great Indoors list handy in case rainy weather hampers any outdoor plans.

Monday – Hit the playground at Wheaton Regional Park. Two levels of slides, climbing nets, monkey bars, swings, and more fun features will appeal to all ages and abilities. Even more, the miniature train and carousel are open daily for the season (for a small fee). Pack lunch to eat at nearby picnic tables under the lofty trees. It’s open sunrise to sunset, and admission is free.

Tuesday – Discover the history of flight at the College Park Aviation Museum. Guests can view early airplanes up close, dress up like aviators, create flight-inspired art, and more. Keep an eye on the runway right outside the floor-to-ceiling windows — you might see planes take off and land at the College Park Airport, the oldest continuously operating airport in the world! Open daily 10am – 5pm. Admission is $4/adults, $2/children, free for ages 2 and under.

Wednesday – Arrrgh! Cruise the high Chesapeake seas with Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake in Annapolis. The company specializes in, well, pirate adventures for children, taking little buccaneers on a search for buried treasure. Several time slots are available throughout the day, and they set sail everyday of the week. Cost is $20/person ($12 for ages 3 and under), and that includes face painting and dress up along with the on board fun.

Thursday – Spend the morning at wacky magic show with The Great Zucchini as he performs at Jammin’ Java. Doors open at 10am and the fun begins at 10:30am. General admission tickets are $5.

Friday – Play in the sprays at Canal Park. The recreational space in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood has both a gentle, shallow fountain that is perfect for really little ones, plus a bigger one for more enthusiastic play where the ice rink is in the winter. Admission is free. Grab a bite to eat at the Tavern Restaurant on premises at another nearby eatery (there are options right across the street and food trucks often in the area), or pack lunch for a picnic.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 2-6

Checking out the river at Bladensburg Waterfront Park

Monday – Hike among the woods and wetlands of Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. Turtles, frogs, and birds are among the wildlife you could see. Stop by the nature center for even more exhibits and animal encounters. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free. You can read more about it among the big list of outdoor recommendations.

Tuesday – Spend the morning at the National Building Museum, where the Book of the Month program will take place in the Building Zone. Readings of B is for Bulldozer by June Sobel and Melissa Iwai will begin at 10:30am & 11:30am. Get there early for play time, as entry is on the hour ($3/person). Afterwards, stay to romp in the Great Hall or check out the PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit upstairs ($8/adult, $5/child).

Wednesday – Let the kids romp on the playground and in an old train car, discover some history of the area, and take a pontoon boat tour at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. The FREE boat rides are offered Tuesday through Friday 12-12:45pm. Admission to the park is also free.

Thursday – Celebrate Bolivian culture at the American Indian Museum during their annual festival showcasing the South American country. The five-day event will feature dance groups, storytelling, folk music, art demos, food, and fun for all ages. It’s running through June 8, and museum hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Visit the animals, take a tractor-pulled wagon ride, play on kid-sized tractors and playgrounds, and much more at Frying Pan Farm Park. The locale in Herndon is a guaranteed hit with kids, and parents always rave about it, too. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk, the farm is open 9am – 5pm, wagon rides 10am – 4pm. Admission is free, though the wagon rides cost a little extra.