Tag Archives: Northern Virginia Parks

August 25, 2013 · 6:59 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: August 26-30

Play the day away and enjoy the riverfront views at Yards Park

Monday – Many kids in the area are heading back to school, but if yours are not among them they can still get bookish at the library. Go for a storytime session or see if any other special programs are on the schedule. Or just check out some new reads. This early KFDC post has more background and links to local public libraries.

Tuesday – Explore the grounds and play in the gardens, specifically the Children’s Gardens, at River Farm. The American Horticulture Society’s headquarters overlooking the Potomac River in Alexandria are as lovely as they are fun. Hours are 9am – 5pm. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Wednesday – See a show especially for little ones at The Puppet Co. Clowning Around is this week’s Tiny Tots, where the lights stay on and doors stay open during performances for the youngest audiences. Showtime is 10am. Tickets are $5 for everyone, including babies. Plan to hang out at Glen Echo Park for some fun on the playground afterwards.

Thursday – Chug on down to the B&O Railroad Museum for a hands-on experience all about the famous railway. See historic trains, play in the Kids Zone, go for a whirl on the train carousel, and take a real train ride. Hours are 10am – 4pm. Admission is $16/adult, $10/ages 2-10.

Friday – Make a splash at Yards Park. Visitors are welcome to play in the fountains and wading pool at the Capitol Riverfront recreational space. Bring along food for an al fresco picnic or grab a bite nearby at the new Nandos’s or Potbelly. If you can’t make it during the day, go for the Friday Night Concert series from 6:30-8:30pm.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: August 19-23

History on view at Fort Washington Park

Monday – Take the money tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It’s a perfect outing while kids are still on summer break, since tours are only offered on weekdays. This post has all the background and details you need to plan for it.

Tuesday – Explore and play at Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington. Hike the short trails and let the kids romp on the playground, then visit the nature center where you can see turtles, snakes, and other creatures in terrariums and discover more about the natural world in the Kids Cave. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Enjoy free admission for kids to the Newseum while you can. The Kids Free Summer Fun Deal, which ends after Labor Day, waives the regular $12.95 entrance fee for youth with one paid adult admission. The deal benefits kids ages 7 and up most, since children 6 and under always get in free, and much of the Newseum’s collection will be better appreciated by older children. With little ones: Head to the National Building Museum for fun in the Building Zone ($3/person) and the PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit ($5/person).

Thursday – Head to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to tour the historic ships. There are four vessels that welcome visitors to explore — the USS Constellation, USS Torsk, USCGC Taney, and LV116 Chesapeake. Admission to tour one ship is $11/adult, $5/ages 6-14, free for ages 5 and under, and you can add on for just a few dollars more per ship.

Friday – Observe the 199th anniversary of the Burning of Washington one day early at a locale associated with the event: Fort Washington Park. Kids (and adults!) will enjoy seeing the cannons and other historic sights within the grounds. Hours are 8am – sunset. Admission is $5/vehicle.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 17-21

“Soundsuit” is part of the current “Over, Under, Next: Experiments in Mixed Media” exhibit at the Hirshhorn

Monday – See some modern art at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. It might not be the first gallery that comes to mind for an outing with kids, but there are plenty of interesting, colorful, and quirky works that all ages can appreciate on some level. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm, 7:30am – dusk in the garden. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Let the kids 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 – Have a wild time at the National Zoo — visit the animals,ride the Speedwell Conservation Carousel, play in the Giant Pizza Playground. And be sure to check the schedule of daily programs for special activities. Zoo grounds are open 6am – 8pm, exhibit buildings 10am – 6pm. Admission is free, though parking is $16 for the first three hours for non-members. Look for street parking nearby to curb the cost or take Metro — both the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park stations are a short walk away.

Thursday – Take a hike at Turkey Run Park. Located right off the GW Parkway near 495, it contains nearly 700 acres of woods, easy trails that ramble along the Potomac, streams that flow down from the woods to the river, great views from the shoreline, and a variety of wildlife (though sightings aren’t guaranteed). Hours are 6am -10pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Make a splash at Yards Park. The fountains and wading pool are open again after being closed for renovations for several months. Bring along food for an al fresco riverside picnic or pick up sandwiches at nearby Potbelly. If you can’t make it during the day, go for the Friday Night Concert series from 6:30-8:30pm.