Tag Archives: November in DC

February 11, 2018 · 5:57 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 12-16

Advice from Yoko as we head into Valentine’s Day week 🙂

Monday – Play, learn, and discover at the National Museum of American History. Check out the Batmobile, a new addition you can view on the first floor. Take little ones to Wegmans Wonderplace, the activity center designed especially for ages 0-6 years old — it’s full of fun and interesting features that cater to curious young visitors. If you’re with older kids, go to the Spark!Lab right next door. Of course, the rest of the museum is great to explore, too! Hours at Wegmans Wonderplace and Spark!Lab are 10am – 4pm, and free admission is on a first come, first served basis. Museum hours are 10am – 5:30pm.

Tuesday – Jump with joy at Flight Trampoline Park in Springfield, VA. This bouncy nirvana hosts Kid’s Flight sessions, when the whole park is open only to children under the age of 6, from 10am – 2pm Monday through Friday. Special pricing starts at $11/hour, and an accompanying adult jumps free! I recommend buying tickets and submitting waivers online in advance to save time when you get there.

In the evening, celebrate Fat Tuesday at a Wharf-wide extravaganza from 6-8pm, featuring a spirited parade along the waterfront followed by a dance party on District Pier, then a fireworks finale.

Wednesday – Take your little loves to Nook, where their Wednesday Open Play featuring Nook Stories with Pajama Mama will have a special “All You Need is Love” theme. The indoor play space in Arlington gets raves for its sweet, calm space and approach. Hours are 9am – 5pm, and the story time starts at 10:30am. Admission is $20.

In the evening, flash back at the Hirshhorn as the museum begins a three-night restaging of Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC, 1988–2000, one of the most significant public artworks of the 1980s. The iconic, large-scale outdoor projection by acclaimed artist Krzysztof Wodiczko will be projected on the exterior of the building and viewable from 6:30-9pm. This is a celebration of the opening of the exhibit Brand New: Art and Commodity in the 1980s.

Thursday – Join a Percussion Party with Uncle Devin at Discovery Theater. Kids can make some noise and learn some beats at this performance that’s part of the Tot Rock series. As this post goes love, tickets are still available for the 11:30am show (on Friday, too). Admission is $3-8.

Friday – Take kids off from school to the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. Housing some of the most wonderful, whimsical art around, the vibrant, quirky collections — including interactive pieces — can be appreciated by art buffs of all ages. Hours are 10am – 6pm Tuesday – Sunday. Admission is $15.95/adults, $13.95/seniors, $9.95/students & ages 7+, free/6 & under.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 5-9

The Great Hall at the Library of Congress is breathtaking every time

Monday – Discover the history of flight at the College Park Aviation Museum. It’s a great place to go with young children, with eye-popping displays and hands-on fun. They can view early airplanes up close, dress up like aviators, create flight-inspired art, and more. The current Gamera: A Monstrous Achievement exhibit features a human-powered helicopter that guests can test out. And 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! The Museum is open daily 10am – 5pm. Admission is $5/adults, $2/children, free for ages 1 and under.

Tuesday – Hear Stories from Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District. The live interactive performances by a group of unique storytellers take place the first and third Tuesdays of each month and are designed for kids 10 and under. During the winter, the program is held at the Angelika Film Center. The fun starts at 10am, and admission is free.

Wednesday – See local students recite Abraham Lincoln’s speeches at the Lincoln Oratory Festival. The event brings together students from the DMV area to perform Lincoln’s own on the Ford’s Theatre stage. After an in-classroom residency with a Ford’s Theatre teaching artists, 300 kids hit the stage to perform some of Lincoln’s most important speeches (including both his inaugural addresses and the Gettysburg Address) — and the public is invited to be part of their audience. The events are part of the larger Ford’s Oratory programs, a powerful example of how public speaking can help young people gain self-confidence and enhance their historical education. See the schedule and reserve tickets online.

Thursday – Explore the local environment from the comfort of the indoors at Buddie Ford Nature Center. The facility in Alexandria houses fascinating exhibits (including live creatures!), hands-on activities, and a staff of friendly and knowledgeable naturalists that all ages will appreciate. If the weather is good for it, take the fun outdoors with a short hike at the adjacent Dora Kelley Nature Park. Buddie Ford hours are 10am – 5pm (Wednesday – Saturday, 1-5pm Sunday). Admission is free.

Friday – Visit the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress, to explore children’s books, see interesting exhibits, and marvel at one of DC’s most beautiful buildings. The Young Readers Center is open 9am – 4pm and welcomes visitors to read books and hang out in the cozy space — you can also join a free story time 10am (takes place every Friday). And be sure to spend time checking out the rest of the LOC, too — it’s truly magnificent and a must-see for both locals and visitors to DC. Hours are 9am – 4:30pm. Admission is free.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: November 27 – December 1

Hike (and hide) amid the pretty foliage at Pohick Bay Regional Park

Monday – Hang out at Hains Point! Play, picnic, and enjoy the surrounding scenery where the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers converge. Head all the way down, almost to the tip of the park, to reach the playgrounds. They’re set amid a large grassy area with picnic tables and restrooms right there, too. And the spot offers great views of the rivers and airplanes taking off and landing at DCA. You could even make a longer day of it, and visit the nearby Tidal Basin to explore the Jefferson, Roosevelt, and MLK Memorials. Admission to all of it is free.

Tuesday – Relish in the beautiful fall day at Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, VA. Hike the easy trails through the woods vibrant with foliage, take in views of the water, let kiddos swing and climb on the playground, and play some disc golf if that’s your thing. Bring along a picnic — there are lots of tables in gorgeous spots for lunch al fresco. Hours are sunrise to sunset, and admission is $7 (though the gate house was closed when we recently visited, so entry was free).

And don’t forget to take part in Giving Tuesday! If you want some ideas of where to donate, the GIVE page has a long list of charities and causes, all of them shared by KFDC readers. (And if you have one you’d like to highlight, leave a comment on that page, and I’ll add it.)

Wednesday – Enjoy a little time trip back to the 18th century at Claude Moore Colonial Farm. The living history locale welcomes visitors to explore the grounds, where there is a tobacco barn, farm house, garden, orchard, and animals. Guests can also interact with a family portraying life as it was back then. Hours are 10am – 4:30pm Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is $5/adults, $3/children ages 3 and up, free/2 & under. Read about our first experience there in this post.

Thursday – Bring little ones to the National Museum of American History for a special Sesame Street Celebration. Festivities include a “Create Your Own Character” craft, a music making station, Sesame Street story times, and a rare opportunity to see Sesame Street characters from the Museum’s storage. Plus, families will be able to meet Julia, one of Sesame Street’s newest residents who lives with autism, during meet and greet sessions. This will all take place 10am – 12pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Zip over to DC’s big train station to check out the little trains. Union Station’s annual Holiday Train Show is back in the West Hall, featuring an elaborate Norwegian mountain landscape. Plan to grab a bite to eat at one of many options there or pop over to the National Postal Museum next door for more fun. Admission is free to both the train exhibit and the museum.