Tag Archives: Toddler Activities in DC

October 26, 2014 · 8:39 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 27-31

Fall is an ideal time to visit Brookside Gardens

Monday – Wander around the beautiful grounds, play in the Children’s Garden, and enjoy a nice fall day outdoors at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md. The park is open sunrise to sunset, the Visitor Center 9am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Let the kids romp on the playgrounds, go roller skating, visit the Education Center, play some ball on the expansive fields, and/or relax with a picnic by the river at Anacostia Park. This was a recent weekdays recommendation, but since I just posted about it, and it’s supposed to be great weather for a day outdoors, it seemed deserving of a mention again. Hours are dawn to dusk, 11am – 5:45pm for skating, and 10am – 2pm at the Education Center. Admission for all, including skate rentals, is free.

Wednesday – Head to the National Geographic Museum to experience two interactive exhibits recommended for all ages. “Spinosaurus” and “Food: Our Global Kitchen” are currently there, and adults can get a discount on admission to visit them. Entry is regularly $11/adult, but it’s $6.50 + service fees with the deal. Entry is $7/ages 5-12, free for 5 and under. Museum hours are 10am – 6pm.

Thursday – Catch a performance of The 3 Billy Goats Gruff at The Puppet Co. Stay at Glen Echo Park after the 40-minute show for some fun on the playground and a picnic lunch. Showtime is 10am. Tickets are $10.

Friday – Enjoy some fall fun on the farm! 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. Later in the afternoon, put a little history in your family’s Halloween at Mount Vernon. Guests are invited to George Washington’s old estate to trick or treat in the historic area and enjoy other games and fun on the grounds from 3:30-6:30pm. Admission is $10/adults, $5/children.

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Filed under All ages, Animals, DC, Deal, Educational, Exhibit, Fall, Farm, Free, Halloween, Maryland, Museums, Nature, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Virginia, Weekdays

Tagged as DC Kids Activities, DC Museums for Kids, DC outdoors, Halloween Activities, kids in DC, Northern Virginia Parks, Things to do with Kids in DC, Things to do with Kids in Maryland, Things to do with kids in Northern Virginia, Toddler Activities in DC, Washington DC, Weekdays October 27-31

October 19, 2014 · 6:45 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 20-24

She digs the Washington Youth Garden 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). Tour the plant collections, check out the Washington Youth Garden and play in the natural playground, romp at the old Capitol columns, see the details of the bonzais. There are acres upon acres to explore! Hours are 8am – 5pm, and admission is free.

Tuesday – Attend Mommy & Me (& Daddy Too!), the Rockville Town Square’s free monthly program for kids. Storytime, interactive movement, arts & crafts, and merchant sponsored activities are part of the active learning and creative play. The session will meet on the Square, and the program runs 10am – 12pm on the third Tuesday of every month. Admission is free, but you are asked to register in advance.

Wednesday – Enjoy a musical morning with the Boogie Babes as they bring kiddie entertainment to Union Market at 10:30am. Admission is $5/child, and siblings 6 months and under are free. Get there early for coffee and a snack or stay after for a bite — the vendors offer plenty of great lunch options! (FYI: You can also catch a Boogie Babes show at Eastern Market on Thursdays and the Atlas Performing Arts Center on Fridays.)

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 – Get creative at a National Portrait Gallery Open Studio Friday session. All ages are welcome to explore a different art medium each week with all kinds of fun projects. Drop in anytime from 1-4pm. Admission is free.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: September 3-6

A team building effort at the National Building Museum’s PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit

Tuesday – Head to the National Building Museum for play, storytime, and Canstruction! The Book of the Month program takes place in the Building Zone at 10:30am and 11:30am with readings of Noisy Diggers by Sam Taplin and Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer. Admission to the Building Zone ($3/non-members) is timed and on the hour, but if you don’t make it in, head upstairs for the interactive PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit (for non-members: $8/adult, $5/child; free for members). And while you’re in the Great Hall, view the results of Canstruction, amazing structures built entirely out of thousands of canned goods by DC architecture and construction teams.

Wednesday – Boogies Babes is back after an August hiatus! Kick off a new season with them at Union Market as Mr. Skip gets little ones shaking those sillies out. Showtimes is 10:30am. Admission is $5/child, free for siblings 6 months and under. (If you can’t make it Wednesday, catch Bridgette and the Band on Thursday at Eastern Market or Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres! on Friday at The Atlas.)

Friday – Have a wild time at the National Zoo, as there’s barely a crowd on weekdays. Check the Daily Programs schedule before you go to help plan your outing or pick your animal visits as you go. Hours are 10am – 6pm. Admission is free, though parking in the Zoo lot for non-members is $16 for three hours, $22 beyond three (free for members). You can also try parking on Connecticut Avenue or a side street, or take Metro to Woodley Park or Cleveland Park stations.

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.