Tag Archives: Virginia Parks

June 18, 2017 · 7:23 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 19-23

See the only Da Vinci in the U.S. at the National Gallery of Art!

Monday – Catch a performance of Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook at Adventure Theatre. The show recommended for all ages starts at 10:30am. Tickets are $19.50. If weather allows, plan to picnic and play at Glen Echo Park afterwards. BYO food or purchase lunch at the Praline Cafe there.

Tuesday – Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden, where there is so much for all ages to enjoy indoors and out. Let little ones flex their green thumbs in the newly renovated Children’s Garden — they can water and plant, and play with lots of new features. Explore the different plant collections, too — walk amid tropical rainforest, desert, and woodland flora. Then take a stroll through the lovely National Garden outside. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free. Read more about the USBG here and here.

Wednesday – Celebrate the first official day of summer with a quintessential seasonal activity: Swimming! Jump in at a public pool, which as of this week are open daily through Labor Day. Even better, they’re free (or a small fee if you’re not a resident of the District or county where it’s located). Check out the 2017 Summer Guide for links to public pools in the area and be sure to note open swim times, as they may vary from pool to pool.

P.S. Registration for Artful Conversations, the National Gallery of Art’s program for ages 8-11 starting July 7, opens at 12pm.

Thursday – Explore the woods and wetlands of Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. Look for little creatures as you hike — turtles, frogs, fish, and birds are practically guaranteed wildlife sightings — and take in sweeping vistas of the marshland. Be sure to stop in the Visitors Center, where there are several interactive exhibits about the surrounding environment. Open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Sunscreen and hat recommended.

Friday – Get an art fix at the National Gallery of Art! The East Building is full of contemporary works with bold colors and captivating designs. Be sure to stop in the Alexander Calder room on the 4th floor, where mobiles of all shapes and sizes will dazzle, and don’t miss the giant blue rooster on the roof. The West Building houses more classical pieces, the collections featuring many of the masters, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting on public view in the U.S.! Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Where to Play on the Weekdays:
August 29 – September 2

Butterfly watching at Wings of Fancy

Monday – Walk amid a garden of butterflies at Brookside Garden’s amazing Wings of Fancy exhibit. The seasonal display featuring live butterflies and caterpillars from all over the world is sure to delight! Hours are 10am – 4pm. Admission is $8/ages 13 and up, $5/3-12, free ages 0-2 (admission to the rest of Brookside is free). Read about a KFDC experience at the exhibit.

Tuesday – Visit the Washington National Cathedral, one of DC’s most iconic attractions. Both guided and self-guided tours are available, and there are lots of features like stained glass, gargoyles, and wrought iron animals that children will find especially interesting. The observation gallery on the seventh floor also showcases interesting architectural designs and stunning birds-eye views of DC. Stroll the beautiful grounds outside, and head to the Beauvoir playground, open to the public since school isn’t yet back in session. The National Cathedral is open 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is $12/adult, $8/ages 5-17, free for 4 and under.

Wednesday – Explore the woods and wetlands of Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. Look for little creatures along the way and stop to take in some gorgeous vistas. Bring along food for a picnic, or plan to grab a bite before or after — though it doesn’t feel like it while you’re there, the park is located close to a busy area with plenty of dining options. Open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.

Thursday – Make it your mission to visit the International Spy Museum, where you and the kids can go undercover to explore the intriguing world of espionage. Hours are 9am – 7pm. Regular admission is $21.95/adult, $14.95/ages 7-11, free for 6 and under, but you can find a discount on adult tickets here.

Friday – Take advantage of a special seasonal experience while you can — several exhibits and offerings around the area will end after Labor Day. Visit ICEBERGS at the Building Museum. Get free admission for kids to the Newseum thanks to the Summer Fun Deal (and get a deal on adult admission here). Look for fairy houses and enjoy more artistic delights at Annmarie Sculpture Garden. View Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, an exhibit of colorful sculptures made from plastic debris collected from beaches, at the National Zoo. Get details about all of these special pursuits and more in the 2016 Summer Guide.

One more glimpse of the Wings of Fancy…

…the amazing glass butterfly!

Where to Play on the Weekdays: July 21-25

Babes in the woods: On the trail at Riverbend Park

Monday – Make your way to — and through — The Big Maze at the National Building Museum. The new installation, which opened on July 4 and will be there until September 1, is a must-do. The cost is is a bit steep ($16/adult, $12/child for non-members, reduced for members), but when you consider all of the wonderful, free attractions we enjoy here in DC, paying to see/do something unique and fun is worth it. Plus, admission gets you into ALL of the exhibits at the museum, so you can make a day of it at the kids hang-out fave.

Tuesday – Join Pinstripes‘ new chef, Ryan Ross, as he hosts a free “Kids in the Garden” day, in which children of all ages are invited to the bowling, bocce, and bistro venue to dig in the dirt while learning about gardening, plants and seeds. From 10-11am, Ross will do a demonstration in Pinstripes’ outdoor Chef’s Garden on the process of planting to growing to eating, then the children will have an opportunity to plant their own seed to take home. Children are welcome to stay for Pinstripes’ Mom & Tots program, a Monday-Friday ongoing program where kids bowl for $5 and parents bowl for FREE 10am-noon. Call 202-625-6500 to make reservations for “Kids in the Garden” Day.

Wednesday – Make it a beach day at Sandy Point State Park. Located off Route 50 right before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the park is great place to get a beach fix relatively close to the city. Swim in the water, play in the sand, and bring along a picnic lunch. Open 6am – sunset, and lifeguards man a portion of South Beach from 10am – 6pm on weekdays. Admission is $4/Maryland resident, $6/non-residents.

Thursday – Enjoy songs about the important things in life: pizza parties, snow days, and summer vacations as Brooklyn-based Tim and the Space Cadets perform at Strathmore’s Backyard Theatre for Children. Showtimes are9:30am and 11:30am. Tickets are $8 for ages 3 and up.

Friday – Hit the trail at Riverbend Park. Make that your starting point on a 2-mile hike to Great Falls, where you can take in magnificent vistas, visit the nature center, and have a picnic. Or just wander around Riverbend and enjoy the Visitor Center and views there. Park hours are 7am to dusk, Visitor Center 9am – 5pm. Admission is free.