The Oscars are airing, the temps are rising, and there’s going to be a zip-line at the Washington Convention Center. I don’t know about you, but I’m quite excited for the weekend. Hopefully, the kids are, too. With the aforementioned as a bit of inspiration, here are a few ideas for family fun.
If, like me, you have movies on the mind, there are several films playing that children (and adults) will enjoy. “Alice in Wonderland” opens today and to good reviews, though word is that it’s for older kids—the Washington Post said at least 10 years, but I read that Johnny Depp’s seven-year-old loved it. Your call. If a Tim Burton directorial is a little too wacky for your little one, try an IMAX at the Smithsonian. A favorite at the National Air and Space Museum, “To Fly!” shows at various times throughout the day, and the National Museum of Natural History has regular showings of “Wild Ocean,” “Galapagos,” and “Dinosaur.”
With the mercury predicted to pass 50 tomorrow, outdoor activities will finally be a possibility. How about a visit to the National Zoo? Surely, the animals missed us people all winter. On Sunday, tour the grounds, then catch the Wild Side Stage show, “What’s for Lunch?” At 11am and 1pm, Chef FONZ will show his audience how animals eat on the Asia Trail ($5 for FONZ members, $7 for nonmembers).
Finally, the Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show will be taking place at the Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am – 5:30pm ($15 for adults, kids under 16 are free). An expo might sound like a grown-up affair, but some cool pursuits will keep the kids entertained. Besides the hundreds of travel providers and destinations featured, there will be cultural performances, a SCUBA pool, kayak demonstrations, an aerial zip line, a ropes course, and more. I’ll be the crazy lady zipping over your head.
