The National Menorah and Christmas Tree from a past holiday season
Last week I posted the Winter Break Guide, a big mix of ideas for activities and adventures with the kids during the winter break from school, so be sure to check it out! Below is a suggested itinerary that you can easily switch up with the recs from the guide. Have fun & Happy Holidays!
Monday – Bundle up the kids (and yourself) and take advantage of The Beauvoir School’s Winter Break. Their fantastic playground is open to the public when class is not in session. Open all day. Admission is free.
Later on, get into the holiday spirit by viewing some holiday lights! Visit one of the many twinkling displays around the area or go see the National Menorah and Christmas Tree on the Ellipse or the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (This is something you can do any evening during the week, though check schedules on Christmas night, as some of them are closed.)
Tuesday – Watch Santa have some fun before his big night out, as he water skis his way up the Potomac along with knee boarding reindeer, flying elves, the jet-skiing Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman in a dinghy! You can view it all for free from the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria starting at 1pm sharp — the best viewing spots will be from the Torpedo Factory to Point Lumley Park.
In the afternoon, enjoy a performance of The Velveteen Rabbit at Adventure Theatre. They are offering a special promo for select dates and time, including shows on Christmas Eve at 2pm and 4:30pm — use the code 5OFF to save! (Note: This is also good for shows on December 28 at 2pm, December 29 at 4:30pm, December 31 at 4:30pm, and January 1 at 4:30pm.)
Wednesday – Have a very Merry Christmas! And enjoy some activities out of the house, too! The U.S. Botanic Garden and Mount Vernon are open. You can bundle up and get out for a hike. Or do what’s a tradition for many who don’t celebrate Christmas and go out for Chinese food and a movie.
And one more idea: Fill your morning with Chanukah excitement! With 4 different live shows plus crafts, food activities, and more, Chanukah Wonderland, hosted by Chabad DC at TheSHUL, is a great way for kids of all ages and their families to celebrate. Food and snacks will be available for purchase and free raffles will take place every 30 minutes! Get your tickets by signing up at ChanukahFun.com. It takes place 9:30am – 1pm, and admission is $10/child or $35/max per family.
Thursday – Get Q?rius at the National Museum of Natural History. Visitors can view up close — and in many cases handle — real artifacts and specimens from the museum’s collections. It’s recommended for ages 11 and up, but some younger ages could also enjoy it. For really little ones, there is Q?rius Jr: A Discovery Room for more age-appropriate exploring. And, of course, there’s the whole rest of the museum — including the much loved Fossil Hall — for everyone. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.
When the sun goes down, go ice skating! There’s something kind of magical about skating under the stars, and there are several rinks around the area where you can glide on ice at night.
Friday – Go bowling! Take advantage of Kids Club bowling at Pinstripes in Georgetown and North Bethesda. From 11am – 1pm Monday – Thursday, kids can bowl for $6/hour and parents are free (limit 4 kids per adult). Eat while you bowl or stay after for lunch — they have a good kids menu and a pretty extensive main menu, too. Read more about it in this KFDC post.
If you’re with really little ones, catch a performance of Squeakers & Mr. Gumdrop, running at the Atlas Performing Arts Center December 27-31. Showtimes are 10am and 11:30am (varies other days, so check the schedule), and tickets are $12.
In the evening, experience Georgetown GLOW, the annual exhibition of outdoor public light art installations that makes the neighborhood sparkle. Plan on dinner while you’re there — you’ve got your pick of places in the bustling community.
