Tag Archives: Weekdays January 30 – February 3

January 29, 2017 · 9:19 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 30 – February 3

The Statue of Freedom at the U.S. Capitol

Monday – Take a tour of the U.S. Capitol! You can usually get on a guided tour day of, but even if you can’t there are still plenty of interesting exhibits and statues to see in the Visitor’s Center, which is open 8:30am – 4:30pm daily. Both admission to the Center and tours are free. Before you go, be sure to read these guidelines on what you can and can’t bring with you.

Tuesday – Drop in to the Art Adventurers Studio at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. The weekly program begins with a children’s story based on an artist’s life or a book that inspires an art project for children. This runs 10:30am – 12:30pm. Admission is a minimum donation of $5/child (2 child limit per adult). Recommended for ages 2-4.

Wednesday – Roam the grounds at Oxon Hill Farm in Maryland to visit the animals and check out exhibits that highlight the locale’s history. You maybe able to join in a Children’s Program, too! Hours are 8am – 4:30pm, and admission is free.

Thursday – Keep kiddos entertained at Imagination Stage, where the show Blue invites audiences to imagine a world where the only color is blue….until they discover something RED! Showtime is 10:30am. Tickets are $14.

Friday – Join Hooray for Books’ weekly story time for wee-ones and toddlers. Story time experts from the shop in Old Town Alexandria will share board and picture books with children, sing songs, and teach them some fingerplays. The free session begins at 10:30am.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 30-February 3

Mesmerized by an aquarium full of fish in the Sant Ocean Hall at the Natural History Museum

Monday – Since I just wrote a big post about it, and because it’s one of DC’s best attractions for kids, visit the National Museum of Natural History. See if there’s an exhibit you have yet to explore.

Tuesday – Head to the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone for Toddler Tuesday. This week, toddlers ages 2-4 can drop in from 10:30am – 2:30pm to discover which animals hibernate and which animals can stand the cold. Activities may include stories, games, art, and movement for children and adults to experience together. Admission is free. The Launch Zone is located at the National Harbor.

Wednesday – Explore seasonal nature topics through stories, crafts, and activities at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria. There are still spots available in the Nature Detective program for 3-5-year-olds. The class starts at 1:30pm. (A few spots are also open in the Thursday sessions.)

Thursday – See Mouse on the Move at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. The show about two adventurous mice ready to explore the world beyond their little mouse hole is recommended for ages 1-5. Showtimes are 10:30am and 11:45am, tickets are $10.

Friday – Boogie on down to the Atlas Performing Arts Center where Mr. Skip will be playing the Boogie Babes show at 10:30am. Admission is $5/child, free for siblings 6 months and under. The Atlas is located at 1333 H Street NE.

Baby, You Can (Pretend) Drive My Car

O finally gets to takes the wheel at the 2011 Washington Auto Show

The 2012 Washington Auto Show begins this Friday, January 27, and runs through Sunday, February 5. And before you dismiss this information, thinking you can’t bring your kids to this adult event, keep an open mind and read on.

Beep, beep... outta my way!

Sure, the show is intended for adults to see all kinds of makes and models of cars, but if there’s any “grown-up” event that is equally fun for all ages, the Washington Auto Show is it. I know this from firsthand experience; our family went to the show last year, and we practically had to drag the kids out of there when it was finally time to go.

It’s like a Truck Touch, but with autombiles — more than 700 of them! — on display for guests to check out. This means you and the kids can take the wheel, inspect dashboard details up close, be backseat drivers, go on a pretend road trip, and maybe even find your family’s next ride. At the event last January, Owen and Sasha had a blast crawling into the front seats of all kind of vehicles, pretending to take us ‘rents for a drive, and pushing all the buttons we don’t let them play with in our car.

But checking out the cars is just the main part of the event. On weekends and weeknights, kids can also enjoy Playland, a special area filled with games, toys, videos, and cuddly mascots, including some from the PBS show SuperWhy! Last year, there were also fun interactive shows for kids, that included magic tricks and a dance contest, which (I can’t help but boast) Owen won.

Super fun with SuperWhy!

These characters will also be making special appearances throughout the Auto Show, along with several other celebrities who adults will be excited meet, Washington Capitals and Redskins players among them. And this weekend, guests can enjoy Lion & Dragon Dancers to celebrate the Chinese New Year. See the website for the full schedule of performances and celebrity appearances.

Wait, there’s even more! Guests will have Ride N’Drive Opportunities to test out select cars (passengers must be at least 8 years old), plus chances to win prizes in contests and giveaways.

The way I’m pushing this event, you’d think that I was getting paid to promote it, but I can assure you that’s not the case. It’s simply a really fun time, so I wanted to share the details.

This all takes place at Washington Convention Center January 27 – February 5. Tickets are $12/adults, $5/ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under. The Convention Center is located at 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. Go here for parking and Metro information.