Weekdays June 18-22 | KidFriendly DC

Take a ride on the miniature Central Pacific Huntington steam engine at Burke Lake Park

Monday – Spend the hot day at a super cool place: The International Spy Museum! You and the kids can go undercover to explore the intriguing world of espionage. Discover tricks of the trade, view gadgets used to keep secrets and disguises to hide identities, learn about famous spies and their missions, and much more. 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. Read about one of our past experiences at the museum in Penn Quarter.

Tuesday – VOTE! Then take the money tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It’s a great outing with kids while they’re on summer break from school, since tours are only offered on weekdays. Tours run every 15 minutes 9am – 6pm. Admission is free, but tickets are required, and you can pick them up at the booth on Raoul Wallenburg Place starting at 8am. Read more about the experience in this KFDC post about our first outing there.

Wednesday – Spend the day outdoors at Burke Lake Park in Burke, VA. Little ones will love a spin on the carousel ($2), a ride on the miniature steam engine ($3), and romping on one of the playgrounds. All ages will have fun playing disc golf, hiking the trails, paddling on the lake, and more. Open 8am – 7pm, and admission is free on weekdays.

Thursday – Celebrate the first official day of summer with a quintessential seasonal activity: Swimming! Jump in at a public pool, which 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 2018 KFDC 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.

Friday – Continue the summer welcome with a trip to the beach. Sandy Point State Park, located near Annapolis, is a great place to enjoy some sand and surf (along with picturesque views of the Bay Bridge) within easy driving distance from DC. Open 7am – sunset, and lifeguards man a portion of South Beach from 10am – 6pm on weekdays. Admission is $4/Maryland resident, $6/non-residents.

Sasha's first spray park foray in Arlington two years ago.

Monday – Go for a swim under the open sky. As of today, outdoor public pools are open on weekdays for the season (though be sure to check schedules for pools within the DC Department of Parks & Recreation; all are closed one day a week for maintenance). For outdoor pools in Montgomery County, go here. And for pools in Alexandria, go here. *If weather doesn’t permit, head to an indoor public pool instead. Find them here, here, here, and here. (And if you’ve got other public pools to recommend, outdoors and in, feel free to do so in the comments.)

Tuesday – The strawberry season has just about ended, but you can still have a “berry” (aagh… had to!) good time picking your own fruits at local farms. Blueberries, blackberries and more fresh produce are ripe for the picking at many places. This post from last summer lists farms with pick-your-own opportunities. And it never hurts to check websites or call ahead to make sure the pickings are good.

Wednesday – The heat is going to be ON, and I’m not just talking about the NBA finals. Good timing, as the Regal Summer Movie Fest begins this week. Every Tuesday and Wednesday through the summer, participating theaters will show kids’ movies for just a dollar. Go here to see what’s playing at a theater near you.

Thursday – Make a splash at a local sprayground. Like the outdoor pools, DC DPR splash parks are now open on weekdays for the summer! You can also play in the fountains at Georgetown Waterfront Park and Yards Park. Or head to Arlington where Lyon Village Park, Hayes Park, and Drew Park are local favorites.

Friday – Celebrate Choctaw Days at the National Museum of the American Indian, where the festivals are always wonderful, imo. The celebration will actually begin Wednesday and run through Saturday, featuring traditional performances in the Potomac Atrium, storytelling programs, art displays, tribal cooking demos, and more. While you’re at the museum, take the kids to the imagiNATIONS Activity Center for even more hands-on fun.