Weekdays October 1-5 | KidFriendly DC

Back in the toddler days at Clark’s Elioak Farm

Monday – Celebrate World Architecture Day with activities at the Hirshhorn and National Building Museum for art and architecture lovers of all ages. There will be special STORYTIME sessions, tours, talks, and more! The program runs 10am – 5:30pm at the Hirshorn and 11am – 4pm at the Building Museum. Admission is free, but if you want to visit other exhibits at the NBM cost is $10/adult, $7/child, free/members.

Tuesday – Hear Stories from Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District. The live interactive performances by a group of unique storytellers take place the first and third Tuesdays of each month and are designed for kids 10 and under. The fun starts at 10am, and admission is free. Plan to stay for lunch after at one of the many eateries there.

Wednesday – Stroll around the Tidal Basin and visit some of DC’s memorials — Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Thomas Jefferson are all honored in stone there. You can even make it a longer outing and visit the nearby Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, too. Visitors are welcome 24 hours a day, and park rangers are on hand to answer questions from 9:30am – 10pm. Admission is free.

Thursday – Enjoy the nice weather and some vibrant outdoor play at Clemyjontri. The brilliantly colored, sprawling playground in McLean, VA, accommodates kids of all abilities with all kinds of climbing structures, swings, and other apparatuses that encourage activity and imagination. Hours are 7am to dusk, and admission is free.

Friday – Spend the day at the enchanting Clark’s Elioak Farm, where children will feel like they’ve stepped right into a nursery rhyme with recovered installations from an old storybook park scattered throughout the grounds — that they can play in and on, too! There are also hayrides, cow train rides, pony rides, mazes, a petting farm, a playground, and even more delights for all. Open 10am – 5pm. Admission is $6, some rides are extra. Read more about the farm among the round-up of the best outdoor placesto hang with kids around the DC area.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: October 1-5

Mail transportation on display at the National Postal Museum

Monday – Take the kids to play at Clemyjontri, the brilliantly colored, sprawling playground in McLean that accommodates kids of all abilities. Pack food for lunch in the picnic pavilion (the few vending machines only serve juice and water). Admission is free, hours are 7am to dusk.

Tuesday – Enjoy storytime at the National Building Museum’s Book of the Month program. Readings of Rapido’s Next Step by Jon-Luc Fromental will begin at 10:30am & 11:30am followed by a hands-on activity. Get there early for play time in the Building Zone, as entry is on the hour. And don’t forget that admission is $3/person.

Wednesday – Take advantage of smaller weekday crowds at one of several fall festivals that are already underway. See this post to find out where you can celebrate the season.

Thursday – Deliver on fun at the National Postal Museum. It’s a perfect outing for little ones — the museum isn’t very big and overwhelming, there are numerous interactive exhibits to keep young guests engaged, and it’s conveniently located next to Union Station, so you can also grab lunch and get there easily via Metro. Hours are 10am – 5:30pm, admission is free.

Friday – Hike along the Potomac, enjoy nature indoors and out, have a picnic, and hang out and relax at Riverbend Park. The Fairfax County locale makes for an ideal outing with little ones — easy trails, great nature viewing, and never a big crowd. The Visitor Center is open 9am – 5pm on weekdays.