Tag Archives: What’s Open and Closed in DC

Brookside Gardens is a wonderful place to wander any time of year

1. In case you missed it in the Weekend Round-Up, Brookside Nature Center is keeping their Maple Sugar tradition going during the pandemic with a self-guided interpretive Maple Trail Walk. This trail is available onsite during the month of February, and it’s free and open from dusk to dawn (note that only outdoor areas are open). They advise wearing boots as Sugaring Season is also Mud Season! Start the Maple trail walk at the 1400 Glenallan Avenue (Wheaton, MD) parking lot location – just look for the sugar maple leaf signs.  Plan for time to visit the lovely Brookside Gardens while you’re there, too!

2.  The Noyes Children’s Library Foundation is hosting another Noyes StoryWalk in Kensington, MD.  Through February, take a self-guided, socially distanced stroll through the grounds of Warner Circle, adjacent to the Noyes Children’s Library (10237 Carroll Place), to read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Both English and Spanish versions of the book are posted on spaced-apart signs, and the walk includes interactive suggestions tied into the book to encourage families to get some exercise on their outing. Craft kits based on the book will also be available in front of the library on Saturdays and Sundays while supplies last.

3. A new post on the blog takes a little detour from the usual KFDC content, but hopefully the ideas for Creating a Perfect Outdoor Set-Up for the Covid Winter will help elevate your hangouts this season!

4. Highlights from last night.  What was your fave?

5. Hahaha… SNL nailed it.

Take a Transportation Walk in the Navy Yard

1. Did you know there’s an outdoor Walking Museum of Transportation in the Navy Yard?  Installations along the sidewalks surrounding the Department of Transportation provide a history of transportation.  There are life-size elements like railroad crossing signs, old wheels, and gas pumps as well as info panels on the building.  Stroll around, then pick up food from one of the many nearby eateries, and have a picnic in Yards Park.  The DOT is located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, but elements of the museum can be seen along M Street SE, from NJ Ave to 4th Street, and behind the building on Tingey Street. (Note:  The post about Yards Park is from when it first opened, but has updates, and the water features obviously are not running right now.)

2. Have you been ice skating yet this season?  Just a reminder that several outdoor rinks around the area are open with safety measures in place for Covid, making for a fun, socially distanced activity.  Advanced ticket purchase is required at most, so plan ahead!

3. A crowdsourced map for cycling safety that I learned about in this article.

4. The 30 Best Movies for Kids on Hulu.

5. Wow!