Activities for kids

We have either been or heard good things about the places/activities below.

Maryland/Virginia/DC Area

Be with Me: The Children's Playseum: Located in Bethesda with a new location in D.C. (which is BIGGER and NICER). It's like a tiny version of the Please Touch Museum (see below). Admission is $6/person no matter the age. Siblings under 10 months are FREE. See related post: OK for 1-year-old, afraid he'd get sick because he was putting everything in his mouth. We're pretty sure stuff doesn't get sanitized there.

Families Only: Great site for all family-friendly events in the Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. area!

Madame Tussauds: Interesting if you've never been, but this location isn't that big. There was a special exhibit on the presidents, if you're into history or whatever. $22 for adults, $16 for children 4-12. OK for 1-year-old though J was confused why they looked so real but weren't moving.

Lakeforest Mall: Inside you can find those ride-for-a-quarter rides, a choo-choo train that circles the second floor, and a play area on the first floor. It gets real busy on weekends, and not the safest/cleanest for a 1-year-old still crawling and putting everything in his mouth. But the older kids (and their parents, haha) LOVE it.

National Air and Space Museum: There is a HUGE interactive area for kids to learn about physics and aerodynamics the FUN way. It's FREE for everyone. Weekends are CROWDED. Limited McDonald's inside for grabbing a quick bite (no food in museum though). OK for 1-year-old, wasn't that interested in interactive area yet, liked walking around though.

Smithsonian National Zoological Park: We circled all the way to park in Lot E, which is the farthest from the main entrance. However, it was closest to the Kids' Farm. Like a Smithsonians, it's FREE, which also means it draws lots of crowds. When we visited April 2012, there was construction at the elephants and sea lions exhibits. The zoo is also pretty hilly, so be ready to work those legs! I wish I had more to say, but I was spending a lot of time calming down a tantrum-atic 20-month old. Sigh.

U. S. Botanic Garden: There's the Conservatory (indoors), Bartholdi Park (outdoors), and National Garden (outdoors). In the National Garden are First Ladies Water, Rose, Regional, and Butterfly Gardens. We only visited the Conservatory on our last visit. There is a small area for kids where they can water a plant, play with a fountain, etc. It's FREE for everyone. Parking is FREE on WEEKENDS around the Conservatory on Maryland Ave SW. Great GELATO place near by. OK for 1-year-old, he seemed pretty interested in the plants everywhere.

Philadelphia Area -- I include this list because I used to live there 

Please Touch Museum: Here's my review of our visit (spoiler: IT'S AWESOME!). Admission is $15/person over 1 years old. Members get in FREE.

Philadelphia Zoo: So many fond memories of this place as a child. My sister and I LOVED the Elephant (no more?), Camel, and Pony Rides, Children's Zoo, and Treehouse (no more?). Admission is $15-$18/person over 2 years old. Members get in FREE. Never taken J here.

Last updated 4/9/2012.