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    • Indoor options!
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    • Not your typical kid gym
    • Nook
  • Fall
    • Festivals, farms and orchards
    • Ultimate guide to Halloween
    • Fall bucket list
    • Fall classes, indoor gyms and parent groups
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    • Gift Guide for Kids
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    • Cut-your-own tree farms
    • Holiday shows, ballets and concerts
    • Ice skating, holiday light displays and outdoor fun
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    • Holiday tea
    • Ski and snowboard with kids
    • ZooLights and more
    • Subscription boxes for children
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    • Outdoor movies
    • Trains!
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    • DCPS mid-winter break camps
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Outdoor fun in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia

July 18, 2016

We’ve pulled together some great outdoor options for you and your Bambinos in the Washington, DC area. This is not an exhaustive list of ALL places outdoors to play and visit. Instead, it’s a running (constantly being updated) list of out-of-the-box options to head to. Please add your suggestions to the comments below and we’ll keep building! Be sure and scroll all the way to the bottom for some already written content that includes outdoor fun.

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Washington, DC-

The Yards Park– (355 Water Street SE Washington DC 20003)
Come experience DC’s new waterfront destination and centerpiece of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood! Located just south of Capitol Hill and to the east of Nationals Ballpark, this thoughtfully designed park is a place to be active or relax and enjoy the outdoors. At the Yards Park you’ll find open grassy areas and well-landscaped outdoor rooms, a waterfall and canal-like water feature, an elevated overlook, an iconic bridge and light sculpture, terraced performance venue, and a riverfront boardwalk.
[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Outdoor Play Tagged: animals, boating, carousel, Farm, ferris wheel, fishing, gardens, holiday, lake, music, nature center, outdoors, tour, trains, water, zoo

Weekend Picks

December 18, 2015

Many places take a break around this time of year, but there’s still plenty to do. Be sure and visit Zoo Lights and catch a holiday show! We’ve got plenty of holiday festivities and ice rink info here.

Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town is still going on at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone.

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[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: art, holiday, ice rink, literacy, music, scavenger hunt, singalong, yoga

Weekend Picks

December 4, 2015

Experience the Mall Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, to celebrate the season with Smithsonian. We’ve got special events galore to help you get in the holiday spirit, including musical performances, book signings, trunk shows, activities for kids, and more!  Participating museums include: National Museum of American History, National Museum of Air and Space, National Museum of Natural History, Freer Gallery of Art and Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of African American Art, National Postal Museum, and The Smithsonian Castle. Hours are 10:30am-5:30pm and the Holiday Festival is free.

This weekend Baltimore will be having Dollar or Less Days. Many of your favorite spots will only be $1 for admission. Get there early as lines will be long but they’ll move fast. Check the above link for participating places. See our post on Baltimore for ideas of other places to go.

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Ice! Featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town is still going on at The Gaylord National Harbor. Guests can walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees, marvel at two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculpture, have fun on five ice slides, walk and see the 7 individual rooms depicting the story of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and see The Frostbite Factory – a live carving zone.

Home Sweet Home Gingerbread  Workshop at National Building Museum is Saturday and Sunday. Get in the holiday spirit and construct a gingerbread house at the National Building Museum. Participants will learn how to use gingerbread walls and royal icing to build a house. We’ll provide the supplies and treats to make your gingerbread home as sweet as can be. Register online!

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‘Tis the Circus! A Holiday Party on High presented by Sweet Spot Aerial Productions at Atlas Performing Arts Friday-Sunday. The holidays can be a circus – quite literally, at this holiday party! As the guests arrive, one couple’s living room is transformed as acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and other performers dazzle with spectacular routines celebrating the magic of the holiday season. Fun for the whole family – prepare to be delighted, amazed and inspired. A unique and new holiday tradition. All ages. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: A Lump of Coal for Christmas, art, bethesda, books, Christmas, circus, crafts, Ellipse, festival, hanukkah, holiday, ice, Imagination Stage, italian, little loft, Mr. Gabe, music, national theatre, pajama, sing-along, smithsonian

Adventure Theatre presents A Lump of Coal for Christmas

December 3, 2015

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What: A Lump of Coal for Christmas at Adventure Theatre

When: November 20, 2015 – December 31, 2015

Where: Adventure Theatre
7300 MacArthur Boulevard
Glen Echo, MD 20812

Why: Get into the holiday spirit by teaching your children what coal is, maybe they’ll be on their best behavior until the holidays are over (or at least for the day). Audience members will come to love the main character, a lump of coal as she has big dreams of doing something with her life. She sings and dances her way throughout multiple, humorous encounters with people who turn her down. She has an amazing voice which turns traditional holiday tunes into fun and quirky lyrics having to do with the experiences she comes across. She meets a theatre director, a Cook, and a Gallery Owner before she finds her way into Rufus’ stocking.

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Rufus is a child who is left home with his disinterested Uncle until his family returns home from an emergency. Children will relate to Rufus as he is excited Christmas is the next day and hopes to carry on his Christmas Eve traditions, his uncle not-so-much. Uncle Otis gives Rufus a copy of Don Quixote to keep him busy while he leaves for work. His imagination quickly leads him to illustrating the book and bringing the words to life. A Lump of Coal for Christmas is just what Rufus (and the lump of coal) need to have a happy Christmas!

Details:
Running time is 1 hour with no intermissions.

Tickets can be purchased here. Price is $19.50.

Adventure Theatre is collecting stuffed stockings for children who need holiday cheer this season.  Click here for the full scoop.

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(All Photo credit: Michael Horan)

 

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Filed Under: Sponsored Post Tagged: A Lump of Coal for Christmas, Adventure Theatre, holiday

Weekend Picks

November 13, 2015

This weekends post is full of fun on Saturday! Be sure and check out our Indoor Fun post as well as the Theater Roundup post so you have a warm place to escape to as the weather gets cooler.

Friday-th

6:00pm: Family Movie Night Inside Out playing at Marie Reed Auditorium
(18th and Wyoming Sts. NW)
Admission is free, and concessions will be sold.  Come join the fun hosted by Marie Reed Elementary School PTA.

6:30pm: The Singing Lizard at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW)
Shes back in town this weekend. Catch her if you can!
[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: art, bloombars, family, festival, holiday, Imagination Stage, national harbor, park, The Singing Lizard

Weekend Picks: The big maze and under the big top

July 4, 2014

Happy Fourth of July! Hope everyone had a nice holiday and got a glimpse of some fireworks and/or held the obligatory sparkler.
There are a few ways to drag out the Fourth of July celebrating. See our previous post on where to spend the holiday.

Saturday: 11:00am-5:00pm: DC Meet Market
(15th and P St NW- parking lot of St. Lukes)
Summer Cookout Party- Proudly sponsored by Honest Tea, Relay Foods, Zipcar, and Think Local First DC, this month at the market we celebrate Independence Day with a fun market cookout party featuring BBQ from Kingston Seoul, locally made gelato from Dolcezza, and handcrafted root beer (including floats!) from Thunder Beast! Join us for a day of fun, family, friends and food! We’ll also have family-friendly live music from Lady Hatchet,  Merry Toddlers More, and dj set by DJ Natty Boom, presented by Rock-n-Romp!With a live art installation provided by No Kings Collective.

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Saturday & Sunday- 

The Big Maze at The Building Museum
(401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Inspired by ancient labyrinths, garden and hedge mazes of 17th and 18th-century Europe, and modern American corn mazes, this contemporary maze is located in the West Court of the Museum’s historic Great Hall. In addition to viewing the maze from the ground floor, visitors will also be able to get an unexpected aerial perspective from the Museum’s second- and third-floor balconies. Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm.

Washington Nationals host the Chicago Cubs
(Nationals Stdium- 1500 South Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003)
Saturday- 4:05pm
Sunday- 1:35pm  Kids Run the Bases- Kids ages 4 – 12 are invited to run the bases on the field immediately following the game, field conditions permitting.

DC Capital Fair 
(RFK Stadium- 2400 East Capital St SE, Washington, D.C.)
In town through July 6. Find the schedule here. You’ll find a huge carnival, delicious food, games, and free live entertainment and shows including Circus Flores, Lance Gifford’s Magic & Illusion Show, Las Vegas Hypnotist Show, Wild Wolves Show and Tiger Show.

Some great new theatre productions just started, including Pinkalicious and BFG.

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Filed Under: Weekend Picks Tagged: baseball, building museum, fair, holiday, maze

Weekend Picks: Memorial Day tributes, splashing around and day trips

May 22, 2014

With the holiday weekend among us, we’ve chosen a few well-known picks that pay tribute to Memorial Day. We’ve also put together a short list of suggested Day Trips that won’t keep you and your family in the car too long but will get you “away”. 

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Rockville Hometown Holidays: Saturday and Sunday- 2:00pm-10:00pm, Monday- 9:00am-1:00pm
(30 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850)
Over 30 bands will perform this weekend at HTH. Check out the kids activities as well; ¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! plays on the Town Square Stage at 5:00pm on Saturday. Rockville will have a Memorial Day Parade beginning at 10:30am  at Martins Lane and N. Washington, and ending on Monroe Street.

Rolling Thunder– Events all weekend long
The weekend begins on Friday with a Candlelight Vigil followed by a Wreathlaying Ceremony and their annual roaring Memorial Day Parade motorcade through downtown. Complete schedule here.  

Visit the Capital Wheel at the National Harbor
(165 Waterfront St National Harbor, MD 20745)
Did we mention the 42 enclosed gondolas are temperature controlled? Soar 180 feet above the Potomac River and spot DC’s finest sights. Price per ride: $15/adults; $11.25/kids 3-11; Free/kids 2 and under.

Viva! Vienna!– Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-10:00pm and Monday 10:00am-6:00pm
(245 Maple Ave. W, Vienna, Va)
Rides, music, crafts, children’s stage, street vendors, food and Memorial Day Tribute. Children’s event schedule here. Free admission.

Copy of 061910 3pm raft_0Day Trips:

In Shenandoah National Park, hike from waterfall to waterfall, climb the rocky Old Rag Mountain, go biking or take a guided horseback ride. If you need to cool off, head over to Shenandoah River Outfitters and go rafting, tubing or kayaking on the shady river. 75 miles from downtown D.C. at its northernmost point; see all park entrances here.

Unknown-1North Shore: Bay Avenue and Fifth Street, North Beach, MD 20714
Want to go to the beach but a 3 hour drive is not in your plan? Our family enjoys the short drive (38 miles) to North Beach. White sand, a playground within the fenced in beach and a pier with plenty of fisherman to watch. The beach charges admission in the summer months and rents umbrellas and chairs too. There is also a cute town to explore; a sandwich shop, Sweet Sue’s Bake Shop and Coffee Bar, a candy store and a few antique shops selling beachy decor. 

Take a step back in time in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  Although West Virginia is a small state, 012_West_Virginia-Harpers-Ferryit’s packed with history and beautiful scenery. Kids will have fun visiting this National Historical Park. Visit Harpers Ferry for the Civil War history and re-enactors. Hike one of the many trails in the area for a spectacular view of three states—West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland—at once. Amtrak provides one train from Union Station to Harpers Ferry per day but it’s a short at about 67 miles from D.C. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center can get your hooked up with kayaks, tubes and more if you’re feeling adventurous. If you happen to go on Monday, be sure and stay for the Music in the Park Concert at Bolivar Children’s Park from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

 

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And of course the kids haven’t let you forget the pools open this weekend. Here is a list of Washington, DC pools with hours and addresses. Most hours are as follows (check because your closest pool may be under renovation) Memorial Day weekend hours: May 24th, 25th & 26th (Sat, Sun & Mon) from 12 pm to 6 pm. Weekend operations (Sat & Sun), May 31st through June 22nd. Full operational hours to start June 23rd, 2014!

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Not a pool person? Let your child run around and splash in the spray parks. A few in DC are The Yards Park and Georgetown Waterfront Park and a list of spraygrounds in Arlington.

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Filed Under: Holiday Options, Weekend Picks Tagged: day trip, DC, fair, festival, harpers ferry, Hike, holiday, kayak, memorial day, national harbor, north beach, pool, road trip, rockville, rolling thunder, Shenandoah National Park, swim

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