zoo – Page 2

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.
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Weekend Picks June 10-12

June 10, 2016

Celebrate Fairfax is Northern Virginia’s largest community-wide celebration and will take place June 10-12, 2016 at the Fairfax County Government Center. The 25-acre site was magically filled with fascinating sights and sounds of more than 300 exhibitors, food vendors, and interactive activities. Celebrate Fairfax! showcases live concerts on eight stages, Innovation Health Children’s Avenue, a petting zoo, the Fairfax County Karaoke Championship, carnival rides, and great festival foods. Another fun free activity for kids is the Fairfax Express Trackless Train Ride and nightly fireworks.

Also worth checking out is the Lake Anne Chalk Festival, happening Saturday & Sunday.

The weekend is supposed to be sunny and hot. Cool down at a splash park, water park or pool!

Washington Nationals take on the Phillies with day games on Saturday and Sunday!

Friday-

5:00pm-8:30pm: Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
(7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW)
The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 15th season in May. The free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—salsa, blues fusion, xylophone, Afrofunk, and more—every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. You can purchase food and adult beverages or bring your own picnic (but no adult bevvies are allowed in).
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Weekend Picks + MLK Jr Day

January 15, 2016

Saturday-

9:00am-4:00pm: Bei Bei the Panda’s Debut at The National Zoo
(3001 Connecticut Ave. NW)
Giant panda cub Bei Bei will go on public exhibit for the first time! The panda house will open at 9am and those interested should enter at the Asia Trail entrance across from the Visitor Center. Please note: Cub viewing is not guaranteed. Animal behavior, weather, and other factors may affect viewing.
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Weekend Picks

January 8, 2016

This week flew by! The weather is all over the place, so remember to check out where you can play Indoors or grab tickets to a show! Also, National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in your Neighborhood runs Jan. 5-11, be sure to carve some time out to go listen to them or stop by one of the “petting zoos”, it’s sure to be a magical time for your Bambinos.

Saturday-

9:45am-12:45am: Camp Sampler at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
Try a sample camp on us! Get an up-close-and-personal taste of what camp is like at Imagination Stage. We promise you’ll have a blast! Sample camps are about 20 minutes in length, except for our Musical Production Camp Sampler and Filmmaking Sampler. Our Musical Production Camp Samplers run for 45 minutes, while our Filmmaking Sampler is structured as an “open house” where students and parents can drop-in over the course of an hour. Ages 4-Grade 12. Register online!

10:30am: Gustafer Yellowgold at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA)
Since his creation by Morgan Taylor in 2005, Gustafer Yellowgold has become an international phenomenon, acclaimed by The New York Times, which described Gustafer as “A cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss.” Entertainment Weekly praised “…The most infectious original songs. It’s like tapping into some pleasure center in the brain- both adult and kid…absurdly appealing.

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Top Eleven: Bambinos in Baltimore (Edited)

December 4, 2015

With Baltimore being about a 45 minute drive (if you time it right), it’s the perfect destination for a day outing or even an overnight trip.We’ve got your itinerary planned for you; keeping your Bambinos busy while having a blast being in a new city. Unfortunately, this isn’t the city full of Smithsonian Museums so you will be charged to enter most of the attractions, but many are worth the price. Check their websites for daily discounts and specials.

1. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum– 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21223

2. Port Discovery Children’s Museum– 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
A few hours here and even your big kids will nap on the way home. The three-story climbing structure will physically tire them, but the constant learning opportunities, cleverly disguised as play, will leave them mentally exhausted too. The museum is an oasis designed for children ages 2 to 10. Port Discovery is attraction where kids can play, learn, exercise their creativity and expand their minds.

3. National Aquarium– 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

4. The Fire Museum of Maryland– 1301 York Road, Lutherville, MD 21093

5. Sandy Point State Park– 100 East College Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401
A day at the bay will make them sleep all night. The beach at this 786-acre park has a commanding view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The park’s recreational activities include swimming, fishing, crabbing, boating and windsurfing. Visitors enjoy picnicking as well as wildlife viewing and bird watching.

6. Maryland Science Center– 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Hands-on learning including a Planetarium and IMAX!

7. Six Flags America Baltimore/Washington, DC– 13710 Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20721

8. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore–1876 Mansion House Drive Baltimore, MD 21217

9. Inner Harbor- Baltimore, MD 21202
From family-friendly museums and restaurants to satisfy every palate, to exciting nightlife, cultural experiences and spectacular people-watching, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor offers more to see and do than you can imagine.

10. Oriole Park at Camden Yards– 333 West Camden Street Baltimore, MD 21201

11. Medieval Times– 7000 Arundel Mills Cir, Hanover, MD 21076
Horses, sword play, javelin throwing and a feast at this elaborate dinner theater served “medieval style” (i.e without silverware) has my son sold on going here.

Weekend Picks

October 23, 2015

Kids Euro Festival begins this weekend and lasts through November 8. It’s like taking a trip to Europe – but you don’t need a passport! Kids Euro Festival is a two-week long festival of European arts and culture presenting more than 125 free activities to D.C. metro area children and their families. There are performances, concerts, workshops, movies, storytelling, and more… and it’s all brought to you by the 28 European Union Member States!

Be sure and check out local Orchards & Festivals as well as Halloween events happening this weekend.

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Weekend Picks

September 18, 2015

Another busy weekend! Maryland Renaissance Festival is still going on and The Washington Nationals are in town playing this weekend. Want to start heading to Fall Festivals and Orchards? Check out our updated list.

Saturday-

Gates open at 9:00am:Andrews Air Force Base Air Show
(Park: FedEx Field and Branch Avenue Metro Station and they have shuttle service)
Guests will experience aerial demonstrations and learn more about the military personnel and equipment JBA uses to carry out the missions here. Open Ceremony 11:30am and Thunderbirds Performance at 3:00pm.

10:00am-4:00pm: The Big Build at National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001)
Be a builder for the day at the Big Build festival! Amateur builders young and old can discover what it’s like to build a brick wall, carve stone, hammer nails, and much more as they work side-by-side with designers, builders, and artisans demonstrating their skills. Meet plumbers, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers, and experts in many other fields to learn about their professions and hobbies. This year at the Big Build, visitors can; Climb aboard trucks and tractors, Construct a log cabin, Imagine the view from the beams of a skyscraper, Compete in a nail driving contest and Create a hardware windchime.
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Fall 2015 classes in and around Washington, DC

September 3, 2015

Summer is ending {sigh} so we’ve highlighted some places offering Fall Classes. There are so many possibilities so please contact us and let us know if you have a favorite that is not on our list. Here’s to Pumpkin Spice Lattes and the turning of leaves. Happy Fall!

Adventure Theatre: Fall Academy Classes for children ages 12 months-Grade 12 can be found here.

Curiosity Zone: Hands-on science classes in a science lab for children ages 3-Grade 5. Classes can be found here.

Hillwood Estate: Various themes and sessions for the preschool classes. Classes can be found here.

Imagination Stage: Theme-based Fall Class Schedule for children ages 12 months-age 21 can be found here.

Little Loft: A neighborhood art studio which has two locations, Capitol Hill and Takoma Park. Offering classes for preschool kids, open studio time and off school classes. Click here and choose the location to find all class options.

Meadowlark Music: Classes include parachute, scarves, instruments, drums, puppets, balls, guitar, flute, dancing, singing, giggling, clapping, movement and more! They are designed to engage caregivers and little ones in an organic way…which leads to us all enjoying our little ones’ musical discoveries in a remarkably positive and friendly environment. More information can be found here for children 0-3 years old.

Montgomery County Recreation Department: You can find The Guide which is full of classes here or you can pick one up at a Montgomery County Library or Recreation Center.

Round House Theatre: Fall classes consist of 8-week sessions on Saturdays. Classes for children ages 2-Grade 8 can be found here.

Silver Stars Gymnastics: Fall classes for children ages 18 months and up can be found here.

Smithsonian National Zoo: Preschool classes throughout the year can be found here. After school classes for children ages 6-10 can be found here. Unique, HomeSchool Classes are also available, find more info here.

The Children’s Art Studio: A 10-week Fall session for children ages PK-Teenagers. Classes can be found here.

The Creative Difference: After school enrichment classes for children ages PK-Grade 5 can be found here.

Quick Feet: Soccer for 2-5 year olds in DC, MD and VA. Classes can be found here.

Washington DC JCC: Fall Classes for children ages newborn to age 4 can be found here. After school enrichment classes for children Pre-K- Grade 6 can be found here.

Indoor Gym Spaces:

BusyBees

Gymboree

Kidville

My Gym

Family-Friendly Yoga Studios:

Tranquil Space

Lil Omm