Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Washington, DC

Weekend Update

by Beth Hoffman

April 09, 2009

Here are a few kid-friendly events coming up this weekend.

Easter Egg-stravaganza at Woodrow Wilson House - Saturday, April 11 from 1-3 PM.  It seems President Wilson used to enjoy standing at the South Portico of the White House and watching the Easter egg-roll on the White House lawn.  To honor that tradition, the Wilson House is holding their first annual egg-roll in the garden.  Admission is pricey, $25 for adults and $10 for children over 2, but if you missed the ticket for the White House egg-roll (like most of us did), it might be a good substitute.  The Wilson House is located at 2340 S Street, NW.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show - Saturday, April 11 from 8:30-9:00 PM.  The last hurrah of this year's Cherry Blossom Festival starts with a three hour festival (stating at 5:00 PM), includes musical performances, kid craft activities, and food from local restaurants.  Rain or Shine at the Southwest Waterfront, 7th Street and Maine Ave, SW.

Washington Nationals Home Opener - Monday, April 13 at 3:05 PM, Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15 at 7:05 PM.  Take them out to the ballpark before the heat and humidity of summer arrive.  The Nats are playing the Phillies in a three-game home stand to open the season.  For the little ones, check out the Kids Page of the Nationals website for kid-friendly information about the mascot, baseball, and chances for kids to get out and run the bases after select Sunday games.  Nationals Park is located at 1500 S. Capital Street, SE.  Green Line to Navy Yard or park at RFK and take the shuttle.  Read more...

2009 White House Easter Egg Roll

by Beth Hoffman

March 26, 2009

So, are you spending all day today refreshing the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll ticketing website, or is that just me?  No luck, so far for me.  They are releasing tickets in blocks throughout the day, but the times are not published so you just have to guess and get lucky.  I suppose this is more convenient for most of us than thronging the Ellipse for tickets, but at least then you can see how many people are ahead of you and what your chances aire.  Anyway, since I am dedicating so much time to running over to my laptop to hit F5, I thought I would share some fun facts about the White House Easter Egg Roll, for anyone else out there who is spending far too much time on this today.

From the White House's Easter Egg Roll website:

• The White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on Monday, April 13, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the South Lawn of the White House.
• The theme for this year's egg hunt is "Let's Go Play."  Do you think that means President Obama will be on hand to play "Wizard of Oz" with my three year old for nine straight hours?
• The first White House Easter Egg Roll was in 1878.
• This is the first time that tickets have been distributed online.

(Refresh.  Refresh.  Refresh.)

 Good luck if you are trying for tickets!

99 Things To Do in DC

by Leticia

February 24, 2009

In no particular order, here’s a list of 99 things to do in the DC Metro Area with a child before they grow up:

1. Head out the night before and brave the elements to obtain coveted tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll
2. Witness the beauty of the cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial at their peak 
3. Go kayaking at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia since it is a great place to spot a bald eagle 
4. Step back in time and go on a canal boat ride in Great Falls or Georgetown 
5. After dinner and a bath, take your PJ-clad child on a tour of the Monuments at night
6. Appreciate the grandeur of the interior space of the National Building Museum then head to the Building Zone to satisfy your child’s inner Bob the Builder 
7. Play at Turtle Park and don’t miss Turtle Park Day  
8. Attend a performance at Glen Echo Puppet Theater 
9. Catch a show at Glen Echo Adventure Theater, DC’s longest running children’s theater 
10. Take a spin on the Glen Echo Carousel and witness the amazing Wurlitzer band organ 
11. Witness air acrobatics at Bealeton Airport Flying Circus 
12. Choose a local farm, bring your own containers, and an appetite to spend a couple hours berry picking
13. Introduce your child to the wonders of live performances at Wolf Trap Theater in the Woods 
14. Attend afternoon high tea at Strathmore Mansion 
15. Witness the power of water at Great Falls
16. Take a seat at the end of the runway at National Airport’s Gravelly Point and watch airplanes zoom overhead 
17. Explore all areas of the National Zoo, including the naked mole rats
18. Feed the koi at the National Arboretum
19. Ponder what George Washington used to think about while sitting on his back porch on Mount Vernon high above the Potomac River 
20. Ride the train and feed the trash pig (a trash can that talks when you throw garbage in it) at Cabin John Park 
21. Throw rocks in Rock Creek
22. Hike part of the Billy Goat Trail 
23. Spend time in the woods just exploring
24. Go camping at a local campground for the weekend
25. Bike the Monuments and the sights of The Mall
26. Go to Sky Meadows State Park for Astronomy Day or a Saturday Star Party
27. Let a butterfly land on you at the Wings of Fancy exhibit at Brookside Gardens 
28. Attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival to witness sheep shearing, partake in the fabulous lamb sold at the concession stands, and be dazzled by all the beautiful hand knit items for sale by vendors 
29. Experience the plethora of fried goods, carnival rides, and animals at a County fair
30. Have a hands on learning day at Port Discovery 
31. Go train crazy at the B&O Railroad Museum 
32. Go plane crazy at the College Park Aviation Museum 
33. Have a cultural experience at an Embassy
34. Ride a restored DC trolley car at the National Capital Trolley Museum 
35. Hunt for shark teeth at Calvert Cliffs State Park 
36. Hum The Star Spangled Banner while paying tribute to the inspiration for our National Anthem during a visit to Fort McHenry 
37. Step back in time to 1771 at Claude Moore Historical Farm 
38. Attend Claude Moore Historical Farm’s Market Fair offered three weekends a year 
39. Engage in hands on science at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum 
40. Enjoy more hands on science fun at the Maryland Science Center 
41. Stare in awe at the most amazing stained glass rosettes at the National Cathedral 
42. Stare in awe at sheets of uncut money at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing 
43. Stare in awe as you take in the scenery from the top of the Washington Monument 
44. Explore every corner of the 2 acre Clemyjontri Park 
45. Procure tickets to an afternoon performance of Cirque du Soleil and witness acrobatics like you’ve never seen before 
46. Cruise the Potomac
47. Attend Art-o-Matic, the free art festival featuring paintings, sculpture, photography, music, theater, poetry, dance and workshops 
48. Visit Cunningham Falls
49. Attend the lighting of the National Christmas Tree
50. Visit the bonfire on the Ellipse during the holidays
51. Catch Vienna based kid rock band, Rocknoceros, in concert for music the whole family will enjoy
52. Join up with Stroller Strides for a great workout and fun scenery and songs for your kiddo
53. Attend the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
54. Marvel at Jim Henson’s creations, First Ladies gowns, and the ruby slippers at the Museum of American History
55. Give your child unrestricted access to the hose one hot humid summer afternoon
56. Go swimming at an indoor pool in the middle of winter
57. Cool off at an ice skating rink during the summer
58. Be a pirate for a day 
59. Visit Meadowlark Gardens 
60. Begin to culture a love of art with a visit to the National Portrait Gallery or National Gallery 
61. Catch a summer movie outside under the stars at the Strathmore Film Fest or Screen on the Green
62. Practice using chop sticks at dim sum 
63. Go fishing 
64. Root for the home team at an O’s or Nat’s game
65. Pretend to be a rocket scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 
66. Go apple picking
67. Take advantage of Free for All Fridays classes at the Roundhouse Theater 
68. See the sights in the snow
69. Visit rescued owls and experience the cave slide at Meadowside Nature Center
70. Enjoy the spectacle of a Chinese New Year’s parade
71. Root for the Ravens or the Redskins either live or on TV
72. Have a SmartTrip card and know how to swipe it to ride the Metro
73. Know which Metro station is closest to home
74. Marvel at the sculptures in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden
75. Seen the inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner at the Museum of American History
76. Witnessed the grandeur of the space shuttle at Udvar Hazy
77. Indulge in a hot dog at Ben’s Chili Bowl
78. Visit all the monuments on the National Mall
79. Write a letter and mail it from the National Postal Museum
80. Visit Roosevelt Island 
81. Walk among the dinosaurs or visit the butterflies at the National Museum of Natural History
82. Visit the butterflies at the National Museum of Natural History
83. Have an ice cream themed birthday party and create your own flavor of ice cream at Moorenko’s
84. Go spelunking at Luray Caverns 
85. Rock out with your kids while sipping coffee at Jammin’ Java 
86. Go on a tour of the White House with tickets from your local Member of Congress
87. Visit an aquarium- either in Baltimore or the one right here in DC!
88. Cool off at Deep Creek Lake
89. Test furniture at IKEA until you get a craving for meatballs and lingonberry sauce
90. Visit a lighthouse
91. Practice espionage at the International Spy Museum
92. Go fly a kite at the Smithsonian Kite Festival on the Washington Monument grounds 
93. Gaze at the stars at the Rock Creek Planetarium 
94. Enjoy a free summer concert at Carter Barron Amphitheater 
95. Watch the tennis pros practice for free before competing in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic
96. Become one with nature at the Audobon Nature Fair 
97. Ogle at sailboats at the United States Sailboat and Powerboat Shows in Annapolis
98. Walk in the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure 
99. Watch 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall
100. Spend a whole day doing what your child wants to do!