1 Play in a tepee
Or duck into an igloo, weave baskets, and participate in a quiz
show at the National Museum of the American Indian’s
ImagiNATIONS Activity Center. Free. nmai.si.edu.
2 Take flight
Explore airplanes and rockets, take in an Imax show, or
watch planes in flight from the observation tower at the Udvar-Hazy Center
in Dulles. Free. airandspace.si.edu/udvarhazy.
3 Relive your own youth
Roller-skating with your kids is a low-cost way to burn energy.
Manassas’s Skate N Fun Zone offers admission specials
($1.99 to $9) and skate themes. skatenfunzone.com.
4 Enjoy a fun show
At Glen Echo Park, take a spin on the vintage
carousel, check out a Puppet Co. production, or see a show put on by the
award-winning Adventure Theatre MTC. glenechopark.org.
5 Dance, dance
Little ones can dance to great kids’ musicians at
Boogie Babes shows. Performances (usually $5) are at DC’s Atlas Performing Arts Center and Eastern Market. boogiebabes.blogspot.com.
6 Listen to kids’ music adults like
Check out the weekday performances at Vienna’s Jammin’
Java. Occasional Saturday shows feature a “buy a beer, get a free
juice box” special. jamminjava.com.
7 Play at the library
Storytime at the Library of Congress, Fridays
at 10:45 am in the Jefferson Building’s Young Readers Center, includes
songs, books, and toys. Suitable for up to age four. loc.gov/loc/events.
8 Into the pool
Rain shouldn’t keep water lovers from the pool. At the indoor
Rollingcrest-Chillum Splash Pool in Chillum, kids of all
ages can enjoy water slides and swimming. Children $5, adults $6.
pgparks.com.
9 Hit the mother ship of indoor gyms
Thrill-O-Rama in Bowie boasts a moon bounce,
an electronic dance floor, a girls’ spa, and more—plus a parents’ lounge.
It’s $9 for kids up to age 14. thrill-o-rama.com.
