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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.