MONDAY, MARCH 30
LISTEN: While you’re checking out the cherry blossoms with your brood (pssst…Mondays are typically the least crowded), swing by the National Cherry Blossom Festival tent at the Tidal Basin. Family-friendly rock band The Sixth Generation will be belting out fun 1960s rock tunes that everyone can groove to. Free, 3 PM.
WATCH: Mini-moon men (and women) get an up close look at NASA’s shuttle program, including the International Space Station, capturing asteroids, and landing astronauts on Mars, in this cool 3D film showing at the National Air and Space Museum. $7.50 to $9 11 AM, 1:35 PM, 4:20 PM, 5:45 PM, $7.50-$9.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
EXPLORE: Things just got a little fishy at the National Geographic Museum, where their latest exhibit “Monster Fish” running through Oct. 11) features the lowdown on nearly 20 larger-than-life water creatures from all over the globe. Don’t miss (it would be hard not to) the five life-size sculptures of species like the climbable sawfish, that clock in at up to 20 feet. $7 to $11, 10 AM to 6 PM.
LEARN: Tired of the “brush your teeth” struggle? Let someone more entertaining–namely Slim Goodbody, a nationally renowned performer–show kiddos the importance of nutrition, fitness, hygiene, and positive self-image in this health and body musical at Publick Playhouse. $8, 10:15 AM and 12 PM.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
INTERACT: In Blue, an interactive show for kids ages one to five playing at the Imagination Stage, the color blue is the star. The audience gets to envision a world that is just blue—blue cereal, blue grass, blue flowers—until the main characters discover a new color. $12, 11:45 AM.
READ: Give your mini bookworm an incentive to continue pouring over their fave tomes during the Noyes Library’s Pennies-a-Page Read-a-thon that kicks off April 1. Pledges per page from adult sponsors will go towards renovations to Noyes to create a killer library. Free, runs through April 21.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2
TOUR: Baby-carrying mamas and care givers can pop by the United States Botanic Garden every Thursday for a 45-minute guided tour through the Conservatory. It’s the perfect way for both parties to wind down before naptime. Note: no strollers or older siblings allowed. Free, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
LAUGH: Jake the Magician has a knack for making kids and grown-ups crack up during his comedic magic shows. He’ll be showing off his slight-of-hand for kids ages two to seven at Jammin Java. Bonus: You just might walk away with a trick or two up your sleeve. $5, 10 AM.
Ayren Jackson-Cannady (@ayrenjc on Instagram) is a health-and-wellness writer/editor in Arlington whose work has appeared in Prevention and Self.
