Our Kids is a weekly e-newsletter providing a great calendar of events, activities, and entertainment for children and families.
OPEN GYMS AND PLAYROOMS
Interactions Learn & Play in Kensington. A spacious play area for little ones to play and discover. The items challenge the child both physically and mentally. Cost: $12.00 per child—sibling 50% off, children ages 0-6 months FREE entry. This price allows you to stay all day if you like. Address: 3809 Farragut Avenue Kensington, MD 20895
MusiKids in Bethesda. Fun, creative, flexible and educational atmosphere for kids to play. Class participation is not required to enjoy Open Play. Cost: $6.00 per child. Address: 4900 Auburn Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814
Leland Community Center. Open Gym weekday mornings in the gymnasium for kids to run around and play with balls, etc. There is also a small playground outside. Address: 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815. Cost: $35 per year.
FunFit Open Gym in Rockville is a great place for families to laugh and play! Bounce in the moon bounce, work out in the Circuit, run around, play & climb on the wedges, read some books, play with puzzles, cars & blocks, ride the kiddie-coaster & lots more! For Babies through about 13 yrs. Cost: $7/child, 8 mos. & older, $6/sibling. $20/month unlimited visits. Address: 17511 Redland Road Rockville, MD 20855
Marvatots & Teens Gymnastics in Rockville. Cost: $15 per child. Children under 3 1/2 require an adult. Address: 5636 Randolph Rd, Rockville, MD 20852
“SMALAND” The Magic Forest – IKEA playroom. Kids can test all the toys in the children’s department or have fun in the free supervised playroom while you shop. Height requirement: between 37-54inc. Children need to be potty trained. The guardian must remain in the store while your child is Smaland. Playroom cost: Free. Max 1 hour. Address: 10100 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Mommy and Me and Daddies Too Kids Club in Congressional Plaza in Rockville every second Thursday of the month from April to September. Special morning with games, crafts and activities in different stores.
Play area in the Montgomery Mall 7101 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda MD 20817
Build-A-Bear Workshop. Create your very own Teddy Bear and other stuffed animals. You can choose, stuff, stitch, fluff and dress your new furry friend. Address: Westfield Montgomery, 7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda MD 20817, Prices start from $10.
Chuck E. Cheese’s. Chuck E. Cheese’s is a chain of family entertainment centers. The concept is a basic sit-down pizza restaurant, complemented by arcade games, small rides, animatronic characters, and other popular diversions for young children such as climbing equipment, tubes, and slides. Address:
5270 Randolph Road, Rockville, MD 20852.
SINGING AND DANCING TIME
Mr. Knick Knack is one of the area’s best-loved children’s musicians. He performs at the White Flint Mall (Level One Centre Court), 11301 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Maryland 20895. Every second Wednesday of each Month from 11 to 11:45am
Isabelle Chester (aka Miss Belle) and her fun, folksy and always loving style are a joy to see in action. Ages: 0-6. Mayorga Coffee Factory: 8040 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD.
The Banjo Man performs lively and engaging folk, bluegrass and original music for kids
Lebanese Taverna in Bethesda – the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. From 10:30 to11:30 Cost: FREE Address: 7141 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
Susan McNelis also known as Oh Susannah
STORY TIMES
STORYTIME AT THE BETHESDA JABBERÜ. Jabberü invites parents and children for a FREE storytime and sing-along every Tuesday morning at the Bethesda location. Stories and songs will be presented in French and English by Emilie Moskal – a member of the JabberCrü. Perfect for children up to 36 months. Whether your child has had some exposure to French already or you are wanting to expose him or her to a second language, this is the perfect opportunity. Address: 4926 Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, MD
Borders Bookstore at the White Flint Mall (11301 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Maryland 20895). Every Tuesday at 10:00am.
Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Bethesda (4801 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814) Sat at 11:00am
Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Rockville (12089 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852) Wed at 10:00am Sat at 11:00am.
LOCAL LIBRARIES
Story Times: For exact dates/times please click here
Bethesda Public Library, 7400 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814: Story Time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:30am
TRAIN TABLES
Barnes and Nobles Bookstores: 4801 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814; Tugooh ToysYiro: Best place to bring your child just to hang out; they have a play area and lots of toys for children to play with. 4827 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
Toy Kingdom: 36 Maryland Ave # C, Rockville, MD 20850
PET STORES WITH PETS
Bethesda Pet Shoppe: 4939 Elm St, Bethesda, MD 20814
Just Puppies: 2004 Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20851
PetSmart: 6800 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20815
PETCO: 1507 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852
POTTERY AND ART STUDIOS
All Fired Up Pottery Studio. Pick your pottery out, paint it in the shop, leave it behind to get fired and pick it up 7 days later all shiny and pretty. All ages are welcome. The price of a pottery piece starts from $2.00. 4923 Elm St., Bethesda, MD 20814.
ARTS AND CRAFTS STORES
Michael’s: Family friendly art and crafts store has many in-store fun family events where the kids can create their own art projects for free. Ages 5-12 welcome. Address: 1509 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852
A.C. Moore: An entire section of the store is devoted to kids’ crafts and art supplies. A. C. Moore also offers occasional Free Make and Take art workshops, and Kids Craft Classes. Address: 11840 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852
FARMS AND PETTING ZOOS
Clark’s Elioak Farm in Maryland offers a wide variety of animals–goats, sheep, donkeys, pigs, cows, horses, ponies, turkeys, ducks, chickens, bunnies, and turtles. You can feed the animals and visit our Barnyard area where you can touch and pet them. They also offer hay rides through the farm fields and a number of play areas for the children. Pony rides are available. Address: 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042. Admission: $4.50, hayrides and pony rides $2, children under 12 months free. Open: April – Nov Tuesday – Sunday 10 am to 4 pm
Reston Zoo – A Petting Zoo in Vienna, Virginia. Get “up close and personal” with the animals and feed them too! See alligators, camels, reptiles, zebras, antelope, bison, ostrich, and lots more. You can bottle-feed lambs and hand-feed goats, sheep and llamas. A hay ride is included in the price and pony rides are available for an extra fee. Address: 1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna, VA. Admission: $10.00 Adults, $8.00 Children (2–12 years), Children under 2 are free.
Claude Moore Colonial Farm in Virginia. The farm offers a glimpse into the world of an 18th-century family living on a small, low-income farm in 1771, just prior to the Revolutionary War. Meet the farm family as they go about the tasks necessary to make their living from the land. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and to help the farm family with their chores (such as carding wool, mixing hoecake batter, weeding in the garden, hoeing in the fields). Resident animals include cattle, hogs, turkeys, chickens, geese, cats, and dogs. Cost: Adults $3; Children (3-12) $2. Address: 6310 Georgetown Pike, Mc Lean VA 22101
FOUNTAINS
Splash Playground South Germantown Recreational Park. Kids will have a great time playing under the massive waterfall, and trying to guess which tumbling bucket will tip over next. There’s also a rain tree, water tunnel, and a 36′ computer choreographed water maze with 280 ground-level jets, shooting 6,000 gallons of water per minute. It’s the ultimate in hot-weather relief! Lockers and cubbies, showers, dressing room, restrooms and a vending area are located nearby. Address: 18056 Central Park Circle, Boyds, MD 20841 Admission: $4.50 per person, ages 2 & up.
THEATERS
Puppetry The Puppet Co in Glen Echo Park. Tickets are $10.00 each for everyone 2 years old or older.
Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park They provide fully staged live productions of fables, fairy tales, popular stories, musicals and children’s classics. 4 and up. Tickets: $12 Child, $15 Adult, Free for children under 12 mos
Discovery Theater in Washington DC. Puppets, storytellers, dancers, actors, musicians, and mimes in performances that present classic stories for children, folk tales from all over the world, American history and cultures, and innovative theater techniques. Admission: Adult: $6, Child: $5. Address: The Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive Southwest, Washington, DC, 20560
Strathmore’s Backyard Theater 10701 Rockville Pike (Route 355), in North Bethesda, MD, immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station. Tickets are $6 for adults & children, ages 3 & up.
Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods Music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and theater. All performances are recommended for children between Kindergarten and 6th grade. Tickets are required for all performances for adults and children ages 3 and up. Tickets are $5 each for one show or $8 for both shows on the same day. Address: 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182
SWIMMING POOLS
Indoor Pools:
Montgomery Aquatic Center 5900 Executive Boulevard, N. Bethesda, MD 20852
YMCA Fitness Club has outside swimming pool 9401 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD (301) 530-3725
Outdoor Pools
Bethesda Pool, 6300 Little Falls Pkwy & Hillandale Road, Bethesda, MD
ICE RINKS
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink, 7th Street and Constitution, Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. View extraordinary art sculptures and gardens while ice skating on the National Mall. Admission: $7.00 adults, $6.00 children (age 12 and under)Skate rental: $3.00 (ID required).
Cabin John Ice Rink, 10610 Westlake Drive, Rockville, Maryland. (301)365-2246. Open year-round and offers public skating sessions and lessons. Admission: Children ages 3-4 $3.50, ages 5-11 $5.25, adults $6.25.
CLIMBING WALLS
Earth Treks in Rockville. Climbing for all ability levels, from fun beginner climbs to fiercely technical sport climbs. Cost: Day Pass $18. Address: 725 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852
Rockville Civic Center Park. The indoor wall offers challenges for people of all ages and abilities – from beginners to even the most competent and skilled climbers. All Open Gym climbers must pass a competency test. Cost: $10 per climber. 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville, Maryland 20850
City of Rockville Climbing wall. The gym features an indoor rock climbing wall. Cost: $20. Address: 805 Avery Rd, Rockville, Maryland 20850, Tel: (301) 217-0525
BOWLING CENTERS
Strike Bethesda offer stylish, glow-in-the-dark bowling with big screen video walls and a thumping sound system. It has fantastic 12′ projection TV’s over all of the lanes and during the day they often show cartoons or sporting events for the kids. Address: 5353 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 20816.
Bethesda Naval Bowling Center. Both open play and league bowling are offered year round for all ages. You can bring the whole family – there are even some lanes with automatic bumpers for young or inexperienced bowlers. Address: 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bldg. 56, Bethesda, MD 20889
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
Audubon Naturalist Society Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase: 8940 Jones Mill Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815, family programs, children’s classes, a nature preschool, birthday parties and summer camps
Cabin John Regional Park: 7410 Tuckerman Lane, Rockville, MD Awesome playground with lots of climbing structures, slides, mazes, play houses, swings, Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage, airplane, and cars. Other features include miniature train, snack bar, rest rooms, hiking trails, picnic areas, indoor/outdoor tennis courts, ice skating rink
Wheaton Regional Park: 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD Awesome playground – play equipment includes endless climbing structures, swings, giant slides, a sand castle and much more. Children especially like the old fashioned carousel and a train ride that goes through the park (only open in the summer).
Glen Echo Park: Glen Echo has always been an enchanting place for children. Activities for kids include puppet shows, children’s theater, exploring nature, making crafts, romping in the playground and of course, riding the famous Dentzel Carousel.
Great Falls Park: An 800-acre park located along the Potomac River, is one of the most spectacular natural landmarks in the Washington DC metropolitan area. You can view the falls from several observation areas. Great Falls Park is accessible from both sides of the Potomac River. The Virginia park is located at 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Virginia The Maryland side is a part of the C & O Canal National Historic Park and is located off of Falls Road in Potomac (11710 MacArthur Boulevard). There is a $5.00 per vehicle entrance fee and a $3.00 fee for visitors entering the park on foot, horseback, bicycle, or motorcycle.
MORE PLAYGROUNDS
North Chevy Chase Park & Playground, 4105 Jones Bridge Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Leland Neighborhood Park, 4300 Elm Street, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
East-West Highway Neighborhood Conservation Area, 7101 Edgevale Street, Bethesda, MD 20814
Caroline-Freeland Urban Park, 7200 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
Chase Avenue Urban Park, 4701 Chase Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Elm Street Urban Park, 4600 Elm Street, Bethesda, MD 20815
Norwood Local Park, 4700 Norwood Road, Bethesda, MD 20815
HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Holiday Lights at the National Zoo from Nov.-Dec. Tickets are $12.00 per person and available online.
Winter Garden Walk at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. With live music most nights (6:30 – 8:30), the displays along this walk include over 600,000 lights. Open most days in December, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. (last admission 8:30) $15.00 per car (cash only).
Seneca Creek State Park Winter lights: This show features more than 380 illuminated vignettes and 65 animated displays in a 3.5 mile drive through beautiful Seneca Creek State Park. Theme areas include Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, North Pole, Toyland, and Penguin Cove. $10 per car – Cash Only. Address: 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
AMUSEMENT AND WATER PARKS
Six Flags America in Mitchellville, Maryland This amusement park is located just 30 minutes from downtown Washington, DC and offers a full day of fun with more than 100 rides, shows and the largest water park in the Washington, DC area. Six Flags America is open April through October. Admission $49.99,Junior Admission Under 54″ $34.99, 3 & Under FREE. Address: 13710 Central Ave. Mitchellville, Maryland.
Paramount’s King’s Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. A 400-acre amusement park that features more than 50 rides, seven roller coasters, live family entertainment and a 19-acre water park. Kings Dominion is known to have some of the best roller coasters in the east coast. The amusement park is about a 2 hour drive from Washington, DC and is open April through October. General Admission is $54.99 and includes a second day. Purchase your ticket online and get a discounted price of $44.99 for one day admission. Child’s (ages 3 and up) discounted ticket is $34.99. Address: 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, VA 23047.
MUSEUMS
Planetarium in Rock Creek Nature Center. Free tickets for the planetarium shows can be picked up at the information desk in the Nature Center. Address: 5200 Glover Road NW, Washington, DC 20015
The International Spy Museum – the only spy museum in the United States. The International Spy Museum showcases more than 200 gadgets, weapons, bugs, cameras, vehicles, and technologies used for espionage throughout the world. Address: 800 F Street, NW, between 8th and 9th Streets in Penn Quarter. $16 for adults (ages 12 – 64) and $13 for children ages five to 11. Children under five are admitted for free.
The National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall. In this museum, past and current expeditions, adventures, and scientific research come to life. A wide variety of changing exhibitions reflect the richness and diversity of our world. Address: The Society’s museum, 17th & M Streets N.W. Admission is free.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, in Rock Creek Park is home to more than 2,400 animals – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Metro stop: Woodley Park/Zoo Admission: FREE
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing – US Dept. of the Treasury. Known as “The Money Factory,” this is a very popular attraction, especially for kids, who just seem to be amazed by being in the presence of so much money. You’ll see millions of dollars being printed during a tour of the BEP. The tour features the various steps of currency production, beginning with large, blank sheets of paper, and ending with wallet-ready bills. Address: 14th and C Streets, SW, south of the National Mall.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington DC. Hands-on exhibits feature George Washington’s inauguration, Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the Watergate scandal. A replica of the Oval Office allows visitors to veto a bill, address the nation or simply put their feet up on the most powerful desk in the country. Other historical figures featured include Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Rosa Parks, Bob Woodward and J. Edgar Hoover. In the Glamour section, you can mingle with celebrities such as Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez. In the Sports section, you can interact with lifelike sports idols such as Evander Holyfield and Tiger Woods. Address: 1025 F Street, NW, Washington DC Admission: $18 Adults, $13 Residents of DC, MD and VA, $13 Residents of DC, MD and VA, $12 for kids ages 12 and under, $9 Residents of DC, MD and VA, Children under the age of three are free
The National Museum of Natural History houses a national collection of more than 125 million natural science specimens and cultural artifacts. Kids favorite displays include dinosaur skeletons, an enormous collection of natural gems and minerals, artifacts of early man, an insect zoo, a live coral reef and much more. IMAX movies. 10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20560.
Washington Doll’s House and Toy Museum. This is a wonderful excursion for any child or adult enamored with miniature collectibles. Admission fee is $3 for adults, $2 for children under 14. Address: 5236 44th Street North West, Washington, DC.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Kids’ attentions will be maintained for longer in the rooms with interactive exhibits. How Things Fly teaches the principles of flight through live demonstrations, multimedia programs, and plentiful hands-on exhibits. Exploring the Planets also uses an interactive approach. Address: 6th Street and Independence Avenue, SW. Cost: Free
The Smithsonian’s National Aquarium in Washington DC. Buried in the basement of the Commerce building, The National Aquarium – located just one block from the Washington Monument – is perfect for small first-timers. Address: 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. Cost: General (11 and up) $7; Children (2-10) $3, (under 2) free; cash only
International Visions-the Gallery shows paintings, sculptures and other works by artists from different cultures. Address: 2629 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20008.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The hallmark of the visitor center is its Science On a Sphere theater. The theater uses technology developed by NOAA to present advanced satellite data and other visual effects on a dramatic spherical screen, affording viewers a chance to experience planets and planetary science in a way that’s more natural to their actual appearance. Admission and parking are free. 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, Md 20771
National Aquarium in Baltimore Admission: Ages 12 to 59 — $21.95, Ages 3-11 — $12.95, Children under three admitted free. 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202
by Silga Vasilevsky and Melli Bennett