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Explorations
May 2010 (Also see September 2009 Explorations Guide.)
2010 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
Contemporary Fine Art and Craft. May 15 & 16, 2010; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Music and performance art. Artist demonstrations. Children's art tent. Noteworthy eats.
www.restonarts.org, Reston Town Center, Reston, VA, 703-471-9242.
Adams Morgan Mainstreet
Adams Morgan is Family Friendly! Adams Morgan Main Street Family of Restaurants will start offering weekly specials for families, including fun children and family entertainment & activities.
www.AdamsMorganNOW.com, events@ammainstreet.org, 202-232-1960.
Audubon Naturalist Society
Over 300 education programs for children and adults. Outdoor explorations, bird walks, family activities, summer camp, birthday parties, school programs, natural history classes, weekend trips, domestic and international travel. Open to the public dawn to dusk. Nature sanctuaries: Chevy Chase, MD and Leesburg, VA. Sanctuary Shop, (Bird seed, books, gifts), Chevy Chase. 301-652-9188, ext. 61.
www.audubonnaturalist.org, 8940 Jones Mill Rd., Chevy Chase, MD,
Butler's Orchard
A family farm offering pick-your-own berries and other crops, cut-your-own flowers and cut-your-own Christmas trees. Find local produce, honey, baked goods and gourmet treats at our Farm Market. Plus evening hayrides, birthday parties, special group outings, Pumpkin Festival in October and other family activities.
www.butlersorchard.com, 22200 Davis Mill Rd., Germantown, MD, 301-972-3299.
Chesapeake Children's Museum
Hands-on fun for families, especially those with young children. Surrounded by the woodland and wetland habitats of Spa Creek Conservancy. Nature trail. Picnic tables. Indoor exhibits invite creativity & exploration. Check our website for special events. Open daily except Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Reservations required for groups.
www.theccm.org, info@theccm.org, 25 Silopanna Rd., Annapolis, MD, 410-990-1993.
City of Gaithersburg
Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Culture
Discover Gaithersburg's agriculture and railroad history at the Gaithersburg Community Museum in Olde Towne, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. While in Gaithersburg, visit the wetlands at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm or explore more than 500 acres of parkland throughout the city, many with hiking/biking trails.
www.gaithersburgmd.gov, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD, 301-258-6350.
Clark's Elioak Farm
Available daily: petting farm, hayrides, pony rides, Enchanted Forest attractions, playground and play area, picnic area, country store, kids' jump course. Birthday parties and tours also available.
www.clarklandfarm.com, 10500 Route 198, Ellicott City, MD, 410-730-4049.
College Park Aviation Museum
Let your imagination fly at this family-friendly museum that tells the story of historic College Park Airport, from the Wright Brothers to today, through vintage aircraft and interactive exhibits. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed major holidays. Admission fee; motor coach parking and restrooms available. Special group rates.
www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Dr., College Park, MD, 301-864-6029.
Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center
Make us your first stop with extensive free brochures for trip planning, the "Fairfax Story" exhibit, gift shop and adjacent park and playground. Easy walk to historic district. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission.
www.FairfaxMuseumAndVisitorCenter.com, 10209 Main St., Fairfax, VA, 703-385-8415.
Friendship Heights Village Center
The Friendship Heights Village Center is more than just a community center in a spectacular setting. We host art exhibits, classes, concerts, lectures, book signings, clubs and have beautiful rental space for special events and meetings. Just two blocks from the Friendship Heights Metro.
www.friendshipheightsmd.gov, 4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase, MD, 301-656-2797.
Historic Blenheim & Civil War Interpretive Center
See Fairfax's newest Civil War site, recently opened to the public, featuring famous Blenheim House with soldiers' inscriptions and the Interpretive Center with exhibits, Civil War films and a gift shop with children's items. Open Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m., 1 p.m. house tour.
www.HistoricBlenheim.com, 3610 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA, 703-591-0560.
Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks
The following historic sites are open for school visits, tours, programs and research opportunities: Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, a 19th-century renowned girls school that today is a stabilized ruin offers archeology digs; Firehouse Museum the first volunteer firehouse in Howard County; Thomas Isaac Log Cabin a rustic structure built circa 1780; and the Ellicott Colored School, Restored, a one-room schoolhouse opened 1880 as the first public school for black children in Howard County.
www.howardcountymd.gov/rap, 410-313-5131.
Imagination Bethesda
A Children's Street Festival Celebrating the Arts! June 5, 2010; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Live entertainment, hands-on creative activities, face painters, roving performers, balloonists and more! Imagination Bethesda takes place at the corner of Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in downtown Bethesda.
www.bethesda.org, 301-215-6660.
International Spy Museum
Whether it's the challenge of cracking secret codes or the fine art of developing a disguise for cover, children and families will find an amazing array of public programs, workshops, demonstrations and action-packed missions to hone their tradecraft skills. Check the museum's website for monthly Kidspy programming.
www.spymuseum.org, 800 F St., NW, DC, 202-654-0932.
Maryland Faerie Festival
May 15 & 16, 2010; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Artists, entertainers, activities, merchants. Dancing under bubbles, enjoying tea parties, costuming. Learn how to make a Faerie House from found materials. Faerie Treasure Hunt. Children's Craft Cove, Wishing Tree, Glamour Glen. This year's theme--Dragons!
www.marylandfaeriefestival.org, Patuxent 4H Center, 18405 Queen Anne Rd., Upper Marlboro, MD, 888-607-9134.
Massanutten Water Park
Massanutten's Indoor/Outdoor Water Park is a blast for the whole family. An Endless Summer of fun!
www.MassanuttenWaterPark.com,
800-207-6277.
Meridian International Center
4th Annual International Children's Festival
May 15, 2010; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. In partnership with Cultural Tourism DC, families will travel the world in a day by visiting embassy-sponsored booths and watching international performances. Mrs. Michelle Fenty will serve as Honory Patron. Please visit us on the web.
www.meridian.org, 1630 Crescent Pl., NW, DC, 202-939-5514.
Montgomery ParksMontgomery Parks - 410 parks and 34,000+ acres of parkland to play in, explore and enjoy! Visit website to find special events, nature programs, historic properties, boat rentals, fishing, ice skating, tennis, miniature trains, playground, campgrounds, splash playground, carousel, mini-golf, trails, great places to host a gathering and more!
www.MontgomeryParks.org, info@MontgomeryParks.org, 9500 Brunett Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 301-495-2595.
The National Zoological Park
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country. The 163-acre zoological park is set amid Rock Creek Park in the heart of Washington, D.C., and is home to more than 2,400 individual animals of 400 different species. Our best-known residents are our giant pandas.
www.nationalzoo.si.edu, 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 202-633-3034.
South River Boat Rentals, LLC
Sailboat and Power Boat rentals by the half-, or full-day up to a week. Drive yourself, or take the boat with one of our captains on board. Great family outings for all ages on the Chesapeake Bay. All levels of instruction available for you and your children.
www.southriverboatrentals.com, 2802 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD, 410-956-9729.
Strides to Thrive
A Walk To Benefit Jewish Foundation For Group Homes
Walk with us and make a difference in the lives of disabled adults! June 13, 2010; 8:30-10 a.m. Your support will help provide needed services for individuals with disabilities in our area. Washingtonian/RIO Center, Gaithersburg, MD.
www.stridestothrive.com,
Taste of Arlington
One Forkful at a Time!
May 16, 2010; noon-5 p.m. (Rain or shine). An annual lively street festival, complete with entertainment, children's activities and noteworthy restaurants. A full range of kid-friendly activities are scheduled. Next to Ballston Common Mall, 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA.
www.tasteofarlington.com,
U.S. Navy Museum
Explore ship to shore at the U.S. Navy Museum! Please contact a museum staff member to inquire about tours, educational programs and birthday parties.
www.history-navy.mil,
Wash. Navy Yard,
805 Kidder Breese St., SE,
Washington,
DC,
202-433-4882.
Washington Nationals Baseball
Natstown: Where Dreams Begin
Visit nationals.com/kids for family ticket deals, kids club info, kids camps & much more! Specials include "Kids Run The Bases," "Signature Sundays," "Sunday Family Fun Pack."
www.nationals.com, 1500 South Capitol St., SE, DC,
The Water Mine
The Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole is a Fairfax County family water park where the excitement of the Old West's Gold Rush is captured by attractions especially tailored to the young...and the young at heart! Guarantee a summer of cool family fun with a season pass. Passes on sale now at Lake Fairfax Park. 703-471-5415; for accommodations, call 703-324-8563 (TTY 703-803-3354).
Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA,
Resources
Cultural Tourism DC
A nonprofit linking you to Washington's heritage and arts.
www.culturaltourismdc.org
Destination DC
Make DC yours. Plan outings in your own backyard. The official tourism site of Washington, DC.
www.washington.org, 202-789-7000.
Maryland Office of Tourism
Plan a Maryland vacation. A guide to history & heritage, state parks and more.
www.visitmaryland.org
Vacation in Virginia
Fifty-one cool places for kids. Be a colonist, astronaut, solider, scientist.
www.Virginia.org
Virginia Tourism
Fun for kids in Virginia. Fun family day trips.
www.funforkids.virginia.cc