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Explorations
May 2011
2011 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
Contemporary Fine Art and Craft. May 21 & 22, 2011; 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 offers weekly specials for families, including fun children and family entertainment & activities. Annual Adams Morgan Day Festival features art, food, music & culture.
www.AdamsMorganNOW.com, events@ammainstreet.org, 202-232-1960.
Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
Take a magical tour at Annmarie, where art and nature meet. Grab a scavenger hunt guide for indoor and outdoor art and activities. Find tree pops of famous paintings, while exploring and stimulating the senses.
www.annmariegarden.org, 13480 Dowell Rd., Dowell, MD, 410-326-4640.
Artisphere
Artisphere is a new breed of urban arts center that features four performance venues, three visual art galleries, a 4,000 square foot ballroom, free Wi-Fi and here CafeBar.
www.artisphere.com, 1101 Wilson blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-875-1100.
Audubon Naturalist Society
Outdoor explorations, bird walks, family activities, summer camp, birthday parties, school programs, natural history classes, weekend trips, 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,
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
This family-friendly museum tells the story of the historic College Park Airport through vintage aircraft and interactive exhitibts. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: Adults $4, Seniors $3, Children $2.
www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Dr., College Park, MD, 301-864-6029.
Columbia Horse Center
Complete equestrian facility. Lessons in Hunt Sea, Dressage, Eventing and Balance Seat for children and adults. Miles of trails, show teams, shows, horse sales, clinics.
www.columbiahorsecenter.com, 10400 Gorman Rd., Laurel, MD, 301-776-5850.
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.visitfairfax.com, 10209 Main St., Fairfax, VA, 703-385-8415.
City of Gaithersburg
Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Culture
Agriculture and railroad history, Gaithersburg Community Museum, Grand Reopening 6/2/11. Wetlands at Bohrer Park, Summit Hall Farm. 500+ acres of parkland throughout Gaithersburg including hiking/biking trails.
www.gaithersburgmd.gov, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD, 301-258-6350.
Green Meadows Petting Farm
April 27-May 15 & June 18-July 10, 2011. Get up close and personal with the animals. Touch 'em, feed 'em...and everyone milks a cow! Interactive animal show; pig races are a favorite. Over 200 farm animals. Maze, hayrides. 1-800-799-1166; 1-301-865-9203.
www.greenmeadowsevents.com, 10102 Fingerboard Rd., Ijamsville, MD,
Hersheypark
From coasters to kisses, stay close in Hershey The Sweetest Place On Earth! Hersheypark features over 65 rides and attractions for families and guests of all ages and Hershey's Chocolate World attraction offers chocolate fun for everyone.
www.Hersheypark.com, Hershey, PA, 800-HERSHEY.
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.fairfaxva.gov, 3610 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA, 703-591-0560.
Imagination Bethesda
A Children's Street Festival Celebrating the Arts! June 4, 2011; 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.
Maryland Faerie Festival
May 14 & 15, 2011; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Artists, entertainers, activities, merchants. Celebrate the Faeries, and enjoy pageantry, magic, music and mischief.
www.marylandfaeriefestival.org, Patuxent 4H Center, 18405 Queen Anne Rd., Upper Marlboro, MD, 888-607-9134.
Meridian International Center
4th Annual International Children's Festival
May 21, 2011; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. More than 25 embassies participating. Cultural activities, displays, food tastings. International dance, music, storytelling. Part of Passport DC.
www.meridian.org, 1630 Crescent Pl., NW, DC, 202-939-5514.
Montgomery Parks410 parks and 34,000+ acres of parkland. Visit website for events, nature programs, historic properties, boat rentals, fishing, ice skating, tennis, miniature trains, splash playgrounds, carousel, min-golf, trails.
www.MontgomeryParks.org, info@MontgomeryParks.org, 9500 Brunett Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 301-495-2595.
National Aquarium
Enjoy an intimate, 45-minute aquatic adventure with your family.
www.nationalaquarium.org, 14th & Constitution, NW, Washington, DC, 202-482-2825.
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.
"Native Lands" at Green Meadows Farm
May 3-5, 2011. A multicultural event focusing on learning about Native American and African cultures in a colorful, educational and fun way. Song, dance, music, storytelling. 1-800-799-1166; 1-301-865-9203.
www.greeenmeadowsevents.com, 8018 Max Blob Park Rd., Jessup, MD,
Newseum
A high-tech roller-coaster ride through 500 years of history. Find out why The Sunday Times of London" called it one of "the world's 12 coolest museums."
www.newseum.org, info@newseum.org, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 888-NEWSEUM.
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.
www.southriverboatrentals.com, 2802 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD, 410-956-9729.
Taste of Arlington
One Forkful at a Time!
May 22, 2011; 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,
The Textile Museum
Explore the cultures of the world through their textiles! The Textile Museum offers changing exhibitions, free Arts for Families Workshops and the Annual Celebration of Textiles Family Festival.
www.textilemuseum.org, 2320 S St., NW, Washington, DC, 202-667-0441.
Urban Pirates
Baltimore's Swashbuckling Adventure! Adventure cruises, private charters, birthday packages, pirate story time, school field trips, preschool activities.
www.urbanpirates.com, 410-327-8378.
Virginia Renaissance Faire
Weekends May 7-June 5, 2011. Discover the magic in the age of chivalry and romance. Tantalize your taste budes with both Renaissance and modern treats. Enjoy delightful entertainment. Kids will love the arts & crafts, puppetry and interactive fairy tales. Lake Anna Winery, 5621 Courthouse Rd., Spotslvania, VA.
www.varf.org, info@varf.org, 703-508-5036.
The Water Mine
The Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole is a family water park where the excitement of the Gold Rush is captured by attractions tailored to the young...and the young at heart! Buy a season pass! 703-471-5415; for accommodations, call 703-324-8563 (TTY 703-803-3354).
Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, VA,
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap is situated in a setting of rolling hills and woods located on 130 acres of national parkland in Vienna, VA.
www.wolftrap.org,
Woodland Horse Center
For horseback riding enthusiasts of all levels. 25-acre estate--horse riding rings, stables, trails. Learn to ride, extend your expertise, or just have fun riding.
www.woodlandhorse.com, 16301 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD, 301-421-9156.
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,