Fun Things To Do With Kids: Washington, DC

Top 10 Free Things to Do This 4th of July Weekend in Washington DC Metro and Baltimore

Happy Independence Day! There are so many fireworks shows in Washington, DC and Baltimore metro areas this weekend, all you have to do is take your pick. 

Here are 10 free and fun activities that you can do with your family this weekend. Yes, many of them are fireworks show, but many places also hold free concerts and/or street festivals during the day. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

FREE: A Signature Event at the White House Visitor Center - Washington, DC
Sunday, July 4: 9 am - 3 pm

Stop by the White House Visitor Center on 4th of July to experience what it would be like to be a signer of the Declaration of Independence for a day. Events for the day (9 am to 3 pm) include games, crafts and activities for kids. At 11 am and 2 pm, you can play a role as a delegate to the Continental Congress and represent your colony. Sign a giant sized copy of the Declaration of Independence with your quill pen, ring a Liberty Bell and receive a copy of the Declaration of Independence as a keepsake.

The White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, is between 14th and 15th Streets, Washington, DC (map it).

FREE: Concerts at Reston Town Center - Reston, VA
Saturday, July 3: 11 am - 11:45 am and 7:30 pm - 10 pm
Monday, July 5: 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Check out several free outdoor concerts going on at Reston Town Center this weekend. Sing along with award-winning children's musician Mister Don on Saturday at 11 am as a part of Reston Town Center's Family Fun Series. Enjoy motion songs, sing alongs and rhythm instruments at this fun event for your entire family. On Saturday evening starting at 7:30 pm, bring your lawn chair to the town center's pavilion and enjoy performance by swing/big band jazz Upper East Side Big Band. On Monday at 10:30 am, enjoy performance by Mr. Knick Knack.

Reston Town Center is located at 11900 Market St, Reston, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Washington, DC
Friday, July 2: 11 am - 9 pm
Saturday, July 3: 11 am - 8 pm
Sunday, July 4: 11 am - 5:30 pm
Monday, July 5: 11 am - 5:30 pm

Live entertainment, arts and crafts, festival food and more at this street festival. Learn about cultures from various parts of the world and taste food from Asia and Mexico. Free admissions.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival is held on the National Mall between the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC (map it). Download festival map.

FREE: National Mall Independence Day Celebration - Washington, DC
Sunday, July 4: 9:10 pm - 9:27 pm

Enjoy fireworks at the National Mall in Washington, DC. Free admissions. Take public transportation because traffic will be jammed after the fireworks. It is best to view the fireworks at a distance from the launch site (Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool), such as Lincoln Memorial, National Mall between 14th Street and 3rd Street, U.S. Marine Corp War Memorial/Iwo Jima and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. More on directions to National Mall.

FREE: Ports America Chesapeake 4th of July Celebration - Baltimore, MD
Sunday, July 4: 2 pm - 10 pm

Enjoy live performances at Baltimore Inner Harbor by jazz band Lovecraft at 2 pm and the Naval Academy's Electric Brigade band at 4 pm. Fireworks show starts at 9:30 pm. See the show from Harbor East, Federal Hill, Fell's Point, Canton and beyond.

Ports America Chesapeake 4th of July Celebration is held at Baltimore Inner Harbor, Maryland (map it).

FREE: Frederick's 4th - Frederick, MD
Sunday, July 4: 12 - 9 pm

Live entertainment, chili cook-off competition, festival food, kids activities and fireworks display. Activities at Kids Zones start at 12:30 and end at 7:30 pm, and they include inflatable amusements, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, remote control cars, mural painting and scavenger hunt. Live entertainment starts at 12:45. Free admissions. Many of the Kids Zones activities are also free; activities that require fees are inflatable amusements ($10 unlimited play), pony rides ($4 per ride) and face painting ($5 to $10). 

Frederick's 4th is held at Baker Park, Frederick, Maryland (map it). Free parking decks are available on Church St, Court St, W. Patrick St and Carroll Creek. Parking is also available at Frederick High School for $4 to benefit Frederick High School Sports Boosters. More on parking and directions.

FREE: July 4th Celebration and Fireworks Show - Vienna, VA
Sunday, July 4: 11 am - 4:30 pm with fireworks at 9:15 pm

Check out classic cars, grab a bite to eat at chili cook-off, participate in arts and crafts, have fun with family games and enjoy live music performances. Fireworks start at 9:15 pm at Southside Park in Vienna, Virginia. Free admissions.

Celebration is held on Vienna Community Center grounds, located at 20 Cherry St, SE, Vienna, Virginia (map it). Download map of the festival.

FREE: Herndon 4th of July Celebration - Herndon, VA
Sunday, July 4: 5 pm - 10 pm

Games, relay races, arts and crafts, bounce houses, small rides, bingo, festival food and more. Fireworks start at 9:30 pm. Free admissions; small rides and bounce houses have a charge per use. Parking is available at Herndon Middle School and Herndon Community Center. 

Festival takes place at Herndon Community Center, located at 814 Ferndale Ave, Herndon, Virginia (map it).

FREE: Independence Day Celebration - Rockville, MD
Sunday, July 4: 7 pm - 10 pm

Enjoy band performances starting at 7 pm at Montgomery College - Rockville campus. Fireworks show starts at 9:30 pm.

Montgomery College - Rockville campus is located at 51 Mannakee St, Rockville, Maryland (map it).

FREE: Fourth of July Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony - Annapolis, MD
Sunday, July 4: 9:30 am - 2 pm

Celebrate Independence Day at the home of Declaration of Independence signer William Paca. Naturalization ceremony starts at 9:30 am, then family events start at 10 am. Activities include tours of the Pacas' home, live musical performances, a Revolutionary War encampment, patriotic crafts for kids and signing the Declaration of Independence with a quill pen. Free admissions.

Fourth of July Celebration is held at William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George St, Annapolis, Maryland (map it).

Top 5 Things to Do with Kids in Washington, DC, Metro This Weekend: May 22 - 23, 2010

Happy weekend! Check out top 5 fun things to do with kids in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia this weekend: May 22 - 23, 2010.

FREE: "Celebrate Your Style" Family Fun Day - Baltimore, MD
Sunday, May 23: 11 am - 5 pm

Watch live entertainment, dance performances, a gymnastic performance, a science spectacular show, a Strong Man demonstration and more at this Family Fun Day event. See schedule of events. Free admissions.

Family Fun Day is held at the Avenue at White Marsh, located at 8125 Honeygo Blvd, Baltimore, Maryland (map it). 

Rock the Farm - Frederick, MD
Saturday, May 22: 10 am - 5 pm

Enjoy performances by Grammy-nominated musicians Caty & Marcy, Milkshake, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band and other fun artists for kids. Activities for your kids include face painting, balloon twisting, moon bounces and a magic show. You can also check out retail vendors and food vendors while you're there. Event will benefit Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a national charity that benefits our soldiers.

Tickets are $15 for anyone who's 2 and older. You can also get a VIP Ticket for $30, which includes a special reserved viewing area, meet and greet with the artists and more. Get your tickets at a local My Bank! First Union Bank & Trust. Call 240-566-5653 for more information.

Rock the Farm is held at Crumland Farms, located at 7612 Willow Rd, Frederick, Maryland (map it).

Virginia Renaissance Festival - Spotsylvania, VA
Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23: 10 am - 5 pm 

Take a step back in history with your kids at the Virginia Renaissance Festival. See musicians, jugglers and dancers; take lessons from the Royal Archers; shop at the Artists' Markets; enjoy food and drinks at the kitchens and taverns. Kids' activities at the festival include arts and crafts, puppetry, historical games and interactive fairy tales. Receive a royal greeting from the Queen and get knighted by the Queen. Tickets are $6 for adults and kids 6 and older, free for kids under the age of 6. See Saturday events and Sunday events.

Virginia Renaissance Festival is held at 5621 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania, Virginia (map it).

Truck Touch - Beltsville, MD
Saturday, May 22: 11:30 am - 3 pm

Touch and learn about various types of vehicles, such as a steel tank truck, SWAT Team's armored truck and a police helicopter. Other activities include games for the kids. Admissions are $3. Proceeds to benefit the Girl Scouts SHARE program. Call 301-906-3020 for more information.

Truck Touch is held at High Point High School, located at 3601 Powder Mill Rd, Beltsville, Maryland (map it).

FREE: Montrose Park - Washington, DC

Take your kids to Montrose Park, located north of Georgetown in Washington, DC. This park has open field areas, picnic tables, a playground with swings, a small merry-go-round for toddlers and a jungle gym. Don't forget to check out a boxwood maze at the park. This park is also popular among dog lovers, so expect to see puppies while you're there! Free admissions.

Adjacent to Montrose Park is Dumbarton Oaks Park, where you can stroll around the formal gardens. Admissions to Dumbarton Oaks Gardens are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (60+), $5 for kids 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2 years old. The gardens are open from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Montrose Park is located on R St NW, between 30th St and 31st St in Washington, DC (map it). 

Fun Kiddie Concerts in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia in May

Check out fun kiddie concerts in Washington, DC; Baltimore, Maryland and Northern Virginia in May. If you've never taken your kids to a concert before, start with concerts in smaller or outdoor venues. And if you're concerned about your kids not behaving in a concert, don't worry too much about it. It's a kiddy concert, after all!

The Laurie Berkner Band - Baltimore, MD
Saturday, May 1: 2 pm - 3:25 pm

Bring your party hat because this concert is a birthday party concert! Sing along and dance to your favorite tunes with Laurie, Susie, Adam and Bob. Tickets start from $20 (lawn seats) to $50. Free for your kid if he/she sits on your lap. Get your tickets online.

The Laurie Berkner Band will be performing at Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

Science You Can Sing To! - Vienna, VA
Saturday, May 1: 10:30 am

Check out the launch of Science You Can Sing To! live concert, featuring songs from Swamp Stomp Boogie. USA Today rated Swamp Stomp Boogie as well-produced with fun and quirky songwriting. Even more fun, Curiosity Zone will have hands-on science stations for your kids. Tickets are $10; kids 12 months and under are free. Get your tickets online or enter our fun giveaway for a chance to win tickets!

Science You Can Sing To! concert will be held at Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

Curious George Live! - Baltimore, MD
Friday, April 30: 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 1: 10:30 am and 2:30 pm
Sunday, May 2: 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm

Join George and embark on a musical journey that takes you across the world to Rome, Italy. Learn about friendship and travel with George and his friend, the Man With the Yellow Hat. Tickets are $12 to $38. You can also get a monkey seats package for $60, which includes a front row seat and a pre-show meet and greet with George. Get your tickets online.

See Curious George Live! at the Lyric Opera House, located at 140 West Mount Royal Ave, Baltimore, Maryland (map it).

Dan Zanes and Friends - Bethesda, MD
Sunday, May 2: 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Join Grammy-award winners Dan Zanes and Friends as they perform spirited family songs at this special concert, featuring the WPAS Children of the Gospel Choir. Dan Zanes has been dubbed by People Magazine as the Crown Prince of contemporary kids music. Get your tickets online.

See Dan Zanes and Friends at Music Center at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland (map it).

FREE - Jammin' Juniors! featuring Patricia Shih - McLean, VA
Wednesday, May 5: 12:30 pm

Patricia Shih is an award-winning singer/songwriter. Get ready to sing along and participate in this interactive concert! This concert is a part of a free lunchtime concert series in McLean Central Park and recommended for kids ages to 2 to 5. Call 703-790-0123 for more information.

This free concert will be held in the McLean Central Park Gazebo, located at Route 123 and Old Dominion in McLean, Virginia. Free parking is available at McLean Community Center, located at 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, Virginia (map it).

Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band - Vienna, VA
Saturday, May 8: 10:30 am

See this award-winning children's band perform songs that blend an energetic and eclectic mix of original world music with insightful lyrics. Tickets are $10; kids 12 months and under are free. Get your tickets online.

Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band will perform at Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert: The Composer is Dead - Washington, DC
Sunday, May 9: 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm

Attend this special family concert, where acclaimed composer Nathaniel Stookey will bring his collaboration with best-selling children's writer Lemony Snicket. Join the inspector as he interrogates the entire symphonic arrangement regarding their whereabouts at the time of the crime.

Come an hour early before the concert starts for the Musical Instrument Petting Zoo, where your kids can get up close with the musical instruments, such as violins, trumpets, oboes, trombones and percussion. Stay after the 3 pm concert for a Kids' Chat, where your kids will get to ask questions to the concert artists.

This National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, located at 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC (map it).

FREE - Jammin' Juniors! Featuring Two of a Kind - McLean, VA
Wednesday, May 12: 12:30 pm

Enjoy music, humor and audience participation with David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans of Two of a Kind. This award-winning husband and wife duo presents songs, puppets, movement and stories. This concert is a part of a free lunchtime concert series in McLean Central Park and recommended for kids ages to 2 to 5. Call 703-790-0123 for more information.

This free concert will be held in the McLean Central Park Gazebo, located at Route 123 and Old Dominion in McLean, Virginia. Free parking is available at McLean Community Center, located at 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, Virginia (map it).

FREE - Jammin Juniors! Featuring Milkshake - McLean, VA
Wednesday, May 19: 12:30 pm

Enjoy rock music with your kids! With their authentic rock and roll spirit, Milkshake has created new songs and videos for PBS Kids and Discovery Kids. Their fourth CD was nominated for 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children. This concert is a part of a free lunchtime concert series in McLean Central Park and recommended for kids ages to 2 to 5. Call 703-790-0123 for more information.

This free concert will be held in the McLean Central Park Gazebo, located at Route 123 and Old Dominion in McLean, Virginia. Free parking is available at McLean Community Center, located at 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, Virginia (map it).

Ellis Paul "Dragonfly Races" - Vienna, VA
Saturday, May 22: 10:30 am

See Ellis Paul perform at this special family concert, where he'll sing songs from his children's CD Dragonfly Races. Tickets are $10 per person; kids 12 months and under are free. Get your tickets online.

Ellis Paul will perform at Jammin' Java, located at 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

Rock the Farm Family Festival - Frederick, MD
Saturday, May 22: 10 am - 5 pm

Get ready to rock with your kids! Visit Crumland Farms on May 22nd and see three live bands perform: Grammy-nominated duo Cathy and Marcy, Grammy-nominated band Milkshake and The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, as seen on Nick Jr. There will also be a second stage with music from Kidsinger Jim and Friends and magic by Frank Culler. Other activities at the festival include strolling entertainment, face painting, balloon twisting, moon bounces and a Guitar Hero challenge. Food and drink will be available for purchase. 

Tickets are $15 each for kids 2 and older. You can also get a VIP ticket for $30, which includes a meet and greet with performing artists as well as reserved viewing area. This festival will benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a national charity that benefits our soldiers. Get your tickets at Frederick County My Bank branch locations. Call 240-566-5653 for more information.

Crumland Farm is located at 7612 Willow Road, Frederick, Maryland (map it).

Animal Fun! Zoos, Aquariums, Animal Parks & Farms in Washington, DC, Metro

You and your kids have probably been to the National Zoo and Baltimore Aquarium a dozen times, but did you know that there are other zoos and animal parks in the Washington, DC area? 

Check out this list of zoos, aquariums, animal parks and farms in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. 

Bug Box in Fredericksburg, VA
This live insect zoo is full of critters that your kids will love. Bug Box in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is home to scorpions, tarantulas, stinging insects, spiders, giant millipedes, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, frogs, turtles, crayfish and more.

Open from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday. Admissions: $2 per person.

Bug Box is located at 10822A Courthouse Rd, Fredericksburg, Virginia (map it).

Catoctin Wildlife Animal Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, MD
Visit over 450 exotic animals at Catoctin Wildlife Animal Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, only minutes from Frederick, Maryland. See lions, bears, macaws, monkeys, boas and go on a global safari ride to see ostriches, zebras, bison, antelopes, llamas and more.

Admission fees: $15.95 for adults (13+), $9.95 for kids ages 6 to 12, $6.95 for kids ages 2 to 5 and free for kids under 2. See operating hours.

Catoctin Wildlife Animal Preserve and Zoo is located at 13019 Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont, Maryland (map it). 

FREE - Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, VA
Say hello to farm animals, such as cows, sheep, goats, chickens and pigs, horses, turkeys, ducks, rabbits and a peacock at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Virginia. Read review of this farm.

Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Free admissions.

Frying Pan Farm Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, Virginia (map it).

Leesburg Animal Park in Leesburg, VA
See giant tortoises, gibbons, llamas, antelope and more at Leesburg Animal Park. The park also offer pony rides, hand-feeding lory parrots and wagon rides.

Open daily from March to September, 10 am to 3 pm during the week and 10 am to 5 pm on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Admission fees: $9.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids. 

Leesburg Animal Park is located at 19270 James Monroe Highway Leesburg, Virginia (map it). 

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, MD
Visit cheetahs, chimpanzees, polar bears, giraffes, crocodiles, snakes, Arctic foxes and more at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, Maryland.

Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission fees (Web special): $14 for adults (12 - 64), $12 for seniors (65+), $10 for kids ages 2 to 11 and free for kids under 2. 

The Maryland Zoo is located at 876 Mansion House Drive, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland, get directions.

National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD
National Aquarium in Baltimore is home to 16,500 specimens and more than 660 species of animals. See mammals, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, birds and amphibians. Check out the dolphin show while you're there.

Open daily at 9 am, see visiting hours. Admission fees: $24.95 for adults (12 - 59), $23.95 for seniors (60+), $19.95 for kids ages 3 to 11 and free for kids under 3. 

Baltimore Aquarium is located at 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland, see directions.

National Aquarium in Washington, DC
Visit more than 250 species at the National Aquarium in Washington, DC, such as giant pacific octopus, northern snakehead, snapping turtles, alligators and more.

Open daily from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Admission fees: $9 for adults (12 - 59), $8 for seniors (60+), $8 for military personnel, $4 for kids ages 3 to 11 and free for kids under 3. 

National Aquarium is located at 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, see directions.

FREE - The National Zoo in Washington, DC
The National Zoo has approximately 2,00 animals, with about one-fifth of the 400 species are endangered or threatened. See pandas, tigers, lions, elephants, hippos, gorillas, zebras, komodo dragons and more.

Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm from April to October, and from 10 am to 4:30 pm from November to March. 

The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, see directions.

Platinum Alpacas Farm in Brandy Station, VA
Platinum Alpaca Farm is normally open by appointment only, but they can also do special tours of the farm. Visitors can buy clothes made from alpacas and fine quality natural yarn. Call 540-825-2055 for more information.

Platinum Alpacas Farm is located at 10623 Gravel Road, Brandy Station, Virginia (map it).

Reston Zoo in Reston, VA
In the middle of suburban Northern Virginia, Reston Zoo hosts spider monkeys, zebras, camels, an alligator, red kangaroos and more. Feed farm animals, ride a pony, and go on a wagon ride to see the animals. Read review of Reston Zoo.

Open daily starting at 9 am from mid-March to late November, see operating hours. Admission fees: $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65+), $9 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2. 

Reston Zoo is located at 1228 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna, Virginia (map it).

FREE - The Salisbury Zoo in Salisbury, MD
Check out jaguars, bison, llamas, alligators, spider monkeys, bald eagle and more animals at the Salisbury Zoo in Maryland.

Open daily starting at 9 am. Free admissions.

The Salisbury Zoo is located at 755 South Park Drive, Salisbury, Maryland (map it).

Drive Through Starbucks - Perfect for Another Cold Day in Maryland and Northern Virginia

I used to think that people who go through drive through at Starbucks are lazy. Well, I definitely changed my mind once I had a baby. 

It's so much more convenient than getting my baby out of her car seat and getting her all bundled up, all for a five-minute trip to get a cup of mocha.

So here's a list of drive through Starbucks in the Washington, DC, metro area (Maryland and Northern Virginia). Unfortunately, I am not able to find any in the city. I guess that makes sense if you're already walking anyway! I listed their phone numbers as well in case you need to check their hours and ask if they still have holiday drinks or not.

You can also search for them on Starbuck's website, of course. Just check "Drive Through Window" as one of your search options.

Maryland
Clinton
8919 A Woodyard Road, Bld 4
Clinton, MD 20735
301-856-3190

College Park
4750 Cherry Hill Road
College Park, MD 20740
301-345-4333

Westview
5283 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21703
301-682-3330

First Field Shopping Center
505 Quince Orchard Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-987-2250

Vista Gardens
10621 Martin Luther King Jr. Highway
Lanham, MD 20720
301-352-7746

Virginia
Ashbrook Commons
20035 Ashbrook Commons Plaza
Ashburn, VA 20147
703-723-3065

Dumfries
4380 Fortuna Center Plaza
Dumfries, VA 22026
703-590-2201

Village Center at Dulles
2407 Centerville Rd. Ste. B
Herndon, VA 20171
571-643-0240

Barcroft Plaza
6365 Columbia Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
703-354-8969

Liberia Ave
9650 Liberia Avenue
Manassas, VA 20110
703-365-2154

Countryside Marketplace
3 Pidgeon Hill Drive
Sterling, VA 20165
571-434-0247