How do you occupy your toddler in NWDC/CCMD…

[Anonymous]

On days when it’s too cold/wet/windy to play outside?

Recently moved to the area. I’m a SAHM with a very active 1.5 year old. Looking for suggestions on activities in this area, especially walkable ones from Friendship Heights.

(I’m aware of the weekly story time at CCDC and CCMD libraries).

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

….And on the weekends when libraries are closed. Wish there was a bookstore around here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:….And on the weekends when libraries are closed. Wish there was a bookstore around here!

Politics and Prose is a bookstore that's not too far from you. The book section at Child's Play is closer and also nice. The Chevy Chase DC library has weekend hours, I'm not sure what other libraries hours are, but I think weekend hours are common.

The train was always a hit with my toddlers, and there are lots of great things to see if you are willing to do that. The indoor exhibits at the zoo, the Kennedy Center, African Art museum and the botanic gardens are all places my kids loved at around that age.

[Anonymous]

This weather is nothing. Kids in Scandinavia go outside very day.

[Anonymous]

As others have said, hop on the metro* and go to any of the smithsonians on the mall. Ask at the info desk where the family bathrooms are, which have ample changing spaces.

Good museums for an 18 month old:
-Obviously, indoor parts of the Zoo. Tip: if you have a residential parking pass for Ward 3, you can park for free on the street
-Botanic Gardens is probably the #1 best one on a bad weather day
-National Gallery's waterfall in the basement Cascade Cafe (okay, not a Smithsonian, but whatever)
-Atrium at the Portrait Gallery--Caution: the atrium area is VERY SLIPPERY when the fountains are on. But it's a nice indoor-outdoor-feeling space with trees.
-Playroom at the American Indian museum: https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/reopening (note their cafe is currently closed )
-Wegman's Wonderplace at the American History museum https://americanhistory.si.edu/wegmans-wonderplace
-Postal Museum (next to Union Station) is super interactive, too

I'd also tour the libraries. You can skip the georgetown public library, the kids section is tiny and crappy. Cleveland Park and MLK library are really nice.

Swedish House in Georgetown used to have a playroom open to the public. It's small but cute.

DC also runs these great co-op playgroups at the public rec centers:
https://dpr.dc.gov/coopprogram

Also, this may not describe your kid, but mine LOVED taking the bus and sometimes we just rode up and down the avenue on the bus, lol. If you don't want to have to collapse your stroller, take the Circulator.

*Bookmark the metro elevator outage page, you will really need it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As others have said, hop on the metro* and go to any of the smithsonians on the mall. Ask at the info desk where the family bathrooms are, which have ample changing spaces.

Good museums for an 18 month old:
-Obviously, indoor parts of the Zoo. Tip: if you have a residential parking pass for Ward 3, you can park for free on the street
-Botanic Gardens is probably the #1 best one on a bad weather day
-National Gallery's waterfall in the basement Cascade Cafe (okay, not a Smithsonian, but whatever)
-Atrium at the Portrait Gallery--Caution: the atrium area is VERY SLIPPERY when the fountains are on. But it's a nice indoor-outdoor-feeling space with trees.
-Playroom at the American Indian museum: https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/reopening (note their cafe is currently closed )
-Wegman's Wonderplace at the American History museum https://americanhistory.si.edu/wegmans-wonderplace
-Postal Museum (next to Union Station) is super interactive, too

I'd also tour the libraries. You can skip the georgetown public library, the kids section is tiny and crappy. Cleveland Park and MLK library are really nice.

Swedish House in Georgetown used to have a playroom open to the public. It's small but cute.

DC also runs these great co-op playgroups at the public rec centers:
https://dpr.dc.gov/coopprogram

Also, this may not describe your kid, but mine LOVED taking the bus and sometimes we just rode up and down the avenue on the bus, lol. If you don't want to have to collapse your stroller, take the Circulator.

*Bookmark the metro elevator outage page, you will really need it

Thank you, this is very helpful!

[Anonymous]

Natural history museum

[Anonymous]

Jolly Yolly in Montgomery Mall
Little Towns Children’s Museum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jolly Yolly in Montgomery Mall
Little Towns Children’s Museum

Thank you - haven't heard of these. definitely plan on checking them out.

Follow up question: is there a Facebook mom group for CCDC or CCMD? I haven't been able to find one. I'm hoping to find something local (rather than just Maryland or Bethesda) for the possibility of arranging play groups and buying/selling used baby gear.

Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

metro with a toddler is not for the faint of heart, at least if your toddler is anything like mine - hates to be strapped in a stroller for long periods and will not stay still out of a stroller.

[Anonymous]

National building museum, portrait gallery atrium fountain, botanical garden, Native American museum for short day trip for that age.

[Anonymous]

If you want to drive to the museums, the best thing to do is roll up on Constitution Ave just after 9:30. That’s when all the rush hour lanes become parking spaces. Then you need to kill 30 minutes before the museums open. This works great for American History and I also like going to that toddler room first thing before it gets too germs, in theory. Also good for national galleries.

But I agree that you have to go outside. This is great weather to just bundle up and toodle around in Rock Creek Park. There’s a nice trail that’s not too muddy from the parking areas right off military road past St John’s. Easy in, easy out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jolly Yolly in Montgomery Mall
Little Towns Children’s Museum

Thank you - haven't heard of these. definitely plan on checking them out.

Follow up question: is there a Facebook mom group for CCDC or CCMD? I haven't been able to find one. I'm hoping to find something local (rather than just Maryland or Bethesda) for the possibility of arranging play groups and buying/selling used baby gear.

Thanks everyone!

I'm just going to chime in and say my kid LOVED Little Towns. We went regularly when she was the right age and even had a birthday there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to drive to the museums, the best thing to do is roll up on Constitution Ave just after 9:30. That’s when all the rush hour lanes become parking spaces. Then you need to kill 30 minutes before the museums open. This works great for American History and I also like going to that toddler room first thing before it gets too germs, in theory. Also good for national galleries.

But I agree that you have to go outside. This is great weather to just bundle up and toodle around in Rock Creek Park. There’s a nice trail that’s not too muddy from the parking areas right off military road past St John’s. Easy in, easy out.

Yessss 9:30 am is the hour for Mall parking. It is quite easy on weekdays especially in Jan and Feb.

[Anonymous]

There have been maybe five days this fall when it's too cold or windy to go out. Did it not rain where you lived prior to moving here? Common sense should tell you to dress your child, and yourself, appropriately for both cold and hot weather!