How to have move fun with family on weekends

[Anonymous]

I am not sure where to post. We live in NoVA and our weekends slip by without any plans or fun.

My DH is crowd adverse, so this limits attending big events.

How can I come up with ideas for weekend, what to do, where to go?

We have a 10 yr old DD.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Since the pandemic and my new job I haven't looked in a while, but WaPo always had something. I think it's called the "going out guide" or similar, and it listed all the area events and stuff going on in the DMV every weekend.

[Anonymous]

Yes, here is this week's Going Out Guide, OP:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/12/martin-luther-king-holiday-events/

It always has a wide variety of activities. Good stuff that I'd otherwise never know about.

[Anonymous]

We are a similar sized and aged family and we enjoy hikes, play dates, errands as a family followed by a meal out, movie night... We like to feed the backyard birds so we might make a bird house or set up a special feeder. What do you enjoy?

Also if you are not part of any groups maybe consider some. Our weekends are busy with church and scout related stuff.

[Anonymous]

When I'm in a rut, I google existing lists for surrounding areas: "Things to do for kids in Loudon/PG/Frederick County." There are always parents with blogs who focus in their particular town or county.

We have a goal of going somewhere new (nearby) every couple weeks, or someplace we've been that needs more exploring: Baltimore, a museum, a walking trail. They're just day trips that may take 2 hours total or 10 hours.

[Anonymous]

We’re slammed during the week with school, activities, and work, especially as DH travels 75% of the time. We have one elementary aged child. Our weekends were like yours for a long time, just filled with errands, housework, and chores and weren’t very fun or relaxing.

We made some changes and now have a formula (if don’t have other social engagements):

Family activity: We do an activity every Saturday afternoon and most Sunday mornings. Last weekend we went bowling Saturday afternoon and on Sunday went to a morning movie. Today we’re going to a museum in the afternoon and to the driving range Sunday morning. We chat about options and plan them in advance so it’s not the inevitable “I don’t know what do you want to do do”

Dinner: easy home dinner (like homemade pizza) on Friday, takeout on Saturday, nicer home cooked meal on Sunday.

Personal time: DH and I take turns sleeping in on weekends and each day take turns working out while the other is with DC. DH gets two hours of whatever time every Saturday AM when I’m at DC activity and I usually take a couple hours Sunday PM (get manicure, meet friend for coffee, or read uninterrupted).

Chores/errands: Unpopular, but we’ve created extra weekend free time by using Friday evenings for chores/errands. We finish tasks on Saturday and Sunday but 75% of it is done by 8pm Friday.

[Anonymous]

Choose different places to go on walks/hikes and also grab lunch.

Check out a different museum each month.

Go to lunch in different parts of the area and walk around - Georgetown, Wharf, Annapolis, Middleburg, Baltimore

Take your daughter ice skating or skiing.

Try to make plans with DD's friends or invite their families over for dinner.

[Anonymous]

This is a great resource:
https://washingtonparent.com/

[Anonymous]

Dave and Busters (there is one at fair oaks mall now).

Indoor rock climbing places like sportrock.

IMAX theater at Udvar-hazy.

Escape rooms.

Ice skating. Most places have learn to skate programs if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I'm in a rut, I google existing lists for surrounding areas: "Things to do for kids in Loudon/PG/Frederick County." There are always parents with blogs who focus in their particular town or county.

We have a goal of going somewhere new (nearby) every couple weeks, or someplace we've been that needs more exploring: Baltimore, a museum, a walking trail. They're just day trips that may take 2 hours total or 10 hours.

Spelling Loudoun correctly might help you get better results.

[Anonymous]

Kidfriendlydc is s great resource

[Anonymous]

Great and new info. Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Also, some is just planning - make something fun every weekend. You can alternate who picks - maybe your daughter wants to bring a friend to the zoo, or you DH wants to see a movie so not crowded, etc. And if your DH wants to stay home some, make a plan to have coffee with a friend or have your daugther have a friend over. Make sure to do at least one fun thing each weekend.

[Anonymous]

My family never seems motivated to plan or do something over the weekend when it is upon us but what seems to work well is planning farther ahead by finding activities a few weeks or months out and buying tix or putting them on the calendar so when the weekend rolls around, we’re committed or at least feel committed. I often don’t feel like doing said thing but once I’m out I have a good time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re slammed during the week with school, activities, and work, especially as DH travels 75% of the time. We have one elementary aged child. Our weekends were like yours for a long time, just filled with errands, housework, and chores and weren’t very fun or relaxing.

We made some changes and now have a formula (if don’t have other social engagements):

Family activity: We do an activity every Saturday afternoon and most Sunday mornings. Last weekend we went bowling Saturday afternoon and on Sunday went to a morning movie. Today we’re going to a museum in the afternoon and to the driving range Sunday morning. We chat about options and plan them in advance so it’s not the inevitable “I don’t know what do you want to do do”

Dinner: easy home dinner (like homemade pizza) on Friday, takeout on Saturday, nicer home cooked meal on Sunday.

Personal time: DH and I take turns sleeping in on weekends and each day take turns working out while the other is with DC. DH gets two hours of whatever time every Saturday AM when I’m at DC activity and I usually take a couple hours Sunday PM (get manicure, meet friend for coffee, or read uninterrupted).

Chores/errands: Unpopular, but we’ve created extra weekend free time by using Friday evenings for chores/errands. We finish tasks on Saturday and Sunday but 75% of it is done by 8pm Friday.

Excellent schedule! I wanna join your family!