Most overrated kid-friendly attraction in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

That's crazy talk. It's a free, large wooded place for my crazy toddler to walk/run herself into a sleepy daze.

+1 Why is the zoo, of all places, overrated?

Because you have to pay $20 for parking and $6 for a basic hot dog!

^^Actual complaints I've heard.

(Never mind that there is no admission fee, saving you a bare minimum in other cities of $60 for a family of four-- maybe more than $80. Never mind that r/t public transport for four people anywhere in a major city is going to run you at least $15, and parking anywhere in a major city generally runs you at least $15 for six hours, if not much more. Never mind that same hot dog would still cost you $3 on the street and you're not forced to buy it anyway. Etc., etc.)

As a family of 5, we paid over $250 to go to the San Diego Zoo. Some people really don't know how good they have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

That's crazy talk. It's a free, large wooded place for my crazy toddler to walk/run herself into a sleepy daze.

+1 Why is the zoo, of all places, overrated?

Because you have to pay $20 for parking and $6 for a basic hot dog!

^^Actual complaints I've heard.

(Never mind that there is no admission fee, saving you a bare minimum in other cities of $60 for a family of four-- maybe more than $80. Never mind that r/t public transport for four people anywhere in a major city is going to run you at least $15, and parking anywhere in a major city generally runs you at least $15 for six hours, if not much more. Never mind that same hot dog would still cost you $3 on the street and you're not forced to buy it anyway. Etc., etc.)

As a family of 5, we paid over $250 to go to the San Diego Zoo. Some people really don't know how good they have it.

Thank you-- you get it! I'm not sure if some people thought I was actually making this ridiculous "too expensive" argument (the "Huh?" and "I'll give you that" posters), but no. Sure, it's uphill walking one way or another, food is not great, and all animals aren't awake all the time, but it's got TONS of them, all kinds of fun indoor exhibits, free talks from zookeepers, sprinklers on hot days, etc. We got a membership and go monthly-- and we don't even live in the neighborhood. My kid is literally never bored of it, and she's been at least 25 times.

[Anonymous]

Clemyjontri Park. It used to be so beautiful and I feel like it has fallen into disrepair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

I think the trick with the zoo is to go on grey, cloudy days. Without the crowds, you are free to spend as long with each animal as you like. We've been very upclose and personal this way with the seals and prairie dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

I think the trick with the zoo is to go on grey, cloudy days. Without the crowds, you are free to spend as long with each animal as you like. We've been very upclose and personal this way with the seals and prairie dogs.

We live walking distance from the zoo and we always go in the winter or on cloudy days like you. Beautiful days are definitely, well...a zoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clemyjontri Park. It used to be so beautiful and I feel like it has fallen into disrepair.

I hate that park because:
1. It is not fenced
2. Crowds
3. Parking sucks
4. You need a 1:1 child/adult ratio
5. The equipment is such that you cannot walk (or even duck) under it to get to your child on the other side. You have to walk all the way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clemyjontri Park. It used to be so beautiful and I feel like it has fallen into disrepair.

Sorry. That park represents the housing bubble and defense buildup wealth and excess. It is too expensive a design to adequately maintain on normal county funding. Used to be epic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clemyjontri Park. It used to be so beautiful and I feel like it has fallen into disrepair.

I hate that park because:
1. It is not fenced
2. Crowds
3. Parking sucks
4. You need a 1:1 child/adult ratio
5. The equipment is such that you cannot walk (or even duck) under it to get to your child on the other side. You have to walk all the way around.

And come may, it is CRAZY HOT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Air and Space on the Mall. I want to love it but most of it is really boring.

YES! I always feel like such a snob when I say that I don't like that museum. It desperately needs to be redone. The planes are cool to look at but anything you have to read is so, so boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

I think the trick with the zoo is to go on grey, cloudy days. Without the crowds, you are free to spend as long with each animal as you like. We've been very upclose and personal this way with the seals and prairie dogs.

The trick is to arrive when it opens (8 am). The crowds get thick around 11, and by then the kids are tired and ready to go. Plus, the animals are more active in he morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

I think the trick with the zoo is to go on grey, cloudy days. Without the crowds, you are free to spend as long with each animal as you like. We've been very upclose and personal this way with the seals and prairie dogs.

We live walking distance from the zoo and we always go in the winter or on cloudy days like you. Beautiful days are definitely, well...a zoo.

Yes. We always go on cool days. The membership has been worth it for the parking. We never buy food. We go for the morning, tire my child out, and take long naps at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Playseum. Ick.

I was going to say this, even though I feel bad for the nice owner, and my kid still really likes it. But I'm not sure it counts as overrated, when so many people Yelp about its... umm... threadbareness. It does feel overpriced for what you get. But then again, my kid really does like it, so go figure.

It's $9/head for both kids and adults, but they are in Bethesda with high rents and do need to pay to keep the doors open.. so I don't really begrudge them that. We got about once every few months so it's more like a special treat.

Similar to Mila's Playland in Gainesville. It's $10/head, so we go as a special treat not on a regular basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

That's crazy talk. It's a free, large wooded place for my crazy toddler to walk/run herself into a sleepy daze.

+1 Why is the zoo, of all places, overrated?

Because you have to pay $20 for parking and $6 for a basic hot dog!

^^Actual complaints I've heard.

(Never mind that there is no admission fee, saving you a bare minimum in other cities of $60 for a family of four-- maybe more than $80. Never mind that r/t public transport for four people anywhere in a major city is going to run you at least $15, and parking anywhere in a major city generally runs you at least $15 for six hours, if not much more. Never mind that same hot dog would still cost you $3 on the street and you're not forced to buy it anyway. Etc., etc.)

As a family of 5, we paid over $250 to go to the San Diego Zoo. Some people really don't know how good they have it.

I agree that calling the National Zoo "overrated" is ridiculous, especially since it is free & that the San Diego Zoo is a bit overpriced. That being said, however, you really can't compare the two. The San Diego Zoo is much, much bigger & is considered one of the best zoos in the world (& rightfully so, imo).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Playseum. Ick.

Have you been there recently - like this year? It's really improved - it was quite nice when we were there earlier this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

That's crazy talk. It's a free, large wooded place for my crazy toddler to walk/run herself into a sleepy daze.

+1 Why is the zoo, of all places, overrated?

Because a visit to virtually any other zoo in this country establishes how mightily this one sucks.