Living around Washington, DC means there are lots of places to visit for people of all ages. My parents have come and watched our kids, most recently for a week this summer when we needed help with childcare, and I had to think about what would be fun for both a small child and grandparents to do together. I had to think what could last, while at the same time being short enough where it could be cut short if both parties weren’t feeling it. Here are a few of my favorite DC area toddler-friendly places for grandparents.
Indoor Toddler-Friendly Locations
Inevitably, there will be a time when the grandparents are in town and the weather outside is not ideal. The good news about the area is that there are plenty of places indoors that are great for kids and grandparents alike. There are also lots of play places that can definitely tire toddlers out and give the grandparents a tiny break from chasing around.
- Kogod Courtyard at National Portrait Gallery
- Indoor kids play places like Magic Ground or The Wonder. Also check out our list of indoor play places here!
- imagiNATION at Native American Museum Play area
- Wegman’s Wonderplace at American History Museum
- Building Stories at National Building Museum
- US Botanical Gardens
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Kid’s area or other local library
- Bubble Planet or like experiences. These pop-up type experiences are everywhere in the DMV area now!
- CAMP Washington, DC in Tysons Corner Mall is a fun experience and they even have a slime bar if grandparents are feeling brave!
- LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC in Springfield, VA is a bit of a drive, but worth it for LEGO loving toddlers. It’s fun, spacious and has plenty of toddler activies!
- Nature Centers at local playgrounds
- Have them take them to a movie! Lots of theaters have earlier in the day, kid-friendly showings of the newest kids movies
- A local mall! Malls are great for kids to explore, and there are always some activities like trains and indoor play areas for toddlers to con the grandparents into doing 🙂
Outdoor Toddler-Friendly Spots
The great outdoors and toddlers get along so nicely because they can run around and get all that energy out. Which, when grandparents are in town, is a much-needed thing, because they probably aren’t used to all that toddler energy (I know from experience!).
- National Arboretum has a Bonsai area, koi fish, and more!
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens has lovely walking paths with lovely greenery!
- Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral has a stunning garden and is a nice place for a picnic!
- Your local playground (and in summer, your local pool or splash park): some of my favorites are Turkey Thicket Park and these on Capitol Hill. Many around the area are fenced in also, which can alleviate some stress around kids that love to… explore.
- The National Mall
- Carousels are a fun experience with grandparents too!
- Family-friendly wineries and breweries
- Trains!!
- Local Farms like Pumpkin Patches, Apple Orchards, Pick-your-own, etc.
- Farmers Markets
Remember, your suggestions also don’t have to be big. My four-year-old loved doing lunch at Chick-Fil-A, going to Target, and then hitting up our closest park when his grandparents were here. No matter what the grandparents and grandchildren want to do, the DMV area has plenty of options! Make sure you check out the DC area toddler locations for grandparents. The best part will be the memories made, so make sure they snap pictures to share with the whole family.
