Fun Indoor Birthday Party Places for Preschoolers in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Turn your own home into one of the best indoor birthday party places ever by inviting a beloved character from Stupendous Events. Photo courtesy of the company

With cold winters, hot and humid summers, and unpredictable rain and snow, finding the right venue for a children's birthday party near DC can be tricky. Finding a spot that's appropriate and fun for preschoolers? Even harder. But DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia are home to several great indoor birthday party places for preschoolers that are perfect in any weather. Whether your preschooler is into science, art, superheroes, or sports, there is a great indoor birthday party spot for them.

Here are some awesome indoor birthday party places for preschoolers near DC that allow you to join the fun and celebrate with your kid without stressing over the setup and cleanup. We've also thrown in a few birthday party entertainers that will come to your home or rental space for a unique and fun indoor birthday party.

Check out our Kids' Birthday Party Places Guide for DC for more fun birthday party ideas for kids of all ages, from cool birthday party places for teens to free ways to celebrate your kid's birthday at home.

Top Orlando Parks for Kids' Birthday Parties

Check out our list of the best Orlando parks to host birthday parties!

Orlando parks make the perfect spot for fun birthday parties! Think about it —one of the greatest benefits of living in Central Florida is our amazing weather. This allows for outdoor activities, mostly year-round, including birthday parties al fresco! Families have their pick from lovely Orlando parks to host birthday parties. These birthday party parks provide easy access to restrooms, parking, fresh air (obviously), budget-friendly spaces, and of course, kids can be as loud as they want! Keep reading to learn about awesome Orlando parks ready to host the best birthday parties.

Visiting Historic Philadelphia: Top Things To Do in the Historic District with Kids

Visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), located in the heart of Old City.

There are so many things to do with kids in Old City Philadelphia's historic district. Get ready to time travel back to the earliest years in US history. 

Alongside our love of cheesesteaks, hoagies, and sports is a deep sense of civic pride that comes along with being the birthplace of the entire nation. The streets of Philly are steeped in history, with Old City Philadelphia at the heart of it all. Whether you're a visitor or a local, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, so we've got a list of the best spots to visit in Old City and historic Philadelphia with kids. From famous attractions like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall to museums dedicated to telling the stories of our past, Philly's historic district has so much to offer families. 

Historic Philly is the first stop on our 3 day itinerary for visiting Philadelphia, where you can find more of the city's highlights. Check out our Guide to Philly Museums for Kids for more top attractions, like the Philadelphia Zoo (the very first zoo in the nation!) and other landmarks like the Philadelphia Museum of Art (hello Rocky run!).

Genius Gems Debuts STEM-Inspired Play Space in Chelsea

Build larger-than-life Magna-Tile structures and much more at Genius Gems, a brand-new, STEM-inspired play space in Chelsea.

Anyone who’s raised kids in the past decade is likely familiar with Magna-Tiles. And if your house is anything like mine, there are never enough no matter how big your collection. Enter Genius Gems, the long-beloved, STEM-inspired play space that’s been a mainstay in Millburn, New Jersey, since 2018 has just debuted its first NYC location, and its collection of 100,000 (yep, you read that right!) magnetic tiles are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun things to do at this interactive, educational fun zone.

We spent an evening building, exploring, and designing in Genius Gems’ new Chelsea location and are already plotting a return visit. Read on for our review of Genius Gems and find more STEM-inspired fun in our Guide to Science Experiments and STEM.

The Roller Wave Puts a Fresh Spin on Roller Skating with its Brooklyn Pop-Up

Strap on your roller skates to hit The Roller Wave, a Black-owned roller skating rink in Brooklyn for a limited time.

Break out those roller skates because The Roller Wave, a Black-owned roller skating rink, is now open at the Atlantic Terminal Mall in Brooklyn. While there are a number of seasonal roller skating rinks in the city, The Roller Wave is unique because it revives the classic pastime with some modern twists.

I visited The Roller Wave roller skating rink on opening weekend with my tween daughter and her friend, and we loved the vibe, music, and overall energy.

Read on for all the need-to-know info before you go roller skating at The Roller Wave, and plan your visit soon: It's only open until June 4, 2023.

Unique Goody Bag and Party Favor Ideas for Kids' Birthday Parties

Skip the candy and the plastic that ends up in a landfill with these creative goody bag and party favor ideas. Photo courtesy of Hannah Rodrigo/Unsplash

A goody bag or party favor is the icing on the cake of a kids' birthday party. But they're also the bane of the party planning parent's existence. No parent wants to give or receive plastic garbage that heads straight to the landfill. The best goody bags contain unique party favors that please both parents and kids. These ideas below hit that sweet spot, and allow you to bring your kiddo's personality or party theme into play, as well. Sometimes, creating the goody bag at the party even becomes one of the party activities. (Score!)

Read on for unique ideas to take your little guy or girl’s goody bag from basic to brag-worthy. These aren't the only birthday hints we've got in the bag. In our Birthday Party Ideas Guide, you'll find instructions for making a pinata at home, great cakes for kids' parties, and even birthday freebies for kids.

You know what else a birthday needs? Gifts! Get tried-and-tested favorite gift suggestions the Best First Birthday Gifts, and more in our Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays.

Jersey City's RPM Raceway Expands with World's Longest Go-Kart Track

Get into the action at Jersey City's RPM Raceway, which has just debuted the world's longest indoor go-karting track.

The world's longest indoor electric go-karting track has opened at RPM Raceway Jersey City, just outside of NYC, so if you've got daring kids who feel a need for speed, this indoor go-karting track is a must-visit. Dubbed the RPM Raceway MegaTrack, this new experience is the fruition of a six-month, multi-million dollar renovation project.

To get a taste of the action, I recruited my teen and his best friend to be my test drivers. More laps than I could count later—and plenty of playful trash-talking—it was clear this visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City would not be our last. Read on for all the details on our visit to RPM Raceway Jersey City, its MegaTrack, and the rest of the attractions at this action-packed indoor fun spot, which is close enough to NYC to make for an easy day trip, too.

We've got more top picks for teen-friendly fun in our New Jersey Tweens and Teens Guide.

Climate Change: How One Kid (You) Can Take Action

Just one kid composting can save 400 pounds of food waste a year. So yes, one kid can make a difference! Photo by Maureen Wilkey

Climate change is an overwhelming problem, but kids of any age can be part of the solution. For kids who are growing up hearing doomsday headlines almost every day, climate change can feel too big to tackle. However, one of the best ways to tackle climate anxiety is to take charge of what you can control. Even one kid can make a big difference when it comes to climate change.

Here are the best things to do to make a difference for the planet at any age, from reducing individual (and family) carbon footprints to becoming a youth activist. Then, read about more climate-saving actions you can take in our Earth Kids Guide and sign up for our Earth Kids newsletter for more ideas and activities every month.

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