Washington DC

Great Art Summer Camps in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia for Creative Kids

Budding fashion designers can sew their own creations at Creative Youth Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Washington, DC is a creative city that's full of culture, so it's no surprise that it is bursting with great art summer camps for your future Picasso. These summer art camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia allow preschoolers, kids, and teens to explore their creative side through painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, theater, and other types of art.

Here are our top picks for art summer camps in the DC metro area. For more summer camps near DC, including STEM summer camps and sports summer camps, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide.

Find a full listing of local summer camps in our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

Visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon Near DC with Kids

Kids of all ages will find lots to explore at Mount Vernon. Photo by Jennifer Marino Walters

Washington, DC—home of the Smithsonian—is known for its fantastic free museums. But there are also some great museums in and near DC that are absolutely worth paying to visit. One of them is Mount Vernon, George Washington's home in Alexandria, Virginia. Roughly 15 miles south of DC, Mount Vernon is full of interesting places to explore, historic items to see, and hands-on activities to enjoy.

Here's everything you need to know about visiting Mount Vernon, America's most popular historic estate, with kids. Find more great museums to explore, including our list of the best museums for kids in the DC area, in our Museum Guide for Kids and Families in DC.

Easter Weekend 2024 in DC: Easter Egg Hunts, Blossom Kite Festival, and More Things To Do

 Celebrate spring at McLean Community Center's Spring Fest. Photo courtesy of the community center

DC is hopping for Easter weekend 2024! There are, of course, tons of Easter events, but also several events for those who want to enjoy spring.

Kids of all ages can join in one of several Easter egg hunts held around the area, or they can hop on over to meet the Easter Bunny. Two of the most popular cherry blossom events are also this weekend—the Blossom Kite Festival and Sakura Taiko Fest, both at the Washington Monument.

Two local theater productions end their runs this weekend—Junie B. Jones, The Musical at Adventure Theatre and Inside Out and Backwards at Imagination Stage.

Whether you celebrate Easter or just enjoying spring, we hope this Easter weekend 2024 is full of all things sunny.

Top Summer Camps for Preschoolers in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

The DC area has no shortage of fun summer camps for the preschool set. Photo courtesy of Campers at Adventures on The Hill

With so many great options for summer camps near Washington, DC, finding a camp that's right for your kid always takes a bit of research. And finding good summer camps for preschoolers can be especially nerve-racking: You want your child's initial summer day camp experience to be fun, safe, and memorable, but not overstimulating or overwhelming.

We're here to help with a starter list of fun summer camps for preschoolers in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. These summer camps include theater camps, sports camps, and other great day camps for preschoolers that offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

For more summer camps near DC, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and area.

Spring Break 2024: 21 Fun Things To Do in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Smiles will bloom at all of the fun National Cherry Blossom Festival events. Photo courtesy of the Photo courtesy of the festival

Spring break 2024 is coming to the Washington, DC metro area! If your family is not traveling, that means you'll have a week or more to take part in all of the fun activities and events the DMV has to offer this April.

When is spring break 2024? For DC public schools, it's the week of Monday, April 15 - Friday, April 19.

For most Northern Virginia public school districts—as well as Montgomery County, Charles County, and Prince George's County public schools in Maryland—spring break 2024 is Monday, March 25 - Friday, March 29 (with many districts also giving students the following Monday, April 1 off, and Fairfax County also making Tuesday, April 2 a student holiday).

Check out our list of local school-year calendars to find out when your school district's spring break falls. Then read on for 21 fun things to do with kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Our Spring Fun Guide for DC Kids and Families will give you even more ideas.

If you'd rather get out of town for a last-minute family vacation, get inspired by our list of cheap spring break travel ideas for families.

Fun Sports Summer Camps Near DC: Soccer Camps, Baseball Camps, and More

Kids ages 5-14 can improve their soccer skills at DC Way Soccer Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Summer break is the perfect time for kids to get outside, move their bodies, and enjoy some healthy competition with their friends. There are plenty of sports summer camps near DC to help them do just that.

Whether your child is a seasoned athlete looking to improve their skills or they just want to burn off energy playing classic games like kickball, there is a sports summer camp in the DC region for them. From soccer camp and basketball camp to golf camp and horseback-riding camp, here are some great sports summer camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

For more summer camps near DC, including affordable summer camps and STEM summer camps, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide. Find a full listing of local summer camps in our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

Best School Holiday and Spring Break Camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Sports like basketball are just some of the fun activities kids can enjoy during spring break camps.

Traveling during every spring break and school holiday just isn't possible... nor is taking time off work. That's why many parents look to camps to keep their kids busy during days off from school.

From sports camps to music camps to dance camps, there's a school holiday or spring break camp for kids of any interest. Here are some top picks for school holiday and spring break camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

And while you're thinking of camps, don't forget to start planning for summer! Summer camps fill up quickly, and our DC Summer Camp Guide can help you you prepare. It lists everything from STEM summer camps to sports summer camps throughout the DC area.

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants and More Places to Eat Near the National Mall in Washington, DC

There are several great places to eat with kids near the National Mall. Photo courtesy of Carmine's

When people think of Washington, DC, the National Mall and Memorial Parks are typically the first place that comes to mind. Home to over 100 monuments and memorials, it tops our list of the best tourist attractions in DC. But finding good, kid-friendly food near the National Mall can be a real challenge—one you really don't need when you and your kids are hungry and tired from a long day of walking.

To help you fill your families' tummies fast, here are our favorite kid-friendly restaurants and other places to eat near the National Mall. From sit-down eateries to food trucks to museum cafes, all of these spots are within walking distance of the Mall.

For even more great places to eat with kids in our nation's capital, check out our Kid-Friendly DC Restaurants Guide.

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