Water park lovers, rejoice! A new Kalahari Resort with a massive indoor water park is coming to Northern Virginia in 2026. The resort is set to open in Woodford, Virginia in Spotsylvania County, about an hour's drive from Washington, DC. It joins Kalahari's four other locations in the Poconos; Wisconsin Dells; Round Rock, Texas; and Sandusky, Ohio.

Find out everything we know about the new Kalahari Resort and water park below. Then check out our Guide to Family-Friendly Resorts & Hotels and our Washington, DC Theme Parks & Water Parks Guide to find more great places to stay and make a splash with kids.

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, it's not uncommon to see people dressed like ghosts, goblins, and other creepy characters at Halloween events all over the DC area. But if you're looking for a more authentic experience this October—or all year long—why not try a DC ghost tour? These nighttime walking tours take visitors past places that are said to be haunted by the ghosts of presidents, assassins, heroes, and more.

My family recently went on a DC Ghosts ghost tour operated by US Ghost Adventures. It was the perfect activity to kick off Halloween season, and it taught us some interesting DC history. My 12-year-old twin sons and 9-year-old daughter enjoyed the ghost tour as much as my husband and I did, and while the stories were definitely creepy, the tour wasn't overly scary. In fact, there were several other children in our tour group and no one went home crying. Our kids are still talking about how cool it was.

Did we see any ghosts? You'll have to read on to find out! After you do, visit our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for DC Kids for more spooky (and not-so-spooky) ways to celebrate Halloween, from the best pumpkin patches and corn mazes near DC to the top free Halloween events in the DC area.

Washington, DC is known for its amazing free museums, including the world-famous Smithsonian institutions. That's why DC museums that charge admission are often overlooked. But, trust us—there are several fantastic museums in DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland that are truly worth the price of admission.

On a cold or rainy day, these museums offer something new and interesting for families to experience, whether it's exhibits just for young visitors, planes or trains to marvel at, optical illusions, or hands-on activities such as building and art.

Here are our favorite museums for kids and families in the DC area that are worth paying for, including children's museums and more. We've also included a few of the free museums near DC that are especially kid-friendly. Read reviews of some of these places in our Museum Guide for Kids and Families in Washington, DC, which includes our list of free museums in DC to visit with kids.

All aboard! Fall train rides are a fun way for DC families to soak up the autumn spirit and see the gorgeous fall foliage.

Some fall train rides offer a festive way to see the fall colors in all their glory. There are also Halloween train rides that offer both spooky and not-so-spooky activities such as pumpkin picking, trick-or-treating, ghost stories, and costumed characters. Whatever your family is looking for, there are fall train rides for every age and interest level within a four-hour drive of DC.

Here are 18 fall train rides and Halloween train rides to add to your fall bucket list. Find even more autumn fun, including our lists of the best harvest and pumpkin festivals and the best pumpkin patches near DC, in our Fall Fun Guide for Washington, DC Families.

Farewell, giant pandas!

It's time to say goodbye to some of Washington, DC's most beloved residents. Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, the Smithsonian National Zoo's giant pandas, are scheduled to fly home to China by December 7, 2023. While the pandas' departure is bittersweet for the DC area, it is also a chance to celebrate the conservation efforts for this species and the collaboration between the National Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

To help local families see the pandas off, the zoo is hosting a nine-day Panda Palooza full of panda-themed games, activities, entertainment, and more. Here's what to know about this celebration and the beloved pandas.