Winter has arrived in the DC area, and your family is likely spending more time at home. Whether you prefer to continue being warm indoors (raising my hand!) or to bundle up and head out for some fresh air, you may be starting to feel like you need a change of scenery.

If that's the case, check out my list of 10 great winter day trips from DC. These fun, family-friendly winter day trips near DC appeal to a variety of ages and interests, from exploring museums to being active in the snow. Even better, they are all less than three hours or less from DC by car—and totally worth the trip.

Find more winter day trips from DC, such as the best snow tubing near DC for families, in our Day Trip and Weekend Getaways Guide and our Guide to Winter Fun. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to embrace the season—spring will be here before you know it!

2025 was a great year for new fun things for kids. 

Whether you're still missing the days of holiday break, or it feels like it all just ended, there are plenty of great ways to make the time fly by. From winter fun, to new and trending spots, we've got plenty of fun activities to do while you've got the time together!

Looking for more winter activities? We've got plenty and we've rounded them all up in our convenient Winter Vacation Guide for Philly Kids!

In addition to being incredibly cool and thrilling—flips off the halfpipe! football-field-length ski jumps! a sport actually named skeleton!—the Winter Olympics offer a time to come together with family and friends and feel pride in our country's athletes. Most importantly, in the Olympic spirit, the Games allow us to connect with other cultures. I say that calls for a celebration of Olympic proportions! 

Here are 15 ideas for a kid-centered Winter Olympics party; we’ve chosen simple, inexpensive, and fun ways to get together and celebrate the excitement of the Olympics, cultural understanding, wintertime, and family time. And they don't have to be for a party— these are fun snacks for watching the games, cool crafts for any winter day, and fun games families can play, too!

Just when it seems the dreariness of winter has taken hold of the city, along comes a pop of playfulness and color gracing the rooftops and plazas of the Flatiron District and NoMad neighborhoods.

Mr. Pink lands in the district today, bringing a FREE public art trail of 10 illuminated inflatable sculptures from French artist Philippe Katerine to the area. The naked, cartoon-like, bubblegum-pink sculptures range from 9-16 feet tall, creating a whimsical, snapshot-worthy moment for visitors and encouraging passersby to linger and discover all the fun in the neighborhood.

Read on for more details on where to find these whimsical installations, which remain on display through the end of February.