Mix your own slime at CAMP's Schmutz Bar. Photo courtesy of CAMP at Tyson's Corner

Art & Crafting Out-of-the-Box Activities in DC

1. Tufting

At a tufting studio, you can create your own rug to take home and display. It's one of the trendiest activities there is right now! Choose from a variety of patterns to create a piece that suits your aesthetic. You'll find yourself very soothed by the rhythmic process as you create your work of art. Kids under 13 will need a supervising adult present.

Our favorite place for tufting in DC is Tuft Tuft at Tysons Corner Center in Tysons, VA.

2. Pottery Painting—with a Side of Frozen Custard!

Pottery painting is always fun, but it's also delicious when you can enjoy homemade frozen custard in-house! Make an appointment or walk in, choose your pottery and colors, and paint away! Then reward yourself with a cold treat.

Our favorite spot for pottery painting and frozen custard in DC is Kiln & Custard in Vienna, VA. See how it works on our Instagram Reel.

Other places we love for pottery painting in DC:
Clay Cafe Studios in Falls Church, VA
All Fired Up in Cleveland Park, DC
Clay Cafe in Chantilly, VA

3. Slime Making

Kids love to make slime, but parents don't love the mess that goes along with it. Why not head to a DIY slime bar to give your kid their slime fix? They can choose their color and fun mix-ins, make the gooey slime, and take it home—no cleanup necessary. See what to expect at Slime Co. a DIY slime bar we love, in our Instagram Reel.

Places we love for slime making in DC:
CAMP — Tysons Corner Center in Tysons, VA
Slime Co — Fashion Centre at Pentagon City Mall in Arlington, VA

4. Custom Candle-Making

Create the perfect candle at a DIY candle-making bar. Guests under 16 will need a supervising adult present, but our guess is many moms/parents will want to take part in making their own candle, too! Choose a scent or a mixture of scents, pour the wax, let the candle set and pick it up once it's done!

Our favorite spot for custom candles in DC is District Candle Lab in Union Station, DC and Fairfax, VA.

5. Jewelry Designing

Create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry at a charm bar! Simply grab a tray, select the charms you like, and design how you want your jewelry to look. Then an associate will help you and your kids assemble your custom jewelry. There isn't an age minimum, but a supervising adult should be present for kids under 10.

We love Fawne Charm Bar in Union Station, DC and Fairfax, VA for custom jewelry designing in DC. It shares a space with District Candle Lab!

6. Custom Lipstick Design

If you've got a makeup fanatic in your house, she'll love creating her own custom lipstick! At a lipstick bar, participants learn how to customize a lip color that suits their skin tone and coloring, then take home their very own tube. All ages can participate, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Our favorite place for custom lipstick in DC is Lip Lab on 14th Street and the Wharf, DC. 

7. Acrylic Pouring/Fluid Bear Art

At iCreate, kids can make amazing fluid art canvases, then splatter paint all over a room (a kid's dream!). Both iCreate and Tuft Tuft also offer fluid bear art, where kids can pour paint over a large bear to take home. Older guests can shoot balloons full of paint onto a white canvas to make balloon art, or they can do spin art to create a statement piece.

Our favorite places for fluid bear art in DC:
iCreate in Vienna, VA
Tuft Tuft in Tysons Corner Center

8. Custom Sneaker Design

Your kiddo can show off their unique style by customizing their very own pair of kicks! Just bring a pair of white sneakers (leather or faux leather is preferred) to Ki-netics Lab, where your child can customize them using high-quality paint, stencils, and more. You must sign up for a workshop online—just be sure not to choose a 21 and over session!

We love Ki-netics Lab in National Harbor, MD for custom sneaker designing in DC.

9. Blacksmithing

Kids (preferably ages 6 and up) can learn the ancient art of blacksmithing at Lawless Forge in Sterling, VA. At each class, participants can create a metal object to take home, such as a flower bouquet, a pair of chopsticks, or a steel ring. All materials and safety items are provided. Kids ages 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Head to Lawless Forge in Sterling, VA for blacksmithing in DC.

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Go climbing at the Bouldering Project in Eckington. Photo courtesy of the venue

Trending Fitness & Sports Activities in DC

10. Rock Climbing

Rock climbing has trended in DC in a big way, and so many places now offer climbing walls and instruction. Our favorite place to climb is Vertical Rock Climbing in Tysons because there's an in-house coffee shop, but there are plenty of other awesome indoor rock climbing gyms for kids near DC. Many of them have a minimum age of 6 to climb, so be sure to check the websites.

Our favorite spots for DC rock climbing:
Vertical Rock Climbing — Tysons, VA
Bouldering Project — Eckington, DC
Sportrock Climbing Center — Alexandria & Sterling, VA; Gaithersburg, MD

11. Parkour 

Parkour is great for budding ninja warriors, who will love running, jumping, ziplining, balancing, swinging, and climbing their way through awesome obstacle courses. Our list of ninja warrior gyms, obstacle course, and parkour places near DC includes courses for kids and teens of all ages.

Our favorite spots for DC parkour:
The Agility Center — North Bethesda, MD
Always in Motion Ninja & Parkour — Sterling, VA
Scramble Parkour — Arlington, VA

12. Goat and Puppy Yoga

Yoga may not be your or your kid's thing, but we guarantee practicing among cuddly goats and puppies will make it so much better! Goat yoga on farms is typically seasonal, meaning you can't attend classes during the winter, but puppy yoga is year-round! Read the FAQs on each site for age restrictions. At Puppies & Yoga, for example, the age minimum is 10, and supervising adults are required for ages 10-15.

Our favorite spots for DC goat and puppy yoga:
Hidden Gems Farm — Centreville, VA
Puppies & Yoga — Dupont Circle, H Street, and Adams Morgan, DC
Goat Yoga with Beth A. Wolfe – Various locations

13. Light Up in the Dark Mini Golf

Mini golf is always fun, but putting in the dark with fun and strategic light-up holes ups the coolness factor. Play a game under the glowing lights at Swingers in Dupont Circle, where challenging, creative holes make the entire experience fun. Swingers also has carnival games, karaoke, and fun slushies for kids, plus alcoholic drinks for adults. Every Sunday is a Family Day, so kids can play mini golf before 6 pm!

We love to play mini golf in DC at Swingers in Dupont Circle, DC.

14. Go-Karting

If your kids have the need for speed, go-karting is the perfect activity. K1 Speed has an awesome indoor track and electric karts. Kids must be at least 48" tall to ride the Junior Karts and 58 inches tall for the larger, faster karts. They will love zipping around the track and racing their friends!

We love to go go-karting near DC at K1 Speed in Dulles and Manassas, VA.

15. Circus School

Ever wanted to be in the circus? Imagine yourself in the big top at Capitol City Circus School in DC. Kids as young as 1 can learn all the skills to make it in the circus with weekly classes, camps, or drop-in classes. Learn classic trapeze, static trapeze, and slings and silk aerial skills, as well as a variety of other circus-type skills like partner acrobatics, trampoline, juggling, and lyra (aerial hoop).

Our favorite circus school in DC is Capitol City Circus School in Capitol Hill, DC.

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You'll feel like you're on a real game show at the Game Show Experience. Photo courtesy of the experience

Other Out-of-the-Box Activities in DC

16. Game Show Experience

Ever wanted to be on a game show? Now you can (sort of) at Great Big Game Show! You family can face off against another family in a variety of mini games similar to the ones you've seen on your favorite game shows. The experience is one hour, and it is recommended that kids be at least 6 years old.

Enjoy a game show experience in DC at Great Big Game Show in Georgetown, DC.

17. Axe Throwing

Axe throwing may sound dangerous, but in a safe and controlled environment, it's a whole lot of fun! At Kick Axe, participants ages 8 and up can try their hand at nailing a target. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Our favorite place to go axe throwing in DC is Kick Axe in Ivy City, DC.

18. Rage Rooms

Sometimes you've just got to let it all out! At a rage room, teens and adults can do just that in a safe space with no judgment. Smash some objects, throw paint on the walls, and let loose. While most rage rooms are for older kids, some allow even the youngest children to participate. Kraken, for example, allows kids as young as 1 to participate (as long as you're there to supervise, of course)! Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Our favorite DC rage rooms: 
Kraken Axes & Rage — Penn Quarter, DC
Unity Rage Room — Gaithersburg, MD
Lose It Rage Room — Woodbridge, VA
Rage Room of Maryland — Glen Burnie, MD

19. Nerf Battles

A Nerf battle that doesn't end with dozens of foam bullets all over your house or backyard? Yes, please! Several places in the DC area offer coordinated Nerf battles for kids in arenas and courses with fun obstacles and hiding places.

Our favorite places for Nerf battles in DC:
Pev's Paintball — Aldie, VA
Dulles Sportsplex — Sterling, VA