101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around the DC Metro Area | What’s happening in DMV

101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around the DC Metro Area

Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).

Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from DMV. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!

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Explore Gardens & Sculpture Gardens

  US Botanic Garden Conservatory
U.S. National Arboretum
Seven Oaks Lavender Farm
Soleado Lavender Farm
Purple Rain Lavender Farm
Kharis Lavender Farm
Annemarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center

 

Get Wild on a Hike

  Audubon Naturalist Society - Woodend Sanctuary
Locust Grove Nature Center 
Franconia Rec Center
Sugarloaf Mountain
Patuxent Research Refuge

 

Time Travel Today

Mt. Vernon
Ford's Theatre
Button Farm Living History Center
Historic Jerusalem Mill Village

 

Make Life a Beach

North Beach, MD
  Kent Island, MD - Matapeake Beach
Rehoboth Beach
Dewey Beach 
Tilghman Island

 

Splash into Some Water Fun

Splashdown Waterpark
  Yards Park
Splash Park and Mini Golf
Great Waves Waterpark 
Ocean Dunes Waterpark
Cub Run RECenter
Water Mine Family Swimmin Hole
Lane Manor Splash Park
Pirate’s Cove Waterpark
Volcano Island Waterpark
Atlantis Waterpark

 

Spend the Day at a Museum

  Children's Science Center
College Park Aviation Museum
National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of Natural History
National Postal Museum
Playseum
Port Discovery Children's Museum
Children's Museum of Richmond
African American Civil War Memorial Museum
Smithsonian - National Museum of African American History and Culture
Smithsonian Museums in DC

 

Explore These Cities

  St. Michael's, MD
Gettysburg, PA
Harpers Ferry/Bolivar, WV 
Cambridge, MD 
Winchester, VA
Chincoteague, VA

 

All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)

  National Air and Space Museum
Shannon Air Museum - Aviation History, Museum, Antique Aircraft
B&O Railroad Station Museum
Walkersville Southern Railroad
Old Dominion Speedway
Boomerang Pirate Ship Cruises
Great Falls Mule-Drawn Canal Boats
Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

 

Grow Some Fun at the Farm

  Loudon Heritage Farm Museum
Butler's Orchard
Great Country Farm
Heartland Orchard
Montpelier Farms 
Cox Farms

 

Play Ball!

  Washington Nationals
Washingon Commanders
Washington Capitals
D.C. United
Washington Wizards
Washington Mystics WNBA
Baltimore Orioles

 

Treat Yo' Self

  Toby's Homemade Ice Cream and Coffee
Lil City Creamery 
Nicecream Factory
Thomas Sweet
Sugar Factory
Larry's Homemade Ice Cream
Dolci Gelati
Pitango Gelato
Ice Cream Jubilee

 

Connect with Nature

Tubing With Shenandoah River Outfitters
Skyline Caverns
  Lake Artemesia Natural Area
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Garden
National Arboretum

 

Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks

  Busch Gardens
  Kings Dominion
Six Flags America 
Jolly Roger 30th Street Amusement Park
Hershey Park

 

Talk to the Animals

  NOVA Wild
Clark's Elioak Farm
Green Meadow's Petting Farm
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo
Frying Pan Farm Park
Ticonderoga Farm
Leesburg Animal Park
Virginia Safari Park

 

Explore the Globe Close to Home

  National Bonsai Museum
Chinatown
Kids Euro Fest
Freer/Sackler Galleries
Japanese Syle Garden at the Hillwood Estate 
Francophonie Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival
National Cinco De Mayo Festival
Passport DC
Virginia Scottish Games
Turkish Festival

 

Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls

  Cascade Falls at Patapsco Valley State Park 
Waterfalls at Cunningham Falls State Park
Waterfalls at Shenandoah National Park
Kilgore Falls at Rocks State Park
Great Falls Park

 

Get Active Indoors

  Sky Zone Trampoline
iFly Indoor Skydiving
Fort Dupont Ice Arena
Adventure Park USA

 

Challenge Yourself

  Columbia | Movement Climbing, Yoga & Fitness
Earth Treks- Rockville
The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School
Terrapin Adventures

 

Shop Your Heart Out

  Fair Oaks Mall
Potomac Mills
Fashion Centre at Pentagon City
Tysons Galleria
Crystal City Shops
Tysons Corner Center

Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!


Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Washington. For those that are a bit farther away:

             = Less than 1 hour away

          = 1 to 2 hours away

       = 2 to 3 hours away

   = Just over 3 hours away