It can be challenging to find family activities that will entertain your teens and tweens—they're generally too old for playgrounds and a bit too young to wander around DC alone. Plus, that teenage attitude and desire for independence can put a damper on fun family activities.

However, the DC area is brimming with fun activities, and these 21 things to do with teens and tweens near DC can get even the most jaded teenagers off the couch and away from their screens. You never know—they may be having so much fun, they won't even worry about being seen in public with Mom or Dad.

For more fun things to do in DC with the whole family, check out our guide to the best museums in DC for kids, a roundup of thrilling water parks, and a list of our favorite mini golf courses.

Late spring/early summer is strawberry picking season in the DC area, and our taste buds are more than ready. From pick-your-own berry farms to full-on strawberry festivals, there are so many opportunities to pick and celebrate this delicious fruit.

Here are 12 strawberry festivals and places to go strawberry picking in Northern Virginia and Maryland, not too far from DC. While kids will love the act of strawberry picking alone, several of the farms on this list also offer other fun activities like petting zoos, slides, playgrounds, and more.

For more fun on the farm, check out our Pick-Your-Own Guide to Farms in Washington, DC, which includes our roundup of even more places to go berry picking near DC.

Ninja warrior gyms, obstacle courses, and parkour classes are the perfect places for kids to burn off energy when it's cold or rainy outside—or when they just need something a little different than a playground or indoor play space. At ninja warrior gyms and obstacle courses, kids can safely channel their inner ninja without doing flips off the couch or climbing the furniture. And when you've got children of multiple ages—including tweens or teens—they will all have a blast jumping, climbing, and swinging through the various obstacles.

Here are 11 great ninja warrior gyms, obstacle courses, and places to do parkour near DC for kids. These include both indoor and outdoor obstacle courses and ninja warrior gyms where even grown-ups can get in on the fun. For more things to do indoors near DC, check out our Guide to Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces for Kids in DC, which includes our lists of free indoor places to play and awesome trampoline parks near DC. Who knows? Maybe you'll have the next American Ninja Warrior on your hands!