Outdoor Activities Guide for DC Kids

Families can enjoy Washington DC's great outdoors all year round, with outdoor adventures and activities from hiking to drive-in movies, camping to swimming.

Photo courtesy of Croydon Creek Nature Center

Photo courtesy of Croydon Creek Nature Center
Outdoor Adventures for DC Families
Full up your buckets with juicy red strawberries. Photo courtesy of Great Country Farms
Best Strawberry Picking Near DC and Summer Strawberry Festivals
Enjoy a free concert on Transit Pier every Wednesday evening. Photo courtesy of Wharf DC
DC's Free Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families This Summer
Outdoor movies abound in the DC area all summer long. Photo courtesy of the Fairfax County Park Authority
Free Outdoor Movies Near DC this Summer for Kids
Kids of all ages and abilities will love the colorful equipment at Clemyjontri Park. Photo by the author
Destination Playgrounds in the DC Area: 15 Play Spaces Worth the Trip
Climb the famous steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a gorgeous view of the reflecting pool and the Washington Monument. Photo by anjanettew via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Visiting Washington, DC's National Mall and Memorial Parks with Kids
Buzz over to the Me and the Bee playground at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Photo courtesy of nationalzoo.si.edu
Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds near DC

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Outdoor Activities at Home
Jump rope solo, skip with siblings, or round up the whole gang for double dutch.
40 Classic Outdoor Games for Kids: Backyard Games, Playground Games, and More
Revel in the dirty hands! Outdoor activities help kids sleep better and jumpstarts their imaginations.
30 Outdoor Activities in Nature for Kids for Hands-on Outdoor Learning
Jump rope songs can turn a kid workout into a game.
  VIDEO
20 Jump Rope Workout Games and Songs for Kids
Photo by Michael Newman/CC BY 2.0
10 Outdoor Party Games for Kids' Birthdays at Home
Run through the tunnel to get their energy out! Photo courtesy Melissa and Doug
Cheap Outdoor Toys and Outdoor Games for Kids
10 Classic Outdoor Games from the '70s that It’s Time To Teach Your Kids

Latest Outdoors News

The beaches in Montauk are among the nation's best. Photo by Joe Shlabotnik via Flickr
25 Things To Do in Montauk with Kids
Enjoy beaches, restaurants, and fishing at this East End treasure.
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Grab some apple crisp ice cream from the ice cream shop and a bottle of dry rose from wine barn at Harbes Family Farm.
Family-Friendly Wineries on Long Island's East End
These vineyards in the North Fork and Hamptons delight kids and adults alike.
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Join Brooklyn Children's Museum in celebrating Caribbean history and culture with a day of dance, music, food, and more! Photo courtesy of BCM
Best Summer Festivals in NYC in August 2023 for Families
Here are our top festival picks for the last month of summer fun.
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The Pier 6 Waterlab has been one of our favorite NYC splash pads since it opened in 2010. Photo by Sara M
Play Fountains in NYC Where Kids Can Get Totally Soaked
Kids can splash, wade around, and get wet at these fountains around the city.
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Central Park is the perfect place for a New York picnic. Photo via Pexels
Best Central Park Picnic Areas for Kids and Families
Grab your basket and blanket and strike out for a fun picnic in Central Park.
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In early summer, Lavender By the Bay lends a regal hue to the normally green North Fork of Long Island.
  VIDEO
Lavender By the Bay Immerses Visitors in Acres of Fragrant Blooms
These flowering farms are kid-friendly North Fork destinations.
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