Fantastic Finds: Indoor Play Areas

When the weather is cold, wet or just dreary, the week days are long for this stay at home mommy and her little man. Thankfully, I have my play group mamas to help keep us on the move. Established in November 2010, mere months after out little ones were born, our play group has grown into the most awesome support network I could have dreamed of. From sharing knowledge and parenting anxieties to swapping sitter hours and creative play activities these mommies have become the best “co-workers” I could ever ask for. 

We officially meet once a week for play group but many of us also attend classes together and often do sporadic meet-ups for other fun activities around the area. Since we always seem to be out on the town, I thought it would be fun to share a few of our favorite “finds” with you too. Hopefully these finds will help to keep us all out of our weekly rut. This weeks entry This kick off entry is all about indoor play facilities. These play gyms are popping up lie crazy, each offers their own special appeal and of course limitations so I thought it would be fun to talk about a couple of our favorites in the area. 

MOBU (Monkey Business)
They offer classes and unlimited free play hours while you are registered for a session but I have never actually registered for a class there. They also offer pay by the session open play on a regular basis. They have a large variety of equipment, including a “tree house structure” but floor space is limited and it can get crowded. The big bonus is that the gym is located right next to the Elevation Burger in Falls Church which makes it a perfect place for a pre or post lunch outing. 


Kneehigh Ninjas- Falls Plaza Shops
This martial arts studio offers open plays regularly on Wednesday mornings. They do ask that you call ahead to reserve a spot but I have called right before heading over and had no problem getting in. I loved how large the space is and the vast array of toys provided. It is conveniently located next to a Giant and several restaurants making a two for one outing totally possible. My only complaint is that they they have such a limited scheduled hours.


Tysons Indoor play area The best thing about this one is that it is FREE! Located right beside the movie theater and food court in the mall. This play area is a maze of colorful enchanted forest type structures. The play area is not monitored and therefore can get a bit past overcrowded on weekends and after school hours but it is a great place to check out on a cold or rainy day when you also need to sneak in a couple errands on the side. 

Next on our list to check out… Barcroft Indoor Play. What is your favorite indoor play area? 

For a more complete listing of indoor play areas in the 703 check out the list put together by our friends over at Our Kids http://www.our-kids.com/public/t/?f=2&s=107

My Brother the Ape at the Natural History Museum

We love the They Might Be Giants children’s music. B’s first album was Here Comes Science which features his jams My Brother the Ape and I am a Paleontologist. Since he loves his science, and running around so much we headed over to the Natural History Museum to show him science in action.

He really loved the large mammal room and being able to get up close to all the different animals but the dinosaurs and the ocean life were a close second. I loved having the space for him to run and showing him all the different interactive exhibit pieces. There were “fossils” to touch, electronic and mechanical exhibits to work and we even got his picture taken and then turned into a cave man (hilarious.) I was extremely nervous to take him around at such a young age but once we got there I realized it was the perfect place for us to cruise and learn. Since we are going to be looking for lots of indoor activities to keep us moving this winter I think next up on our museum tour will be the Air and Space or American History museum.

being a giraffe- they have long tounges

More Choo Choo: Union Station Holiday Trains

As promised, a little more info for our model train enthusiasts in DC. Since we are between class sessions right now and desperately needed a way to let off some steam B and I headed over to Union Station to check out their holiday train display and grab some lunch with friends.

Union Station has two different displays set up, one that is set up on the floor with plexiglass around it that is perfect for tiny tot viewing and another larger display that is up on tables and protected by a gate. The lower level display featured four trains circling through the mountain tops and towns and the larger table top display featured another five or six trains circling around towns. The displays also offered a good amount of reading material for older children and adults and even offered information on where to purchase some of the models. Another highlight of the day was enjoying the view of the trains arriving and departing from the windows next too the parking deck. Who would know sitting in the freezing cold could be so much fun. The holiday display is free and open to the public through January 2nd. There is plenty of parking (although it is costly) so a cheaper option would be to look for limited street parking or take the metro in.

Lil B sporting his Santa’s little train conductor look

The display is not nearly as exciting as the one at the botanical gardens but if you have a little one who is into trains and you are looking for an outing you might consider taking the metro to Union Station, going to the gardens first and then walking back to do the Union Station display and lunch before heading back home.

Arlington Kid Friendly

Arlington Kid Friendly posts will focus on fun family friendly activities and restaurant reviews in the area.
We are an active family and are always on the run. Before our son was born the hubs and I dined out... dined often and dined deliciously at some of the DMV's best eating establishments. As self-proclaimed foodies we are determined to find and share information on great restaurants that are willing and able to cater to the family friendly crowd.
Family friendly activities are also always in the forefront of my mind. I am a member of an active playgroup and several DMV area organizations that help me keep up to date on activities and events in the area. It is my hope that this blog will be a platform for me to share this information with others.