Rainy Day Fun
It's raining, or too cold, or even too hot and you and your kids have cabin fever. Here are some fun in-door spots that'll let you escape the house without braving the elements.
Be With Me Playseum--Located in Bethesda, it's an indoor facility mixing education and creative play in the venue of a cityscape. Children from 9 months-14 years old can play and create with a variety of activities. Only a $5 admission, but some activities carry an additional fee. Free song and story times every day.
Chesapeake Children's Museum--Only 30 minutes away and $3 entry fee, this small facility packs a lot of punch. It's made up of a series of rooms containing a construction zone with tools and blocks, a small dock and boat that kids can climb on, a house area with food and books and dolls, a pretend medical office, a craft area and a dress-up room. It also has fish, turtles, frogs and a boa constrictor for kids to marvel at (all safely behind glass).
College Park Aviation Museum--An extremely kid-friendly destination, the museum features tons of activity areas where children can create and mail their own postcards, dress up in aviator gear, discover how air streams work, color pictures of aircraft, and read children's books about air and space. There's even a model plane kids can climb in and "fly".
Family Room--This in-door play space is perfect for babies through toddlers. Kids can climb, crawl, play and imagine at various toy stations. The small size lets you relax in a comfy chair while easily keeping an eye on your children. Magazines, wifi access and a Starbucks almost right outside the door makes this perfect for you too!
Herbert Wells Ice Rink--Located in College Park, the rink is open for ice skating from October through March, the Herbert Wells Ice Rink features an indoor warming room, party room, and a snack bar. Rental skates are available.
Ikea--Let the kids jump on someone else's furniture! Er, we mean, play at the many kids' centers scattered around the upper floor. Potty-trained children between 37" to 54" in height are also welcome to play (for free!) in Småland for up to an hour while you shop. Add in a restaurant with cheap food, special parking for families with babies, and changing and bottle warming facilities, and you have a low-stress outing.
Local Libraries--Attend a story time or pick up some new books, CDs or DVDs to help entertain the kids (and yourself). When you're climbing the walls, it's a great place to go for a change of scenery.
PG Sports and Learning Complex--Bring your kids to open gym time and let them bounce all over the special tot-sized area of the Gymnastics center or enjoy a family swim in-door leisure pool. Drop-in rates: $5 for adults, $4 for children. Monthly membership available.
Westfield Annapolis Mall--Let your kids have fun climbing, doing puzzles, or interacting with other children in the large padded Play Space located near JCPenny. The mall also features a "family lounge" with private nursing areas, baby changing-stations and a large family restroom, up-front parking spaces for expectant mothers and families with small children, and Smarte Carte Stroller rentals.
