Let’s face it: Amusing your children all summer can be a real budget buster. Keeping your little ones entertained from breakfast until bedtime can really add up. Since my daughter, Alice, was born in 2021, I have mastered the art of keeping her busy without breaking the bank. Here are some of our favorite local, free and inexpensive activities in the DMV.
Parks, Trains, Carousels and a Packed Lunch
One of Alice’s favorite activities in warmer weather is riding the carousel. Any carousel. I love the one at Rio Lakefront just off Interstate 270 in Gaithersburg. Parking is plentiful and complimentary. For just $7, your child can ride the carousel all day long. Adults tickets are free with any child under 42 inches tall. Right next to the carousel is a terrific playground that is suitable for a wide range of ages. With walking trails that ring the lakefront, there is plenty of space for everyone to get their energy out. While there are many restaurants to choose from at Rio, we often bring our lunches and eat at the shaded picnic tables. Complimentary Wi-Fi makes it easy to stay connected. There are several fish-feeding stations where you can get a handful of pellets for a quarter. If you need a break from the sun, Barnes & Noble is located at Rio as well. Head to the kids’ section for some reading time. Refill your water bottles at the café. All told, a typical morning at Rio Lakefront costs us somewhere between $7 and $8 (depending on how much I let Alice feed the fish).
Another great local place is the Cabin John Regional Park. Situated on 6 acres and well shaded by beautiful old trees, the park features playground areas for both younger and older children. The park has several picnic shelters available to rent but otherwise free to use. The main attraction is the mini train that runs every half hour. This scenic 2-mile ride takes approximately 15 minutes and costs $4 per person. Little ones younger than 2 ride for free with a paying adult. For added fun, line up a bit early and try to snag the last row in the caboose to face backward for the entire ride. The train passes by the playground area, and the conductor usually pulls the train horn to delight all the children waiting nearby. It’s another great place to bring a packed lunch, and an afternoon here costs us $8 if we only ride the train once.
Maryvale Park in Rockville is also a cost-effective way to keep the kids busy. On more than 7 acres, this park is packed with plenty of things to do. In addition to the usual playground equipment, Maryvale features a pond with an overlook deck, a stream with a foot bridge, basketball courts and soccer fields. Maryvale also has a splash pad available to everyone at no cost. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day, the splash pad has staff onsite during hours of operation.
Alice, who gets her athleticism from my husband, loves to ride her scooter as fast as she can. One great location is the nearly 6-mile-long Bethesda Trolley Trail. Starting from near the Twinbrook Metro Station in Rockville and ending at Battery Park in Bethesda, this paved pathway has ample opportunities for scooting and bike riding.
Lions, Tigers and Bears for Free!
Every year, I renew our Smithsonian’s National Zoo membership. While visits to the 163-acre zoo are always free for everyone, the $92 dollar premier package includes three parking passes (which are otherwise $30 per visit), a 15% discount on food, retail and stroller rentals and early and exclusive access to zoo events. Additionally, members are not required to reserve entry passes in advance. The membership also allows for free and reduced entry to dozens of other Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities nationwide.
The Speedwell Conservation Carousel is $4 per ride and all riders under 42 inches must be accompanied by an adult. Zoo members are entitled to unlimited free rides on the carousel for up to four riders. We tend to ride the carousel several times per visit. I’m pretty sure our membership paid for itself on carousel rides alone within two months. The zoo grounds open at 8 a.m., with most exhibitions opening at 9 a.m. I like to get to the zoo with Alice around 9 a.m. to avoid most of the rush-hour traffic. Additionally, many of the animals tend to be more active in the earlier hours before it gets really hot out. Small water misters are installed along the main throughway to help you stay cool. In addition to the three free parking passes (which must be reserved in advance), the Metro Red Line is a short walk away from the zoo entrance. If you pack a lunch and manage to avoid a trip to one of the many gift shops, this fun-for-the-whole-family activity can be all but free.
Rain, Rain…Is Not a Problem
We are definitely an outdoor family. But a rainy day is no reason to stay at home. The public library system has events every day of the week. Our local library does story times on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, and we attend often. If we find ourselves looking for a story time on a different day of the week, we love to check out other libraries near our house. I always do my best to arrive early so Alice can pick out some books and “help” me check them out.
For a great way to buy books, support the library and be kind to your wallet, check out the Friends of the Library. This nonprofit organization sells secondhand books and uses the proceeds to fund library projects and provide money for supplies, events and more. It’s a great way to spend a few minutes and a few bucks to refresh your reading materials.
Often, we bring in books that we are done with as a way to continue to support the library.
Some rainy days, we just don’t feel like getting up and going out. On those days, I break out arts and crafts. I always keep some new crafting supplies in the hall closet where she can’t reach. Sign up for a free Michaels Rewards membership and keep an eye out for coupons. Michaels does free in-store pickup, which is a great way to keep the impulse purchasing down. I like to buy Alice small (think 4 inches by 4 inches or smaller) canvases and washable paint and dot markers so she can let her creativity loose. We recently bought her a small easel from IKEA for $19.99. As for smocks, IKEA has those, too — long-sleeved with a Velcro closure at the back. I snagged two of them at $3.99 each. To contain the mess, I put an old bed sheet under the expected paint blast radius.
Keeping a kid busy, happy and entertained takes a lot of effort. Hopefully, these tips help make your summer a little bit more manageable.
Be sure to check the websites for each location to confirm times, availability and pricing.
Katie Schubert is a mother of one extremely active and opinionated 4-year-old. Her very best advice for keeping things affordable is to win the Powerball. Mega Millions would also probably work.
