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11 free things to do with kids this winter

Virtual museum tours, a stroll through a working farm and science- or space-focused educational activities: there is a wealth of free things for families to do in the region this season.

kids jumping on playground
© Pavel Losevsky/stock.adobe.com

National Museum of the Marine Corps Virtual Experience

Explore the U.S. Marine Corps’ heritage from your computer, including taking a peek at the Marine aircraft suspended throughout the Leatherneck Gallery, undergoing bootcamp as a new recruit, watching footage of Marines landing on Iwo Jima and watching high-def 360-degree panoramic tours of all the galleries. 

Air and Space Anywhere

No matter where you are, you can enjoy online programs, stories, videos, activities, virtual tours and more about the history of flight, space exploration and the features of our universe. The Air & Space Museum is also constantly adding new content, so a visit to the site always brings a new experience. 

Children’s Science Center

The center has posted more than 40 educational videos on its YouTube channel in many different science disciplines that make learning fun. Discover engineering, follow along as a staff member reads an engaging book to you, watch experiments with magnets, slime and bubbles and learn why the desert is dry.

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Wolf Trap

Online experiences through the National Center for the Performing Arts include videos, audio clips, webinars, movement classes, improv and theater, all which drive home the transformative power of the arts for families. 

Escape Room Herndon at Home

The Escape Room has created two virtual experiences for families to do at home, each of which has a series of 5-10 minute puzzles to solve to take you to the next level. Challenge yourselves with The Great Gnome Rescue or Back to the Present. 

Arcadia Stay at Home Club

The Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture in Alexandria has resources including virtual field trips, math- and STEM-focused activities and ways to get your kids in nature. Make a nature loom, learn how to compost and whip up recipes from farm camp. // arcadiafood.org/StayatHomeClub

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Prince William Historic Preservation Division

Watch a series of YouTube videos about the history of the Prince William region including historic holidays and ghost stories from Rippon Lodge, Colonial transportation and Robert Carter III’s Deed of Gift. 

Clemyjontri Park

Even when it’s cold, this 2-acre park in McLean is a great place to play. The park’s unique playground is designed so children of all abilities can play side-by-side and every child is welcome. Kids who use wheelchairs, walkers or braces or have sensory or developmental challenges can share in the fun and exploration. // 6317 Georgetown Pike, McLean

Aldie Mill Virtual Field Trips

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Aldie Mill has collaborated with The Great Courses for distance-learning that uses 3D, volumetric photography, letting you learn about the mill from your living room. The three trips totaling an hour and a half of video include The History of Aldie Mill, Simple Machines: How Aldie Mill Works and Aldie Mill: Eyewitness to the Civil War. 

Frying Pan Farm Park

Bundle up and head to Kidwell Farm, a working farm where you can see chickens, peacocks, sheep, goats, horses, cows, pigs and more. You’ll also learn how farm families lived in the early 20th century with outbuildings like the dairy smokehouse and livestock sheds. // 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon

Virtual Tour of Mount Vernon

Click and move around George Washington’s home and estate with your mouse, while learning about why our first president designed the home the way he did and what life was like in 1700s and 1800s Virginia. The site also has a wealth of fun and educational activities for kids. 

For more family-friendly ideas like this, subscribe to our Family newsletter.

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