Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids by Beth Rubin

Author:Beth Rubin
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Published: 2012-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

For Kids with Special Interests

Airports

College Park Aviation Museum ★★ Ages 4 and up. This Smithsonian-affiliated museum is on the site of the world’s oldest continuously operating airport, which opened its doors—make that field—in 1909. Remember Wilbur and Orville? Well, they taught the first two army officers to fly here the year the field opened. Other firsts include the first testing of a bomb dropped from a plane (1911) and the first U.S. Air Mail service (1918). This is a fantastic facility with appeal for kids of all ages (count me in!). Wing it on your own, and visit the historic airport ( 301/864-3029). Tours are self-guided except the last Saturday of the month, at 11am and 1pm. Group tours are available for 10 or more. Pack a picnic to eat on the grounds, or drive a short distance to the University of Maryland campus, where there are numerous chain eateries and greasy spoons along Baltimore Avenue.

Every September, the airport hosts a weekend Air Fair with airplane, helicopter, and hot-air balloon rides, as well as displays and children’s entertainment. Bring extra batteries for your camera. There are photo ops aplenty. Docents are especially kid-friendly, stopping to kibitz with youngsters and sometimes give them free souvenirs. (I hope I don’t get them into trouble.) The Prop Shop sells—you guessed it—flight-related souvenirs and is open the same hours as the museum. Preschoolers can join the Peter Pan Club (story time and activities) the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 10:30 to 11:30am, and there’s no extra charge.

1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr., College Park, MD. 301/864-6029. www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com. Admission $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 kids 2–18, free 23 months and under. Groups must call at least 1 week ahead to schedule a tour. Daily 10am–5pm. Closed Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Metro: College Park, then walk 3 blocks.

The Military

See earlier in this chapter for individual listings on Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, and the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War memorials.

U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center

There’s more here than first meets the eye. After taking a family picture with Stanley Bleifeld’s statue The Lone Sailor on the plaza, enter the below-ground visitor center, which is unmistakably shiplike. The Homecoming, another work by Bleifeld, welcomes visitors at the entrance. Throughout the Gallery Deck are interactive video kiosks. Push a button and learn about Navy history, or retrieve information on naval ships and aircraft. If you have friends or relatives who’ve served in the Navy, see if they’re registered in the Navy Memorial Log. If they’re not, pick up an enrollment form.

Action-packed Navy-related movies play several times most days in the theater, including At Sea and A Day in the Life of a Navy Supply Officer. Some summer evenings, Guard Drill Team performances or concerts by the U.S. Navy Band take place on the plaza.

Check out the “Wave Wall,” where 200 years of naval history are depicted in 13 panels, before picking up souvenirs in the Ship’s Store, full of nautical gifts and memorabilia.

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