Best Children's Birthdays Washington Near You

Alecia Frisby: I needed a last minute indoor party idea when thunderstorms were forecast on the day of my son's birthday party which had been planned outside. I contacted Mad Science and got a timely response. Every interaction with them was positive to and professional. On party day, our "scientist" could not have been better. His calm and engaging demeanor was perfect. He somehow wrangled 10 or so kindergartners while remaining positive and relaxed. A plus experience for sure. The kids are still talking about it and I've gotten so much feedback from parents saying their kids so enjoyed it. Happy little last minute change that was a huge success!!

Sue Agraviador: We had a great experience hosting a birthday part for my 4 year old with Mad Science Washington DC. Communication with staff was flawless and everything happened as planned. We had a group of 4 kids and they were entertained for the entire duration of the session (almost 1 hour). I found that very impressive. The adults were entertained as well. We have a small townhome and the Mad Scientist was able to set up in our kitchen table. Wonderful experience! Highly recommend it to anyone.

Cynthia Lopez: My 6-year old daughter really enjoyed the week-long Dinosaur-themed Mad-Science. I loved that she made new friends (even though I sent her with her classmate), learned, had lots to talk about to us when they came home each day, and were tired. The counselors seemed good and Wil, the Director, was Fantastic. As a first-time summer camp mom, he was super responsive, understanding, and helpful. Knowing what I know now, I will definitely be signing my kids up next summer. Thank you!

Kathy Reimondez: We hired Mad Science for my daughter's 11th birthday party, and it was such a hit with all the kids. We chose the Wizardry option, and with each of the fun and exciting experiments the science was explained. It was wonderful and I would definitely recommend them!

Lisa Devlin: Will was super easy to work with in scheduling the event, and Dr. T was a delight for the kids. He kept a bunch of seven-year olds engaged and entertained for a full hour. I loved the educational aspect of the show, which was presented in a fun, kid-friendly way. We received lots of compliments from the other parents as well. I highly recommend using Mad Science for a kid birthday party!

Lauren Bauer: It was easy and straight forward to plan my son's birthday party with Mad Science. Dr. T was wonderful with the kids! He made my son's birthday party memorably fun. The kids' had a blast learning about chemical reactions, often shouting out "WOW!" with huge smiles. I felt good that they learned so much while having such a great time. I highly recommend!

Emily Adler: Hiring Mad Science to help me host myd grader’s 7th birthday party was the best decision I could of made! The kids were fully entertained for an hour, and Dr Tony had my son assist a few times, and acknowledged his birthday, which was amazing! The cotton candy at the end was also a hit. Thank you for making his day a really fun one!!

Joyce Adams: My son and his friends had an amazing time at his Zoom Birthday celebration with Mad Science. Things That Go Boom was amazing!!! Dr. Sara was so much fun and energetic. She taught the kids so much about each experiment and she kept them smiling and laughing the entire time. Dr. Sara made my son, the Birthday Boy the star of the show! I would definitely recommend Mad Science to my friends. I have already gotten several inquiries about how to contact the company. This show is a must see for kids and adults alike. What a great experience! Thank you Mad Science and Dr. Sara!

Sunmi Kim: Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, ValueKids and parents had the best time! We chose things that go boom. The mad scientist (Asian male) who came to our house was super entertaining and awesome. And really good with kids. We totally want him to come again!

Madelen Q: What an amazing experience! We were super happy with Mirabel! It was a dream come true for our daughter! She was amazing! 💜

Agnes Kalinowska: Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, ValuePrincess Parties of DC were so accommodating, extremely responsive and easy to work with. The performers were true professionals. Arrived early and from the moment they entered, they run the show, keeping the kids 100% occupied and happy! Thank you very much for a great service. Highly recommend.

Neal Bankenstein: Moana was an amazing performer who made all of the kids feel appreciated and entertained. She was also an amazing singer!

Gloria Mills: Amazing company! Highly recommended will be hiring them again! The owner was fast and highly communicative throughout the entire event before during and after. The princesses were wonderful with our kids and their singing was out of this world!

Mohammad Ahmad: This was such a good choice! My daughter turned 4 and we went in with fairly moderate expectations. Nothing too much. We had Cadence as Elsa. She was absolutely phenomenal. What a kind and abundantly loving woman. She was so good with the kids. I mean the patience and the direction she had with the kids. It felt like a party for adults and the princess took over and did a great job doing so. I would definitely recommend. Jacklyn was so easy to book with. We got sick our first party date and she allowed us to reschedule. Just a great company overall. Totally undervalued and I don’t mean just monetarily. We will be using them again for sure!

Allison Weil: We loved our Princess Party! We hired Mal from Descendants and Snow White. my daughters were thrilled. They were both so professional, friendly, wonderful with the children, and so in character! We squeezed in nail painting and the girls were so excited. They also sang Happy Birthday with us before they cleaned up and headed out. I've already recommended them to all of the other equally impressed Moms and Dads!! Thank you Jacklyn, Mal, & Snow White!!

madalina petric: We had a fantastic experience with Princess Parties of DC. The artists hired were talented, carrying and keeping all the children busy with all the great activities. The owner is so sweet and helpful. My daughter turned two, and she had a blast! Thank you again for all you do! I highly recommend this company!

Heather Rankin: We hired Ariel for our daughter’s 4th birthday and it was everything we dreamed of. Not only did she look the part but her voice & personality was just as beautiful. We had the best experience and I highly recommend to anyone wanting to make some amazing memories. We are also very appreciative that Ariel was able to come since this was a very last minute request to get a princess. Would add more stars if we could!!!

Kayla Howse: We had an AMAZING experience! Jacklyn is so sweet and help. She helped guide me through the process and was very accommodating, she made sure I had no questions. We had Tiana and Moana and they were super sweet and great singers! They were very professional too. The other moms asked for the info and I gladly provided it! Will definitely book again!

Nida Gelazis Johansson: We hosted a birthday party for my daughter here and Robbyn and the staff made everything seamless and easy, offering carts by the door to bring in all the food and decorations and even bring us big bowls of ice to keep our canned of drinks and juice boxes cool. The kids had a great time, the only downside was the crying by some of the 4-yo guests when we had to say goodbye. We felt lucky to find a partially outdoor space for a party with only about one month's notice. I suspect that this will become harder to come by once the news gets out that the Lane didn't close after all. Thanks to the Lane for being a perfect host!

Paige Hibbard: I know there are a lot of challenges with a business model like this, and I want this kind of model to succeed (I know the pandemic has made things hard). We were first time visitors and there were things we really liked but also a few reasons why we probably won't be back. I met up with a friend who lives nearby and it was great to have an alternative to the children's museum. Both of our daughters were crawling and not walking yet and there aren't many places they can explore. We loved the toys and thoughtfully designed areas. The check in was also professional. $20 for two hours seemed like a lot but for local moms a membership would be perfect. The location is great and convenient. Unfortunately cleanliness was a big problem. This could be improved by having more hand Sanitizer and wipes available. Also a place to put toys that had been mouthed. Maybe consider closing for an hour to clean? That's what our gym daycare and port discovery children's museum does. Shutting down for an hour would put some limits but I would much rather have a clean facility for my child. The Cafe was not open while we were there I'm not sure when it's available. There was a leak that came from The ceiling while we were eating. I had to notify an employee who we saw just use a cloth. No cleaning supplies or Sanitizer at all. This was the same spot our daughters had just been crawling so Thankfully they didn't get the gross water on them but it made me question the overall cleanliness of everything. Things happen But it seemed like a serious leak coming from a bathroom upstairs. The out of order elevator just had the doors open too and I had to make sure my daughter didn't go in (she loves all the dangerous things of course). I hope you can take this constructive criticism so that you can improve and serve more families. ❤️

Lauren Dreyer: I can’t say enough good things about The Lane. I’ve recommended it to dozens of local friends, and even to some out-of-towners when they come to DC with kids. It’s an amazing space for kids that, most importantly, is GREAT for parents too! As apartment dwellers, we are always venturing out of the house for more stimulation. The Lane is so much fun for our daughter, who adores all the toys and activities and play spaces. It’s one of those amazing, and nearly impossible to find, spots that has enough to keep kids of all ages entertained for hours. And we parents enjoy the coffee and beer and rooftop deck and sunshine and clean, safe, creative, and thoughtful space within which to let our daughter roam free! It’s a great alternative for winter or rainy weather, but we love it so much that it’s become a regular part of our weekend routine, even when the weather is nice!

Rebecca Oldfield-Frey: Kid heaven...parent hell? No, actually it was a cool place. They do a nice kids birthday with an awesome custom cake, and my son loved all the physical indoor play options. There's a bar with coffee and beer for the parents, too.

Austin Graff: As a parent who lives in Washington, D.C., I often find myself driving out to Virginia or Maryland to keep my daughter entertained during the winter months. Thanks to The Lane Social Club, I'll never leave the District. Here's why every parent should visit The Lane Social Club: 1) Space: In a growing city like D.C., large spaces are hard to come by leaving people in cramped spaces. Not The Lane Social Club. It's in a stand alone large industrial building right next to the historic Hecht Warehouse (apartment building) in Ivy City. Inside, the ceilings are high and there's plenty of open space for your kids to run around. If you take the stairs to the very top of the building, you'll find a cafe, a nursing room, more family restrooms, a party room (with a capacity of 60 people), and a large rooftop for events and outdoor play. 2) Play areas: There's plenty for children to do. On the bottom level, there's several play areas with toys for infants and toddlers. The floors in these areas are cushioned. There's a reading nook with bean bags, a ball pit, a shelf of more toys, a kid-sized rock climbing wall, and a few other spaces for kids. If you go up the stairs, you'll find two net tunnels leading to a net slide (the nets can carry up to three eleplants, so it's very safe for your children). There's also a 12-foot winding slide that's very fun. 3) Amenities: There's plenty for kids, but what stands out are the spaces for adults. There are two cafes/bars (one on each floor) with bar seating and tables. The menu includes locally roasted coffee (from Small Planes Roastery nearby), wine, beer, smoothies, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner food (the avo toast and bagels look great!). 4) Events: Their party room is great for a kid's birthday and they plan to do many activities throughout the day from sidewalk chalk to crafts to hula hoops. 5) Price: For such a large space filled with amenities, it's not a bad price. It's $95 a month for unlimited visits a month for two parents, two kids, and one caregiver. It also gets you 10% food and drink. If you drop in, it's $20 for all of those people. They also do a new parent membership for $175 for three months of unlimited visits and 10% off food and drink. The Lane Social Club is the space D.C. parents have been dreaming of and we're glad it's a local business started by two locals.

E .GC: I liked this place a lot at first and went frequently but was turned off when I went one day and they told me it was at max capacity for that session. It was empty. I had to wait 15 minutes to go in and when I did, there were tons of people who showed up. It felt nonsensical. It made me feel really sad because the child I was with kept wanting to go through the doors and play and couldn't understand why we had to stay in the waiting area.

Trevor Diaz: Full disclosure: I am heavily biased in favor of The Lane because of a deep seated desire for it to thrive. In simple terms, there’s nothing like it anywhere within DC for parents and kids. If I’m not mistaken they just, and I mean only just now, opened and everything shows so much promise. It’s open, it’s friendly, it’s terrifically accommodating, and it’s also so very shiny and new. The owners have a Herculean task ahead of them with regard to long term maintenance. I am hopeful that guests will maintain decorum in an arena that has yet to establish written rules about hand hygiene, where to take off shoes, respecting the elements, and cleaning up after their kids. It is early, it is deserving of a 6-star start. If you live nearby and are searching for anything that’s an indoor/outdoor space for kids and parents you’ve found it. You must come and see.

Emily Pierce: I'm half of one of those lucky couples that got married in 2020... or attempted to and then had to reschedule and re-plan before finally tying the knot. Lucky for me though after having to cut our guest list and find an indoor-outdoor spot, I came across The Lane and Molly's team by complete chance. And while wedding planning itself may have been a dumpster fire in 2020 - The Lane and Molly made the venue portion SO EASY and SO SEAMELESS. I was hugely impressed by not only the space, my groom and I did an impromptu "send off" down the slide obviously, but also the kindness and flexibility of the whole team at The Lane. If you're looking for a spot for a small-medium indoor/outdoor gathering (whether you're reading this during Covid or after) - definitely check out The Lane. The rooftop makes for some pretty photos even though you're in the heart of DC, the bar makes it easy for hired caterers to come in and the flexibility and ease of what The Lane offers makes them an awesome venue to work with. I can't wait to return once the world goes back to normal and eventually make use of their family friendly offerings!

aiyana poe: Great service, they offer a variety of classes and community involvement for children and families. It is a great indoor playground in the middle of the city.

Hoom !: Super fresh smooth tastiest Coffee I have had recently! Got a Breakfast Sausage Burrito and will be back for more! This place is so unique for both adults and kids, with lots of games for kids while they are waiting for the coffee and meals!

Joy McGlaun: We had an amazing birthday party for my daughter at Confetti. She wanted a "unicorn, princess, snake" party and they came through with creative games, a gorgeous cupcake/cake, and really great party favors. The entire party was planned, decorated, and managed, so my family was able to enjoy the occasion rather than stressing over it. It was COVID-safe and there were both indoor and outdoor options. A lovely space and superb service.

Victor Namnum: Great indoor place to have coffee and let the kiddos use up energy in a safe environment. They also have a lot of kid healthy and friendly snacks.

Jennie Smith-Peers: I really want to like this business. We need it, but the service and quality of food/coffee is really inconsistent. I keep going back hoping it has gotten better but it hasn't. In fact, the last time I went it took forever for them to make our food. Once I finally got my food they had done it incorrectly. I asked for no mushrooms (being allergic), and the person forgot and put them on my sandwich. Luckily I had my meds with me. They did give me money back (though they didn't know to do that), but it shouldn't have happened. The people need to be trained, and pay better attention to what the customers have ordered.

Corrie Miracle: I couldn't love this hidden gem anymore than I already do! I ended up raiding their bakery bins and getting the most delicious sugar cookies and then literally bought every flavor of Rice Krispy Treat they had! And these aren't your ordinary treats, kids. These are amazing mounds of deliciousness with so many different flavors! If you haven't, run to Confetti! Whether you just need a morning pick-me-up or a delicious treat to get through the day. 100% will be back!

Harleen Sahni: I want to like this place, but it's inconsistent for food and drinks. On two occasions the fruit in the kids meals was spoiled. I've gotten drip coffee there and sometimes it's good and sometimes terrible. Same for their cookies. I recently got some freshly baked triple chocolate cookies that smelt amazing from the window, but were just not good (my wife agreed). It was almost like an ingredient like sugar or something was completely missing. The holiday cookies have been good. The staff is nice, but the quality issues take away from the experience. Hopefully they will improve. I can't speak to the children's programming they have. We haven't tried that out.

Katy Krepp: Confetti is an amazing concept that is just as wonderful in reality as it is on paper! I think all of the programs for children are a really neat idea to provide something fun and stimulating for kids, but as a single college aged person with no children I can't even speak to that as much as I can speak to how good the cafe portion of the play cafe is. The food is really unique and not something you find at your average cafe. I've tried almost everything on the menu and have loved everything which is so unique that anyone enjoys an ENTIRE menu. The coffee is also to die for. Everything is freshly ground which makes more of a difference than I actually realized. Overall, this is a super fun neighborhood place with such an inviting atmosphere.

2a4me: While in DC we stumbled upon this really great place for some great treats! Having a huge sweet tooth I knew I would have to partake! Everything was delicious and the staff very accommodating! Will stop in again when I am back to DC!

Jessica Herman: Have gotten coffee here a couple times now and am definitely impressed! Got a large order with some coworkers and all of us were really happy with our coffees. Latte, cappuccino, even drip coffee! Glad to support a small business! Definitely recommend!

Meredith Raetz: Had a great time at the Children's Museum with our two year old! He loved all of the activities/exhibits, especially Thomas & Friends. There was a good assortment of things to do from physical climbing, dress up, building, exploring. Our little guy didn't what to leave one activity for the next, but always love the next one too! The space has a very clean and open feel and was not overly crowded.

Bernadette Bennett: Great place for kids to run around and have the best time. Bring socks! They have an amazing slide upon entering that kids and adults can go down from. You have to climb up the sections before being able to go down. There are several areas to play. I would suggest to go early since it does get crowded. My daughter wanted to come back during our trip.

Lydia Senchenko: I felt very uneasy after reading the negative reviews but we have an extremely energetic 1.9 yo, so I didn’t care at this point of our vacation - she needed to get her wiggles OUT. We were so happy to visit this place. It felt more like an indoor playground rather than a museum, but who cares? The museum is spacious, lots of different activities to keep you busy for 2-3 hrs (who can handle more I have no idea). It was about $18/person but I can’t put a price tag on a busy fun-having child! Overall, our child enjoyed it - we can’t ask for more.

Cesse Ip: Great for the under 5 and under crowd. There is a lot to do here and can keep your kids entertained for hours. There is a 3-story slide, some science exhibits, a lot of interactive displays, and an art room. There are not clean sight lines, so it's not a "let your kid run around while you sip coffee in the corner" place. You can park at the Reagan building, but I'd encourage you to either take public transit or find street parking. The entrance is outside of 13th street, so it's a bit of a maze to find from the Reagan parking garage.

Nils Hünerfürst: I visited the NCM with my 4 and 2 year old kid and they had a lot of fun. Definitely a place to check out with your kids. Some things need some fixing because they don’t actually work as they supposed to do but all good.

joanne soh: Had a great time with my son at this place! They have 2 little movers areas that are suitable from 0-3yo! Other than that, let loose and explore, learning while having fun! Would recommend this place!

Marilyn: 15.95 PER person, regardless of age, rip off for this museum/ play area. I figured I would try it out for my daughter who is 2.5 to explore and burn off energy. I was completely WRONG! It was honestly a waste of money and time coming here. I would compare it to an indoor playground. Whoever thought of the interactive "play" items here clearly wasn't thinking of young kids or don't have kids themselves. We went early in the morning thinking that was the time time to go, but again I was wrong. Kids running everywhere not watching out for the younger ones. The parents no where to be found. Big kids in the small (3 and under) section, pushing, and running into each other. Only the 1st and 2nd floor were open, the 3rd floor was not. And seeing previous posts about Thomas the train, that was no where to be found. I definitely wouldn't go back again, but at least my daughter liked the paw patrol air blower (the only thing she really did like). That's why I gave it 2 stars, other than that it would be 1. Parking also was $20. Personally save your money coming here and go to an indoor playground park.

April Moyo: Loved it! Great for kids 5 and under in my opinion. Thomas and Friends exhibit is there now. Spent a smooth 90 minutes doing activities non-stop.

Briana Cooper: This was seriously the life of the party! My daughter was 18 months when we visited and she had a blast running around to all the different areas to explore. They had stuff for crawlers all the way up to young children like 9years old. It was a very cool experience and something fun just for them.

Joyce Ann Jones Bagley: Beautiful peaceful place to go.

C Cordell izest Project: The gardens are very lovely and well-managed and just a spectacle for anyone who visits this Magnificent site! There is so much to take in.

purvis thurman: Staff/workers were very friendly, knowledgeable (and if they didn't have answers, they consulted others), and helpful; it is always a treat to visit there.

Jackie Crawford: Beautiful place

Tone & Things: nice place to relax

Sami Mujahed: Nothing much there.

kevin com: Great place

Darniesha Beach: Had a party here for my 2 daughters and everything was amazing! Service was exceptional. Sally was great helping me book the party and answering all of my questions. Always in a timely manner and super accommodating. Tahira anticipated all of my needs and went above and beyond for us! Emilie was also very helpful and friendly. She even helped keep an eye on my little ones while I tried to set up. Very hands on staff. Every guest had a great time. Plenty of things to keep the kids busy. And, frankly, the adults too. Aesthetically, the space is beautiful at Ballston Quarter. Would book a party here 100x over. Literally no one wanted to leave. Including me lol. Thank you so much to these ladies for making this experience so wonderful!

Elizabeth Dorsey: I truly love Nook. We celebrated my daughter's birthday here, and we also love to drop in. I loved the aesthetic for her party; it was very different from the typical kid's party environment. We were able to bring in delicious apps and alcohol for the adults, and Nook took care of the pizza, cake, and decorations. The two young women who worked the party were sweet and attentive. I have also had a great experience bringing my daughter here on cold or rainy days. During our last visit, she ran from toy to toy gushing about how much she loved everything. Keep up the good work!

Savanah Perry: We love Nook! My 1 and 3 year old both enjoy playing at nook. It never feels too crowded and there are ample nooks for the kids to explore. As a parent I so appreciate the cleanliness of the space. There is also coffee for parents and animal crackers for the kids! Such a great staff that is constantly resetting the nooks so it doesn’t feel like a crazy play space. Highly Recommend!

Megan Mason: This was our first visit to Nook at Mosaic. We had visited Nook in Arlington in the past. This location seemed smaller but maybe my kids have just gotten that much bigger! We were greeted by a not so friendly employee who promptly let me know I had only paid for one child online, not two. I had actually called and left a message hours earlier asking about this. I never received a call back but she seemed uninterested. My kids took their shoes off and started to explore. My 3 year old son wandered over to the retail area and she followed him the Secret Service. It was pretty over the top for a children’s play place. I assured her I would t let him touch anything, just look. But what’s the point if your kid can’t touch an overpriced toy to see if they like it before you break the bank? The next family who came in was greeted with, “are you aware of our rates?” I found that a little discriminatory since they were the only party greeted that way. Turns out they were happy to pay $30 for their one child and two adults to stay for the hour before the store closed. My kids really enjoyed the experience. They’re ages 3 & 5 years old. They engaged in lots of pretend play and loved bouncing from noon to nook. There were many coffee cups left on play areas and on top of wooden structures. Since the play place was pretty empty, I assumed they were left from earlier in the day. I think that the staff member should have been more diligent about taking care of those. Overall the whole place get like it needed a good cleaning. I always enjoy play places that regularly wipe things down and keep on top of cleanliness. Coffee cups left throughout could be dangerous for little ones. Our visit was cut short when a loud fire alarm went off. One mother was visibly shaken and kept asking if this had ever happened before but the employees were not responsive. We, the guests hurried to grab our things and exit without so much as a, “thanks for coming” or “sorry for the inconvenience”. Nook is a unique and much needed change of pace from typical children’s play centers. I hope that the owner takes time to cultivate the culture among her staff that will sustain her business as it grows.

Carissa Leong: I have been to Nook at Ballston Quarter with my daughter three times and have absolutely loved it. Thoughtfulness is extremely important to me, so the attention to detail and intentionality behind all of Nook’s design and toy choices have been wonderful to experience. It’s an especially refreshing break from bright colored, flashing light, plastic toys. I love the rotating installations because you can have an entirely new experience when something new comes in and it’s been a great introduction to many great toy companies. It’s a great way to meet other parents, but also provides a safe and fun way for my daughter to socialize and play with other kids. A beautiful and fun place that I love and will continue bringing my daughter to!

Gwen Matthews: Great play space for little ones! Loved how friendly the staff were during our visit. Wish they would keep expanding and make it up north to where we live!

Kevin Kasarda: Please be forewarned, this place is reservation ONLY! Don't come here with your kids without a reservation expecting to walk in. You will be turned away only to have a tantrum on your hands. It would have been nice if this was clearly stated on their website but it is not. The reservation recommendation is buried on another page that we did not see until later. We tried to walk in on a Saturday when they opened and we were turned away, even though it appeared empty. At this point our two year old had already seen the ball pit that we then had to tell him he couldn't play in and we had to drag him out. If you are a parent, you can imagine that a two year old doesn't take that news well. This does not seem like a good policy when you are dealing with toddlers and families. We will not be back! There are many play places in the northern Virginia area that are more customer friendly. The light wood, Scandinavian, motif is nice but I think I appreciate it more than my two year old. He just wants to play.

Jeri Choi: Nook is one of those special places my kids love coming to—particularly enjoyed by our 3 year old. In other play spaces, it’s so stressful chasing around our little ones to make sure they don’t get trampled by the older kids but at Nook, I love being able to play with our kids and seeing their creativity come out. Its safe, clean, and beautiful! We particularly like the location at Ballston because there’s so many food options close by and downstairs in the same mall. When we get hungry, we leave to eat and come right back to play some more. The staff is incredibly kind and so great with kids. It makes me so happy when my kids are greeted by the staff by name because the staff remembers them from before. Looking forward to creating new and more memories there!

Abby Jiu: Nook is our favorite play space! HANDS DOWN the best in DC. We’ve been to many other play spaces and they simply don’t compare because the others are crowded and not an enjoyable experience. Nook really focuses on the child and the family’s experience. This can be seen in the curated toy selection to the ambience the visit provides. We can’t say enough good things!

Laurie Zabala: Beautiful landscaping. Very tranquil & relaxing walk through the extensive herb garden. The Bonsai museum is a must. Great place for a picnic. The National columns are stunning. Entrance is free. Be sure to use the restroom at the visitor center when you first arrive because you'll do alot of walking & that's the only restroom on the grounds. Bring a water bottle & snacks as there is no restaurant on site. Definitely a treasure that's worth the trek to the east edge of DC.

Marty Shaw, Author, RCA, BCMA: Great experience! Just go! I was there in early spring and the colors were amazing. So many different specimens of plant material I never see commercially. They have an amazing assortment of unique things you won't find anywhere else. It was a real treat.

Da-Wang Wu: We came here in late April, and the Azalea blossoming was pretty amazing! Walking on the trail with the Azalea blossoming along the way was very nice. Parking inside the park can be tricky, so we parked in the lot right next to the entrance and walked 5-10 minutes to the main campus. Overall, it’s a beautiful place, and I would definitely come back.

CJ: Depending on when you visit the US National Arboretum, something different is peaking. In mid April, the fruit trees were just past peak, but the lilacs shrubs were close to full bloom. As I strolled thru the lilac grove, the soft lilac fragrance permeated the air. One of the US National Arboretum’s most prominent and a little puzzling landmarks is the old Corinthian National Capitol Columns residing on the Ellipse Meadow. The US National Arboretum was not the column’s intended home when they were quarried back in the early 1800s. Originally, the columns were built as a part of the east portico of the US Capitol Building now located about 3 miles away from the US National Arboretum. By the 1860s, when the dome of the Capitol was completed, the columns were deemed inadequate to support the new dome. It wouldn’t be until the mid 1980s before the columns would find their final home at the US National Arboretum. Twenty-two of the original 24 columns are on majestic display in Ellipse Meadow. During our trip to the US National Arboretum in mid April, the Azaleas were just starting to bud and bloom. So no good pictures this trip. Peak time for the Azalea garden at the arboretum is late April. I hear the Azaleas are a beautiful sight when the hillside is painted with splotches of different colors.

Omar Abu-sabha: It is a great place to walk and enjoy the area's vegetation. The Japanese and Chinese pavilions are very interesting, although they are closed in winter. The old columns of the capitol are without a doubt a must if you like photography.

Melissa B: Despite living in the DC area for over 30 years, I had never been here. What an oversight! The National Arboretum is beautiful and interesting. Everyone there, staff and visitors, were very friendly. I'll be bak again.

Karthikeyan Rajaram: Luck is when you run into a beautiful place like this without planning. Better luck is when you get into it in the company of a person who used to volunteer at this place. We didn’t really plan to be at the arboretum, considering that the Spring is still not Springy enough. We had seen enough of Cherry Blossoms in the Tidal basin area that we thought we could do something else. We just made it to this place on recommendation from one of our relatives, who also accompanied us. Since he was a volunteer here, he helped us navigate and gave us so much insights about the different kinds of plants, flowers, bonsais and the what the lovely people who work here, do. We drove around this place and still got to see more cherry blossoms, along with different other species of flora. The enchanting Bonsai museum is a must visit as it did take our breathes away. The old columns of the capitol and the grove of different state trees are some of the special features of this place. The flowers were not in full blossom and we definitely look forward to checking this place again in summer.

Logan Heilman: Visited for the Bonsai event they were having and had a blast. All the vendors were great and the museums bonsai and penjing exhibit was phenomenal. Will definitely be back.

Elisabeth “Beth” Ostrander: We only had about an hour and headed to the bonsai area. Wow! To see living gifts from Japan and China that were started and cared for since before the birth of our nation was truly outstanding. Befitting our National Arboretum! Will return to see more treasures!

Mark Wells: Incredible! If you can go, Go! Great for all ages. We took a family of 4, ages 10-40 and everyone enjoyed it. History and information galore that you didn't know you wanted to know, but you absolutely do! We went on George Washington's Birthday celebration which provided so much entertainment. The museum and 4D movie is a must! The mansion tour is worth the time. I'm not sure if Washington himself is there all the time, but meeting him on the estate was a fun surprise.

David Cardone: If you’re a history buff then this is a must. Great little tour of the interior of the mansion with other available tours to add on. They do offer a National Treasure tour that provides some interesting facts about the mansion and grounds in relation to the movie. This tour takes you into the basement of the mansion whereas the $2 mansion tour does not. Beautiful gift shops and there is food available. Good for kids. Check out the Inn next door to entrance for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Rodricka Elliott: Great for a nature walk. I did some birdwatching while there and enjoyed the scenery while there. A lot of open space to have a picnic after seeing the house and grounds. Overall, it’s a great day all day activity for the family. I did go during the day on a weekday so it was not too crowded.

Green Angel: Great services, very helpful staff, good for all ages. I learned that Washington real body was transferred to the new tomb. The tomb of George Washington on the right along with his wife Martha on the left and 25 other families members are entombed there. The gift shop is huge, they are two sides for shopping. One for decoration stuffs cost up to $2k+, another one for souvenirs gift. Spending about 3hours to walk around and learning history about Father of our country.

Darwin Parker: What a great place to visit! George Washington worked hard to serve and improve life. It was amazing to see where he lived, his tomb, and his legacy. Side note- my son passed out in front of the entrance and the staff was incredibly helpful and prompt to take care of him and get an ambulance to come check him out. The staff checked on him throughout the day multiple times to make sure he was okay.

Stephens Basement: I have always wanted to visit My. Vernon but for some reason never did till yesterday. I am so glad I did. It was a very well maintained national landmark. I did think the entrance fee was a little high but they provide a free audio self tour and the tour of the house is included in the price. The staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I have a habit of asking lots of questions and they had an answer every time. George Washington was an outstanding man and leader.

Diana Hidalgo Díaz: The location looks very well preserved and taken care of. The tour guide we had during the house tour was knowledgeable and friendly. The museum was remarkable too. The souvenir shop is big and has a wide variety of items to purchase. I had a very good experience overall!

Brian Cummings: Large and well kept. You can easily spend an entire day. There are a number of far flung attractions. The distillery requires riding the shuttle or driving. The mansion tour costs extra. On busy days, it's wise to book in advance. It is very nice, but calling it guided is a slight exaggeration. You move from room to room with experts who may offer a thirty second introduction and then are available to answer questions.

Virginia VanKeulen: Went on a Tuesday in May. Several school groups but they were easy to avoid. Otherwise not very busy. Learned a lot about George Washington. Really enjoyed the enslaved people tour, the house tour, Martha Washington, the fifer and the beautiful flowers. Rangers were plentiful, helpful and informative. Definitely worth a visit.

Leah Thompson: I was nervous while driving in after seeing the low rating but I noticed most complaints were due to the time spent waiting. Well today I spent 11 hours in the ER and while that’s a crazy amount of time my son was so well taken care of that I don’t care. Every option was explored and there was no being referred to other places because all specialist are under one roof. 100% recommend making the trip into DC for child emergencies if you’re able. The staff was wonderful❤️

LeAnne Wheeler: I've visited this hospital several time and I have experienced several doctors and specialists and each and everytime has been excellent. ER wait times are long but they are long at every hospital but when it comes to children waiting 3 hrs+ is devastatingly long for any parent. My family and I have gotten quality care each time. I'm leaving off 1 star because they NEED more locations in Southern MD. Most of their specialists are located further North and driving from Southern MD to Silver Spring is a chore. It's a great hospital.

Chaturbhuj bhojwani: Very good hospital for children my daughter had a eye surgery here.She was the patient of Dr. Jaffar.

Patricia Carter: My 6 month old daughter got stuck with a needle 7 times because other places “couldn’t get a good stick” when we went here, she got it on the first stick, no problem. We were in and out, with hardly any fuss from the baby. Kathy Hawkins, specifically, was absolutely amazing. Extremely attentive to not only baby, but myself and her dad as well. If we ever need blood work done for our daughter, we will absolutely make the 2hr trip to come here again!

blahblahblah mememe: The waiting times are horrible. As other bad reviews said yeah, you are going to be waiting anywhere from 1-6hrs. One time I was literally only coming to get my son the flu vaccine. Nothing else nothing more. Just get the flu shot and go home.We were waiting after being put in the patient room, for 3hrs. It was a nightmare. I was so disappointed because...hello!! ppl have lives and things to do. But my regular visits for my new baby have been an hour and a half. Today we had appt at 2:50pm left out 4:30pm so bout an hour and a half. Emergency room hours man when my son was a baby I remember being in the hospital for hours like 5+hrs. This was years ago before covid. So yeah you're always going to be disappointed with the waiting time. Other than that staff are friendly, polite, apologetic so they understand the wait is crazy. Idk I think it's just severely understaffed. You can't make more ppl become doctors. That's something most ppl can't afford and don't have the patience or even the real mindset to do so we kind of just gotta roll with the punches. I try to keep a patient attitude cus if I don't I'd be very aggressive and irritable. And that doesn't speed anything up or make the situation any less negative. So go in with a positive attitude and deep amount of patience.

Kristina Tipps: My 3 year old had a T&A last week and majority of the experience, particularly the recovery period, was not handled well. First, signage inside and outside the hospital is terrible. I drove around 3 times before calling to have someone guide me to the parking garage (she obviously had done that many times before). Once you get inside, you are told to go to the second floor surgical check in center, no one tells you that you must check in first on the first floor. There are no signs for the surgical center whatsoever. You'll need to flag down a staff member in the hall to lead you there. How can a hospital not have clear signs? All the parents are walking around aimlessly looking for where they need to go. I was told ahead of time that I'd have to stay overnight for my daughter to be monitored. This was fine. However, it was never explained that this overnight stay was as an outpatient in a recovery center. That is TOTALLY DIFFERENT than being admitted to a hospital room. The recovery center has curtain doors on one side of each room (fine for a staying a few hours). The nurse said she would try to find a room with a door for us, since we would be there overnight. A room with a door meant that one side of the room was a clear sliding glass door with a very thin curtain over it so all the light shines in the room. The bed that my 3 year old had to sleep in constantly vibrated, filled with air and then released the air. She was absolutely terrified of the bed and wouldn't sleep in it. I asked for another and was told I wasn't allowed to have a regular bed that didn't move because this one stimulated the muscles. What does that even mean for my daughter who had tonsil surgery??? So she slept on me the entire night...same thing as sleeping in a regular bed so it made no sense. Not to mention there was a loudspeaker on the wall so any announcement in the recovery center went booming through our room! How do you expect a 3 year old, or anyone, to rest and recover like that? Someone really needs to explain to parents that an overnight stay is not a hospital stay and there is nowhere to sleep, your child's bed will move the whole night, and you'll constantly be awakened to beeping machines and loudspeaker announcements. The nurse also accused me of removing the wires on her blood pressure cuff, which I did not do! Everytime she moved the wire would snap off the cuff and cause the machine to send a blaring beep throughout the room. Half of the time no one came to check on us, which is the whole point of the loud beeping alert! I would need to put my kid down on the bed she was terrified of to find someone, hoping she didn't freak out while I was gone. The ECT wires also kept falling off when she moved, so we had the same problem with that. After a few times, I watched how the nurses stopped the machine from beeping and started doing that myself. When they said discharge was 5am, I could not have been happier. I sat in the chair the entire night counting down the minutes and pausing the monitor alerts. There were other small things that I won't get into, but hopefully what I did say will help another parent plan better for their surgical experience.

Jennifer Alvarado: Best hospital for childrens. My daughter has had 56 surgeries during her 4 years of life,and everyone has been wonderful! I love Childrens hospital. From specialty doctors to pediatricians,nurses,radiology,clerks,social workers and other workers have been great! I love this hospital and will always be grateful! Parking is a little tough at times so it’s better to always leave an hour before your appointment. Thank you Childrens hospital.

Lisa Taylor: The “1” review is only because of our wonderful nurses. Poor attending gastroenterologist and resident problem-solving and diagnostics. They didn’t verbally communicate critical MRE results. Infection control issues with C-Diff after testing and “see it all the time there”…sanitize your equipment! Significant financial hardship with med school level care!

Marbel Panameno: I took my son there because he’s had a bad cought and the place was so dirty and there was even vomit on the floor and it took them over 10 mins to come clean it up. You would think the attention towards children would be good after all it’s called children’s but its bad and it took for ever to be seen, We waited over an hour in the emergency room before they brough us in…. Overall if I would have known about the attention in this hospital I would have taken my son elsewhere, not going there again.

M Williamson: This place used to be fun for kids to play on the weekend especially in the winter. Expensive and overpriced, but still fun. Tonight, we waited an hour to enter and afterward realized that half of the attractions are closed. The above-ground obstacle course, rock climbing, and all of the open space trampolines are closed, which are basically the best part of the experience. The open parts are the two small trampolines connected to the two ball pits, which seem to be reserved for the smaller children at this time, the basketball course, and the obstacle course in the back. My kids are still having fun but for half the attractions to be closed admission should be discounted and I feel like a victim of bait and switch.

Ronnie Villarroel: What the hell Sky Zone? Many of the climbing attractions are closed on a Saturday when is busiest time, why!? Many of the climbing wall were also removed. Place is filthy, trash everywhere and trash cans are full. Sky Zone is using the main area as storage? See photo! The place is clearly operated by teenagers, they try their best but this place does not have good management. Totally disappointed. Sky Zone you can do better than this

Ethan Clark: Lots to do, but still under construction and renovation. Chaotic on a Saturday afternoon. As of today 6 areas were closed.

Charles Black: This is a pretty large trampoline park. Its a great place to take your kids for an hour or two of fun. They also have party rooms if you want to throw a birthday party.

Robert Crawford: There was not a single Trampoline area open (both closed) . The climbing areas are closed. The obstacle areas are closed. The challenge course is closed and the inspection certificate is three months out of date. The VR is closed. This place is not maintained and you should never come here.

Mery Mamani: Horrible place, poorly maintained, most of the actual trampoline sections were CLOSED! We are very disappointed.

Kiersta Navarro: Great for kids of all ages! Even the adults can have lots of fun here! They offer a family membership which is a really good deal if you come here frequently!

J.C. D.: Cool park with a lot of newer features. But… as others have noted. Don’t bother showing up before noon on a weekday. Half of the areas are unmanned and closed off. Including some of their best stuff. I know their slow but when there are more people working the counter than the play areas…

Siiri Stinson: We were pleased to find the trampoline park open midweek and a welcome break from the heat. The process to get tickets reserved, including grippy socks, was easy. Once we arrived we were able to get right to jumping. There were activities for all of us to enjoy. The youngest in our group was 6 and he had a blast. I was the oldest at 45 and I jumped with them, flipped into the foam pit, and did Wipe Out, too. The teen and preteen in the group loved it, too. The variety of activities meant we could cycle through and no one got bored. We ran out of steam before we ran out of interest. It was a great experience. Staff were friendly and helpful and everything was clearly marked. We’ll done!!!

Rachel Holmer: Eric Energy came to our school assembly. I had the honor of chaperoning and can tell you with absolute certainty that we will ask him to return in the future. He is filled to the brim with energy and his sparkle is contagious. Eric had the teachers up and dancing during dismissal. The kids were enthralled with him and loved his work with dry ice. Eric is a performer at heart and knows how to maintain the attention of the room. I highly recommend him for all of your science entertainment needs.

Ranjini Iyengar: Highly recommend Eric Energy for your next kids event. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing his performance multiple times at school events and at other venues. Always a high energy, interactive event that the kids truly enjoy! Thank you for entertaining so many kids! Looking forward to seeing you again. Bonus: he is super easy to book and work with.

Amanda Priebe: Eric Energy puts on an amazing show! The kids were laughing, participating, and learning! Perfect show for our audience of varying aged kids.

M jordan: Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, ValueEric Energy has entertained the children at our holiday and birthday parties for several years. The children love him! the parents love him! He puts on a great show!

Tara Matthews: Eric was AMAZING for my daughter’s birthday party. Adults and children had an amazing time…we highly recommend him!!! A day to remember!

Rebecca Barringer: Best birthday ever for our son!! I can't recommend it enough. Eric Energy delivers on both the science and the FUN!!

Shneur Zalman Minkowitz: We got Eric for an outdoor event During COVID and the participants LOVED it.He is as his name describes full of great Energy. And he knows just how to get the crowd going.

Sarah Lopez: Eric Energy is incredible! WE saw him at a birthday party last year and when I reached out to him to come for my daughter's birthday with 3 friends since we cannot have a big party due to the pandemic. Eric came with the exact same energy as if there were 20 kids and kept the show engaging and interactive while still COVID safe. Not an easy task! I would recommend Eric Energy for a pandemic party or a typical show any day of the week and we will definitely be asking him to come back again!

Danielle Boarman: Our school always has Eric Energy come to perform an assembly every year. The children LOVE his energy and are full of all smiles!! When we had to close school due to the pandemic and were going to miss having Eric Energy come in, we asked if he could do a virtual assembly, and he DID!! It was great!! The children were able to see all Eric's great science lessons and see his great energy! Even though we were not all together, Eric had the children up, dancing, and shouting answers back! It was a great event to bring to our families to give them a break from the routine of distance learning and have some fun! We are very thankful that Eric Energy was able to give us this at this time!! THANK YOU: St. John's Parish Day School!!

Alexandra Gross: Was very pleasantly surprised! Thought it was going to be a small cute park, but there was SO much to do there! The performers were absolutely fantastic and so talented in so many different shows! The park was very well maintained and all the staff were kind and friendly. I'm from NJ and this Six Flags definitely has mine beat!

Tim Bergstrom: Great place to take kids in DC for a break from museums and tours. I enjoy museums and tours quite a bit, but let’s be honest, for kids, they can be little bit like a church service. Six Flags gave my kids and me a break from the usual and gave them a chance to blow off steam. Our favorite rides were Superman, Bat Wing, Joker’s Jinx and the Firebird. Have fun.

Maria Kitzmiller: This is a smaller park for the Six Flags Chain. This was my first time going in 10 years and the park had not really changed. Any new rides added didn't add anything exciting or new. I still gave it a 3 because I do have many memories in this park from Wild World, Adventure World, and Six Flags.

Rittik Bhowmik: Great experience. Strong suggestion is to get the tickets online before visiting, there is almost always a long queue for tickets. Most of the rides were usually not that busy, so everyone can finish all the rides at-least ones, and can even go for seconds if interested.

Jeremiah Gore: Needs another solid coaster as Superman Ride of Steel is great but where is the number 2 coaster? Some good rides throughout the park including a fun coaster built in 1917...The Wild One. By far this Six Flags has the friendliest staff of any Six Flags park... including multiple manager level employees we met while walking around the park.

pam wright: Rides were barley open, lazy river, the pool with the purple slide, the purple & green slide, renegade rapids, penguin blizzard, shipwreck falls, & more ALL we’re NOT OPEN! I don’t understand why these rides are not open. You pay your money to come here, but it’s not worth it because more than half of there rides are not operating. What a shame Not to mention I have diamond elite membership, I pay 20$ extra per month for what idk? Need to cancel that! Update 6/28/2022 im going to change my rating from 1 star ⭐️ to four stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I came back here again to give them another chance. Can you believe it after maybe 1-2 years the finally opened the lazy river.. Wow renegade rapids, penguin blizzard, shipwreck falls, was opened today. It’s good to arrive early get a good spot, we ordered food it was ready and condiments was available. 🤩 However, the staff there are really young and the don’t know how to talk to people & families. They all act like they don’t want to work.

Terri Young: If you want to be able to ride the rides without a long wait go early during the week.. We were able to ride the rides several time without a long wait park is not that crowded when u go early it was a nice experience 😉. By the time we were ready to go the park was getting a bit crowded....

Shah Md Mayen Uddin Chistee: This a great family fun place. There are so many rides that you will never get bored. I enjoyed most of the rides I took. You can take your kids there and they will love it. I recommend buying online entry ticket and parking pass. This will save some time for you.

tammy mcilhaney: Wait ?? There are rides here ?? Could’ve fooled me!! Everything is closed! Workers cranky! Burger was a joke! Shops closed “register” issue. Maybe 1/4 of the food stands open. Maybe 1/2 the rides open. Got stuck on the Superman! The one operator for a ride abandoned her post because of a spider!