Get outside! The weather is expected to be beautiful this weekend, with temps in the 60s – so including recs on great, local places to explore outdoors! Sun not your thing? That’s cool (get it?!); scroll down for great indoor activities for both kids and adults! Before you head out, please vote Route One Fun! for Best Community Blog by clicking here. Thanks, all!
FRIDAY
Black History Month Storytime PopUp! @ The Waterhole
Join us for Stories and songs that celebrate Black History Month at this innovative collaboration between PGCMLS & Mt. Rainier’s fabulous organic juice & smoothie joint, The Waterhole. Best for 0-5 years old. Curious? Click here for fun video of a past collabo! Thirsty? Order the kid-friendly “Berry Nice.” 👍
When: 10 am
Where: The Waterhole, 4004 34th St., Mt. Rainier
Cost: Free (Heads-up: Waterhole’s menu is delish, highly recommend indulging!)
** Read our Waterhole review
Toddler Time @ Art Works Now
Open studio time for toddlers and their accompanying adults. Magic salt painting: Using glue, salt, and watercolor, toddlers explore that different materials interact while making cool art!
When: 10am-12pm
Where: Art Works Now, 3711 Rhode Island Ave, Mt. Rainier
Cost: $9
Super Saver Ice Skating!
Huge indoor ice skating rink with a warming hut and a snack bar – what else do you need?!
When: 3:15-5:15pm (public session)
Where: Herbert Wells Ice Rink, 5211 Campus Drive, College Park
SATURDAY
Otterific!
Know the difference between sea otters and river otters? What makes an otter so special? Find out in this otter-ly fun program. Registration: 301-497-5887. Ages 8-10.
When: 10:30-11:30am
Where: Patuxent Research Refuge, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel
Cost: Free!
Bilbiobop Dance Party
Calling all preschoolers and toddlers! Come and bust a move and shake your sillies out at the Greenbelt Bibliobop Dance Party.
When: 10:30-11:30am
Where: Greenbelt Public Library, 11 Crescent Road, Greenbelt
Cost: Free!
Playground at University Hills Duck Pond Park 
Take advantage of the freakish temps this weekend and spend some time outside! Pack a picnic, check out the duck pond and then have fun at 1 of the 3 playgrounds at this park! There’s one right at the entrance off of Wells Blvd but if you wander a bit on the bike path you’ll find there’s an even bigger, cooler one just down to the right with structures for the toddler and 5-12 crew.
When: Not on site – safe to assume dawn till dusk…
Where: 3400 Stanford St, Hyattsville
Cost: Free!
**Dinosaur Park
Meet paleontologists, learn about Maryland prehistory, and search an active fossil site for 115 million-year-old remains of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals! We took the kids here and they loved it! Now – it’s pretty bare bones (pun intended); no amenities – basically an open archaeological site behind some warehouses. But if your kids have adventurous minds and love discovering prehistoric things – then it’s worth a visit. Found some really old bark that apparently was from a tree that was around during the time of the dinosaurs. What?! Said bark now rests lovingly on mantleplace. Tip: While you’re in the area, why not also check out the Kids Room at the newly renovated Laurel Public Library. It’s really a gem, y’all!
When: 12-4p.m.
Where: 13200 block of Mid-Atlantic Blvd., Laurel
Admission: Free!
Black History Month: Over & Under the Sea
Celebrate Black History Month by exploring the life, adventures, and achievements of black divers, pirates, privateers, watermen, and more! Enjoy artifacts and exhibits, hands-on activities and crafts, and hear from special guest speakers from Underwater Adventure Seekers, one of the first organizations for Black scuba divers. They will highlight and display some of their discoveries from shipwrecks. We will also have an interactive touch tank of live aquatic creatures and microscope station.
When: 12-3pm
Where: Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg
Cost: $3 residents / $4 non-residents
Engineering 101
What is an engineer? Engineers are people who design and build things to solve specific problems. Learn the basics of engineering through an interactive, hands-on design challenge by creating your own design from drawing to prototype. Kids ages 8 & up.
When: 2-4pm
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park
Cost: $5/person
Hidden Figures
Learn about inventions and patents by African-American scientists and thinkers. Make a drawing of a patents or an invention.
When: 3-4pm
Where: Hyattsville Public Library
Cost: Free!
SUNDAY – Seriously: Get Outside!
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens 
Head to Bladensburg Waterfront Park (BWP) and explore the new 4-mile segment of the Trail now connecting the District with BWP! We packed lunches, parked at BWP and then walked the Trail all the way to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. It was lovely! No traffic – just folks outside loving this new addition! Grab a bit of respite at Kenilworth, maybe eat that lunch you packed and then head back to BWP, where the kids can play/climb/laugh in an old B & O caboose.
When: Sunrise to Sunset
Where: Start at BWP, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg
Cost: Free!
Watkins Regional Park Playground
This. Place. Is Awesome. Truly awesome Wizard of Oz-themed playground where you literally follow the yellow brick road under a rainbow arch as the Scarecrow shows you the way to your choice of six fun areas: Dorothy’s Farm House, Munchkin Land, the Emerald Forest, the Emerald City of Oz, the Balloon Escape, the Ruby Red Shoes. Playground, nature center and farm are free to explore and enjoy!
When: 9 am – 6 pm
Where: 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro
Admission: Free!
Paint Branch Parkway Park Playground
Get outside and check out this recently renovated playground, rivaling any great playground you’ve been to in DC, NYC or anywhere! Among other great things, its fireman’s pole use a fun hydraulic lift to boost kids (and adventurous adults…) up and down a log plank is a blast!
Where: 5202 Campus Drive (if old GPS, enter 5202 Paint Branch Parkway), College Park
Admission: Free!
SATURDAY
College Park ParkRun
Head out on for a weekly, free, 5K, timed run. Afterwards, enjoy a post parkrun coffee in The Board & Brew, 8150 Baltimore Ave, College Park. All ages welcome!
When: Saturdays at 9 a.m.
Where: Paint Branch Trail, 4289 Metzerott Road, College Park
Admission: Free but please register before your first run.
Chocolate Lovers’ Tea
Enjoy a prix fixe menu of fine finger sandwiches, scrumptious cakes and pastries, buttery scones, and your choice of two quality loose leaf teas, all served on china and tiered stands. Along with our usual fare, we’ll also have lots of chocolate!
When:Two seatings: 11am & 1:30pm
Where: Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road, Laurel
Cost: $25/person; Non-members: $29/person
Third Saturday Readings with Sid Gold
Laura Fargas, Eric D. Goodman, and Heather Rounds will read from their works. Bring your own work to read after the authors’ presentations.
When: 2-4pm
Where: Robert Harper Books, Riverdale
Cost: Free (no cost noted on site)
Womensmarch Installation at Studio SoHy
The Women’s March on Washington had a great impact on a great many people. In an effort to keep the conversation going, and keep us all engaged, we are collaborating with Pyramid Atlantic in creating a #womensmarch installation in the Studio SoHy #tinyhall space located inside Vigilante.
When: 4-7pm
Where: Studio SoH, 4327 Gallatin St, Hyattsville
Cost: Free
Luther Re-Lives: A Tribute to the Music of Luther Vandross
Re-experience the satiny, magic vocals of Luther Vandross with a Las Vegas-style show starring William “Smooth” Wardlaw, backed by an eight-piece band and light show that takes you back to the days of “The Velvet Voice.” Sing & dance to your favorite Luther song at this special Valentine’s Day concert.
When: 8pm
Where: Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd, Cheverly
Cost: $30p/p
Moose Jaw Bluegrass
Moose Jaw is Prince George’s County, Maryland’s, premiere bluegrass ensemble! Organized as a cooperative, they perform traditional, not so traditional, original, and not so original tunes for varying audiences throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
When: 8-10pm
Where: Robert Harper Books,
Cost: $15 cover.
SUNDAY
Arrow Bicycle Sunday Ride
The Sunday ride is a 32-mile, moderately paced ride that emphasizes group riding techniques. Those new to group riding are welcome as we regroup throughout the ride so that nobody is left behind. Ride starts at Arrow Bicycle. Good idea to confirm dates, time and any specific requirements.
When: 9-11:30 am
Where: Arrow Bicycle, 5108 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville
Cost: Free!
Love Yoga – Community Yoga Class
When: 1:30-2:30pm
Where: Love Yoga, 5111 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville
Cost: Donation/Whatever your heart desires
Past Voices Black History Month Program: Valentine Pringle
This program delves into the lives and music of little known Black Classical Musicians, featuring the music, life, and songs of Valentine Pringle.
When: 3pm
Where: Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd, Laurel
Cost: Free
TDPS New Play Workshop Kickoff
Join this panel discussion for anyone who has interest in working on a new play – now or in the future. Panel features top DMV-area theatre professionals: director JoJo Gruenhut, dramaturg Otis Ramsey-Zoe, actor Thembi Duncan and playwright Gwydion Suleibahn. These panelists will have a rich conversation about how a playwright, director, dramaturg and actors can most fruitfully collaborate on the development of a new play.
When: 3pm
Where: The Clarice, Cafritz Foundation Theatre
Cost: Free!
MONDAY – School’s Out: President’s Day
Rise + Rhyme 
9:30 am Rise + Rhyme = music & storytime for 0-5 crew. May even be able to enjoy a coffee and/or some food while your lil one boogies on down! See my review here: bit.ly/2ibPd3b
When: Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m-ish
Where: Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville,
Cost: $5 suggested donation at the door.
Discovery Cart Days: Mapping Around
All ages. Explore the various ways pilots navigate both on land and in the air. Learn how to use a map, compass, and even a sextant with the College Park Aviation Museum’s Discovery Carts!
When: 11am-2pm
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park
Cost: $5/adults; $4/seniors; $2/children
Smaland at College Park’s Ikea
| Credit: Ikea |
Free, 1 hour, supervised, enclosed, safe & clean play area near the entrance. Enjoy some shopping or just relax/eat/peoplewatch at the restaurant upstairs while your young one(s) has a blast at Smaland. Children must be potty trained and be 37” to 54” tall (so children typically b/w ages of 3-6). Tips: (1) Best to arrive earlier on in the day as day progresses, so do the entrances lines; & (2) Join Ikea Family & kids get extra 30 minutes to play (depending on capacity) & you get free coffee!
When: 10:30am – 7pm
Where: 10100 Baltimore Avenue, College Park
Admission: Free!
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