Summer is winding down and fall is most definitely in the air, which can only mean one thing: kids are headed back to school! With kid-friendly activities by boat and on land, toy boutiques and candy stores, Alexandria is decked with pockets of hidden gems perfect for last ditch summer outings before getting back in front of that chalkboard. Think you and your family have done it all? Check out this list and see if you can’t find something fun and unexpected for kids (and kids at heart!).
Image by Kristen Vlahos
Hooray for Books! is so much more than a kids’ bookstore—it’s essentially an imagination playground. With events like Family Game Night, storybook time and author visits, plus books for kids of all ages (I’ve found myself poking around the young adult section a time or two…), this literary boutique is a great place to get kids pumped about reading.
Image by Kevin Harber
But actually, why not go into Why Not? After having been around for decades, filled two stories with hard-to-find and traditional old school games, toys and kids’ clothes, I’m pretty sure parents with a nostalgic sweet tooth will be the most excited to walk through those doors.
Pirate Cruise with the Potomac Riverboat Company
Image by Potomac Riverboat Co.
Ahoy! The Potomac Riverboat Company is at it again, with a pirate-themed cruise for families. Once a month, kids and parents can board this sixty-minute cruise around the Alexandria Seaport with Captain Jack, a friendly pirate who knows a thing or two about the high seas (he’ll make do with the Potomac River).
Alexandria Colonial Tours’ Kids’ Scavenger Hunt
History buffs come in all ages and sizes. For the littlest ones, Alexandria Colonial Tours has crafted a special go-at-your-own pace scavenger hunt that’ll get kids and families stomping the streets of Alexandria looking for clues and learning about George Washington and his compatriots.
Check out more kid-friendly activities and stores in Alexandria.
