A 45-minute drive from D.C. on a good day, Ellicott Mills Children's Museum is the area's newest…read morechildren's museum. Open from 1-5p p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, here's what you should know: 1) Admission: It's free. However, considering giving a donation to keep the history alive. 2) Space: Located inside a historic Quaker one-room schoolhouse, the museum is literally three rooms- a classroom, a general store and a "great room." Through exhibits and an alphabet scavenger hunt in the general store, visitors learn about 19th century life in a mill town. 3) Staff: Most are volunteers and friendly. 4) Parking: They have parking at the court parking lot or on the street. There is a restroom on site.

Such a cute little museum! I would 100% go back here. My kids loved it and the people who work here…read moreare so incredibly nice! They are very knowledgeable about the history of the building and give you tours. There are aspects that are interactive and my kids learned so much.

It's truly magical for kids to use their imagination. Giants Big bed to jump on, space station,…read more and so much more. Go with an open mind to explore this imaginative space

Summary: while Doodlehatch is definitely not short of character, there are some key points that…read moremake it hard to love. A question I had prior to visiting Doodlehatch was "what is it?" The best answer I can think of is that it's an interactive art museum. There are tons of random sections throughout: a space area, a unicorn area, a tea party area, a giant bed, etc. Most are designed to be "interactive," but I don't know how much care + maintenance is going on. Parts of the exhibit don't feel sturdy and a lot of it doesn't feel clean. There are a lot of areas that have fabric that retain moisture/dirt like the giant bed (plush), bean bag chairs, and hammocks. Coming off a fresh pandemic, it didn't give the best feeling to "interact" with something like that. Conclusion: I think the concept is cute and the art is unique. The exhibit itself makes for a cute little outing. I'm just a bit more wishful as far as care/maintenance goes. I wouldn't describe myself as a germaphobe, but even so I didn't feel great about it.

I have been to the play n learn for many birthday parties. It is the perfect place to host a kids…read morebirthday, maybe 3-7 years old. It is a backyard play set showroom that they made over for parties and free play. They have the play sets, trampolines, basketball, and ping pong. It's clean, well organized, and all the kids have fun. Their prices and play hours are transparent and easy to figure out. I highly recommend the play n learn for young kids.

This is a go-to when the weather is unbearable (hot, cold, or wet) and you need to get your kids to…read moreburn some energy. The indoor playground equipment is awesome for the kids to enjoy. There is seating in the arena to easily monitor your kiddos. They also have a basketball mini court to shoot hoops - not to play a full court basketball game. There are also trampolines for the kids who need to jump around, table tennis, air hockey, and foosball. Food and beverages can be consumed in a small alcove seating area. The $10 fee is worth it for 2 hrs of play. Be mindful of the fact that no one is there to monitor your kids. The only interaction we had with facility mgmt was when we confirmed our reservation. Lastly, be mindful that they don't clean the equipment. We went here once during the winter and got sick the following day. After that incident, I just take extra precautions.

Would I recommend this establishment...absolutely! Can't wait to go back!…read more I found this place by searching for play activities near Columbia mall. I had never been here and wasnt sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Location: Inside the mall, on the first floor, right outside the Nordstroms. Easy to find. Cost: Worth the entrance fee, both child and adults have to pay. Fair price. There are also take home activities and play that cost extra, such as slime, treat making, soap making, and more. These extra activities are also fairly priced and and so much fun. The entrance fee to the Kids Playseum allowed you access to the establishment nextdoor, Playseum upstairs. They also have playseum bucks as well. Staff: Super nice, helpful, experienced and attentive staff. Everyone one we interacted with for our time there was fabulous. We were able to go to both the Be with me playseum and the playseum upstairs. Cleanliness: The kept a tight shop. The toys and amenities were well kept, organized, clean and in good condition. Options: There were so many rooms to play in, so many cute toys, books, dress up and imagination play. My favorite was the ice bucket where the fish were kept in the Safeway. Super cute! The girls loved playing here and definitely want to come back. Overall wonderful experience!

This place is awesome. We came here for a birthday party and they had individual stations for kids…read moreto interact with. There's literally something here for everyone. When we entered we were given $8 of their currency to spend inside. Most items or adventures are $3-5. My daughter ended up making her own body scrub and slime. While I like the idea of have kids "budget" their fun I wish it wasn't that serious. I can't imagine it would cost them much more, especially based off what they charge for birthday parties. Overall the staff were very friendly and helpful and everything inside was clean and santized. It would be nice if they placed a handwashing station in the middle of the venue. Currently there's a bathroom in the far corner that seemed very sketchy.

This playground is huge and has tons of features…read more Unfortunately several are broken. However there are still enough features to keep a ton of kids entertained. The maze of features are y'all enough so that adults can access all elements and thus play with or keep track of their kids, which is a HUGE plus. I would have listed a 5+ except for the two broken features

Was actually on my way to Centennial Park with my daughter today. However when we got there, we saw…read moreabout 4 busses, and a super crowded playground. I have beautiful toddler, and she has a crazy over protective father. So we tend to stay away from crowds, especially bigger kids. So I look on Yelp to see what else was near and I find Long Gate Park. We make the trip over which was maybe 10 minutes away, and when we get there i'm blown away. This place is nice! We park the car (the lot is huge, its actually a park and ride), and head down to the play area. This park is very well kept. No high grass, No trash, Nice equipment. The park has 2 play areas. The first one is huge, and takes up the majority of the play area, and is where most of the kids play. The other is smaller, and off to the side. Perfect for that over protective parent who feels the need to isolate, but all the kids there today looked to be 3 and under. So I let my daughter go where she pleased. There is a pavilion area near the playground with a grill, and a bathroom with water fountain on the opposite side of the grounds. Behind the bathroom are tennis courts, and also a trail to walk or bike. Therw are benches all around the play area, and most of them have canopies above. There is also wall climbing and a basketball court. The main play area has shade from overhead canopies throughout the equipment, and safety rails all over. The park sits on recycled rubber, so no dirt or annoying wood chips. There is also another area of the park that has a baseball field, more pavilions, and an athletic complex. Easily one of the better playgrounds in the area. I will definitely be returning in the near future.

We live right around the corner from Monster Mini Golf and had never been until we were invited to…read morea birthday party there. We had a great time! Monster Mini Golf is compact, but packs the punch in fun! The event room was well decorated. I had read that it's a women owned business, and it definitely shows! Each detail is thought out, and I can definitely see the care and love put into this place. We'd love to come again soon! This is perfect for bad weather! Come here on rainy, hot, or cold days!

I had been to Monster Mini Golf twice. First time in Gaithersburg & 2nd time here at the Jessup…read morelocation. It's a creative concept that it can be very cold, rainy, etc., and it's a viable mini golf option. In fact, the time I went was windy & pretty cold out. This was a work Halloween team building outing in early November 2023, where we dressed in costume and enjoyed mini golf paid for by our company, which was a nice treat (or was it a Trick? to get us to spend our Thursday night with work folks...haha...j/k). I actually did have fun. The staff was cordial and instructed us how we needed to score to take the individual's best score to save time, which I thought was a bit unnecessary. It was a little chaotic and kind of crowded. If you have say 4 people on a team, then people are awkwardly standing on ledges while other players are trying to putt, meanwhile you have other teams on other holes that directly butt up to the hole you're on. And remember, this was a private event. Imagine when it's open to the public, you might be dealing with a crowded scenario. As for the course itself, it's glow in the dark, which is kind of cool, but given the limited space constraints, the course is kind of subpar compared with almost any outdoor course in central Maryland. And the price is about the same as an outdoor course; I'd prefer an outdoor course and waiting until weather warms up to do that. They also have some Arcade games, which we got a $5 credit for each employee. That was fun. I played some air hockey & other random games. Overall, I appreciated what my company was doing, had some fun, but with the pros & cons of Monster Mini Golf, I feel a 3-star review is warranted.

Recently hosted my sons 6th birthday party here. It was beyond perfect! I feel like this is how to…read morelife of the glamorous live when throwing a party. I only brought cupcakes and party favors and everything else was taken care of. They provided pizza, decorations, juice/water, and all the plates and eating-ware. I also didn't have to lift a finger when serving kids. The party host just took care of everything! No clean up, no fussing over pizza delivery, no nothing. Just sat back and enjoyed my kids birthday party. Not to mention this place is perfect for the 5-8 year old birthday party age range. All the kids had a complete blast, there's no escape for the kids and the whole place is padded, so when you lose track of your kid, it's a no sweat situation. All the parents just got to keep a distant eye and relax. Even if you're not going for a birthday, this indoor playground is an absolute blast for the kids. It can get crowded when the weather isn't nice as it is cheaper indoor fun for hours. Always worth the trip and always a good time.

The facility was extremely clean! I loved that they had a…read moreNursery section to change the little ones or breastfeed (one room). The staff were very friendly. They had a great music playlist. I loved that they were open really early.

3.5 stars! A nice park with lots of open space.. it is good for all ages. My kid had a blast! It…read morehas a clean bathroom and a couple different play spaces! It was a little outdated in some areas but still very sweet!

What a fun area at Patapsco!! My daughter is 2 and could play on most of the structures. A nice…read morechange from the typical playgrounds we visit, though they have a traditional playground as well which is nice. They have an entire wooden "playground" and tons of tire play structures.

My son was turning 10, and I knew I had to do something special. Since he's a video game fanatic, I…read morewanted to do something fun that involved video games, and also kept his friends out of my house (Sorry, not sorry!) After reading a few mom blogs, I learned about GameTruck. The owner (I think he's the owner) Erik and his assistants are great. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless. The kids really enjoyed themselves, and Erik and his two assistants that he was training did an excellent job of managing all 20 (yes, 20!) kids. If I had to do it all again, I would book GameTruck in a heartbeat.

What a great and family thing to take your entire family to have some great fun. Excellent fun for…read morethe whole family. Your family's going to love this place...

We've had a wonderful experience with Cradlerock Children's Center (CCC)! Both of my children have…read moreattended CCC, and our youngest is currently enrolled. From the start, it has been clear that this is a special place where children are nurtured, supported, and encouraged to thrive. This center is non-profit (the only non-profit early childcare center in the county), so you know that they are not just after your money, they really care about your children and their education. Tuition increases, when they happen have been extremely low. I was on the waitlist for almost 2 years (due to extremely low family turnover) for one of my children which speaks to the fact that they are offering a unique, well sought after program. One of my favorite things about CCC is the delicious and nutritious meals that are served every day and included in the price of tuition. And the best part is that its FARM to Table. No other preschool is offering that in the area. My kids are extremely picky eaters, but they eat all of the food served and this has helped me expand their palette and incorporate more nutritious meals at home. As a busy mom, having these meals takes one more thing off my plate for the week. The staff at Cradlerock is great and the center has really low turnover. There are teachers that have been there over 10+ years. My children have loved their teachers, and the staff consistency has made a huge difference in their comfort and development. The teachers are warm, welcoming, and really care about each child's growth academically, socially and emotionally. Ms. Amanda, the center's director does a fantastic job of balancing cost and budget but making sure there is delivery on effective high value programming and events. The admin and staff do a great job with communicating with brightwheel messages and newsletters to keep parents informed. She has also been leading the expansion efforts of Cradlerock Children's center's move to a new building which will happen in Summer of 2026 and CCC will be able to spread their goodness to even more families as they will be able to accommodate more families in a larger facility! The emphasis on social-emotional learning is one of the things I appreciate most. My kids learned how to manage emotions, interact kindly with peers, and problem-solve in real situations. Because of this thoughtful approach, both of my boys have made great friends and looked forward to school every single day. Another huge advantage for working parents is that Cradlerock is open on most calendar days, unlike many other schools that follow school system calendars, or have an insane amount of days off, the calendar at CCC is really great for working parents that need to go into the office everyday. Most importantly, the tuition cost is lower than many comparable programs, yet the quality of care, education, and overall experience is outstanding. We've always felt like we're getting great value for a top-tier early childhood program. I can't recommend Cradlerock Children's Center enough. If you are thinking of coming here, do it! It will be the best decision you've ever made!

Cradlerock has been an amazing experience for my children. We are going on our 3rd year and second…read morechild and my only regret is I didn't discover them sooner. My oldest thrived in both academics and social emotional learning. The teachers and administrators are incredibly knowledgeable and approach early learning in exciting ways! Don't get me started on the food and enrichment! The quality of the meals is unparalleled and my son loved growing food in their garden that he would then eat for lunch or breakfast. They have powerful enrichment classes such as STEAM and Fitness unlike anything I have ever seen in a preschool. Cradlerock Children's Center exceeds every expectations I have for preschool education (and I have very high ones ).