What a gem! Chessie's Big Backyard is such a great spot for kids (and grown-ups who like a good…read morewalk). The walking trails were really nice--well maintained with peaceful forest views. Perfect for a stroller, and some nature scavenger hunts. The playground itself is huge and looked really well cared for. The toddler area was unfortunately closed during our visit, but the rest of the space more than made up for it. There are tons of benches and seating all around, and you can see most of the playground from just about anywhere, which is so helpful when you're keeping an eye on kiddos. There's a massive covered pavilion area that would be perfect for group meetups or a picnic in the shade. And while it was still closed for the season, the splash pad/water park area looked like fun! Definitely planning to come back in the summer to check it out! Such a great spot to have in the area!

Would definitely come here again didn't know that it was a park with a waterpark next to it just…read morefor small kids nothing major nothing big but it's still amazing. Granddaughter had a blast.

We were biking around the area looking for a fun neighborhood park that offered some low key fun…read morenearby! This park definitely hit all the high notes! It's conveniently located near all the popular stores without feeling like it's wedge unsafely or unnaturally in the area. We stayed on the playground portion but the water area also looks cool & refreshing on those hot days of summer! Highly recommend checking out this park with your little one.

this park appears to only be open if you participate in a paid preschool co-op. We are visiting. It…read morewas locked when we came at 8 AM on a Tuesday in May.

Everything everyone has said is true - this is the best park in DC. Amazing spray park during the…read moresummer, but the cars/scooters and other donated outdoor toys are fun in any season. The park is TINY but never seems to be overly crowded - but it's small enough (and securely gated on all sides) that you can sit on a bench and give your toddler some independence, which is great! Our daughter was always intimidated at the larger DC spray parks, but she really felt at home here. It also has a small playground and then some other outdoor furniture, like a play kitchen.

This small playground was a short walk from our airbnb. I have an almost three year old and almost…read moreone year old. It was the perfect spot for both of them to get out some energy. Not realizing this park had a splash pad (or spray park I guess is what it's called in DC), the first day my daughter only used the swing and slides. It was packed with kiddos that Friday morning (10am ish). The next day we went back with a swimsuit and had a blast! Went at the same time but only a few other families were there. I noticed on Friday everyone was there with a nanny and on Saturday it was all parents. The parents came armed with coffee, breakfast and bug spray. Bug spray is a MUST! Note you do not need to bring toys... there are tons of them provided by the park. Things to ride on. Things to collect water. Water tables. I wish we had something like this in the city we live in.

Whoa! Where was this type of playground when I was a kid?…read more On an unusually warm late December morning, we took to Yelp to find an outdoor playground in Adams Morgan. The first recommendation was this one. We pulled up and found street parking immediately. My little pumpkin had the playground to herself for about 30 mins and then she came down the slide to 20 or so kids. That's when the real fun began. As adults, sadly we forget how it feels to be a child and experience the wind in our hair as we fly on a slide or swing. Our desensitized bodies, having driven cars and flown in planes, forget the sensation of speed from our youth, which at the time is the fastest, most thrilling thing we can know. Kudos to the makers of this playground and all the folks who create play environments that transport children into magical adventures.

Along 18th Street, this playground is entirely enclosed with equipment for both bigger and smaller…read morekids. There are benches for caregivers to sit.

Along Rock Creek in Georgetown, Rose Park has a rich legacy. When first built, it served the…read morelargely Black community on Herring Hill. Its playground became the first racially integrated playgrounds in the city. The tennis courts are the home courts of tennis legends the Peters sisters. Signs throughout the park explain its history. The park itself has two playgrounds, tennis courts, restrooms, picnic tables and a trail that hugs the creek. Because of its location, it's a popular park for all people- families, runners, nature lovers. If you're hungry while at Rose Park, walk to nearby Stachowski's Market for a pastrami sandwich on rye bread that's two meals.

Great park. In between Georgetown and Dupont Circle is this green space. Rose Park is known for…read moretennis. Besides this, it has a great view of Rock Creek. The park is in a pretty safe area surround by homes. It has lots of amenities. Among these are the baseball field, basketball courts, and tennis courts. Tennis is the most popular here of these. Maybe you don't feel like playing with balls. You have other things here you can play with. Among these are a few playgrounds, with newer equipment. I read here that the bathrooms are scary. The last time however it seems they have been cleaned up since this. It has a trail along Rock Creek. It's popular with dog walkers and joggers. Watch so you don't step in waste.

This park is truly fantastic! It's ideal for sunny days, offering a great time for young children…read more There's a designated dry play area for them to enjoy. Additionally, you'll find shaded spots, a small kids' hut, and a convenient parking area. Restrooms are not available, so make sure to bring along your swimwear and sunscreen for a perfect day out!

Along the Potomac River northwest of Georgetown is a close-knit community called The Palisades…read more This is its recreation center. There's a small parking lot in the front and trails that lead to an actual recreation center, fields and a playground that doubles as a splash park in the summer. My four-year-old daughter loved the playground. It's modeled after an Indigenous American village along the Potomac River with slides, etc. For being in a wealthy neighborhood, it's a little run down, but still a lot of fun. If you like quirky art, take the small dirt path to the right when facing the parking lot. Walk a few yards to a small opening in the forest to find the "Glass Forest" with art hanging on the trees. It's a little creepy, but also quirky!

OK. So for the record, it is very much overpriced And they…read moredon't take ACM reciprocity for other museum members, so that was a huge let down. That being said, they have a decent amount of activities, and my kid was never bored. There were a lot of different activities for kids of varying ages. The little brothers and the younger brother won't be bored. On top of that it's right next to the National Mall, so... four stars.

We went specifically for the Curious George Exhibit. It was underwhelming at best…read more The Children's Museum is located downtown, so you can only imagine how parking can be. There is a garage underneath the building and no there is no discounts for attending the museum. In my opinion, the space isn't very big and I was a bit disappointed with how it is kept up. Some of the installations did not work and there didn't appear to be enough staff available to keep up with items that are running low. Can't say it was the best experience and I doubt we will be returning.

Nice shaded park with a very cool, nicely designed and consistently engaging multi-faceted climbing…read morestructure for kids of various ages and abilities to enjoy, plus a smaller play area with a more traditional wooden play set for the younger children and/or those seeking calmer, lower key play activity for any reason. A covered picnic area with several tables and benches located right between the two play areas provides excellent visibility for caregivers keeping track of kids playing on both sides and serves as a perfect snack/rest spot or pre/post playtime picnic location. It's also great for small birthday parties and other gatherings. Beyond the playground area, the park also offers a full size playing field with soccer nets on each side and even a small four level stand of seats on the far side of the field for viewing games and activities held there by neighborhood sports teams and whatnot. A very nice paved bike trail loops around the entire park and is perfect for kids to ride, scoot and run around on and maintain a view of the park and their grownups at all times. My kids usually bring bikes or scooters when we go, and then they switch between playing on the playgrounds, riding around the trail, running and playing on the fields, and snacking/hydrating at the picnic tables...and then back through all of those again as many times as they can before it's time for us to go home. It's one of our favorite parks in the area. And there are tons here so that's saying a lot.

Not far from Quincy Park is another public park easier to miss since it's nestled within a…read moreneighborhood. Park on the street and follow the signs for this medium-sized park. There's a track around the playground and green space that kids ride scooters and bikes on. The playground itself is built more for older kids with ropes to climb to access the slide. There's enough shade and places to sit. Sadly, there aren't restrooms.

Cool park and place to have fun. Garfield Park is located pretty close to Capitol Hill. It has some…read moreinteresting things different from many other parks. Be sure to check out the playgrounds even if you don't have any kids. They have one for adults too. Getting here from Capitol Hill doesn't take long. It still seems like it's quite a ways away though. This also is close to the Navy Yard. One bad thing is that it can be noisy because of the traffic on the freeway. There's a concrete wall separating the park from Interstate 395, which is where the noise comes from especially when it's rush hour, so if you want a quiet and relaxing visit avoid coming here at those times. Other than that it's one of the best parks around. The playground is cool for kids. If you're an adult you also have your own place to play next to it. They have adult sized playground equipment so you don't have to worry about being too heavy to play on these. It overall is one of the best parks in DC. Other than the freeway noise there's a lot of other things to like about it. This is a nice way of getting from Capitol Hill to the Navy Yard.

Garfield Park is dilapidated and ruinous. Most playground equipment is broken or damaged, and it is…read moreoverdue for an overhaul. Kids may still have fun, but this is a subpar destination due to its lack of maintenance and all the noise from the expressway looming over it and directly adjacent. The adaptive swing has cracked plastic and doesn't lock, a merry-go-round thing barely moves, the slides are incredibly slow, etc. Tip: Eastern Market Metro Park near 8th and Penn SE is a better bet if you care about playgrounds. This place is OK for a picnic under the mature trees, if you don't mind the din of highway traffic. It also has an embankment on the western edge that is suitable for wintertime sledding. On the plus side, when my four-year-old and I were there this month, she spotted a rat trapped in the bottom of the metal trash can by the playground. So, although we would never feed pests, we showed mercy on the distressed beast. We got a good amount of memorable and free enjoyment by rescuing it from dehydration and heat exhaustion using an empty chip bag to lift it to freedom, then watching it scurry into concrete blocks under the highway. Ah, the simple joys, haha

I'm rating this facility mostly based on the fitness center which is available to all DC residents…read moreat no cost. Of the recreation centers that I've visited so far in DC, this fitness center is the most updated and well-kept. The crowd is pretty steady regardless of the time of day (I've been at different hours of the day and days of the week between 6:30AM-7:30PM) but I've never been able to not use equipment during my 45-60 minutes workouts. Note that the fitness center closes 30 minutes before the posted hours (I.e. if the rec center closes at 8PM, the fitness center closes at 7:30PM). Not pictured are also more weight machines, a dumbbell rack with weights 5-100lbs and kettlebells. Aside from the fitness center, there's also the athletic field, playground, rooftop garden, outdoor basketball/tennis courts, and a gymnasium. From what I've seen, events at this rec center are more-so geared towards folks under 18 and 55+.

Edgewood Recreation Center is a newly-renovated recreations center in Northeast's Edgewood…read moreneighborhood. Here's why it's worth a visit: 1) Amenities: There's a lot to do inside and outside. On the outside, there's a massive field, a track, playground, a garden and basketball courts. Pre-pandemic, the inside has a gym, classrooms, etc. 2) Views: There's an area with benches with beautiful views of nearby Trinity Washington University. This recreation is new and super nice. It's worth a visit!