MIDSUMMER DREAM DAY

School’s out for summer – now what? For those days when the pool is too crowded, camp is out of session, and you just need something new to entertain your kids, gather your gang and make a day, a night, or a quick pit stop at one of these kid-friendly destinations around Montgomery County.

Kidville Bethesda

Searching for a flexible, structured and interactive experience for your kids this summer? Camp Kidville at Kidville Bethesda will take your available dates (working around vacations and other conflicts) to create a customized schedule for your little ones throughout the summer. The camp’s indoor, play-based program features open gym time, music, art, STEM and dance activities, all curated around a different theme each week, and is offered twice a week to kids 18-months to 2 years old and three or five times a week for kids  2-4 years old. After camp wraps, there are plenty of sweet treats in the neighborhood to keep them staying cool – from Haagen-Dazs ice cream and Dolcezza gelato, to Joe & the Juice smoothies and Clay Boy shaved ice outside of Anthropologie & Co.  

The KID Museum in Bethesda, MD.

For a weekend activity that will keep little minds stimulated, Bethesda’s KID Museum makes the perfect Sunday stop. This state-of-the-art learning center and cultural gathering place – open to the public on Sundays and scheduled field and camp trips during the weekdays this summer—will provide innovative learning opportunities for your kids in a hands-on and creative environment. Weekend workshops are open to rising 1st-5th graders and include topics ranging from Coding and 3-D Printing to Robotics and Woodworking. Once they’ve tackled new levels of techy, you can head across the street to the Shops at Wildwood for lunch at the newly opened Flower Child to enjoy lunch on the patio and a recap of everything they learned.

The Beach at Pike & Rose

Head to the intersection of Rockville Pike and Montrose Road for a taste of the beach without braving the bridge traffic. The Beach at Pike & Rose, an urban oasis sans salt water, will keep your kids entertained in the sand for hours. Nestled between plenty of neighborhood eats that rival a boardwalk ice cream cone – hello, Baked Bear ice cream cookie sandwiches! – The Beach has chairs, tables, buckets and shovels so you can kick back and hang while your littles dig in. And for days when cooling off is essential, Pike & Rose’s bird fountains provide just enough water to beat the heat without drenching your little ones in the pool. Everything you love about the shore, without packing a thing!

Friday Night Live at Rockville Town Square

Need a kid-friendly evening out that the entire family can enjoy together? Rock out in Rockville each Friday night during Rockville Town Square’s free concert series, Friday Night Live. Listen to live music ranging from rock to salsa on summer Fridays, 6-9pm, through the end of September, and enjoy food and drink from Rockville Town Square’s restaurants right in the square. Take out from your family’s favorite spot – Five Guys burgers and fries are family-approved – or indulge in a scoop from Marble Slab Creamery while you soak up the setting sun – we dare you not to dance.