Glen Echo Park

Until 1968, Glen Echo was a popular amusement park just a trolley ride from Downtown. Today, it is preserved by the National Park Service (2pm weekend tours) and run by a non-profit group as a site for theater, art and dance. It also has a playground, picnic tables, plenty of places to explore and a charming 1921 carousel.

The following are highlights of the activities on offer:

Adventure Theatre 301 320 5331, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. See website for showtimes and tickets. One-hour plays for fours and over based on fables, fairy tales, musicals and children’s classics, using puppets and actors.
 
Living Classrooms 202 488 0627, www.glenechopark.org/living-classrooms. From a former stable building, this program offers hands-on outdoor activities in the park, including live animal encounters for children up to 15.

Puppet Company Playhouse 301 634 5380, www.thepuppetco.org. See website for show times, but usually 10am, 11am Thur, Fri; 11.30am, 1pm Sat, Sun. Tiny Tots shows 10am. Plays for all ages, most of them adaptations of classic stories for children such as Cinderella and The Jungle Book. Reservations recommended.