Alexandria: Fun for Kids??
 

I will be in Alexandria for four nights with my almost-4-year-old visiting family in mid-February. Can anyone recommend some fun indoor things to do with a young child? Are there any drop-in music or dance classes? Any indoor play spaces?

What state? VA, LA, NH? If it is Alexandria, VA, I will have some suggestions.

Oh, yes. Alexandria VA, near D.C.
Thanks!

Springfield Mall, which is technically at an Alexandria mailing address (it is on Franconia Rd., 10 min from Old Town Alexandria, closer to other areas of Alexandria) has a very large and very good two story indoor play structure for kids close to the food court.

There is (or at least used to be- chekc on this) a gymboree in that mall where they would allow drop in kids to do a gymboree class. Just print the coupon for a free class off their website and take it.
http://www.gymboreeclasses.com/b2c/c...sp?action=PRVW

the torpedo factory is very cool - an old torpedo factory (hence the name) turned into an ats space - artists have studios there and work on their stuff and you can watch.
You can stroll along the waterfront as well, that's fun.

Planet Play is the space in Springfield Mall, my kids love it but I have always found it to be dirty and gross.

Here are some other recomendations, and you can check the washington post web site also - washhingtonppost.com.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley/ , Huntley Meadows Park - my favorite. Quiet in winter, but it is beautiful.
Gravelly Point park - http://tinyurl.com/yu2d4y way fun to have airplanes land or take off on your head.
Don't know what will be going on here in winter, but this place is very cool : http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/fpp/, Frying Pan Park. It's not in Alexandria, but it's fun.

Actually, so far all these are outdoor, except for this rec center: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/gwrec.htm. Indoor - the museums, of course, in town.
This place is fun - http://www.claywire.com/. It's not in Alexandria, but in Falls Church, but that's not too far.
As far as museums go, our favorite is the new Udvar-Hazy Center, http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/. It is not near Alexandria, but is a great place.

Hope this all helps. Old Town Alexandria is nice just to get out and walk around in, you should have a great time.

Momliz, I think Planet Play is the place down by the smaller food area, with arcade games, etc. The play structure I am speaking of is right by the large food court area, close to Ruby Tuesdays.

Also, I forgot, there is a full size operating carousel in the middle of the mall also.

We love Huntley Meadow also, have seen so many great birds there and a lot of deer in winter. There was a very sad murder there in 10/07, an older woman minding her won business, walking in the park was shot and killed. It was awful for those of us who visit that park.

If you make it to Tyson's Mall, there is a children's play are by that food court also (close to the movie theater area)

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I think we will have a fun-filled trip.

Springfield Mall has really gone downhill in the past 10 years - I don't think I would add it to my list of places to visit whilst on holiday.

There is a nice new movie theatre in Kingstown now or hop on the Metro and take them to the Natural History or Air & Space Musuem - they generally have special shows for kids.