Have fun with digital illuminations
Bright, multihued illuminations flash on the massive walls of Artechouse DC, displaying an ever-
changing display of dancing skies, animated cherry blossoms and life-size neurons, depending on
the theme. Sophisticated art meets the latest technology involved in powering these cool
animated projections, but all the kids care about is jumping up and down, having
their shadows frozen in the scene and racing all around to see how the art
looks from different angles.

Different themes rotate through, although upcoming programming
has not been announced as of press date. You can bet the programs
will be as captivating as all the rest have been. Past exhibitions have
included “Aurora: The Spirit of Northern Lights,” “In Peak Bloom”
and “Imaginary World of the Nutcracker.” Throughout the visit,
families of all ages can dive further into the themes with hands-on
exhibits and other activities in a series of rooms. Visitation
capacity is limited; timed-admission tickets are required.

Open daily except Christmas and New Year’s Day
artechouse.com COURTESY OF ARTECHOUSE DC
Celebrate the first president’s birthday
The nation’s first president has much going on at his Mount Vernon home
during the winter. George Washington’s birthday is in February, after all,
with plenty of family-fun events planned for Feb. 21—and they’re free.

But families can find many kid-friendly activities to do even without
the birthday.

Pick up an adventure map when you arrive at the orientation center
and go on a scavenger hunt. Nine stops make up the hunt, and if you solve
a word puzzle about George Washington, you win a prize. You can take
a mansion tour—or admire the dollhouse version of the mansion in the
lobby—and play in the hands-on history center, including dressing up in
colonial costumes. Discover interactive exhibits that make learning about
colonial history and our forefathers—and mothers—fun for the family.

Open 365 days a year
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M Discover family fun at the big museums
The Smithsonian museums have all types of cool attractions for kids to see. The Moon Rock,
early airplanes, and space rockets, for example, are appealing features at the National Air
and Space Museum. Look for hands-on activity carts throughout the National Museum
of American History. And the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils at the Smithsonian
National Museum of Natural History is always fun to explore, with touch screens,
touchable objects and videos that traverse billions of years of human history.

Did you know the Smithsonian Institute offers free downloadable booklets
that make exploring the museum exhibits more interesting? A discovery booklet
accompanies the National Museum of American History’s “Innovation Across
the Nation” exhibit, for example, with prompts to help kids explore the world of
innovation—including creating their own hypotheses.

Tutorials allow kids to make their own envelopes, mailbox, and time capsule at
the National Postal Museum. And a “Color Our Collection” coloring book highlights
famous portraits at the National Portrait Gallery. You’ll find these projects and more to
download and take with you on the online Learning Lab (http://learninglab.si.edu).

Museums open daily except Christmas Day
si.edu COURTESY OF NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM
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