National Harbor – Blooming by the Bay

One of the greatest things about the Washington, DC area is the wealth of museums and exhibits it offers to the public — not only for adults, but for children, too! Mio is a little too young to appreciate the Smithsonian museums, but there are some children’s museums that we’d been wanting to take her to for a while! The new National Children’s Museum opened in National Harbor last December, so we decided to spend our Sunday afternoon there with Mio! She had so much fun — here are some pictures!

National Children's Museum — A part of the museum featured displays representing a few countries around the world. When you enter, there’s a mini luggage claim carousel as if you were arriving at an airport.

A Tuk Tuk taxi from Thailand. — A Tuk Tuk taxi (rickshaw) from Thailand.

There was a dress-up area where kids could try on Japanese yukata and happi.

The yukatas were way too large, so I put Mio in a happi. She loved running around in it!

We discovered Big Bird, and of course, Mio had to give him a hug.

Seeing how we measure up against Big Bird. Even Dan looks short next to Big Bird!

A play pizzeria kitchen — A pizzeria play kitchen

She loved putting various toppings on the play pizza.

The Under 3 Zone of the National Children's Museum featured a lot of fun play areas for toddlers, with lots of Sesame Street characters. — The Under 3 Zone of the National Children’s Museum featured a lot of fun play areas for toddlers, with lots of Sesame Street characters. (I believe the museum has a partnership with Sesame Street.)

The Infant Zone. — So many fun areas to play!

Mio inside Cookie Monster's Food Truck. — Mio inside Cookie Monster’s Food Truck.

She picked up various play food and was naming each off for us. She picked this roll up and exclaimed, "sushi!" — She picked up various play food and was naming each off for us. She picked this roll up and exclaimed, “sushi!”

We got to see a show in the theater of the museum about paleontology and dinosaurs! We weren’t allowed to take any photos during the show due to it being copyrighted, but Mio LOVED it, as she’s obsessed with dinosaurs right now. We had to “shhh” her a few times because she’d very loudly shout out “Dinosaur! Wow!!!” whenever one would appear on stage.

Back in the play area, playing with toy instruments.

In the baby care area, holding a baby doll. Practicing to be a big sister?

She looks a bit uncertain about the idea... — She looks a bit uncertain about the idea…

There were some craft tables in the museum, too! Mio got to make a butterfly out of tissue paper, clothespin, and a pipecleaner.

Saying goodbye to Cookie Monster on the way out of the National Children's Museum — Saying goodbye to Cookie Monster on the way out of the museum.

And of course, she had to give Elmo a goodbye hug... — And of course, she had to give Elmo a goodbye hug…

...along with a goodbye kiss. So sweet! — …along with a goodbye kiss. So sweet!

Overall, we really enjoyed the National Children’s Museum. It’s apparently a little small compared to the old National Children’s Museum that used to be on H Street in DC, but it’s very clean and modern, well-staffed with friendly and helpful people, and is well-maintained and a fun place for kids of various ages. We did think admission was a bit pricey — $10 per person, with no discounts for the children (only kids under 12 months are free), so we had to pay $30 — but that’s probably because we’ve been spoiled by the Smithsonian museum’s free admission. I think that the ticket price should be more worth it once the Outdoor Experience opens next spring: it’s supposed to be a year-round museum without a roof that will have a lot of additional great exhibits. Right now only the Indoor half of the museum is open, so perhaps it might feel a little lacking for the price of admission. We’ll definitely be back to check it out again once the museum is complete! At the end of the day, Mio had a really enjoyable time, and that’s what matters! 🙂