Arlington, Virginia, has historical, multicultural, and many other types of activities kids will enjoy.
Arlington, Virginia is a great area to live in or to visit with children. It is best known as a suburb of the nation's capital, and in fact many government agencies are located in Arlington. In recent years, however, it has become home to a vibrant immigrant community, especially to Asian and Hispanic immigrants. So from the historical to the multicultural, Arlington has plenty to offer visitors young and old.
Perhaps the most famous tourist destination in Arlington is that of Arlington National Cemetery with its Iwo Jima Monument and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Older kids especially will enjoy a visit to see these famous images for themselves. If you want to witness something really special with all of the pomp and pageantry, you might want to look into attending one of the three major annual memorial services at the cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater. These take place on Easter Sunday (a sunrise service) and on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. There are other ceremonies conducted throughout the year by various military organizations; you may check with cemetery staff to see if any are scheduled to coincide with an upcoming visit.
Depending on what time of year you visit, you may be in for one of Arlington's special celebrations. In May there is a Cinco de Mayo festival highlighting the culture of the Mexican community, and in July the Arlington Festival and Frontier Days bring a kids' parade, Fourth of July fireworks, duck races, a carnival, and even an air show at Arlington Airport.
The Arlington County Fair, held each August, is not to be missed. One of its main attractions is its wide array of ethnic foods, so if the kids are adventurous eaters they'll be sure to enjoy kebabs, pupusas, churros, satay, and much, much more - although I'm sure you'll be able to find corn dogs and funnel cakes as well. Other fun stuff for kids to do at the fair include pony rides, a petting zoo, pig races, and carnival rides and games.
October brings Historic Arlington days, and later a "Hometown Halloween" with a kid's costume contest in Arlington's Legion Park, with downtown trick-or-treating sponsored by local merchants and the Chamber of Commerce. These same merchants also sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt and "Hometown Holidays" events from Thanksgiving through Christmas.
And of course there are street festivals celebrating a number of national days, including those of Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. (The days set aside to observe these festivals are subject to change from year to year, so you will want to check with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce before planning a visit.)
In fact, if you are interested in encouraging your child's bilingualism, many of the Arlington County libraries offer bilingual storytimes. Check with the library system for times and locations.
And if you have school-age kids who enjoy comedy and sports, they might like to take in a show at ComedySportz, located in Arlington's Ballston Common Mall. Saturday and Sunday afternoon shows are specifically for children and feature competing "teams" of comedians who improvise funny songs and sketches using suggestions from all the kids in the audience.
Whatever your kids' interests, you will be sure to find something everyone in the family can enjoy in Arlington.
