For some, winter is a wonderland. But for parents of young children, it’s a chilly feeling of dread when they realize the freezing temperatures and gusty winds means they’re likely going to be cooped up at home all day with their temperamental and unpredictable little balls of energy.

And that’s even more the case with the news that the National Building Museum is closed through March for renovations. The museum was always great for kids: You could either let them run wild in the Great Hall, or take them into one of the two dedicated children’s spaces to build (and destroy) things at will with the many blocks and toys.

Thankfully, D.C. has a wealth of indoor options for parents constantly on the search for ways to distract, educate, and exhaust their kids during the winter months—and plenty of them are free. I’ve tested almost all of the options below on my own kids—ages 6 and 2—whom I love dearly, but love even more when they are directing their energy at something other than destroying our house and raging at me for whatever injustice they feel I have committed.

So pack those snacks and changes of clothes, throw some coffee in a travel mug, and get out there.

Indoor Playgrounds

It seems counterintuitive to lock yourself in an enclosed space with dozens of amped-up kids (what happens when they collectively turn on parents?), but trust me—indoor playgrounds are the greatest. And thankfully there’s plenty to be had in and around D.C. You can go simple with Magic Ground at the DCUSA shopping center in Columbia Heights (perk: Target is a floor down), or opt for the slightly more spacious Busy Bees (with multiple locations around the region).

And then there’s Badlands in Rockville. Housed in a former Safeway in a suburban strip mall, the sprawling space features a large rock structure that kids can clamber on and slide off of, a separate room with blocks and crafts, and periodic organized activities. And for the parents, there’s a café and bar and ample seating area. (I recently saw a mother sipping champagne out of a plastic wine glass as she watched her kids play. Total pro move.) If Rockville is too far to drive (or you don’t have a car), fear not—Eastern Market has the “family hangout” SkillZone. And in January 2020 a similar concept called The Lane will be opening in Ivy City.

And there are plenty of other options for obstacles and clime-able spaces in the suburbs: Scramble in Alexandria, Nook in Ballston, indoor rock climbing at Climb Zone in Laurel, three locations of the indoor trampoline park’s Zava Zone and Sky Zone, Springfield’s Super, Awesome and Amazing, and UltraZone in Bailey’s Crossroads.

Of course, all of these places cost money—in some cases, we’re talking $20+ per kid for a two-hour block of play. Other spots require paid memberships, like a gym. But would you really put a price on your family’s sanity? Me neither.

So Many Museums

God bless the Smithsonian. It’s no joke that having a bevy of free museums at our daily disposal is one of the greatest parental perks in the Washington region. Perennial favorites include the Natural History Museum (now with the reopened Fossil Hall), the National Air and Space Museum (though further out, don’t miss the Udvar-Hazy Center) and the American History Museum (which has two dedicated play spaces for kids). One piece of advice: Show up early, both because of crowds and the security lines. But you’re a parent and have probably been awake since the wee hours anyhow, so showing up somewhere by 10 a.m. should be a breeze, right?

Don’t assume that just because you have kids you can’t enjoy slightly more sophisticated options. The Hirshhorn has two dedicated recurring options for kids, and they’re surprisingly well thought out: Maker Mornings and story times. Or walk your kids through the National Gallery of Art’s enthralling light tunnel connecting the east and west wings. The U.S. Botanic Garden and its holiday display are worth a visit, as is Montgomery County’s Brookside Gardens.

And that’s just the free options. If you want to pay (and travel), Baltimore can offer you the National Aquarium, the Port Discovery Children’s Museum and the B&O Railroad Museum. Speaking of, the new National Children’s Museum in Federal Triangle is supposed to open this winter—and it looks awesome.

Books, Rec Centers, and Pools

They’re everywhere and they’re open seven days a week: Yes, D.C.’s public libraries are an awesome place to take your kids. Beyond the hundreds of books they can read (or just throw on the floor), many libraries offer specific programming for kids, including lots of story times during the week and Lego and other building-related activities on the weekends at specific locations. And while it won’t help you this winter, next year the newly modernized Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library will reopen—and it will feature a massive slide from one floor to another.

There’s also D.C.’s many rec centers and indoor pools—from Wilson to Barry Farm, the latter of which has one of the city’s only indoor water slide. (Deanwood is the other.) And there are plenty of other indoor pools in the suburbs, though some require you to pay to get in. The Fairlington Community Center and Park features a dedicated playroom for kids aged 1 to 5.

Just Go Outside

My Swiss family always says, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices.” Their maddening neutrality aside, they’re right. The District has a wealth of amazing playgrounds and parks, and it takes little more than bundling up your kid properly to be able to enjoy them through the winter months. And if you want to make it a bit of an adventure, jump in a car and head to the ever-excellent Watkins Regional Park in Prince George’s County, Clemyjontri Park in Fairfax County (which has the added benefit of being fully accessible to children of all abilities), Wheaton Regional Park, Glen Echo Park, and so on. Or you could go ice-skating in Silver Spring, Canal Park, the Sculpture Garden, Georgetown Waterfront, the Fairfax Ice Arena, or these other places. For actual classes, the Fort Dupont Ice Arena is D.C.’s only indoor rink.

OK, Now You’re Really Out Of Ideas

Necessity is the mother of invention, and desperation is the father of weird ideas. I’ve taken my kids to Costco (wide aisles, large products they can’t easily pull off of shelves, free samples!), Ikea (someone else’s furniture they can jump on, passable Swedish meatballs), Union Market and Eastern Market (food vendors to stare at, occasional friendly strangers taking sympathy on me), shopping malls (wide open spaces to run, plentiful reminders of America’s capitalist heyday), and Chuck E. Cheese (there are about half a dozen in the nearby suburbs). Or bowling: The White Oak Duckpin Lanes in Silver Spring are great for kids, or Bowl America in Falls Church.

And yes, home is where the heart is, and you can certainly get creative enough to entertain your kids on a rainy winter weekend. Kids love building forts, starting impromptu dance parties, baking (read: throwing flour everywhere), drawing, and so on. Leave us your favorite winter options for kids! No, really. I’m fresh out.

Your House

Yep, I’m dropping off my kids to play. I’ll be back later. I promise.

We updated this post to reflect the fact that SkillZone is in Eastern Market, not H Street NE.