Newseum, Washington DC

EXTRA, EXTRA, Read all about it! Newseum is a big hit in our nation's capital! From the moment you arrive at the Newseum, you are greeted by amazing exhibits. Every morning, along the outside of the museum, they have someone who posts the front page of a newspaper from each of the 50 states in America. Once you go inside, you are greeted by six floors of amazing current and historical news exhibits. News tickers continuously scroll up to the second information, news choppers are suspended overhead, and the museum provides a 3 minute introductory movie to tell guests what they will see.

On the concourse level is sections of the Berlin Wall and exhibit, changing exhibits, a comic hall, eatery, and a sports history theater. Level one has the Newseum store, the great hall of news, a 4-D news movie experience (3D movie with shaking chairs), and a really cool exhibit on Pulitzer Prize photos. Each one has an explanation that allows you to get a good grasp of the situation in the photo. Level two has an interactive newsroom and an ethics center, and level three has exhibits on world news, a tv studio, an internet, TV, and radio section, and a journalists memorial as well. On the fourth floor, is the big screen theater, a really cool first amendment gallery, five freedoms walkway, and the 9/11 exhibit which has the radio tower from on top of the World Trade Center. One of my favorite parts of the museum was on the 5th floor near the big screen theater and Great Books exhibits. News History had newspapers dating back 500 years with significant historical events. Hundreds of Newspapers were labeled and on display. The top floor was an observation spot and a great temporary exhibit on Katrina.

I loved spending time in this museum because it made history come to life, showed various ways that news is made, written, and the spins that are put on things. Throughout the exhibit, there were different questions being asked of visitors, which were thought invoking and fascinating. This museum is geared towards people starting from age 12 and up.


Pricing:
Children 6 and under are free
7-18 years old: $13
19-64 years old: $22
65+: $18

Hours:9am-5pm
Website: http://www.newseum.org/
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Monster Mini Golf, Jessup, MD

For a long time now, there has not been a decent mini golf place to go to in the Silver Spring area. Most are serviceable, but lack the appeal of the mini golf places that line the streets of beach towns. However, Jessup, MD (30 min from Silver Spring) is home to Monster Mini Golf, a totally cosmic, glow in the dark, indoor putting experience. We went during the day and it was very uncrowded, cool, and clean. The course is well maintained, has a variety of obstacles, and does not have a back at the end of each hole (which while narrow, was smartly built for wheel chair accessibility, yay!).

Each of the holes was fun, not too spooky, and challenging, providing us with about an hour of fun for the course (with no traffic). In addition to the mini golf, they also have a small arcade with prizes to be won. This place is perfect for kids 5 years old and up, assuming that the monsters are not too scary for them (there are fake monsters, but nothing that moves or jumps out at anyone). For mini golf, it is mildly pricey at 8 dollars per person for adults and 7 dollars each for kids, but it is indoors, and very well maintained. They also have great hours and offer several different discount deals (found on their website) such as Tuesday 12 dollar couple night, Pajama Thursday, etc... Definitely planning to go back soon!

(Note that they now also have a Gaithersburg location)

Cost:
Adults $8
Kids $7

SUMMER BUSINESS HOURS:
Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 9pm Friday: 12pm - 10pm
Saturday: 12pm - 10pm
Sunday: 12pm to 8pm

Website: http://www.monsterminigolf.com/fran-md-columbia/index.html
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