When it's too chilly to go outside, there's still plenty of fun to be had. Whether you want to cozy up by a fire or see some innovative art, here are some ways to beat out the stir-crazies.
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Step inside ARTECHOUSE (1238 Maryland Ave SW) and you’ll feel like you’re in another world. The innovative arts space specializes in larger-than-life, interactive projections on the walls. You can lounge in bean bag chairs to soak in the sights, or play around yourself. Tickets start at $16 for adults and $8 for kids if purchased online. A winter-themed Northern Lights exhibit runs Dec. 7-Jan. 5.
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Ax throwing has become a serious trend around D.C. In addition to Bad Axe (2419 Evarts St. NE and 2985 District Ave Suite 195, Fairfax, Va.), there’s Kraken Axes (840 E Street NW) and Autobahn Axe Throwing (45448 E Severn Way, Sterling, VA).
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Cheer on the Capitals at 18 home games in December, January and February that you can watch from the Capital One Arena — still chilly, but not as biting as the outdoors. Winter also means basketball, and that means the Wizards! Buckle up for a slew of home games every week.
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The Punch Bowl Social is a retro-style bar, bowling alley, arcade and karaoke hall rolled into one building in Arlington (4238 Wilson Blvd.). A cozy fireplace defines the holiday lounge on the first and second floors. “Virginia Is for Lovers”-styled karaoke rooms and an homage to Arlington’s Great Elephant Escape — when four elephants escaped an amusement park in 1906 and ran through town — add local touches.
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When it gets chilly outside, the U.S. Botanic Garden stays balmy and green. Explore a tropical rainforest, a reconstructed Jurassic landscape, rare and endangered species, orchids and more. It’s free to enter.
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Have you ever wanted to be inside the shoes of a video game character? Virtual reality arcades are springing up around the DMV and allow that exciting experience. Reviewers love VR Zone DC (2300 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite G-101), which offers options for gaming, art exhibitions and VR escape rooms. The Augment Arcade offers more than a dozen games along with a bar in Shaw (645 Florida Ave NW). Monster Mini Golf is great for kids and families, plus you can book sessions as short as 5 minutes for just $5 (locations in Gaithersburg, MD; Columbia, MD; Chantilly, VA).
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The National Law Enforcement Museum (444 E St. NW) has artifacts relating to notorious police investigations, both local and national. Tickets cost $21.95 for adults and $14.95 for youth ages 6 to 11. Online purchases get a $2 discount.
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Get out of the cold just to try and break back out. Every city now seems to boast an escape room game, where daring participants get locked in and solve a series of puzzles to get out. Escape Room Live, with D.C. and Alexandria locations, lets you flee the sinking Titanic, outsmart a maniac in the woods or undo a crypt’s curse. Themes run from family-friendly, like the Wizard’s Apothecary (Escape Room Live Alexandria, 814 King St.), thrilling (Stephen King-inspired Dungeon Things at Insomnia Escape, 2300 Wisconsin Ave NW) to old-school mysterious (Sherlock Holmes’ Library at The Great Escape Room, 1730 Connecticut Ave. NW)
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Have you ever wanted to be inside the shoes of a video game character? Virtual reality arcades are springing up around the DMV and allow that exciting experience. Reviewers love VR Zone DC (2300 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite G-101), which offers options for gaming, art exhibitions and VR escape rooms. The Augment Arcade offers more than a dozen games along with a bar in Shaw (645 Florida Ave NW). Monster Mini Golf is great for kids and families, plus you can book sessions as short as 5 minutes for just $5 (locations in Gaithersburg, MD; Columbia, MD; Chantilly, VA).
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Sportrock Climbing Centers (5308 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA; adult day passes cost $20 with separate equipment rental) is only one establishment where you can harness up and scale a wall. A few others include Earth Treks Crystal City (1235 S Clark St., Arlington, VA) and Badlands Playspace (For kids, 5200 Randolph Rd, Rockville, MD).