City: Alexandria, VA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (703) 768-5700

Address: 7931 East Boulevard Drive

Description: Kids love visiting the children’s gardens on the grounds of the American Horticultural Society’s headquarters, just down the road from George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon (see the listing under Farm Museums and Plantations, in this chapter). Among the interactive, themed plots are the crawl-through Bat Cave; a sea-themed garden in a boat; a fairy tale garden; an Alphabet Garden featuring plants starting with each letter; and Beau Beau’s Garden, accented by a yellow-brick road leading to a fortlike bridge that crosses a dry riverbed containing fun discoveries. Bring a picnic to enjoy as you gaze out at the Potomac River. The gardens are open only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and, during summer, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids’ educational programs are $5.