It's time to hit the beach, D.C. And we're not talking about a three-hour drive to the Eastern Shore. In fact, there's no need to leave the District.
The Beach is the summer's hottest new D.C. destination for kids of all ages. Set up inside the National Building Museum's Great Hall, it's a 10,000 square-foot indoor beach. The main attraction: a giant ball pit--think Chuck E. Cheese style--filled with nearly 1 million plastic balls, perfect for a quick dip or an afternoon-long swim.
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You won't need any sunscreen, and the weather won't dampen your day at this beach. In fact, it's never too hot to go. The swim, however, might be a little tougher than you think. You are, however, guaranteed NOT to see a shark at this beach.
The Beach was designed and created in partnership with Snarkitecture, a firm based in Brooklyn, NY. It's built out of construction materials like scaffolding, wooden panels, perforated mesh, and all clad in stark white. The Beach opened on July 4, and will be in place through Labor Day--but it's not your average summer pool.
Will there be a wait? YES. But we hear it's worth it.
"Beachgoers" can set up shop in one of their monochromatic beach chairs, settle in under an umbrella along the 50-foot wide "shoreline," take a walk on the pier, or take a plunge in the three-foot-deep ball pool. There's also paddleball, and even a snack bar, operated in partnership with Union Kitchen.
Admission to The Beach will run you $16 for adults and $13 for students, kids, and seniors. You'll also get into all of the other exhibits the museum has to offer.
In case you're wondering, the translucent balls that fill the pool are coated in Germ-Block, which is an antimicrobial coating aimed at - you guessed it--keeping the ocean clean.
There are a few rules in place when you're at The Beach. There's no diving or jumping off the pier. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and you're asked not to throw the balls. They're for swimming.
For more info, click here for the National Building Museum's website.