If Dopamine Land isn’t on your radar, you’re in for a treat this summer. The vibrant interactive experience first took London by storm before expanding across the pond into D.C. to spread smiles throughout the capital.
After setting up shop in Friendship Heights this past winter, Dopamine Land has since extended its time in D.C. due to high demand. When we scheduled our visit on behalf of Secret D.C., we zipped up to Friendship Heights on the metro and found ourselves steps from the playful haven.
Simply put, Dopamine Land was such a great escape from adulting. As we entered the space through a whimsical neon tunnel, we found ourselves in an open room decked out with a ball pit, an Aromatherapy Oxygen Bar, and plenty of merch.
We were first led into a soothing decompression room, which taught us about dopamine, the happiness hormone. Once ready to move on, we continued into a dazzling mirror infinity room, adorned with countless colorful light strands. While all of Dopamine Land provides incredible photo opportunities, this room was easily our favorite to capture.
Each additional room inside Dopamine Land introduced equally delightful opportunities, such as a storybook-esque shadow puppet room inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and a sensory lab with countless surprises to smell, touch, and hear. Personally, the pillow fight room took the cake for me, transporting me back to a time of unbridled childhood joy.
Throughout my time at Dopamine Land, I wasn’t thinking about tomorrow’s work agenda, the groceries I needed to pick up, or other nagging adulting to-do’s. It was a much-needed oasis away from the chaos of everyday life, offering a unique opportunity to be fully present.
We love that Dopamine Land welcomes visitors of all ages, and we’re bound to return soon for one of their 21+ Nights. While we attended as a duo, we’re confident this would make a fun solo or group outing!
