Washington DC, the capital of the United States, is replete with the history of that country.
It is filled with museums, many thanks to the Smithsonian Institutions, and monuments to famous presidents and other important figures from American history.
Indeed, in the center of the city, around the famous National Mall, one can barely turn around and not find something of interest to visit.
Washington DC is very kid-friendly, which is one reason it is a favorite destination for organized school groups.
Here are some of the places to visit.
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10 Things to Do in Washington DC With Kids
National Air and Space Museum
If a visitor to Washington DC does nothing else, a trip to the National Air and Space Museum is a must.
Where else in all the world can one find, under one roof, the Apollo 11 command module, the Wright Flyer, and Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis?
The museum is packed full of artifacts from the early days of aviation to the epic of humankind’s reach for the stars.
The planetarium and IMAX theater constantly put on interesting and entertaining programming.
Entry to the museum is free, but you need to reserve a timed entry ticket in advance.
Also, the museum is undergoing renovations that are due to be completed in 2025.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazey Center, a satellite location for the National Air and Space Museum, is located near Dulles Airport.
The Center is well worth your time to visit as it contains, among other artifacts, the Space Shuttle Discovery.
The Discovery was one of five space shuttles that took astronauts to and from low Earth orbit between 1981 and 2011, deploying satellites, conducting experiments, and helping to build the International Space Station.
Also included are World War II planes, an SR-71, simulators that you can “fly,” and a number of special, family-oriented events.
The Center is open every day except December 25, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
National Museum of Natural History
If anything can be displayed about the natural world, the National Museum of Natural History likely has it.
The museum has an excellent collection of dinosaur fossils, including a T-Rex skeleton.
Also, check out the geology and gemstone collection (including the Hope Diamond), the Hall of Mammals, and the Ancient Egypt exhibit, among others.
Check the museum in advance as there are always special events going on.
In particular, the Tuesday “Play Date” provides a great learning experience for families with young children.
The museum is open seven days a week, 10 am to 5:30 pm except for December 25.
National Museum of American History
The exhibits at the National Museum of American History are divided into themes and topics rather than distinct periods of United States history.
America on the Move, for example, shows the history of transportation.
American Democracy and the American Presidency lean more toward political history.
Exhibits depicting the histories of American food, American culture, American business, and American innovation, among others, are available.
Free tours are available as well as activities designed for school-aged children.
The museum is free to enter and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
International Spy Museum
The price of admission to the International Spy Museum is a little steep at $30.00 per person, but perhaps well worth it for a different museum experience.
It’s best to buy tickets in advance to avoid a wait to get in.
The International Spy Museum is one of the most interactive museums in the world.
Visitors are invited to assume and remember a cover identity, crack codes, locate a dead drop, gather secret information, and do other spycraft tasks.
You’ll learn that being a spy is less James Bond and more Michael Weston.
Exhibits include artifacts of the history of American espionage from the Revolutionary War to 21st-century cyber intelligence.
National Zoo
All the kids like a trip to the zoo.
The National Zoo in Washington is filled with exotic animals from around the world, including lions, gorillas, elephants, and tigers, as well as rarer species of birds, lizards, and rodents.
Of course, do not forget that the National Zoo is home to pandas, those cute animals from China.
Check the schedule for when keepers feed and work with some of the animals.
While admission to the zoo is free, you are required to reserve tickets in advance.
The zoo is open every day except for December 25, 8 am to 6 pm during the spring and summer months and 8 am to 4 pm during the fall and winter.
The National Mall
The National Mall, sometimes called America’s Front Yard, is the perfect place for a stroll when the weather is nice.
The Capitol is at one end and the Lincoln Memorial is at the other, with the Washington Monument in the Middle.
Other monuments that are on or near the National Mall include the Jefferson Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial.
If time is pressing or if your feet cannot stand a lot of walking, try one of the trolley tours that are available.
The White House
It should be noted that while anyone with proper ID can get into the White House for a self-guided tour, admission is hard to get.
You should arrange for a tour as far in advance as possible through the White House Visitor’s Office.
The tours are limited to the East Wing, since the West Wing and Oval Office are working areas for the President and his staff.
The tour is a great experience for kids as it will provide a background for what they will learn in school.
Since the tour is self-guided, you can linger as long as you like but generally, they take between 30 and 45 minutes.
The Capitol Building
Tours of the Capitol Building start every ten minutes from the Capitol Visitor Center between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
While reservations are not required, they are recommended.
Capitol Building tours are conducted by trained tour guides.
The tours include the Crypt, where no one is actually buried, the Rotunda, and Statuary Hall.
You can also visit the Exhibition Hall, where exhibits and artifacts depicting the history of the United States Congress are located.
Big screens showing both houses of Congress while they are in session are also located there.
When Congress is in session, you can get separate passes to sit in the visitors’ gallery of either the House or the Senate and, if you are lucky, witness history in the making, live.
National Building Museum
The National Building Museum is unique in the world, as it celebrates engineering, design, construction, and urban planning with a number of exhibits and interactive programs.
The Play Work Build section is of particular interest to children and adults alike.
Most people have played with Legos, Lincoln logs, and Tinker Toys, among other products designed to fire the imagination for building things.
In the Play Work Build section of the museum visitors are invited to use blocks, either individually or in groups, to build things, limited only by the imagination.
The museum is open Thursday through Monday, 10 am to 4 pm, with tickets bought in advance.
Washington DC Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Washington DC Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Washington DC?
Washington DC is accessible by road, but beware that parking inside the city is at a premium.
If you live in a city with Amtrack service, you might consider taking the train to Washinton DC.
The train will take you to Union Station, which is fairly close to the National Mall and all of the sights.
Washington DC is serviced by two major airports, Dulles and Reagan National.
How do you get around Washington DC?
Washington is served by an extensive underground train system called the Metro.
The Metro has stops near most of the major sights.
Otherwise, consider cabs or rideshare.
When is the best time of the year to visit Washington DC?
The spring and fall months are the best times of the year to visit Washington DC since the weather is more temperate and the crowds are sparser.
Spring Break is an ideal time to take the kids.
If you want to see the cherry blossoms, the last week of March through the first week of April are the best times to see them, if nature cooperates.
Where are some good places to eat in Washington DC?
Washington DC, being a place where a lot of diplomats call home and foreign travelers visit regularly, has a wide variety of restaurants to eat at.
They range from high-end dining to quaint ethnic eateries to the usual fast-food places that can be found in any American city.
Where to stay in Washington DC?
Washington DC has many hotels for the weary traveler.
The closer they are to the center of the city, the more expensive the hotels are likely to be.
You might consider one in the outlying part of the city near a metro station.
In any case, check with a travel site such as Expedia for special deals.
How do you stay safe in Washington DC?
Like every large city in America, Washington DC does have a crime problem.
The tourist areas are relatively safe, though you should maintain a certain degree of situational awareness.
Avoid displaying high-end electronics such as cameras and smart phones.
Carry money and credit cards in a money belt.
