Things to Do in D.C. When Your Family’s Had Its Fill of History
One mom shares how to keep kids engaged in the nation’s capital
Don’t let museum monotony ruin your trip to the nation’s capital. There are plenty of activities that allow you to dance to a different beat and still soak up D.C.’s history.
There are so many things to do in Washington, D.C. that it can be easy to discount the fact that hours spent in museums plus loads of walking doesn’t always equal a flawless family trip. During our first visit, my exhausted 4-year-old son plopped down on the National Mall in front of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and refused to take one more step. Surprisingly, we gave D.C. another shot—and it was on that second trip that my family finally found our sweet spot.
We live just a few hours away from the nation’s capital, so because we can easily get there for the weekend, we've had ample opportunity to correct our early mistakes. Follow these tips and you can plan the perfect first-time Washington, D.C. trip, with minimal meltdowns.
Get Outside
At the National Zoo, wave hello to the giant pandas in the Asia Trail area. Photo credit: Eric Long, Smithsonian National Zoo
One of my family's favorite spots in the city is the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. It’s perfectly sized for toddlers, with lots of safe winding paths for them to explore. But it's also fun for older kids—even my teenager is not immune to the pandas' charms, and my middle-school-age son spent a good hour watching the lions loll. Out on the Mall, the outdoor Children's Garden at the United States Botanic Garden gives kids a place to dig in the dirt—a great break from cleaner strolls through museums.
If you love baseball, see if the Washington Nationals have a home game while you’re in town. The relatively new park (it was built in 2008) is clean and family-friendly. My boys always love to see who will win the fourth-inning Presidents Race. The giant Teddy Roosevelt head is a favorite with us, as he and my youngest son share a first name.
Take a Ride
Use pedal power to tour the landmarks and get some exercise in the process.
There are many bike tours to take in D.C.; you can tour monuments at sunset or ride from the Capitol to the White House. Most touring outfits will provide helmets and bikes as well as a guide who can tell you about the history as you cruise by the landmark sights. My boys never get bored and usually don't bicker when they’re on bikes. Plus, they always sleep well afterward, which is definitely a bonus when you’re sharing a hotel room.
Become a Builder or a Spy
Kids can channel Bob the Builder at the hands-on Building Zone in the National Building Museum. Photo credit: Kevin Allen, National Building Museum
The Building Zone at the National Building Museum allows kids to make structures with Legos and blocks, pretend to be construction workers and drive toy trucks. Beware: The gift shop in this museum has so much cool stuff that it will be hard to leave empty-handed.
Kids older than 8 will love the International Spy Museum, where they are assigned a spy identity that they use throughout the museum. I had planned to spend just a morning there; we emerged six hours later. My boys also love that there's a Shake Shack next door.
See History and Culture from a New Perspective
Of course you're going to visit some of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums on your trip. Not just because they’re free, but because they’re national treasures, filled with wonderful things like Charles Lindbergh's plane and a live butterfly exhibition. Each of the museums have hands-on programs for kids of all ages, so check their websites in advance to find your family some fun. The National Museum of Natural History even offers sleepovers.
My crew’s favorite is the National Museum of the American Indian, where kids get a close look at hundreds of artifacts, including some really spectacular canoes. My sons loved building an igloo in the imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Coolest of all, the museum’s Mitsitam Cafe serves only foods from native cultures from North and South America.
And that 4-year-old who wouldn't take one more step? He's now 15, and on his last Washington, D.C. trip he competed in the National History Bee. Maybe those museum trips paid off after all!
Written by Mara Gorman.
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