Things to do with Kids in DC

Kids sitting on steps at the Lincoln Memorial

The District of Columbia is a wonderful place for vacationing families.  DC offers a perfect mix of history, culture, striking scenery, and allure of the outdoors.  Most activities and attractions are free or relatively cheap.  Children of all ages will enjoy their time learning about our nation's storied history while visiting DC.  If you are visiting DC at Christmastime, check out our Washington DC Christmas Guide.

Visit DC
Summertime is a popular time to visit DC.  Most notable are all of the school field-trips.  You will likely come across a sea of kids adorned in bright-colored school t-shirts moving briskly from monument to monument in a swarm of activity.  What better way to learn about our capital, history, American government, and have fun along the way.

Kids love DC!  They will really enjoy all of the buildings, statues, monuments, museums, and people-watching.  The large, sprawling lawn known as the National Mall is a great place to let the kids run free.  Bring a ball, your bikes, or just a blanket to lay down on the grass and relax.  In the summertime you can see kids and grown-ups playing kick ball, softball, soccer, and volleyball right on the lawn here.

Kids love public transportation!  DC has an excellent public transportation system.  In addition to providing an clean and convenient way to travel the city, your kids will love riding on the metrorail trains.  Take the time to visit Union Station and see the enormous train station, and shops and restaurants.

When visiting Washington, DC, know that the attractions are spread out - most line either side of the National Mall from the Capitol building all the way to the Lincoln Memorial (2.2 miles).  Be ready to do a lot of walking with your family.  Dress comfortably and wear supportive, comfortable walking shoes.  Small children may get tired, so be prepared to rest in the shade or on one of the many benches.  With very young children, remember to bring your stroller or baby-backpack.  Check out our Washington DC Transportation page for information on getting around.

Museums
Take your family to a museum.  You could spend all day shuttling between museums and not see them all - or simply visit a few and take your time to really enjoy them.  An immensely popular destination is the National Museum of Natural History.  This museum is part of the Smithsonian and offers a look at animals, dinosaurs, early human life, and the future exhibit of the oceans and seas.  Your kids will be fascinated by this museum.  Another widely-popular museum is the International Spy Museum.  Located at the edge of Chinatown near the corner of 9th & F Streets, this museum is dedicated to the history of spies and espionage.  With interactive displays and vivid details, this museum offers 2-3 hours of attractions.

Everyone loves airplanes.  Take your kids to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  Probably the most famous of the Smithsonian museums, the Air and Space Museum is constantly undergoing updates and its exhibits refreshed.  See historic planes, military aircraft, and space craft up close.  Learn about aviation history and the development of flying machines.  And don't forget about the IMAX Theater located right inside the museum.  For more details and photos, check out our Washington DC Museums Guide.  Looking for culture and the arts?  Visit the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

National Zoo
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park (a.k.a. National Zoo) in Washington, DC is a popular destination, open year-round (official website).  The National Zoo is a 163-acre zoological park set amid Rock Creek Park in the heart of Washington, D.C.  The Zoo is home to 2,000 individual animals of nearly 400 different species.  The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC - admission is free, but there is a charge for parking (view map).  If you are traveling by Metro Rail, take the Red Line to the Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan station or the Cleveland Park station. The Zoo entrance lies halfway between these stops, and both are a short walk from the Zoo.  Visitors may bring their own food and beverages. Coolers are permitted but not grills or other cooking devices. There are picnic areas throughout the Zoo, available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Admission is free, but there is a charge for parking.

Carousel on the National Mall, near the Smithsonian Castle

Entertain your Kids
Another perennial kid-favorite is the old-fashioned carousel located right in front of the Smithsonian Castle.  This merry-go-round has been located here as long as I can remember - open year-round, weather permitting.  Hours: 10 am-5:30 pm Daily; Labor Day-Feb 28: 11 am-5 pm Daily, $2 admission fee.

Have your kids interact with you.  Challenge them by talking about the history or architecture of each building.  Have them notice the symbolism in the sculptures high above each historic building and the intricate art work  and symbolism that makes up a part of the monuments and memorials.

Other lesser known attractions sure to entertain your kids are the outdoor sculpture gardens.  One is located right in front of the Hishorn Museum, where a beautiful garden is located below street-level and decorated with sculptures and statues.  The other is the National Sculpture Garden across the Mall in between the Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art where large sculptures surround a large fountain.  Around Christmastime, an ice skating rink is placed here at the sculpture garden. 

The National Building Museum (official website) welcomes visitors from around the world to its exhibitions which offer insight into the history and future of the world we create for ourselves.  This museum is a great place to take your kids - it offers a huge, open interior with plenty of room for kids to run around (and are encouraged to do so).  Additionally, there are several kid-friendly interactive displays including the Building Zone - a separate room for kids to enjoy building and playing with games and educational toys; they even offer interactive "kids building kits" to play with.  View map.

"The Awakening" is a 100-foot statue of a giant embedded in the earth, struggling to free himself. It was created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. and installed at Hains Point (view map) - the southernmost point of East Potomac Park, Washington, DC.  Kids love The Awakening sculpture, they can climb on it, run around it, and sit on it - and they love its gigantic size!

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts offers a variety of kid-friendly events including children's book shows, kid-themed plays, and children's concerts.  This is a great cultural opportunity for you and your kids.

Around Washington, DC with Kids
My family and I recently took a trip to DC, and brought along this book. It had lots of great tips on what to see and where to eat. We've used the "Boston" version of the book for years, and I was glad to see that the "DC" version was just as helpful.

Washington, DC Guidebook for Kids
I don't think there's any better place for kids to visit than DC. But, because it's not Disney World, not all the information is geared towards them. That's why this book is so great. It's perfect for my nephews (8 and 10) who, although quite intelligent, are not ready for Fodors quite yet. Plus, it has a lot of interesting stuff in it that I didn't know myself and I live in the area.

A Kid's Guide to Washington, DC
This book is exactly the kind of book that will help your child realize the educational value of their vacation. We used it for three kids-- ages 12, 10 and 7. They liked it because it helped them remember special moments of the trip, and in the case of the 12 year old, "It was fill in the blanks!"

Washington DC at Night Tour
Explore Washington DC as it is spectacularly lit up at night. This guided tour takes you to Washington DC's major attractions including the Washington Monument and Arlington Cemetery. See why Washington DC is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world at night.  Find out more about this tour.

DC Monuments by Trolley at Night Tour
Onboard your trolley, you'll see 100 of Washington DC's most popular monuments and points of interest, including the Capitol Building, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.  The trolley also makes night-time stops at the FDR Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veteran's Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial, allowing you to see these impressive monuments floodlit by night.  Find out more about this tour.

Washington DC Monuments Bike Tours
If Monuments are your interest, then this tour is for you! Take an easy 3 hour ride around Washington specifically targeting it's famous monuments. Your guide will share history and interesting anecdotes about each memorial, and you'll have time to explore them on your own.  Find out more about this tour.

Washington DC Capital Sites Bike Tour
The Washington DC Capital Sites Bike Tour is a safe and enjoyable cycling trip of the most popular sights of Washington. Sites you will see include the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Supreme Court and the Capitol. This three-hour Washington DC Capital Sites Bike Tour combines history, interesting facts, and a love for the city with an easy bike ride.  Find out more about this tour.

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