There’s an energy when visiting Washington D.C., that can only be found in our nation’s capital. There is much to see, much to learn and plenty to enjoy. Which is why DC with kids makes for a fabulous family vacation.

How to have a fuller experience:

To fully experience DC would take days, I suggest spending at least three days here. I also suggest going on a semi-private tour of the monuments. I learned a long time ago that my kids will listen to someone else and learn way more than they will listening to me. If you do not want to pay for a tour consider having the kids participate in the Junior Ranger program. You can look at the book and print it out before you go. 

How to get around:

On a hot day there is no way you will want to walk around for hours on end. In order to get around D.C. easily here are some great options.

• DC Circulator: Use the DC Circulator bus. It’s just $1 and kids 5 and under ride free.
• Metro: The Metro system is also affordable and quick. There are several subway apps you can download to help you navigate the Metro.
• Uber and Lyft: Use my Uber invite code, meagans343ue, and get a free ride up to $15. Or use my Lyft invite for a $15 credit!

Family Things to do in Washington D.C.

Keep in mind that basically all D.C. museums are free, so have a ball and take in as much as you desire. It is rare to have this much history at your fingertips and for free, so plan to visit at least a few. The Smithsonian Museums and Zoo are a collection of a one zoo, 19 world famous museums, a garden and more. You won’t be able to visit them all, so figure out what your family will enjoy the most.

Things to do with kids in Washington D.C.

Some of these are more kid friendly than others. I recommend these kid friendly experiences:

American History Museum

The American History Museums has a lot going on including programs within the museum for kids, tweens, and teens. They are also home to the world famous Hope diamond and an ideal place to learn about the American dinosaurs.

• Spark!Lab: For kids ages 6 – 12 there is a special area within the American History Museum just for them, the Spark!Lab. The Spark!Lab is open from 10 – 4 and offers hands on engineering type things for kids to design and build.
• Q?rius, Discovery Theatre: Created for teens and tweens, Q?rius (pronounced “curious”) is an interactive and experimental learning space that brings the unique assets of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ImaginAsia

Freer|Sackler, the Smithsonian’s museums of Asian art has a cool art program for kids. Taking advantage of some of their programs takes little pre-planning. Sign up for some sort of class in advance for your visit. They offer classes for young kids, whole families, just for teens, and more. If you do not sign up in advance don’t panic, because they have an open area that you can enjoy. 

National Zoo 

The National Zoo is the zoo of the nation’s capital so it has a pretty impressive range of animals, including more than 1,500 animals and over 300 species spread out over 163 acres. The animal enrichment puts this zoo over the top.

The zoo is most known for the giant pandas! The panda house, an indoor viewing area, is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during winter hours and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during summer hours.

The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, the hours are 8am through 7pm. 

Smithsonian Sleepover

If you can, I recommend trying to work in one of this one of a kind experience. These sleepovers are available at three of the museums: American History Museum, National History Museum, and the National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian sleepover is truly an amazing experience worth working into your trip. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is soul stirring for all ages. His quotes surrounding the statue are powerful. This monument finally opened 48 years after Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The Martin Luther King Memorial stands 30 feet high and his “I have a Dream” speech is etched into the stone. It is located at 1964 Independence Avenue S.W. and hours of operation are 24/7/365. 

Lincoln Memorial

Take in the Lincoln Memorial dedicated to the 16th president. It is breathtaking, especially at night. I just love how the lights reflect on and off of it. It took four years to create this memorial and 28 blocks of marble to carve the 175 ton Lincoln statue. Lincoln stands 190 feet long, 119 feet wide, and almost 100 feet high. If possible, take the interactive tour to fully experience the Lincoln Memorial. Located at 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle hours of operation are 24/7/365.

From the Lincoln Memorial you will have a great view of the Washington Monument, the super tall 555-foot marble obelisk built to honor George Washington, the United States’ first president.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

This is where everything happens with the creation of money. Learn everything there is to know about money from A to Z. Located at 14th And C Streets SW hours of operation are 9am through 6pm.

Newseum 

All ages can really get into this one. This is about all things news whether print or digital. It allows you to explore the creation process as well as the presentation process. You must take the VIP tour to fully indulge on a different higher level, especially if you have teens. Located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. and hours of operation are 9am through 4pm. 

International Spy Museum

This is an awesome adventure that allows you to look into the lives of famous fiction and real spies and explore the largest known espionage artifact collection. Spy School is a must, so make sure you get in on it.  Located at 800 F Street NW hours of operation are 9am through 7pm. 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington is an incredibly well done memorial with multiple waterfalls and packed with history during some of our most volatile years.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court offers free brief tours several times a day. It’s the ultimate court authority in the United States and definitely worth taking the time to see.

This list could go on and on. In fact, I am sure I will update it after our next visit! There are many more museums, more monuments, and lots of other things to do, but there’s no way to do it all in one trip. So, do what you can and enjoy your trip!

What do you like to see when you visit Washington D.C.?

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5 Great American Family-Friendly Getaways

The sights and sounds of the United States are varied and dynamic. Our rich history, local specialties, and down home charm are sure to keep even the most seasoned travel guessing what’s next. Here are some ideas for family friendly getaways right here in the United States:

Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone National Park is the very first national park in the United States. With 2,219,789 acres to explore, you could easily spend days seeing the incredible natural displays. The wildlife alone will captivate you: several species of bear, elk, bison, and wolf call this park home. Waterfalls and hot springs are abundant in Yellowstone Park. Grand Prismatic, the third largest hot spring in the world, is particularly interesting because of its coloration, which mirrors that of a rainbow.

Perhaps the biggest attraction at Yellowstone Park is the geysers. With 6 grand geysers that shoot water up to 100 feet in the air, it is easy to see why these are one of the most visited thermal features at the park. Old Faithful, the most famous geyser at Yellowstone, erupts every 45-90 minutes.

9 Day Summertime Montana Road Trip Itinerary

Washington D.C.

Museums, theater, art galleries, monuments, restaurants… the list goes on and on. Our nation’s capital offers something for everyone. Immerse yourself in history or take a scenic walk by the tidal basin. Revel in the beauty of the city’s architecture or enjoy one of the trendy restaurants that line downtown. Whatever you fancy, Washington DC can provide it in abundance.

San Francisco

From cable cars to Alcatraz, San Francisco offers unique attractions that you won’t see together anywhere else in the world. Bustling Pier 39, cobblestone roads, and some of the steepest streets in the United States round out the San Francisco experience. Take a tour of Alcatraz, where hardened criminals like Al Capone were housed, or ride a cable car just like the ones that were in operation in the late 1800s. Interact with history.

Turner Falls

Chickasaw County, OK has something to offer every type of traveler. Outdoor activities abound, as do indoor recreation centers for family fun. Perhaps the most scenic of all attractions in Chickasaw County is Turner Falls. The water feeding into the falls forms Honey Creek just before dropping 77 feet to a natural pool. As the state’s oldest park, Turner Falls has served as a family gathering location since 1868.

The Arches

Natural wonders like you have never seen before fill this national park. With over 2,000 arches and countless other rock formations, this national park is a wonder to behold. Beautiful colors surround you as you feast your eyes rock that has been in place for thousands of years.

There are many hours to be spent traveling in the Unites States. Whether touching rock that dinosaurs saw around them, swimming in natural springs, or celebrating technology in one of the world’s cultural epicenters, treating your family to a getaway should be on your bucket list.

More United States Getaway Ideas

Utah Valley Vacation Guide

Dallas, Texas Travel Guide

Palm Springs Travel Guide

St. Augustine Florida a great family destination

Billings, Montana

The Outer Banks

Sedona Arizona Travel Guide

Guest author: As a mom of 3 young boys, Shelley Warner enjoys finding fun family friendly vacations to go on annually. 

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Originally I thought my husband would go to.  Unfortunately, about a month prior to the trip it became apparent he would be unable to go. I decided to push forward with the kid’s trip without him.  My kids did stellar in school last year and this was the reward I had been planning for them.  We drove!  That’s right, I drove 20+ hours in the car with all three kids one way just to do this and no I did not take ear plugs.  In case you were wondering, the kids do not like to ride in the car.

Here are the kids looking at the Reflecting pool, the Washington Monument and the Abe Lincoln monument.  The kids were all still in good spirits despite making them walk that far.

The kids are standing on the back side of the Lincoln memorial with the Arlington bridge in the background. This is the bridge that leads into Arlington cemetery where JFK is buried and many soldiers. It is also home to the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Supreme Court in Washington D.C.

 Our next day in D.C. was still alot of walking but a lot less than the day before since I found the subway station near our hotel.  That morning we started out by getting on the subway and getting off at the subway stop behind Congress so we could walk over to the Supreme Court.  This first picture is us headed to the court, but stopping in front of the library for a quick picture.  I heard after we had already left that the National Library is very impressive and something worth seeing.  I didn’t know so we just walked by.

Capital Building Tour

Once we were done at the Supreme Court we crossed the street and were at the back of the Capital building. This is actually the side your enter on for your Capital tour.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The FDR Memorial in Washington D.C. is a lovely memorial with multiple waterfalls.  It is closer to the Thomas Jefferson monument than the White House.

Make sure you pick the right side of the National Mall to park at, because otherwise you will be walking a ton to get there. I know because I made this mistake!  Study a map and how everything is laid our before you go to D.C. I really did a lot of walking because I didn’t not do this simple thing.

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