By Rachna Choudhry
Washington, DC is perhaps one of the most kid-friendly tourist destinations in the country. All the Smithsonian museums are free to enter and offer kids’ play spaces for little ones and even teens. There are plenty of parks and gardens to roam about (and release some energy). And the public transportation by way of Metro train and bus are safe and clean, and relatively stroller friendly!
Having lived in Washington, DC for more than 15 years, and now with a toddler myself, here are some of our favorite places, and where we take friends and family when they visit.
1) Visit the many museums
The Smithsonian Institution is a network of 19 museums and a zoo on and around the National Mall (the big green space in the center of Washington, DC—not a shopping mall!). All Smithsonian are free to the public (thanks to taxpayer funding), so check out as many as you can! (Museum map) Here are some of our favorite museums to visit, especially with our little one:
Smithsonian’s Air & Space
- This is one of the most popular museums in the world! Everything air and space is housed here, from early aircraft to rockets. You can also see the Apollo 11 Command Module that housed Neil Armstrong, “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins during the first manned lunar landing mission. It’s striking how small this module is—and it took the astronauts more than 51 hours to reach lunar orbit. (If your kids complain about the long flight, you could always impress them with that fun fact!)
- For older kids: The museum’s upgraded IMAX theater has a new dual 4K laser projection system with a 74-by-49-foot screen, one of the largest in the Mid-Atlantic. A Beautiful Planet in 3-D IMAX is amazing, filmed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The most breathtaking part was seeing the cities of South Korea aglow at night—and then seeing its neighbor North Korea, which was shrouded in darkness.
- For younger kids: The museum’s planetarium has a daily free show at 10:30am starring Elmo and Big Bird! And there’s story time most Thursdays and Fridays at 11 am, and Saturdays at 11am and 1:30pm.
Natural History Museum
- Everyone goes to see the dinosaurs, but there’s also an amazing exhibit on early humans and Neanderthals. And you can also see the Hope Diamond! The Butterfly Pavilion is so much fun for everyone. We had dozens of butterflies land on us as we walked through. (You have to buy tickets to go inside, but it’s worth it.)
- For younger and older kids: Go to the Q?rius Lab is an interactive space for kids and teens. (It is REALLY COOL for adults too!) You can look at fossils, butterflies, and hundreds of other exhibits under a microscope. It’s open Monday-Friday 2 – 5pm, and on weekends from 10am – 5pm.
Smithsonian American History Museum
- Perhaps the most popular exhibits here are the actual Star Spangled Banner and Julia Child’s kitchen.
- For kids: The best reasons to go with kiddos are the Wonderplace and Spark!Lab. These are interactive spaces for children, from toddlers to teens, to explore. It’s open everyday, 10am – 4pm (except Tuesday).
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
- This is the newest Smithsonian and tells the history of American Americans, from slavery on to current culture and politics. It’s a beautiful museum, and you literally walk through centuries of history, starting from the basement level up. Free, timed-entry passes are required for weekends, which are available on their website.
Smithsonian American Indian Museum
- The mission of this museum is to advance knowledge and understanding of the Native cultures—past and present. The exhibits are created in partnership with Native leaders! Be sure to visit the imagiNATIONS Activity Center, which is open everyday 10 – 5 (except Monday).
Art Museums
- National Gallery of Art: Our toddler loves modern art, so the museum’s East Building is fun to walk through. And, on weekends, check their calendar for drop-in art making for the whole family. There are also special screening of films for children and teens in the East Building Auditorium. (This isn’t a Smithsonian, but it is still free.)
- Hirshhorn Art Museum & Sculpture Garden: The Hirshorn has a wonderful story time program, connecting the art to the story, followed by free play. It takes place every Wednesday at 10 am and Sunday at 11am in a space with a panoramic view of the National Mall. They also have drawing activities for all ages at 2pm on Saturdays.
- Smithsonian American Art Museum & Portrait Gallery: This is where the Presidential portraits are on display—which is fun for any young person learning about Presidential history. (Michelle Obama’s portrait is here as well!) The atrium in the middle of the building is beautiful, often decorated with hundreds of orchids. You’re welcome to bring food from outside (Shake Shack is across the street!) into the atrium, where there are tables and wifi for everyone to enjoy. On the first floor of the building, there’s a children’s discovery center with art on display and blocks for play.
2) Tour the U.S. Capitol Building
With the newly restored rotunda open to the public, the Capitol is stunning, inside and out. You could get a more personal tour from your Representative or Senators’ offices (which may be easier with multiple strollers in tow), or through the Capitol Visitor Center. (Book a tour.) The Visitor Center offers a 45-minute guided tour, and includes a brief orientation film (a good time to rest or cool off when it’s hot outside). Tour guides take about 20 people through the crypt (and the intersection of the four quadrants of the District of Columbia), the rotunda and the national statuary hall. In case you’re wondering if it’s hard to hear during the tour, don’t worry. They’ll equip you with a headset so you can hear your guide clearly, despite the many other tours happening at the same time.
For older kids: Ask them to find the two statues in the Capitol that represent your state. (Or your tour guide will know where they are placed.) You can also get passes to the visitor galleries of the chambers of the House of Representatives and Senate. If Congress is in session, you might see them at work, or even voting! (Seriously, it’s very interesting.) The chambers look different in person than on C-SPAN, and it’s fascinating to watch the side conversations happening before a vote.
3) Walk by the Monuments on the National Mall
By far, the best time of year to visit Washington, DC is when the cherry blossoms are in bloom! The average peak bloom date is April 4, according to the National Park Service. (Follow the Bloom Watch.)
The Monuments
Driving to see the monuments could mean getting stuck in traffic and finding a unicorn of a parking spot. The preferable way is to walk, and depending how fast your kiddos are (or how fast you can push your stroller), it’s possible to see several monuments in one day. We’ve always started near the Tidal Basin with a view of the Jefferson Memorial (which is a 15 minute walk from the Smithsonian metro station) because it’s our favorite. From there, it’s an easy walk to the Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial (10 minutes) and then the Martin Luther King Memorial (7 minutes).
After that, you could walk northeast to the World War II Memorial (5 minutes). Or you could walk northwest to the Korean War Veterans Memorial (8 minutes). (I think the Korean War Memorial comes alive at night, so you may want to go later in the day.) If you continue walking northwest, you’ll get to the Lincoln Memorial (3 minutes), which is equally breathtaking at night. And from there, you could walk to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall (3 minutes).
From almost any part of the Mall, you’ll be able to see the Washington Monument, a 555-foot marble obelisk that honors President George Washington. (Its elevators are undergoing renovation until later this year, but once it’s open again, you can take a ride to the very top!) Just north of the Washington Monument, you can see the White House. Public tours are available only through your Member of Congress. (If you are visiting from a foreign country, you’ll need to contact your embassy in Washington, DC for assistance in submitting a tour request.)
4) Watch a Performance at the Kennedy Center
Sure, the Kennedy Center is grand, and it’s fun to dress up to see the symphony or the opera. But the Kennedy Center has regular performances for children and families, and even sensory-friendly performances for children who may need to walk around or children with autism or other disabilities that create sensory sensitivities. Also, there are daily free performances in the main foyer’s Millennium Stage, where everyone is welcome. You can find the schedule here. No tickets are required—just show up, and no need to dress up!
5) Say Hello to the Animals at the Smithsonian Zoo
While the National Zoo isn’t on the National Mall, it’s close to two Metro stations—Woodley Park or Cleveland Park. And like the other Smithsonian Museums, the Zoo is free to the public! Our toddler’s favorite animals are the orangutans (look for them overhead, on their dedicated “O-Line”), small mammals and the electric fishes in Amazonia. (There’s also a daily electric fishes demonstration at 1pm.) If you’re visiting between Thanksgiving and Christmas, visit during the evenings, when the entire zoo is covered with festive decorations and lighting for Zoo Lights. (And they serve adult beverages like spiked cider!)
6) Walk through the U.S. Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden is located on the southwest end of the Capitol building (House side)—and it’s one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America! The Conservatory is a giant greenhouse with all sorts of plants in a variety of environments from jungle to desert. Around Christmas time, look out for carolers in the evening or an epic train display, which little kids love!
7) Visit the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is probably one of the most impressive buildings in Washington, DC—and is across the street from the Capitol. And its history is equally fantastic! It was originally established in 1800, but the library (housed in the Capitol) was burned down when invading British troops set fire to the building in 1814. Then, retired President Thomas Jefferson offered his entire personal library (6,487 books) to Congress as a replacement for $23,950.
8) Learn about Telling Time at the Naval Observatory
Ever wonder how time was kept in the 1800’s (well before the ubiquitous cell phones in our pockets)? The US Naval Observatory was established to care for the US Navy’s marine chronometers and other navigational equipment, and it calibrated ships’ chronometers by timing the transit of stars across the meridian. In 1845, the observatory began dropping a time ball, the first of its kind, at Mean Solar Noon to alert all ships and civilians in the area to the exact time. Back then, people had an unobstructed view of the observatory from the docks. Today, it operates one of two Master Clocks, a cesium atomic clock. Instead of looking for a time ball, you can always call to get the exact time from a voice announcement: 202-762-1401. Tours are only available on select Monday nights, from 8 – 10pm, and require advanced reservations.
For older kids: When the skies are clear, you’re able to see the stars (or planets) through a 12-inch refracting telescope. (We saw a star cluster 145 light years away!) Also, the Vice President lives on the property!
9) Visit the National Cathedral
The National Cathedral, completed in 1990, took 200 years to envision, plan and build. It’s beautiful, and tall enough to see from all over the District. In fact, the top of the tower is the highest point in Washington. The Cathedral isn’t Catholic; rather it is a part of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and serves as “a house of prayer for all people and a spiritual home for the nation.”
For kids: Be sure to point out the stained glass window that contains a 2 3/8” sliver of moon rock as its centerpiece! “Piece 230 of Apollo 11 rock no. 10057” was presented to the Cathedral by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, “a fragment of creation, from beyond the Earth.” Also, the outdoor gardens are beautiful, and there are many benches under trees to take a break—or burn off some energy running around! Don’t miss the Bishop’s Garden. (After that, we always get pizza at 2Amys, which is nearby.)
About the Author
Rachna Choudhry is co-founder of POPVOX.com, a platform that helps people keep track of what’s happening in Congress. She lives in Washington, DC, and loves exploring the city with her toddler.
Twitter: @rachnacDC
Instagram: @rachnachoudhry
