Where are some good places to go for kids in Washington D.C.?

Question

My kids are ages 7 and 11.

Answer 1

There are a lot of places. Folks have already suggested the Air and Space Museum - it's great for kids that age - they have a lot of inquisitiveness. It might be fun to take the bus out to Dulles Airport to the Udvar Hazy center - it's pretty amazing, and all the BIG planes are there. Here are some other options.

Someone mentioned the Zoo - again, this is usually a favorite.

The Natural History Museum, on the mall - This is the dinosaurs museum, also lots of great exhibits on animals, and discovery centers, insect corner (the insect zoo is undergoing renovation.)

There is a carousel on the mall, right in front of the castle, and right next to an ice cream stand.

The Holocaust museum (I know this does not seem like a kid-friendly place) actually has a special exhibit for kids under 12 (who are encouraged not to go through the regular exhibit.) Called "Daniel's Story" it goes through the holocaust from the point of view of a Jewish boy, and manages to teach a lot without being as scary as the Holocaust can be.

There is a great sculpture garden just west of the National Gallery of Art with much art which is accessible to kids- the National Gallery Sculpture Garden. The Gallery even has some resources on their web site that allow parents to make the sculpture garden (and even the regular collection) more accessible to kids. Plus kids can be a bit more rambunctious outside and it's OK. You might spend some time in the National Gallery's east building if your kids are in a quieter mood, too.

Walking the memorials, including some talk about what they memorialize might be nice. Some time watching ducks on the reflecting pool between the WWII memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. Check out the Korean memorial where you can walk along the statues, or go stand where Martin Luther King stood when he gave his "I have a dream" speech, and talk about that speech (it was written in the nearby Willard Hotel).

If your kids have an interest, the American Indian museum is very good - though not as kid centered.

There are a number of IMAX movies in both the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History museum. These are generally great for kids.

If you're lucky, you are there when the discovery Theatre has something going on - check the smithsonian's web site (I'll put web links below)

You can rent a paddle boat on the Tidal Basin, and paddle around the area of the Jefferson Memorial for an hour.

For the older child, the Spy Museum might be intruiguing - possibly one parent can do that with him/her while the other stays with the younger brother/sister.

The National Arboretum is a huge garden in DC - and not only beautiful, but with picnic areas and lots of kid-friendly areas, including fern valley, a walk through a forest that has the plants of the atlantic coast from new england to georgia growing there. While the kids may not be very interested in horticulture, this can be a great way to break up a week.

If you are religous, a visit to the National Shrine (Roman Catholic), National Cathedral (Episcopal, but all are welcome) or the Franciscan Monastery (Roman Catholic, with replicas of shrines from the Holy Land) might be appropriate. There are also national Jewish and Muslim places of worship, a great Jewish community Center, and even a Sikh temple in the suburbs - I'm just less familiar with them.

For dining, especially lunch, two places come to mind, the Reagan International Trade Center, just north of the American History Museum (which is, alas, closed for renovation) and, especially, Union Station. Both these places have great variety, healthy choices, and will have something that your kids will like. They are a block or two off the mall. On the mall, most of the cafeterias in the museums are a tad overpriced and without much variety. One real exception is Mitsitam, in the American Indian museum, which provides a great variety of native food.

For dinner, if your kids are at all willing to try new stuff, consider visiting Chinatown, with a great variety of international restaurants, is a great place. If your kids are less flexible, a burrito place and a Fuddruckers are also in that area - and a couple of Tapas places on 7th street allow the kids to try a small dish, and might be an option.

Again if your kids are flexible, you might try one of the Ethiopian Restaurants in Adams Morgan or the U Street Neighborhoods. Both Neighborhoods also have historical walking tours. If you are african american the U Street/Shaw tour, with it's African American Civil War Memorial, and history of early 20th century black cultural life is a must do.

Also in U Street is Ben's Chili bowl - a Washington Institution, where they can get hot dogs, chili dogs, and the like in the same place where presidential candidates and congressmen nosh.

For nicer restaurants, you can't much beat America in Union Station - for it's great menu for the adults, and inclusion of kid friendly dishes. But there are MANY good restaurants in DC, and you will easily find good ones.

In the suburbs, I can't recommend enough the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. Very kid-oriented, the kids can climb into a Geminii spacecraft, check out their reflection in the satellite mirrors, and look at the rockets in the rocket garden. Even the gift shop is kid-centered. It's a tad hard to get to without a car, though.

Mount Vernon, Washington's house, is also very kid-friendly, and historic. Definitelly worth doing, as is the lesser known Gunston Hall, home of George Mason.

That's a start for you. There is more, but you should be able to fill a week with these suggestions.

Answer 2

Wasington, D.C.. is a great city to vacation with kids. You can go to the Washington, Mall and every museum is Free Admisssion. The kids will love the Air and Space Museum You can visit the National Zoo which has Free admission. Be sure to stop by and say hello to the Pandas.
I believe the Aquarium is open. I haven't visited the Aquarium in some years but I believe it is housed in one of the office buildings right off the mall. If you are traveling in the summer the city will be sweltering with HIGH humidity. I recommend you start visiting early in the morning to get a jump on the crowds. I could on and on about things to do in D.C. I'm willing to bet you will want to visit again. There is so much to do and see and the price (FREE) means everyone will have a good time.

Answer 3

Discovery Creek Childrens Museum

Answer 4

The Air and Space museum is the best, they will really enjoy that.

Answer 5

The National Zoo... they will love it..
especially the Pandas

Answer 6

To go FOR kids, or WITH kids?