Yeah, if you’re going to Washington DC with kids and spending hours at each monument, they’re going to inevitably get a bit bored. But the National Mall is full of tracks and grass that the kids will have a great time just running around in between doing things. The best thing to do in Washington DC with kids is take them to the Smithsonian Museums (which are technically called the Smithsonian Institution). In total, there’s 17 museums, galleries and even a zoo. The best thing about this, and what makes Washington DC with kids great, is that they’re all free. This is by far, the most impressive collection of things I’ve ever seen.
The National Air & Space Museum – Open 10-5:30p.m (longer during spring and summer, check their website for updated hours here. The kids will learn about the history of flying and space travel and the exhibits are awesome. Depending on how interested you are in planes and the like, you could spend between an hour and a day in here. Amongst thousands of other things, they’ve got the 1903 Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, and a lunar rock that kids can touch. As with all the Smithsonian Museums, the National Air and Space Museum is extremely well done and a must see for anybody visiting Washington DC with kids.
National Museum of Natural History – More than 280 fossils, an insect zoo, and a massive replica of a North Atlantic Right Whale are just a few of the amusing things your kids will find in this excellent museum. There are just so many things in here it’s hard to know where to start and where to end. All you need to know is this is one of the best museums in the world and it’s be almost a crime not to visit the National Museum of Natural History if you’re in Washington DC with kids. You can easily spend half a day in here, probably longer. Note unfortunately the Fossil Exhibit Hall is closed until 2019 so check their website for more info and opening hours.
More to see:
- National Zoological Park (Washington DC Zoo)
- National Geographic Museum
- International Spy Museum
- The Newseum
- National Mall
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