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Via

With Spring break coming up, I thought I’d do another post on sight-seeing in Washington, DC with kids. As the nation’s capital, Washington, DC has some of the most unique sites in the country. Most activities work for kids 10 and above. But even with small children, you can see many of DC’s popular sites. Take your time and don’t expect to fit it into one day.

First stop: The Smithsonian

A family of 19 museums spread throughout the city and great for ages 3-100! They’re FREE to the public. Can’t beat that!  I highly recommend the Air and Space Museum, The American History Museum and the Natural History Museum. Our family also loves the National Gallery of Art. We’ve taken our kids there since our first was 7 days old to show them the wonderful masterpieces from the likes of Degas, Renoir, and Monet. Even if they won’t stay for a full afternoon, it’s free, so 20 minutes of exposing them to the world of classical art is a great opportunity.

Historical Sites:

DC is full of history. Visit the grave of JFK (and the Eternal Flame) at Arlington Cemetery, just across Memorial Bridge in Virginia. While there, witness the moving Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Walk the rows of veterans who fought for our freedom with the oldest military grave dating back to 1864.

Follow the vast expanse to the Arlington House sitting on top of the knoll just above the cemetery. The house was built by George Washington’s son and was also lived in by General Robert E. Lee, who married into George Washington’s family line.

Visit the National Archives and Museum of American History to see artifacts from the birth of our country until present day.

How things work:

Want to know where money comes from? See millions of dollars being printed during a free tour at The Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Tours happen daily. Check the website for times.

Politics:

Take this chance to meet your Senator or Congressperson in their Washington, DC office. You should request an appointment in writing stating, your name, where you live, and the reason for your visit. Keep your visit short (15-30 minutes) and courteous. You can find your Representatives’ names and addresses here: The House List. The Senate List

The White House is also open to the public. Requests for tours can be made through your US Congressional member up to 6 months in advance but no sooner than 21 days in advance.

DC with kids 5 and under:

Although little legs can walk great distances, they often go slower and peter out by lunchtime. My suggestion is to break your day into sections. Use the morning to explore one of the popular museums. The Air and Space, Natural History (complete with butterfly pavilion), American History and Botanical Gardens are great for young children. Grab a sandwich then jump in the car or stroller and start walking. Most of the monuments sit to the south of the mall… toward the Potomac River. Walk to the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, the war memorials (Vietnam, WWII), and Washington Monument. Stroll around the Tidal Basin and take in the famous quotes of one of our quietest presidents, Theodore Roosevelt. If you make it all the way to the end of the Mall, take a picture with the Einstein statue tucked into the trees near 2101 Constitution Ave.

Too tired to walk? Jump on the DC Ducks tour and listen to a trained professional tell you the history of the city while driving past many of the most popular sites. (Our preschoolers end up napping in our laps during these tours). Jump on and off as you wish if you’d like to explore one of the sites more in depth.

Eating:

If you’re spending your day at the museums you have several options. All of the museums I suggested above have small cafes. They serve items like hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, sandwiches and soups. There’s also a little café in the Sculpture Garden that’s fun to eat at (along Constitution Ave between the Natural History Museum and the National Art Gallery – surrounded by a tall wrought-iron fence). You can also buy typical street food from the vendor trucks that line Constitution Avenue.

Venture off The Mall and eat at the Old Post Office Pavilion or in China Town, both are worth exploring. Right outside China Town there’s a host of chain restaurants cashing in on the crowds coming to the Verizon Center home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

If you’re in town for more than a few days, you may want to scout out some of the lesser-touted attractions. For a list of my favorite DC Sites Off the Beaten Track, click here.