The Best Family Attractions in Washington DC

If you’re in the mid-Atlantic region, visiting our nation’s capital should be high on your list. There is so much to do in such a small area, and much of it is free and fun for the whole the family.

Our favorite way to arrive at Capitol Hill is by taking the train in to Union Station. Driving in DC can be frustrating and dicey, not to mention the exorbitant cost of parking. The metro is easy to navigate, though like many other aspects of travel, it can be stressful with multiple small children in tow. Regardless of how you get there, Union Station is a beautiful building and is worth checking out, and there are tons of attractions within easy walking distance of the station.

Also, if you get a chance to go in the early spring when the cherry trees are in bloom (usually at the very end of March/beginning of April), everything will look that much more beautiful.

The Capitol Building itself, of course, is a stately landmark that is easily seen from the station and for many blocks in most any direction around it. It is surrounded by other distinguished buildings, fountains and monuments that are interesting to see, including the National Archives, the Russel Senate Office Building, the Peace Monument and the Capitol Fountains.

To get to the National Mall, you will likely pass the Capitol Reflecting Pool, where the Grant Memorial is located, and you can see the Washington Monument in the distance on one side, and the back of the Capitol building on the other.

For many families, some monuments will be especially important or interesting, such as the Lincoln and MLK memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the WW2 Memorial, or the Pentagon Memorial. Wait till your children are a bit older to visit the Holocaust Museum or the Arlington Cemetery (in Virginia). These are rich experiences that young children do not have the tact or wisdom to appreciate quite yet.

The only way to see inside the Capitol Building is through a tour, which lasts about an hour. These are free, but depending on how crowded it is, you will likely need a reservation. You will see signs for the Visitor’s Center where the tours begin.

Just beyond the Capitol sits the United States Botanical Garden, where you can find many interesting plants both indoor and out, and wander through various ecosystems including a desert and rainforest. There is also a small display indoor display on agriculture with an interesting video (a good place to rest and take a break from the weather if needed).

On the National Mall nearest Capitol Hill, there are many of the Smithsonian museums that are great for families. In fact, this is probably the only place in the country where you can find so many high quality museums that don’t cost a dime, and are all in easy walking distance of one another. There are 17 Smithsonian Museums in DC in total, and many are located right in the capital area.

We love the Natural History Museum that showcases a giant collection of dinosaur bones, gems, mounted animals and various other discoveries. The Air and Space Museum is very popular and should be reserved in advance. There are several art museums close to the Capitol, including the Asian and African Art Museums and a sculpture garden. There is also the Postal Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Museum (the Castle), but this is currently closed for a five-year renovation.

We visited the Museum of the American Indian on our most recent trip, and were really impressed. You will learn a lot of information if you take the free audio tour (though this may not be feasible with younger children in tow!) There are many beautiful and moving displays, and our younger children had a wonderful time in the children’s section, playing house in a teepee, making a paper star quilt, rowing a kayak and various other endeavors. The Children’s section is only open Tuesday to Sunday. We also ate lunch there and it was delicious – much of the food is inspired by native ingredients and recipes.

The National Zoo is also free and fabulous for your little ones (and you) to enjoy. It is BIG and you could easily spend half a day or more exploring. Walking through all of these attractions will tire you and your little ones out, and give you all an opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time.

Another Museum we visited on our most recent trip is the relatively new Museum of the Bible. It is not a Smithsonian Museum, but we thought it well worth the cost (around $20 per adult and $14 for kids 5 to 17; kids under 5 free). Whether or not you’re a person of faith, it was super entertaining and informative. My favorite floor was the “Story of the Bible,” which included an awesome 30 minute immersive experience on the Old Testament that was included with tickets. The children’s section on the first floor is also fantastic, and will keep the kids entertained for quite some time playing games, climbing on the climbing structure, and exploring the many interactive displays.

There is no lack of things to do in Washington DC – the hardest part is deciding among them. Luckily, the quality of the museums and the stateliness of the architecture insures that whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.