City Guide: 18 Places Kids Will Love in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C., our nation’s capital city, is full of family friendly attractions, historical sites and museums, cultural events, and open spaces to appreciate nature. Many sites are free to explore, thanks to the Smithsonian Institute, and many sites have only a nominal charge.  This week, we’ve updated our City Guide and pulled ALL of our features of DC attractions in one spot with travel tips. We know the summer vacation is a popular time to explore Washington DC, and we hope, whenever you and your family visit, you’ll check out some of these sites and have a stronger appreciation of our nation’s rich history.

Staying Local: We’re fortunate enough to have family who live in nearby Arlington, so we often stay with them. We have stayed at a couple of Marriott properties around the city and found them affordable, clean, and safe. Our #1 recommendation is to stay centrally located to the attractions where you will spend the most amount of time, and, if you’re traveling by car, has secure parking with reasonable rates. Some good indexes of lodging options can be found here and here. 

Eating with the locals: Some good indexes of dining options around DC can be found here,  here, here, and here. Some of the places we have enjoyed include Corner Bakery Cafe and Call Your Mother Deli for quick service breakfast; Mitsitam Café inside the National Museum of American Indian, Matchbox, and Founding Fathers for lunch; Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse and the Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner (make reservations ahead of time!); and Georgetown Cupcake for dessert.

Transportation: We always have our car when we’re in DC. Metered street parking can be challenging during peak tourism months, especially around the National Mall, so plan ahead and leave extra time before timed activities. Find helpful information on metered street parking and parking garages here. A good option is the Metrorail and Metrobus, which operates almost 100 stations throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia, transporting more than half a million people a day! The Metrorail has six color coded rail lines, and the Metrobus has over 200 routes. Plan your routes ahead of time here. 

Some good maps of the DC area can be found here and here, and a good overview of the metro system lines here. 

Note: We’re not including the popular National Mall monuments and memorials individually. We do encourage visitors to DC to check out the monuments and complete the Junior Ranger booklet to earn badges (anybody can do it!) and Passport Stamps. See a comprehensive guide to visiting the monuments and memorials here.

17 Kid Friendly Attractions in Washington DC:

1. The American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, part of the Smithsonian Institute, have one of the largest collections of American art in the world, with artwork from over 7,000 artists. The portrait gallery has over 26,000 portraits on display, including over 1,600 presidential portraits.
   Kids will love events like Portrait Gallery Kids, taking a photo next to the portrait of their favorite president, and visiting the Explore! Exhibit, geared towards younger children.
   Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; later opening time (usually 11:30am); Courtyard Cafe and shopping options on site; no on site parking; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on 3-4 hours to fully explore all exhibits.
   Read our full feature here

2. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a great spot for elementary aged and older children. The Visitor Center is free to visit without reservations and has interactive exhibits and trivia about the history of currency production in America. Guided tours include an introductory video and the opportunity to look down into the production floor.
   Kids will love seeing money made in real time!
   Travel Tips: Free, guided, 30 minute tours are offered on weekdays from 8:20-2pm, with extended hours during the summer; reserve tickets ahead of time here; no on site parking; no dining options on site; gift shop with tons of fun souvenirs on site; plan on 75 minutes for a guided tour and time to explore the Visitor Center exhibits.

2. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens is the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, heir to the Postum Cereal Company, later General Foods. Post purchased the 25 acre estate in 1955 as her spring and fall seasonal home and hosted countless parties and events throughout the property. Post gifted her entire estate so that the public could enjoy the property, and Hillwood Estate opened to the public in 1977. In addition to the main mansion, which includes Post’s collection of Russian imperial art and 18th century French art, and her jewelry and clothing collections, the estate includes 13 acres of formal gardens and 12 acres of natural woodlands.
   Kids will love playing our version of I Spy while touring the main mansion and walking through the gardens.
   Travel Tips: Open Tuesday through Sunday- get up to date info on hours and admission fees here; free guided tours of the main mansion offered throughout the day; free parking available on site; Merriweather Cafe offers lunch, snacks, and drinks; Gift Shop located in the Visitor Center; plan on 75 minutes for a guided tour and another 2 hours to explore other exhibits and the grounds and gardens; see the full guide and map here.
   Read our full feature here

4. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden opened in 1974 and features over 12,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art from the personal collection of Joseph Hishhorn. There are two floors of exhibits that showcase a variety of sculptures and postwar American and European artworks, in addition to a recently renovated outdoor plaza and sunken sculpture garden.
   Kids will love the outdoor sculpture garden, weekly StoryTime Studio and Open Studio and completing the Children’s Activity Tour Book while touring the indoor exhibits.
   Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; Dolcezza Cafe offers drinks and pastries; Museum Shop on site; no on site parking; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on two hours to explore all exhibits, more time outdoors for the sculpture garden.
   Read our full feature here

5. The International Spy Museum is home to the largest collection of spy related artifacts open to the public in the world. The eight floor museum has two floors of interactive exhibits, a Learning Center for workshops and professional development, a theater for programs and screenings, and a large museum store. Check out the Family Highlights Guide, especially if bringing younger children to the museum. 
   Kids will love all of the spy challenges and seeing a personalized Undercover Mission Debrief
   Travel Tips: Museum is open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) with lengthier hours than most DC attractions- purchase tickets ahead of time here; discounted parking available at the nearby L’Enfant Plaza Ace Parking Garage; no dining options on site; large Museum Store; plan on 3-4 hour to complete all of the exhibit challenges.
   Read our full feature here

6. The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, created by Presidential Dwight D. Eisenhower and named for President John F. Kennedy, opened in 1971. The complex includes over a dozen reception rooms and hundreds of works of art on display, donated by over two dozen countries. There are three main performing arts centers offering daily performances and programs, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Washington Opera. In 2019, REACH, a 4.6 acre park next to the Kennedy Center, opened and includes several indoor and outdoor spaces for studios and classrooms for rehearsals, small concerts, and receptions.
   Kids will love the Hall of Nations, walking through the Presidential Boxes, and seeing all three theaters.  
   Travel Tips: Free to visit and guided tours offered multiple times a day; a large parking garage is located on site- prepay and reserve a  spot ahead of time; no dining options available during tours; two gift shops on site; bring the stroller; plan on 90 minutes for a full tour and time to explore the main public spaces- leave more time for touring REACH.
   Read our full feature here

7. The Library of Congress, the world’s largest library, was originally created by President John Adams in 1800, with a collection of 700 books. After a fire set by British troops in 1814, Thomas Jefferson later helped to rebuild the library with books from his personal collection, which continued to grow with donations and acquisitions. Today, the Library of Congress has over 175 millions items in its catalog spread across three buildings: Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. Visitors are welcome to take a self -guided tour of the halls and museum exhibits, but must make an appointment to conduct research in the famous Main Reading Room.
   Kids will love completing the scavenger hunt (see other at home activities here), peering down into the Main Reading Room, and visiting the Young Readers Lab for activities.
   Travel Tips: Free to visit; open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm, with extended hours Wednesday and Thursday; reserved timed entry tickets here; no designated parking on site; no dining options on site but there is a Library gift shop; see the floor maps of all three buildings here; audio tours can be accessed here; plan on 90-120 minutes to explore the Jefferson building exhibits and public spaces.
   Read our full feature here 

8. Mount Vernon, the “most popular historic home in America” with over a million visitors each year, was the home of George and Martha Washington from the 1740s until their deaths in 1779 and 1802. Other generations of the Washington family lived on the estate until 1860 when the property was open to the public. The once 8,000 acre complex originally had five working farms, a distillery, and a gristmill. Today, the 50 acre estate includes over a dozen historic structures, museum exhibits, gardens, and waterfront areas guests are welcome to explore. Note: The estate is located 20 minutes outside Washington DC, but we still wanted to include it on our list because it is such a special place and very kid friendly.
   Kids will love completing the Adventure Map, the Reynolds Museum, and the Education Center exhibits. 
   Travel Tips: Open seven days a week- check here for up to date information on hours and admission fees; plenty of free parking on site; bring the stroller as there is a lot of walking throughout the complex; lots of dining and shopping options throughout the complex; see the full complex map here; plan on spending close to a full day at Mount Vernon to explore all of the indoor and outdoor exhibits.
   Read our full feature here

9. The National Air and Space Museum, the most popular museum in America with over eight million visitors every year, has the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts, displayed throughout 23 exhibits. Some of the most famous items in the museum’s collection include Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit, the Mars Rover Curiosity, and several aircrafts, including 1903 Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 Space Module. There’s also an IMAX Theater and Planetarium with numerous shows a day. 
   Kids will love the America by Air and Destination Moon exhibits, Discovery Stations and Science Demonstrations on the weekends, Storytime on Thursdays. Note: The popular How Things Fly exhibit is currently under construction in 2025.
   Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; timed ticket reservations are required; Mars Cafe and Museum Shop on site; no on site parking; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on close to a full day to fully explore all exhibits; note that some sections of the museum are closed for renovations in 2025.

10. The National Building Museum celebrated the importance and talents of the worlds of architecture, engineering, landscape design, and construction. The impressive Great Hall (the dozen plus gallery rooms on are multiple floors with rooms that wrap around the Great Hall) is fifteen stories tall and eight Corinthian columns. Be sure to look up at the 234 busts and 144 Doric style columns on the first and second floors. Over a dozen exhibits have activities to engage children in the learning process about the construction and building of our communities, cities, and world.
Kids will love Brick City (everything’s made of Legos) and weekly StoryTimes
Travel Tips: Open Thursday through Monday; more info on hours and admission fees here; free tours offer multiple times a day; reserve parking ahead of time through SpotHero here; no dining options on site but lots of gift shop options; see a full museum map here; plan on 2-3 hours to fully explore all exhibits.
Read our full feature here

11. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the newest, and most popular museums in the Smithsonian Institute collection, “celebrating African American life, history, and culture” (source). Popular exhibits that showcase over 40,000 artifacts include the History Galleries (featuring a chronological timeline starting in 1400 and ending in 2008), Community Galleries (focused on military and sports), and Cultural Galleries (focused on music, television, and art).
Kids will love the Explore More interactive exhibits
Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas and MLK Jr. Day; timed ticket reservations are required; Sweet Home Cafe and Museum Shop on site; no on site parking; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on close to a full day to fully explore all exhibits.
Read our full feature here

12. The National Museum of American History opened in 164 and underwent major renovations in the 2010s. The museum’s collection includes over 1.7 million objects and documents significant to the heritage and history of American culture, history, technology, and science.  There are exhibits dedicated to food, cars, war, presidents, first ladies, space, pop culture, and science.
Kids will love the Wegman Wonderplace and Spark!Lab (both closed Monday and Tuesday)
Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; lines form early for admissions (there are multiple entrances); several dining and shopping options on site; no on site parking; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on close to a full day to fully explore all exhibits.
Read our full feature here

13. The National Museum of the American Indian is “dedicated to the advancing knowledge and understanding of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of the Natives people of the Western Hemisphere.” (source) One of the first museums dedicated to Native Americans, the museum opened in 2004 and features four stories of exhibits showcasing over 4,500 objects, artwork, clothing, and artifacts.  The Museum of the American Indian has a sister museum located in Manhattan, New York.
Kids will love the imagiNATIONS Activity Center (closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; dining and shopping options on site; no on site parking; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on 3-4 hours to fully explore all exhibits.
Read our full feature here

14. The National Museum of Asian Art, one of North America’s largest collections of Asian art, is divided into two buildings: The Freer Gallery of Art (West Building) and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (East Building). Opened in 1923, the Museum was the Smithsonian’s first art museum and first museum on the National Mall. It’s mission focuses on “preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen our collective understanding of Asia and the world.” (source)
Kids will love Art and Me Workshops
Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; a Cafe is expected to open in 2025; Museum Shop on site; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on 2-3 hours to fully explore all exhibits.

15. The National Zoo, part of the Smithsonian Institute, is one of the most popular attractions in Washington DC, welcoming over two million visitors each year. The 160+ acre park is home to over 400 species of animals, including the very popular pandas, bears, elephants, gorillas, and tigers- see the full list here– and daily animal encounters with zookeepers.
Kids will love the Animal Adventure Guide, Me and the Bee playground, and the Speedwell Conservation carousel.
Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; more generous admission hours than most Smithsonian attractions- check here; several dining and shopping options on site; there is limited parking on site- reserve ahead of time here; two entrances to the zoo; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on 3-4 hours to fully explore all exhibits.
Read our full feature here

16. The National Postal Museum is a 35,000 square foot museum housed in a former central Post Office for the city from 1914 until 1986. Exhibits include features related to the history of the transportation, security, and technology of mail service. The museum is also home to the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery, a collection of postal vehicles used throughout the past 10+ years, a research library, and a massive stamp store.
Kids will love climbing on board an Old West delivery truck, a Railroad Service Car, and the front cabin of a tracker trailer, and completing the scavenger hunt.
Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day but Christmas; multiple shopping options on site, but no dining; no designated parking on site; two entrances to the zoo; strollers allowed; see a full museum map here; plan on 2-3 hours to fully explore all exhibits.
Read our full feature here

17. The United Stated Botanical Garden is the oldest continuously open public garden in North America. The Garden was the vision of George Washington, who wanted a garden in the nation’s capital that would “promote the importance of plants to the young nation”, according to the Garden’s website. Established by Congress in 1820 and supported by the Exploring Expedition in the late 1830s and early 1940s, the Garden welcomes over a million visitors each year and is home to 65,000 plants that are studied, conserved, and displayed to the public.
Kids will love The Children’s Garden and completing the Field Journals
Travel Tips: Free to visit; open every day from 10am-5pm; info on tours here; no dining options on site; no designated parking on site; strollers allowed; see a full guide and map here; plan on two hours to fully explore all exhibits.

18. Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. Taking almost 100 years to build, the all masonry cathedral has several smaller chapels, 100 foot ceilings, 200+ stained glass windows, and pointed arches. The cathedral has hosted seven presidential funerals, and over a dozen presidential inaugural prayer services. Each week, the cathedral hosts dozens of masses, services, and programs and events for numerous faiths.
Kids will love completing a scavenger hunt using a borrowed Explorer Pack, seeing the Lego version of the cathedral, and looking for “hidden” gargoyles (there are over 100 throughout the Cathedral complex).
Travel Tips: The cathedral is free to visit; purchase and reserved guided tour tickets here (we recommend the Spotlights tour); Open City Cafe and Gift Shop on site; parking garage on site and street parking available; strollers allowed; see an accessibility map here and guide here; plan on two hours for a tour and time to independently explore.
Read our full feature here

Looking for nearby adventures? Check out our city guides to Alexandria, Virginia; Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Annapolis, Maryland. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.