Families love Washington DC, there are so many amazing things to do, and a lot of them are free! Read on to plan your kid-friendly Washington DC adventure. Over 15 million visitors every year can’t be wrong!
Visit The Smithsonian’s 17 free world-class museums, galleries, gardens, and zoo, including the National Museum of Natural History. Eleven museums and galleries are on the National Mall and six other museums and the National Zoo are in the greater National Capital Area.
You can stop reading now, because how can you possibly see everything the Smithsonian has to offer in one visit to the city?
But honestly, you don’t want to miss out on the rest of the kid-friendly Washington DC attractions below!
Rock Creek Park is the oldest urban park in the National Park Service system. It’s 2,000 acres include hiking trails, picnic grounds, an amphitheater with a summer concert series, bicycle paths, a tennis center, ranger-led programs, a nature center, a planetarium, and more.
Tour The United States Botanic Garden For a quick fix of nature and beauty, the U.S. National Arboretum is a great little getaway within the city. Stroll around the colorful azalea gardens in the spring, or the holly and magnolia garden in the fall and winter. The Bonsai & Penjing Museum has one of North America’s largest collections of bonsai trees, and the official trees of all 50 states are represented in the National Grove of State Trees.
Learn all about espionage at The International Spy Museum, kids will love the interactive exhibits and fun activities,
Explore The National Mall on your own or with a free tour guide. The National Park Service has Park Rangers on duty that offer free, interpretive tours, ready to impress your kids with the impressive American history that is depicted on the Mall. Check the schedule of tours here.
Visit The Jefferson Memorial And Washington Monument at the Southern end of the National Mall, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin are a must-see. This is a wonderful spot at any time of year, but is best known for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Get to the monument before 7:30am to get in line for tickets to the top of the monument. They are free!
The National Harbor is a recent addition to the area. With six hotels, 23 restaurants, 32 shops and a gorgeous marina. Located on the Potomac River just over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Prince George’s County, Maryland, it has amazing views of Washington D.C. as well as Old Town Alexandria.
The venue is home to a Food & Wine Festival, a summer concert series, a Beer, Bourbon & Barbeque Festival, an annual road race and a producer-only farmers’ market. .
Let me know if I’ve missed any of your favorite kid-friendly DC attractions, and check out these other family friendly US cities.
