Its decided – we are definitely hitting the road, and heading to Washington D.C. to visit my brother and his family. We are very excited to see their little people, one of which we have yet to meet. We are also excited because my husband and I have always wanted to go to D.C. so this will be a great opportunity to do both. We love to hit museums, and all the sites, but we also want to take the kids to places that they will enjoy as well.
Here`s where you come in. I need your suggestions for:
- Must see attractions, museums, etc
- Great places to take the kids
- Best areas for shopping
- Great restaurants
I would love your input!! Please leave your suggestions in the comments so that I can use them for my itinerary!! Thanks so much!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, I would love to help with this but it’s been so long since I was there. One place to see definitelyis the Smithsonian. They have a couple of buildings though so it wouldn’t be a day trip for sure. I didn’t have kids at the time that I lived there though so I can’t give any pointers from a parents perspective. I don’t know about restaurants and such either. I wish I could tag along….I loved living there.
Visit this site for some great information: http://www.washingtonian.com/. It should give you some ideas. I live in MD and rather close to D.C.
Just be prepared to do a lot of walking. The sites will be so wonderful, you may not mind so much.
Have a great trip. D.C. is a great place to visit.
We went back in 2006 when my husband had to go on a business trip. We were there for four days and the kids and I had a great time while Daddy worked (they were 3 and 9 mths at the time!). We took in the National Zoological Park (and saw the Pandas), the National Air and Space Museum (there are 2 of them, one in DC and one in Virginia and we did them both!), actually rode the subway and went for a walk to see the important buildings like the White House etc.
It was great fun and don’t forget about the outlet shopping!! Even with kids it was fun – I went to the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets in Leesburg, VA not far from DC.
We had a great trip and my DS still asks when we are going to go back! Have a great time!
My son really likes the Hirshorn museum (art). They have lots of modern art so it’s big and bright stuff that he can appreciate. Both air and space museums are great. The zoo is okay (we’re members and go often), but if you’re short on time I’d skip it because there’s nothing there that you can’t get in other major zoos, except maybe the pandas.
The American history museum has a butterfly exhibit (live butterflies). Natural history museum has TONS of different areas, including dinosaur exhibits. The Capitol visitor’s center is supposed to be awesome since they redid it, but I haven’t been yet. And of course there are the memorials along the mall.
In Arlington (yay, just across the Potomac) there’s the Marine Corps memorial (Iwo Jima) and Arlington Cemetary. Also, the Pentagon/9-11 memorial. For scenery, Great Falls (just north of Arlington a few miles) is really nice. Picnics work well there, too.
I’m not that into shopping, but Tyson’s Corner (in Vienna, I think) is big.
So glad you are going to D.C. If I go, it will be the last couple of days of August/beginning of September! So I’m not sure where your brother lives, but make sure to spend lots of time in Georgetown.. .I love it there… walking around, the shopping, the restaurants… check out the University, too. Of course, go to all the ‘must see’ places, like Smithsonian – lots of great museums for the kids to enjoy – the White House, Lincoln Memorial, etc. Oh man, so much to do! You will love it. The subway is awesome, too. Although of course when I lived there, I didn’t have kids so everything was easy…
I love D.C., mostly to see government in action and the museums. Some of the museums are more kid-friendly than others — such as the Air and Space Museum. There are usually some sort of outdoor activities on the Mall during the summer. I also like the smaller Spy Museum, although it might be better for your kids when they get older.
we loved the air and space museum. We also loved the kid friendly parts of the smithsonian. The mall is great. Lincoln memorial and black wall were touching. arlington cemetary has the eternal flame. There is so much to do. The white house tours were fantastic. have fun
I’ve heard there is another Air & Space museum out near CIA in Langley. Also, if you have time, venture over to the suburbs of DC like Chevy Chase MD or into Fairfax County VA. I love love love it there. If you want more ideas…Reach out to my sister who’s on Twitter (@CatFsh34). She went to GW and LOVES DC too. Spent a lot of time in Georgetown and Adams Morgan with friends, but could possibly give you other site seeing ideas.
I forgot to include this link, with all sorts of kid stuff in the DC area:
http://our-kids.com/
It’s got indoor and outdoor activities, so you should be able to find lots of stuff there…
I went to the Air & Space Museum as a kid…cool beans
don’t you DARE come here without hitting me up!!!!
i will hunt you down and climb you like a spider monkey.
the International Spy Museum was fun…kind of hokey, but fun to check everything out.
For an adult dinner, if you can swing it, try Sequoia, in Georgetown. The shopping there is great, too!
Fun! My dad, stepmom and stepsister were just there this weekend, and I just got finished looking at their pictures! I love D.C., but I haven’t been there since I was a teenager. Would LOVE to go back.
When we traveled to Pennsylvania last summer to see my dad, I fell in love with a website called Delicious Baby. It’s a really great site that has the scoop on kid-friendly stuff in several cities, including restaurants and activities. Can’t remember for sure if the author profiles D.C. or not, but I’d be surprised if she didn’t.
I’m jealous! Have fun!!!
I have never been to D.C. so I can’t help ya out there. But have an awesome time! Can’t wait to hear all about it!!