10 Things to Do with Kids in Washington DC

If you plan to travel with children, the little ones will love all the attractions and activities to see and do in Washington DC, but many of them will definitely be enjoyed by adults as well.

When planning a trip to Washington DC with children, the most important thing is to consider the places of interest they would like to visit. DC offers you the chance to take the little ones on a tour of places you wouldn't have imagined in this solemn city.

It's a truly enriching experience for young and old alike. It is characteristically interactive and presents the public with a broad overview of the White House structure and its real importance to all American citizens.

Being the abode of almost every president who has led the country, the White House has a lot to show, and that is precisely what the White House Visitor Center is all about. Inside, you'll be fascinated by all the things you can see, and it's a fun experience for the kids as they learn a little more about the history of the country.

The Visitor Centre is always changing its cultural agenda, as well as offering activities for the entertainment of the public. The little ones will have the opportunity to listen to some of the letters that American children have written to the different presidents who have passed through the White House.

Practical information

• Location: 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington.
• Price: Free.
• Hours: 11:00 - 16:00 Wednesday - Sunday. Closed to the public on public holidays.

In the very centre of Washington DC you will find the Museum of Natural Sciences, which is part of the Smithsonian museums and seeks to recreate and explain to visitors various areas of the planet's knowledge.

If you decide to book a guided tour of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC you will have the opportunity to see around 140 million natural specimens and cultural elements of the world.

Organisation of the exhibits

• African Elephant of the Savannah: Located on the first floor. You and the children will be able to understand what life is like for these mammals, their relationship with humans and their status among endangered species.
• African Voices: Area located on the first floor. You will find information about the lifestyle, customs and culture of African peoples.
• Bones Room: Located on the first floor. Here you can learn the difference or similarity between all the vertebrate animals. It is a fun experience for the little ones.
• Hall of human origins: Perhaps one of the most interesting you will see during your visit. Children always find it very interesting and fun to know that we are a race with a few million years of history, so they will love to know some stories about human survival. It is located on the first floor.

Practical information

• Location: 10th St. & Constitution Ave NW, Washington.
• Price: Free.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

The Jefferson Memorial is a magical place that is meant for reflection.

It's a place that invites you to take a closer look at all the feats Thomas Jefferson did during his lifetime and all that he served the country. It is also one of the top 10 monuments in the city.

But if it's a monument for reflection, why take the kids? The most interesting thing about this place is that it has activities for the whole family. One of the most interesting things to do in Washington, especially in the summer, is to take the little ones on a leisurely but entertaining boat ride around the monument. Hiring a lunch cruise, for example, can be a super special experience for them; they'll get to know all the must-see sights of the city as well as its history in the most fun way.

You can even rent kayaks in the Tidal Basin to make the experience even more entertaining for them. If you prefer fun but not too risky activities, this one is perfect because the route is safe enough to practice this activity with the kids.

Without a doubt, one of the experiences you're sure to keep in your memory for a lifetime is buying tickets to see an NBA basketball game in Washington. You will experience first-hand the intensity and enthusiasm of the stadium, you will see the basketball stars of the best league in the world play in person and you will enjoy the atmosphere with your family. A great plan!

Another option is to book tickets for a Washington Nationals baseball game, another of the most famous national sports among Americans. It will probably be the first time your kids will set foot in a baseball stadium and they will love to soak up the game, and do such typical things as watching the game while eating some hot dogs or popcorn.

Sightseeing with children can sometimes be a bit tricky: they get tired of walking, they have busy meal times, they can find long walks a drag, so the easiest thing to do can be to book a sightseeing tram tour. It lasts about 90 minutes, has free stops and a professional guide. They're sure to enjoy getting on one of these transports!

And, another very similar option is to book a tour bus tour that lasts about 6 hours, has a tour guide and if you book between April 1st and October 15th, it also includes a cruise on the Potomac River. Are you up for it?

The Air and Space Museum is the world's largest exhibit of aeronautical and space artifacts and is on the list of the best museums in Washington DC

Its main location houses so many important relics from the world of aviation that it was necessary to open a second location in Virginia. In DC its location is on the iconic National Mall.

Among the most impressive attractions you'll see in this museum is the plane that Amelia Earhart used to break two of her most incredible records in the air. Also on display is the first plane used to usher in the age of aeronautics and the third orbiter to fly in space. The museum also offers entertaining activities for children, such as a 360º Virtual Reality flight.

Practical information

• Location: 655 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC.
• Price: Free.
• Hours: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 17:30.

The Planet Word Museum opens its doors to offer a magical experience for the whole family. It is the first interactive and voice-activated museum. It is a place where you can see language from a different point of view and learn incredible facts about different languages. The main goal of this museum is to highlight how language defines a whole civilisation.

Planeta Palabra offers really interesting and fun activities for adults and children, where the protagonist is always the same, language. There are three floors full of interesting sections and areas to explore, where children can let their imagination run wild by participating in each of the tasks to be done in the museum.

Organisation of the museum areas

On the first floor, in one of the locations you can learn first-hand how words have changed your life in unimaginable ways. In another section you can learn the secrets behind advertising and also try your hand at writing your own advertisement.

As you go up to the first floor, you will find other interesting sections to further discover the role of words in human civilisation. Some of the sections are:

• Lend me your ears: A place where you and the children can read a speech using a teleprompter.
• Worlds of words: A virtual painting space where children can let their imaginations run wild as they paint the whole room with vibrant colours.
• Library: A magical place where all the books come to life and become interactive. If you are attentive you can find secret and hidden passages inside the library room.

Practical information

• Location: 925 13th Street NW, Washington DC.
• Price: Free.
• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The International Spy Museum is open to the public every day from 9:00 to 19:00. It is a fascinating place where children and adults will not only have endless fun carrying out their own espionage missions, but also learn about the history of this fascinating world through time.

The whole area is subdivided into sections where you can see different facts and elements related to the world of international espionage. Some of the exhibits are permanent, and the best thing is that at all times during your visit, you will be actively involved thanks to the museum's interactive system. On a regular basis, the museum presents temporary exhibitions that delve a little deeper into events relevant to how espionage has been immersed in popular history.

These types of exhibits allow you to see different things every time you go or bring your children. The calendar of events is always available on their website.

Practical information

• Location: 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024
• Price: From 27 euros.
• Hours: Every day from 9:00 to 19:00.

Traveller Tip

Seating inside the museum is limited, so I recommend you buy your ticket online.

The Treasury House is the office responsible for the production of the nation's banknotes. In addition to this, the Treasury House is also responsible for the production of many of the nation's security documents, from Treasury securities to official invitations.

A visit to the Treasury House is more than worthwhile and is an experience that no child visiting Washington DC should miss. Inside you will have the opportunity to watch with the children how banknotes are made as the public reception structure overlooks the production room.

Admission is free, and you can enter the museum from 9:00, but to get your ticket in time you'll need to go to the ticket office to reserve it, as tickets are first come, first served and the ticket office opens at 8:00. In case you want a private tour, you can contact the government office directly and request a group tour well in advance.

Practical information

• Location: 301 14th Street SW, Washington, DC.
• Price: Free.
• Hours: From 9:00 am

This is an amazing place for the whole family to enjoy and the little ones are going to love this visit to the wax museum. This is one of the venues of the famous Madame Tussauds museum where you can see many famous faces from the world of show business, politics and sport.

It is a five-storey building with a layout that allows you to walk through different specific areas. One of the areas that will attract your attention is the one dedicated to astronauts. Here you can have your photo taken with characters such as Neil Armstrong, as well as find out a little more about the history of the space race and the latest updates.

A must-see area that kids will love is the one dedicated to the presidents of the United States. From Lincoln to Donald Trump himself, and of course other representatives such as J.F. Kennedy and Barack Obama.

Practical information

• Location: 1001 F St. NW. Downtown. Washington DC.
• Price: From 20 to 30 euros.
• Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00.

Traveller Tip

You can buy electronic tickets and forget about long lines when you get there.

The Washington Botanical Garden is one of the most historic botanical gardens in North America. Without a doubt, the United States Botanical Garden is a must-see if you are in Washington with children. The most interesting thing about this garden is that, as it is a living exhibit, it is always changing and therefore offers you a new experience every time you visit. The space is divided into different areas where plants from all over the world are exhibited.

Practical information

• Location: 100 Maryland Ave SW
• Price: Free.
• Hours: Every day from 10:00 to 17:00.

The star of the Washington tour with kids, of course, is the Children's Museum.

It's a space for exploration where little ones can ignite their imaginations and feel free to ask questions, play and experiment with everything they see. It is located on Avenida Pensilvania.

The museum is a space that mixes arts, science and technology. The experience is completely interactive and although it is designed for family fun, it is the youngest members of the household who, once they enter, will never want to leave.

The different activities keep the children on their toes and encourage them to continue investigating, learning and studying more and more every day. In addition, they are constantly presenting a variety of activities so that your visits will never be the same as the previous ones. Tickets are limited, so you have to make your reservation in advance so you can take the little ones with you.

Practical Information

• Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. northwest. Washington, DC.
• Price: From 20 euros.
• Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with two sessions per day.