Touring Our Nation’s Capital – With Kids

A few years ago we ran a story on family travel to Washington, D.C. It was a comprehensive article by our editor, Marie Sherlock, including information about all the major family attractions. Still, after a recent visit to D.C. with my own family, I thought it might be time to offer some updated tips and information. After all, it is one of the most popular travel destinations for families in the country. So after you read through Marie’s article (highly recommended if you’re planning a trip to D.C. with kids!), consider these additional D.C. family travel tidbits: The Growing Smithsonian: When Marie’s article ran, she noted 14 Smithsonian museums. Today there are 19, including the National Zoo, although one of the Air & Space Museums is out near Dulles airport. The most recent addition is the American Indian Museum (see Museum Food below). The African American History and Culture Museum is slated to open in 2015. For more information, visit si.edu . Become a Smithsonian Member: Although admission to all the Smithsonian museums is free, if you’re staying more than a day or two and plan to see any of the IMAX or Planetarium shows – or eat or shop in any of the museums – I recommend becoming a Smithsonian member. The $19 annual membership fee gets your family discounts on shows, food and souvenirs at all the museums, which can add up quickly. Plus, you’ll receive their magazine for a whole year. Museum Food: If you’re looking for food on the National Mall, check out the cafeteria at the American Indian Museum. Menu items are inspired by native peoples around the globe and the quality is exceptional. It’s worlds away from anything you’ll find at the other museums. It’s not inexpensive, but nothing on the Mall is. We paid the same amount for two (not great) slices of pizza, a salad, cookies and chips at the American History Museum as we did for a buffalo burger, squash and black bean tamale pie, chicken tacos on fry bread, churros and an apple tart (all delicious!) here. Don’t Overdo It: Marie mentioned this in her article but it bears repeating. Especially if you travel to D.C. in the summer months, plan for an afternoon break (in a hotel swimming pool, if possible). A twilight monument tour is a great way to see the monuments without running yourself ragged, and the mall is exceptionally beautiful after dark. Many of the museums are open into the evening hours during the summer and are usually less crowded at dusk than they are during the day. And since the museums are all free, don’t feel like you have to see everything in one swoop. You can always return on another day (or another trip) to see that exhibit or show you missed this time. Explore Nature: Most people focus on the monuments, museums and government agencies when they visit D.C., but the area is rich with natural beauty as well. Rock Creek Park is a huge expanse of nature within the city limits, and you can find numerous places to hike along the Potomac throughout the area. (See localhikes.com or trails.com to find hiking trails.) You can even ride along the historic C&O Canal in a boat pulled by mules from May through October (check the Web site for exact dates), leaving either from Georgetown or Great Falls. Park rangers in period clothing describe what life was like for the families that lived and worked on the canal in the 1870s, adding a bit of history to your outdoor adventure. (The one-hour trip is $5 for ages 4 and older; kids 3 and under ride free.) Get Out of Town: There’s much to see in D.C.’s outlying areas, too. We didn’t rent a car but made it to Mt. Vernon one morning by taking the Metro and a connecting bus (although I would recommend a taxi from the Metro station … it was a very circuitous bus ride!). Historic Alexandria is about a half hour’s drive from D.C. (again, you can take Metro and a connecting bus), and if your kids are game, Monticello – a real treat for American history buffs – is a scenic two and a half hour drive. If you’re in the area for an extended period of time, you might treat the kids to a day at Six Flags America , complete with a water park, about 15 minutes from D.C. in the car. (Guess what? You can take Metro and a bus here, too!) Have Fun: Remember, there’s more to see and do in D.C. than any family can manage in one trip – no matter how long you stay. Focus on a few of the attractions that intrigue you and take your time enjoying them.

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Touring Our Nation’s Capital – With Kids