(There are some interactive exhibits for two-legged visitors, too.) We especially liked the “American Trail” exhibit, which opened last September - our boys were highly entertained by the acrobatic antics of a river otter - as well as the feeding demonstrations at the invertebrate exhibit.Īfter a quick lunch, our last stop was the Washington National Cathedral ($10 requested contribution, ). After taking a peek at the pandas, we checked out the Elephant Community Center, a new indoor space for the zoo’s elephants, which opened in March. On our final morning, we headed to the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, better known as the National Zoo (nationalzoo.si.edu). This was a big hit: The kids loved the mock forest path, representing the mail route between New York and Boston in 1673, and climbing into the cab cutaway of a massive Freightliner truck. In the nearby walkway connecting the Gallery’s East and West Buildings, “Multiverse,” a light sculpture by Leo Villareal, was mesmerizing many children, including ours.Īfter some shenanigans on the sidewalk, our final destination that day was the National Postal Museum (postalmuseum.si.edu), a Smithsonian museum located near Union Station. Once inside, we headed to the Espresso & Gelato Bar on the concourse level for tasty house-made sorbet and gelato. Here’s what made this itinerary possible: Our 5-year-old traveled by scooter our 2-year-old by stroller.) Next, it was on to the National Gallery of Art (nga.gov), passing first through the Gallery’s Sculpture Garden, where we contemplated “Typewriter Eraser, Scale X” by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Memorial.īack on land, we headed to the Lincoln Memorial, taking time to admire the spot on the memorial’s steps where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.įrom there, we made our way to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (americanhistory.si.edu) where, in the “American Stories” exhibition, we checked out a Kermit the Frog puppet and an Apple II computer from the 1980s. ![]() This was a highlight of our trip: The boys loved steering the boat we paddled over to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and got great views of the Martin Luther King, Jr. The following morning was warm and sunny, so we headed to the Tidal Basin to rent paddle boats ($19 per hour for a four-person boat, ). This, we realized, is one of the great pleasures of DC: The ample plazas outside buildings, the grassy expanse of the National Mall and the wide sidewalks throughout the city make it a great place for kids to be, well, kids. While my husband and I admired the architecture, our kids played an impromptu game of tag on the steps. Our 2-year-old particularly liked the “World Deserts” room, happily exclaiming “Little cactus! Big cactus!” along the way.īy the time the Botanic Garden closed, the rain had (mostly) let up, so we went to look at the US Capitol Building’s imposing exterior. It was cool and rainy, so we opted to take in the beauty of the outdoors from indoors, by exploring the diverse environments in the Conservatory at the United States Botanic Garden (). ![]() When we booked the trip, I imagined us enjoying the sunshine and blooming trees - but the weather had other plans. Kids receive special “passports” and collect stamps from different tribal nations as they move from one interactive station to the next - this thrilled our boys. Then we headed to the third floor’s ImagiNations Activity Center, where we climbed into a kayak, weaved a giant basket and, working with other families, built an igloo. We started by powering up on buffalo chili at the museum’s lauded Mitsitam Café (). Our first destination was the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (nmai.si.edu/home). Boasting a funky red décor, the hotel is extraordinarily welcoming to families some rooms have bunk beds and are stocked with kid-approved amenities like board games and an Xbox 360. ![]() Since so many of the world-class museums and attractions are free, it’s an affordable, exciting place for a family vacation.Īfter the four-hour drive, we checked into the pleasant Hotel Rouge (from $229, weekend specials sometimes available from $119, ), a Kimpton hotel near Dupont Circle. One of the best kid-friendly destinations around is an easy jaunt from New York: Washington, DC. My husband and I didn’t have the time or inclination for a long vacation with our two young sons, but we didn’t need it. ![]() It was spring break, and that was exactly what my family wanted: A little spring - it had been an interminable winter - and a little break from the everyday routine. WATER WORKS: Renting paddle boats at the Tidal Basin is a classic DC experience, offering up a fun, new perspective of the area’s surrounding sights and scenery.
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