Visiting DC with the kids? You’ve come to the right place! The US capital offer up valuable history lessons everywhere you look, plus plenty of hands-on fun for the wee ones, including interactive museum exhibits, exciting outdoor activities, fun shops and child-friendly eateries. The best part? Most of these kid-tested-and-approved attractions are free – unless, of course, you decide to buy yourself a souvenir.
Best museums for kids
Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Not to mention, dinosaurs, bugs and sea creatures – all at the National Museum of Natural History
To infinity and…the National Air & Space Museum!
Not just dusty text books and tattered flags, the National Museum of American History has some unexpected exhibits, including an impressive 23-room doll's house.
Teach your children the fine art of espionage at the International Spy Museum.
Inspire your own little Woodward or Bernstein at the Newseum.
Join the young crowd banging drums and exploring tipis at the National Museum of the American Indian.
Seek out local secret, the National Building Museum, and its hands-on zone where kids can stack block towers and drive toy bulldozers.
Top child-friendly experiences
Visit the Lincoln Memorial, then chase ducks around the reflecting pool.
See the pandas at the National Zoo.
Splash in the fountains and curlicue through the maze at the Georgetown Waterfront Park.
Watch global fairy tales and puppet shows at the Smithsonian's Discovery Theater.
Pick up a junior botanist backpack at the US Botanic Garden and set out on a plant-oriented scavenger hunt.
Feeding the family
Baked & Wired makes giant, cream-frosted cupcakes in Georgetown (and it's conveniently located near Georgetown Waterfront Park).
Gourmet Neapolitan style pizza keeps the parents happy, while crayons keep the kids busy at 2 Amys, near the National Cathedral.
You’d never know it from the swank décor, but Legal Sea Foods in Penn Quarter has an award-winning children’s menu, with classics like mac & cheese and slightly more highbrow fare, like steamed lobster (which is taken out of the shell then put back in, easy for little fingers to handle).
Retro Ted's Bulletin whips up smiley face pancakes, peanut butter sandwiches and milkshakes (with a booze-spiked option for parents).
Best stores for kids
Tugooh Toys sells eco-friendly stuffed animals and educational games amid the cupcake and ice cream shops of Georgetown.
The store at the International Spy Museum stocks everything from mustache disguises to voice changing gadgets.
Dawn Price Baby carries stylish stuff for mom and baby, from designer diaper bags to organic cotton layette sets.
Top tours for families
Bike and Roll has all-ages, four-mile cycling tours that zip around the Mall and Tidal Basin. Children's bikes are provided.
DC by Foot offers pay-what-you-want walking tours. While they're not specifically geared to kids, they are popular with families. The Mall tour takes about two hours and covers a mile; the route is stroller-friendly.
Family-friendly DC web resources
Kids To Go on Lonely Planet's Thorntree forum.
LP Kids on Twitter.
Smithsonian Kids for educational games and projects, plus the lowdown on pint-sized activities at the museums.
DC Cool Kids for activity guides, insider tips from local youngsters on things to do, and museum info.
DC Urban Moms and Dads for active forums to post your pressing DC questions; look for the Travel Discussion and Food & Restaurants threads.
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