Washington D.C. – Kid-friendly itinerary

Traveling with kids is a joy and something we treasure.

Our family loves finding new places in our state to visit and explore. But, there was one place I longed to visit, but faced with a bit of apprehension: Washington, D.C.

Between the unpredictable traffic, hustle and bustle; frankly, I wondered if it was a place we should save for when the kids, ages 4 and 7 are older.

However, after reflecting further, not taking the journey to D.C. would be a missed opportunity for our family. Living only 2 hours away from the nation’s capital is a tremendous gift; and, one we cannot take for granted.

What we discovered this summer is that while a trip to D.C. with young children requires much patience and flexibility, this adventure is completely unforgettable, full of lasting memories for all four of us.

In my travelogue below, I will detail our itinerary and helpful tips we learned along the way. A huge thank you to Destination D.C. for guiding us in finding attractions suitable for everyone in our family!

Washington D.C. Family-Friendly Lodging

First off, we stayed at the Hyatt Place National Mall.

We were a 10 minute walk from the National Mall, The Wharf, a popular attraction with restaurants overlooking the Potomac, and two of our favorite museums: The Spy Museum and Artechouse. The hotel provides a breakfast buffet, complete with kid-friendly options as well as a pool.

 

Washington D.C. Family Itinerary

Day 1:

We began our trip, but before arriving in D.C., we made a stop at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy  Center, about 30 minutes from our hotel, this was a perfect way to break up the trip.

The kids loved completing the animal scavenger hunt (pick it up at the Welcome Desk upon arrival), while I appreciated the Women in Aviation self-guided tour.

Throughout the museum there are guides available, live, on screens to help answer questions. At the Discovery Station, we learned all the details behind the space suits that astronauts wear.

With thousands of space and aviation artifacts, 2 hours easily passed. Before we left, we made sure to experience the Observation Tower, allowing us to get a bird’s eye view of planes taking off and landing at Dulles International Airport.

Travel Tip:

Parking is $15; credit cards are accepted. There is no admission fee. Picnic area available.

Our next stop was the National Portrait Gallery.

We chose to finish our day at NPG because it is very close to the hotel, and because my daughter is an avid reader of biographies, and we knew she would be thrilled to see many of the portraits.

Highlights: America’s Presidents, the nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House, portraits of my daughter’s strong female role models: Frida Kahlo and Pocahontas.

There is so much to glean from these historical figures; I am so glad we were able to visit National Portrait Gallery.

Travel Tip

For families with younger children: there is a McDonald’s just down the road if your kiddo is unsettled and needs a break.

Day 2:

After enjoying the delicious breakfast buffet, we headed straight for the National Zoo.

It was such a treat to be here! The animals are so interactive, the zookeepers’ enthusiasm is palpable and there are so many ways for children to learn while having fun!

We started at the Elephant Trails exhibit. The zookeeper engaged us while feeding Maharani, explaining the differences between Asian and African elephants and allowing my kids to ask every question under the sun about elephants’ daily lives. From here, we traversed Asia Trail, where my son’s wish was granted. He got to see the Giant Pandas!

We cooled off on the carousel, where the director asks animal trivia questions before starting. I faced my fear of snakes (I don’t even like looking at them!) in the Reptile Discovery Center, we saw a lion chewing a bone and craned our necks to watch orangutans climb overhead!

Travel Tips:

Entry ticket required. If you do not park at the zoo, you will need to secure passes for each person in your party. Or, pay for parking at the zoo and that covers passes for everyone in your vehicle. Picnic areas throughout the zoo.

 

Still giddy from seeing the giant pandas, we enjoyed panda cake pops from Baked by Yael, within walking distance from the zoo.

Baked by Yael is D.C.’s first cake poppery and offers delicious, adorable, nut-free, kosher cake pops!

 

After some rest back at the hotel, we walked to the National Museum of the American Indian. We spent most of our time on the third floor, at the Americans exhibit.

As my husband, an educator of history, said, “I am so glad we came here so our kids could learn what impact Pocahontas truly had”. (Please never ask a history teacher if Disney’s Pocahontas is historically accurate!)

Personally, I grew a further appreciation for the resourcefulness of the American Indians after seeing a lacrosse stick made by the Iroquois and the most beautiful baby carrier, handmade of course.

 

Travel Tips:

ImaginNATIONS Activity Center is a hands-on area for children to play and learn about American Indians.  Admission to the museum is free.

 

After leaving the museum, we walked to the National Mall where we had hot dogs from a food truck.

Then, we headed to the Capitol, where the kids were able to play and run right on the lawn! 

 

Day 3:

We wanted to really make the most of our last day in D.C., so we headed right for the monuments upon waking.

We actually thought we were quite clever and had figured out the secret to getting a close parking spot to the monuments; however, we discovered that street parking closest to the Mall is blocked until 9:30 A.M. Oops!

We somehow still found a spot close enough! Once on the National Mall, we marveled at the Washington Monument before making our way to the World War II Memorial.

This was especially poignant as 2 of our children’s great-grandfathers were World War II veterans. We are so incredibly proud of their sacrifice and service. This experience certainly helped our children understand the pride we feel and connected them to their family in a meaningful way.

Although we could not fit in all the monuments and memorials, we were thankful to fit in The Lincoln Memorial, which is my favorite, ever since a 5th grade field trip.

Making our way up from the Reflecting Pool, the history of both our 16th president and the historical events that happened here, was so powerful. While a tiring walk, I am grateful to have experienced these monuments and memorials with my children.

Luckily, our hotel was a quick walk to the International Spy Museum. From the moment we walked in we were enthralled with the entire experience.

With our spy badges and official spy names and missions, we enjoyed learning to crack codes, play games to learn about Mirror Imaging and creating undercover disguises.

Fortunately, all four of us completed in our mission in the allotted two hours! While I may never be a Cynthia Storer caliber spy, I learned so much and had a blast trying my hand at it!

Travel Tips:

L’Enfant Plaza is beside the museum with a food court, indoor and outdoor seating.

Our final attraction for the day was Artechouse, about 2 blocks from the International Spy Museum. This immersive art experience was unlike anything we had seen!

Patrons watch a video to start that explains about the creations and message behind the art. Essentially, upon entering you are transported 100 years into the future where nature struggles to survive in an overdeveloped metropolis.

A message of hope can be seen as blossoms show through, ready to renew, if people can take action. We were blown away by this innovative collaboration of art, science and technology.

Our children’s eyes lit up as they discovered that if they waved in front of the screen, trash would disappear. The symbolism was not lost on us; the message is one we will absolutely remember.

Travel Tips:

Although the experience is interactive, all is touchless. Help your children by stressing this before arrival.

For our last night in D.C. we ate dinner at the District Wharf.

This waterfront area is home to several restaurants, with varying price points and cuisine, as well as swings for kids, ice cream, a large fire pit for roasting marshmallows.

We enjoyed our Mexican dinner from Surfside and concluded our trip with ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s.

Travel Tips:

The Wharf is very crowded on weekends and parking is limited. Walking or a taxi is a better option.

From animals to art, Richmonders are fortunate to have the chance to travel to D.C. for a long weekend. I regret my previous hesitation, as the memories and impact this trip made are indelible.

🚗 Love to travel on a tank around Richmond? See more ideas for day and overnight trips in our region.

— By Lindsay Garrison

Lindsay Garrison loves Richmond and is proud to raise her own family here. As a teacher for 12 years, she learned how to save, budget and stretch every penny. Additionally, she led groups of students to Europe annually, and took great pride in planning affordable, fun-filled trips. She transferred those skills to her daily life and shares them with readers of RVA on the Cheap. Lindsay utilizes RVA on the Cheap to make enriching life experiences accessible to all. Check her instagram: rva.familyfun for more affordable family adventures!

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