Washington D.C. With Kids: Tips For Families
Our Experience Exploring Washington D.C. with Kids
Last March, as part of our homeschool co-op group, we ventured to Washington D.C. with all four of our children, ages 2 to 11.
It was a whirlwind trip full of history, learning, and adventure, and while traveling with kids always requires some planning, D.C. proved to be a fantastic destination for families.
Here are some highlights from our trip, and some tips and tricks if you’re planning your own D.C. adventure with kids!
Flying to Washington D. C. with kids? Read our tips and tricks post for navigating a busy airport with little ones!
Making Washington D. C. With Kids Work for Different Ages
One of the challenges we faced was balancing activities for our older and younger kids. Only one parent and the two older children (sometimes two middle children) joined the co-op’s tour bus excursions.
This allowed them to dive deep into sites like the Holocaust Museum—a place we felt was too heavy for our younger ones.
We also discovered that some locations, like Arlington National Cemetery, are not ideal for young children. The solemn atmosphere requires quiet and respectful behavior, which can be a challenge even in the best of times for our toddler.
Daniel went with the older kids on the tour bus the first day, where they learned about the Holocaust and visited the cemetery. Meanwhile, the younger kids and I explored at a slower pace, focusing on more kid-friendly and interactive spots.
Then, we swapped the next day, and the older kids and I visited the Capitol, the Library of Congress, and a few memorials with our co-op. Daniel and the younger kids met us at the Capitol for a few hours, but had the ability to leave when the younger kids had enough.
The third day, we opted to spend the day as a family and meet our co-op group at Martha’s Vineyard, and then drove to a few other spots that were kid-friendly.
This decision worked wonderfully. The younger ones have shorter attention spans and found joy in simply strolling around the city, or spending more time at our hotel.
Tip: If you’re visiting D.C. with a mix of ages, consider splitting up for part of the trip to meet everyone’s needs.
Kid-Friendly Highlights
Here are some of the best spots and tips we discovered during our trip:
1. White House and Washington Monument
- What to Do: Start your day early and snag street parking near the White House. From there, take a leisurely walk with a stroller to see the Washington Monument. Both landmarks are iconic, and the wide-open spaces around the Mall are perfect for kids to roam.
- Why It Works: The area is stroller-friendly, and morning parking is surprisingly manageable.
2. Lincoln Memorial
- What to Do: Visit this iconic memorial and take in the breathtaking views from the steps. The size of the statue and the grandeur of the setting amazed our kids.
- Why It Works: The reflective pool and steps provide a great spot for kids to relax and soak in the sights.
3. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- What to Do: This memorial features a towering sculpture of Dr. King and powerful quotes etched in stone. It’s a peaceful and reflective space that also resonated with our kids and offered a lot of walking areas.
- Why It Works: The outdoor setting is beautiful and a great place to see the cherry blossoms in the spring as its located on the Tidal Basin.
4. Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
- What to Do: This memorial is sprawling and interactive, with waterfalls and statues that engage kids. It’s a great place for them to stretch their legs while learning about history.
- Why It Works: It’s outdoors and has plenty of space for kids to explore without feeling confined. This was one of my personal favorite locations of the trip. I just found it so peaceful and meaningful!
5. U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress
- What to Do: Touring the Capitol and walking through the tunnel to the Library of Congress is a fascinating experience. The architecture alone is worth the visit! It’s also a great place to get lunch; the cafeteria has a ton of kid-friendly options.
- Why It Works: The tunnel walk is exciting for kids, and the Library’s exhibits are super cool.
6. National Air and Space Museum
- What to Do: This museum is a hit with kids of all ages. The exhibits are hands-on and awe-inspiring, especially the planes and rockets.
- Why It Works: It’s indoors, which is great for unpredictable weather (which you should expect in D.C.!), and offers interactive displays that keep little ones engaged.
7. Marine Corps Memorial (next to Arlington National Cemetery)
- What to Do: While the significance of this site may go over younger kids’ heads, the expansive grounds are peaceful for a walk or stroller ride. As I mentioned, our older kids enjoyed Arlington National Cemetery, but it would have been a bit stressful with our toddler. This was a good compromise!
- Why It Works: Great area for the kids to run, and catch a glimpse of the Cemetery next door.
8. Mt. Vernon
- What to Do: Just a short drive outside of D.C., Mount Vernon was our favorite stop. Its beauty and tranquility were a wonderful break from the city. Despite it raining heavily while we were there, it was fascinating and full of such great history. For some reason it never occurred to me that it sits right on the Potomac River- beautiful views!
- Why It Works: It’s a great reminder to incorporate nature into a busy urban trip, and the tours are short enough for young kids but full of interesting things to see. Oh also- there’s a great gift shop, very important to our kids.
Mount Vernon Tip: Take a round trip cruise from Alexandria to the Mount Vernon estate. Both you and the kids will love the beautiful scenery and great views of D.C!
9. Honorable Mention: The Jefferson Memorial
I have to give an honorable mention to The Jefferson Memorial. We visited it on our second day, and while it looked very kid friendly with expansive grounds, we weren’t able to tour it.
It rained SO MUCH while we were in D. C. that some of the sidewalks flooded. We tried all sorts of ways to reach the memorial but couldn’t get there. What we saw looked beautiful, though.
Our Kids’ Favorites
Our 6-year-old’s favorite part of D.C.? Riding the bus! For her, the simple joy of sitting high up, seeing the city from a new perspective, and experiencing the excitement of the co-op tour was unforgettable.
Our 9-year-old son loved the Science Museum and all the interactive exhibits. He could have stayed there longer!
Our 11-year-old daughter enjoyed the Lincoln Memorial. She loved the views!
And our toddler’s favorite part? Any and all of the construction around the White House, of course.
Getting Around D. C. With Kids
Driving: Like any big city, Washington D. C. has a lot of traffic. However, I found that getting around in our vehicle was totally doable (thanks to GPS!), and parking was fairly easy in the morning.
Daniel found it to be a little harder in the middle of the day, but if you allow enough time and plan to walk a little, you will find a spot. Bring a stroller, for sure, if you have toddlers or babies.
Public Transportation: We also took a private tour bus around the city as part of our co-op, but D. C. has several public transportation options- this is a great resource for more information.
My sister Kendra has been to D. C. several times and taken public transportation each time and had a great experience.
Additional Tips for Visiting Washington D. C. with kids
- Plan for Breaks: The National Mall is enormous, so plan rest stops or bring a picnic. The kids enjoyed simply sitting on the grass and watching the world go by.
- Use Public Transportation: D.C.’s Metro is clean and convenient.
- Pack Snacks: Museum cafes can be pricey, so bring your own snacks to keep everyone happy.
- Interactive Museums: Consider the National Museum of Natural History and the National Children’s Museum for hands-on experiences.
- Time Your Visits: Start your day early to beat the crowds, especially at popular spots like the Capitol and the monuments.
- Bring Cameras For The Kids: Our oldest daughter brought her digital camera (this inexpensive one off Amazon) and one of my greatest joys was seeing her take photos. I loved seeing what she thought was cool enough to photograph, and she enjoyed being able to capture her own memories.
Washington D. C. with Kids: a fun and history filled adventure!
Washington D.C. is a city rich with history, culture, and experiences for all ages. Despite bad weather, we really enjoyed our trip there with our four young kids.
Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teens, there’s something for everyone. Our trip reminded us of the value of blending education with exploration and adapting plans to fit our family’s needs.
We can’t wait to return and uncover even more of what D.C. has to offer!
