Favorite Family Activities in Washington DC

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Discover Washington DC at your leisure with a one-day ticket on the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour. Create your own itinerary to see the most popular sights of Washington DC at your own pace.

The Washington DC Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour is the easiest way to get around town. You can hop on and off at any of the 19 stops as often as you like. Trolleys depart every 30 minutes.

There are three trolley routes:

National Mall and Downtown – Orange Loop
The orange line traverses the National Mall with stops at all the Smithsonian Museum buildings, as well as the national monuments and memorials: Lincoln, FDR, Washington, Jefferson, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, United States Capitol and Supreme Court buildings.

National Cathedral, Uptown and Georgetown – Green Loop
The green line travels uptown to visit the National Zoo and Washington National Cathedral. It then takes you through "Embassy Row" on its way to historic Georgetown, Washington's oldest neighborhood and a mecca for shopping and dining. Finally, the green line stops at the White House and White House Visitor Center.

Arlington National Cemetery Shuttle – Red Loop (10–15 minute ride)
The Arlington Cemetery line shuttles between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery.

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Many visits to Washington DC center around the expansive National Mall & Memorial Parks. Public park space was one of the cornerstones of the original plan for the District of Columbia and today the National Mall helps fulfill that vision. At 1,000 square acres, and roughly 2.4 miles long, the Mall & Memorials provides open space for relaxation, reflection, celebration, and national expressions of First Amendment rights. Annual festivals and events held on the Mall: National Cherry Blossom Festival, National Black Family Reunion and Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The National Park Service offers walking and bike tours a few days a week and Military Band Concerts are held during the summer. The national museums line the eastern side of the Mall and the monuments occupy the west end (Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Ward War II Memorial, Korean War and Vietnam Memorial to name a few). Parking spaces are sparse and driving around the west end of the Mall is extremely confusing (it's easy to end up in Virginia and not know how to return). Various Metro stations service the Mall. Tourmobile Sightseeing provides a convenient option and it's authorized by the National Park Service. Tickets and tours vary ($7.50 - $20) but you can get on and off the busses at will. The Mall & Monuments are free and open 24 hours. Dramatic lighting makes nighttime monument viewing breathtaking (less crowds too!).

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Located on the National Mall a few blocks from the Capitol Building, the National Air and Space Museum appeals to all ages. See the Wright 1903 Flyer, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, and a lunar rock sample which visitors can touch. Children delight in the many hands-on demonstrations while IMAX Theater presentations and flight simulators engage the whole family. Fascinated with space? Explore the universe at the Albert Einstein Planetarium! Whether you visit for one hour or five, the large solarium-style food court makes this a convenient mid-day museum stop. Free admission. There is no museum parking, but public lots are within a few blocks (rates vary). Metro stations nearby: L'Enfant Plaza (blue/orange and yellow/green lines) and Smithosonian (blue/orange lines).

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A stunning tribute to the 16th president of the United States, this memorial sits at the western end of the reflecting pool and the national mall. This famous memorial is featured on both the penny and the back of the five dollar bill. The Lincoln Memorial is also the historic site of the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his "I have a dream" speech. A true must visit for any trip to Washington, DC. Inside the temple-like structure you will find a 19-foot tall statue of Lincoln seated, with a number of memorable speeches inscribed in the walls that surround him.

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It takes planning to tour the White House, but it's worth it! They are arranged through Congress. It is easy, contact your Member of Congress (done through your Member's website) one to six months prior to your visit to DC to request a tour. Tours are free but space is limited. The prohibited items makes airport security look lax and no storage facilities are available, so plan accordingly. Seasonal tours and events are not arranged through Congress – spring and fall garden tours (October and April), White House Easter Egg Roll, and lighting of the National Christmas Tree (early December). Tickets for these events are free but you'll have to stand in line to get them. They are distributed at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (15th and E Street NW). See website for dates and ticket details. For the planning-challenged, the White House Visitor Center brings the White House to your fingertips. It's open seven days a week from 7:30 am – 4:00 pm. Unlike the White House tour, the visitor center does not prohibit strollers, cameras, make-up items, pens, backpacks or purses. Take public transit, parking is scarce.

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James Bond wannabes will love this museum; it provides a fascinating look at the world of espionage and how it's affected our past and present.  Check out artifacts and learn stories about spies from all over the globe as they perform their covert duties in various eras.

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Seven other Madame Tussauds exist, only two others are located in the U.S., and only one allows you the pleasure of sizing up George Washington, mingling with Beyoncé, or helping Tiger Woods line up his putt. Madame Tussauds is a wax museum whose life-size wax figure replicas of famous Americans and historic icons appear in one of four sections: The Spirit of Washington, D.C.; Behind the Scenes; Glamour; and Sports. Interactive displays allow visitors to step into the pictures of historic, celebrity, and sports events, whether to attend George Washington's inauguration or to hang with Julia Roberts.

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Seeing the nation's capital by bike is not only healthy, but it also allows visitors to get a closer view of DC. This guided bicycle tour takes in many of Washington's magnificent monuments and landmarks; everything from the White House and Washington Monument to the to the Freer Gallery and Rock Creek Park. The standard tour covers about eight miles in three hours. Most of the tour is on paved paths and gravel trails. The company also rents bikes, wheelchairs and scooters.

Our Local Expert Says:

Many DC locals think this is the best of the National Art Museums.

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Famous and distinguished Americans are honored here in portraits, photographs and other visual media. A wide variety of politicians, artists, scientists and social activists are represented. This gallery is a remarkable testimony to the diverse figures the United States has produced, from Grace Kelly and Boris Karloff to George Washington, Mickey Mantle and Gertrude Stein. Photographs, prints, drawings and sculptures supplement the paintings. Of particular interest is the Hall of Presidents, which features a portrait or sculpture of each chief executive.

Admission is free.

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Not so much a mall as a tourist trap with souvenir shops and a food court. But you can ride a pair of elevators to the clock tower for a stunning view of the city.

Description:

Seeing the nation's capital by bike is not only healthy, but it also allows visitors to get a closer view of DC. This guided bicycle tour takes in many of Washington's magnificent monuments and landmarks; everything from the White House and Washington Monument to the to the Freer Gallery and Rock Creek Park. The standard tour covers about eight miles in three hours. Most of the tour is on paved paths and gravel trails. The company also rents bikes, wheelchairs and scooters.

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This gallery is a wonderland for kids and adults alike - it has everything from dinosaur skeltons to diamonds and insect zoos.  Kids are especially big fans of the Discovery Room, which encourages their participation in the form of touching and smelling various exhibits.  The museum also boasts an IMAX theater, so be sure to check the schedule and see what's playing.

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This eclectic museum is sometimes referred to as "The Nation's Attic." It houses numerous memorabilia and artifacts collected throughout American history. The American Presidency section exhibits the many facets of the nation's highest office and the impact it has had in those who have held it. Another section contains objects that highlight the cultural history of the country including Mohammed Ali's boxing gloves and the inaugural ball gowns of many of the First Ladies. Exhibits on science and technology, military history and much more can be found on the three floors of this fascinating museum. Stop by the old-fashioned ice cream parlor before you leave.

Our Local Expert Says:

This federal building is the most fun simply because you watch money being made before your eyes. The gift shop maintains the theme –you can buy items such as an uncut sheet of $2 bills.

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You know the government prints money - come see how it's done! The 45 – 50 minute tour shows how modern technology as well as old is used to make the paper that gets us through the day. See sheets of all denominations in all states of the process. Tours are free and tickets are needed March through August. The Ticket Booth, located at Raoul Wallenberg Place (15th Street), opens at 8 am but you may have to line up very early during the busy Cheery Blossom season (March & April). No tickets are required September through February, simply line up at the Visitors' Entrance on 14th Street. Parking is almost impossible, use the Metro Smithsonian Station (blue/orange) located at 12th Street and Independence Ave SW. Note that strollers are not allowed on tours.

Our Local Expert Says:

Mount Vernon is a member of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, so after touring the mansion, explore the working farm and meet living rare breeds representative of livestock Washington raised on the farm!

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From beneath the 90-foot portico of Mount Vernon, visitors can gaze across an expanse of sloping lawn to the Potomac River, a mile wide, as its flows past George Washington's home. Costumed guides narrate the history of the elegant mansion and of the surrounding buildings, which have been preserved to reflect the days when the first president resided here. Visitors are invited to walk around the 500-acre estate, tour the buildings and participate in the 'Hand-on History' exhibits that recreate farming techniques and colonial games.

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The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December, 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on the National Mall. The two sites together showcase the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world. The Center was named in honor of its major donor, and features the large Boeing Aviation Hangar in which aircraft are displayed on three levels. Visitors can walk among aircraft and small artifacts in display cases located on the floor, and view aircraft hanging from the arched ceiling on elevated skywalks. Many engines, helicopters, ultra-lights, and experimental flying machines are on display in a museum setting for the first time. Among the aviation artifacts on display are the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest jet in the world; the Boeing Dash 80, the prototype of the 707; the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay; and the deHavilland Chipmunk aerobatic airplane.

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Located in the heart of DC, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (National Zoo) is the famous home of the Giant Pandas (Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Tai Shan). Recognized as one of the premier zoological research institutions in the United States, the National Zoo, which is free, attracts 2 million visitors per year. In addition to the Pandas, the Zoo includes a number of other well-loved animal attractions including Asian Elephants, orangutans, cheetahs, tiger cubs, seals, and penguins. There is also a petting zoo. In addition to the animals, the Zoo is a large, open park, and offers picnic tables and numerous other family-friendly diversions on the weekends.