Taking the kids to Washington, D.C.: the heartbeat of our government, the scene of current events, and the pulse of our nation. It seems like a must-do at some point. But when? And given the cost of D.C. (and the crowds that can descend), how do you do it effectively and make it fun?
I spent a few years after college living the D.C.-metropolitan area. And my first job here in Charlottesville crossed into the political sphere so I was on Capitol Hill a lot. I love our nation’s capital and was excited to show my kids the seat of government.
When I thought of taking them to Washington as late elementary-aged, early middle-school, I viewed it more like a field trip. What could we learn?
The good news is that so many tourist spots in D.C. are free. The bad news is that there are so many things to do it can feel overwhelming. But given the amount of times we’ve visited, and our goals, I am here to provide this COMPREHENSIVE, WAY TOO LONG, REALLY BIG post on Washington, D.C. Yay?
Our 1-Day Itinerary
- Walking Tour of the Mall (what we skipped: the Tidal Basin, see below)
- White House Visitors Center
- Late Lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill
- Visit to the National Archives and the Declaration of Independence
- Walk up to the Washington Monument
- Back to Lodging (we stayed inside the National Parks land on the C&O Canal)
As mentioned, I am pretty familiar with D.C. In addition to this one-day itinerary that was my personal favorite we’ve done yet, you’ll also find below other ideas, if that isn’t enough for you or you want to swap something out! These include: a Smithsonian Museum (and which one to pick) as well as thoughts on trying to conquer the Tidal Basin.
There are also general tips here because that’s what we do on The Family Trip.
Note that the International Spy Museum is incredibly popular with families and it is, indeed, very fun! But in and of itself it is a half-day excursion. To really spend time here, you are going to have to cut out many other things from this list. It may be the best thing you’ve ever done, but do plan accordingly.Â
For everything in D.C., make your plans in advance: set tickets and reservations before you go. In 2019, the District had 24.6 million visitors. While numbers are not expected to be quite that high in 2022, there is an anticipated rebound this year and the numbers continue to trend up through 2025.
That’s a lot of people! To keep your day efficient and to make sure you get in everything you want, reserve your entries and meal times as much as possible.
Table of Contents
Take a Tour
Ok, so how many times now have I mentioned my love for these (especially given the TWO I just did here). But we started the day doing a Free Tours by Foot. It was fantastic!
Our tour lasted two hours, and we did leave a little early (which we had discussed beforehand as I knew they were headed around the Tidal Basin…see below on that…).
This tour not only provided an efficient and easy way to walk to all of the monuments, but I learned a lot, too! I do not think it is possible to fully appreciate the monuments and memorials without a trained eye pointing things out. The amount of imagery, history and symbolism is remarkable.
The tour started at the World War II Memorial and the first things were learned were the road we were standing on used to be a canal, why we needed to put our feet in the Memorial’s water and where to find “Ike.”
That was just the first twenty minutes.Â
Walk the Mall
The National Mall in Washington, D.C. has so many memorials and monuments, of course. A full list is here. The ones that we were glad we saw:
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- The Reflecting Pool
- World War II Memorial
- Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial
Even if you are not doing a guided tour, take time and really explore these. There is so much more than meets the eye at each of these stops.Â
Looking for More Guided Tours? Check These Out:
Visit the Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is my favorite. It is iconic, easy to get to and interesting.
Once you step inside, the coolness of the marble and the shaded breezes wafting through make it feel like a completely different place.
Lincoln’s most famous words are chiseled into the wall (BONUS: see if you can find the “typo!”). His impressive statue lords over the hall, looking out onto the Mall. It’s free and open – and night or day it’s a treat.
Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
The steps of the Lincon Memorial are where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous speech, and it is marked in the stone. Make sure you stop and notice it. There is an energy to knowing that revolutionary words were bravely spoken, ones that changed the trajectory of America forever, at that exact spot. Even the kids were impressed and understood the gravity of it.
But then we also walked over to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial. This is best experienced with context and information. There are so many symbolic representations (as well as some controversy about its design) that you must learn while there. Our foot tour guide did a great job, which made the experience much more powerful.
We have actually read the “I Have a Dream” speech together as a family. You might be surprised at what your kids can comprehend – and also how moving it is even today.
Learn About the White House
A tour of the inside of the White House is, by far, one of the coolest things you could do. But tickets aren’t easy to secure.
To get into the White House, you must contact your member of Congress. There is a limited number of tour openings on Friday and Saturdays, but they must be made no more than three months in advance but no less than 21 days in advance. It’s a tough gig to get.
The next best thing? The White House Visitors Center. This is a National Parks maintained museum that hosts an engaging look into the White House with various interactive exhibits. Learn the history, legacy and what life was like inside the White House.
(BONUS: it was in visiting the White House Visitors Center that we accidentally stumbled on the World War I Memorial.)
Eat at a Famous Location
There is a lot of good food in Washington, D.C. But when taking the kids for a tour to the area to bask in the history of the city, consider a historic D.C. restaurant, too. (If you are looking for something more modern, though, this list looks promising and helpful as does this one.) Be a tourist! And don’t be ashamed of it!
But do be sure to pick one close the Hill and the National Mall. Being able to walk to the restaurant will be most helpful for a one-day itinerary.
I choose the iconic Old Ebbitt Grill, steps away from The White House Visitors Center. While not budget-fare dining, it is also impossible to go wrong. Everything from the interior to the food speaks of posh Capitol Hill dining. Maybe famous and important people were also there while we were, who knows? But it certainly felt like the room where it happens.
I’ve also eaten at The Monocle, which has a classic vibe. But trying Mangialardo’s is on my list (reservations not accepted).
See the Original Declaration of Independence
The big reason for this trip was to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and the Bill of Rights (yes, all the original ones). This required timed entry tickets from Recreation.gov (but aren’t that hard to get). The ticketed entry does help keep crowds somewhat down and makes the experience more enjoyable.
My kids were excited for this due to their love of National Treasure .(Which I just discovered this, and perhaps it should have been our activity!)
The room where the original foundational documents of our country are on display felt like church. It was hushed. It was awe-inspiring. I got chills up my arms. To realize what these men risked to form our nation was hard to miss when standing in front of their original signatures. The display is also well done.
The National Archives itself was a surprisingly pleasant experience. Outside of these formidable and famous documents, there were some very interesting and well-curated exhibits on other topics, such as women’s suffrage. The exhibits were littered with old letters and excerpts. We were all transfixed.
No cameras allowed inside.
Visit the Washington Monument
It is possible to go up the Washington Monument now. (When we went post-renovation completion, it was closed yet again due to a lightning strike.) Tickets are hard to get, but it can be done.
Start by trying for the 30-day in advance online option. If that doesn’t work, try the 24-hour in advance online option. And if that doesn’t work, you can line up first thing in the morning for tickets day of. There are a limited number of tickets for all of these options every day. Visit Recreation.gov to learn more and get started.
Yet even just walking up to the Washington Monument, cresting the hill, is a wonderful experience. The flags fly and a little bit of a breeze can usually be felt. The views are beautiful. Our kids were also obsessed with trying to locate the mini-Monument built and buried in the late 1800s.
Visit a Smithsonian Museum
There are a LOT of Smithsonian Museums to visit (over 15 in the DC-metropolitan area alone). It is the “world’s largest museum complex.” For a full list with hours, click here. Most are free.
Our first Smithsonian visit was to the Air & Space Museum. (This is currently closed until Fall 2022.) It was a great stop for two young boys who enjoyed all things Dusty Crophopper at the time. We took about two hours. At the time of our visit, timed ticket entry was not required but we arrived first thing as the lines get long.
We have also visited the Natural History Museum. No tickets or timed entry required, and the museum itself is stunning to step into, with a taxidermed elephant greeting visitors. Our kids were most excited by the gems (and we were excited by The Hope Diamond). We didn’t get to spend as much time here as we wanted given time constraints. This was a last minute, spur of the moment decision for us at the time. It is a very large museum. So if you want to do this right, give yourself plenty of time.
A Note on the Tidal Basin
As previously noted, given that we both went to the University of Virginia and now live in Charlottesville, we feel a pull towards anything Jefferson. It feels like a requirement to visit important things bearing his name. So I do understand that it may seem like a good idea to “pop over” to the Jefferson Memorial you see across the Tidal Basin.
But circling the Tidal Basin is 2.1 miles. This is outside of the mileage you’re going to put on while walking the Mall itself. For more on the Tidal Basin, visit this link.
I have fallen prey to taking what I thought was “a quick meander over to the Memorial” and realized with chagrin how long the distance is.Â
If getting around the Tidal Basin to see the monuments and memorials therein is important to you, you are going to have to allow a significant chunk of time.
Helpful Tips to Visiting D.C.
- This is the trip to consider not packing food. If you bring water, use a refillable water bottle that you can dump out and refill. Or, alternatively, purchase from any of the street vendors. Most of the museums have a strict no food or beverage policy that is enforced.
- The Metro in D.C. is great, cheap, clean, reliable and has a few stops on the Mall. That said, we opted to drive in and pay (exorbitantly) for our one day due to some mobility concerns. IF YOU DRIVE: Get out early! D.C. traffic heading out of the city starts to pick up at 4:30 and, as someone who lived there for years, it can be intense. This is where we parked for the day.
- Washington, D.C. is built on a swamp. It will be buggy in the summer and thunderstorms can pop up unexpectedly. Be prepared.
- Visit this link for the most popular (and crowded) times to visit D.C.
- Prepare for a LOT of walking! Even if you drive in, it is two miles to walk from the steps of the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial. That doesn’t include side trips and walks around museums and monuments.
- Get park cancellations. Our kids carried their National Parks Passport books with them and the memorials and monuments have little booths tucked away offering cancellations. Be sure to look for them.
There is such an energy and a feel to D.C. that I love. It has a hum that just seems to match my steps and my racing mind. It is a city that feels like home to me in so many ways yet also continues to amaze me with how it changes, pulses and moves.
Taking the kids to D.C. really is something every family should make a point to do once in their family time. It is the hands-on education that seems to resonate most and matters a lot.
Enjoy the trip, soak in the touristy sites and sit in the shade of the marble and columns. You’re in D.C.