23 Fun Family-Friendly Things to Do with Kids in Washington D.C.
For a reason, Washington, D.C., is regarded as the capital of the United States.
This city provides limitless opportunities for the whole family with its abundance of activities and family-friendly attractions, including museums, national parks, and amazing restaurants.
Having trouble getting started with your travel planning?
We’re here to assist you!
We compiled a list of some of the best family-friendly activities in Washington, DC, to help you plan an amazing vacation.
- Clemyjontri Park — Fairfax
With its 2-acres of space and amusement, Clemyjontri Park offers free, family-friendly activities in Washington, D.C.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Clemyjontri Park will occupy the little ones for hours on end with its monkey bars, vibrant scenery, slides, and carousels.
On your journey to Washington, D.C., you should certainly stop by this park if your family is seeking a nice outdoor area with a range of kid-friendly activities and rides.
Recommended Ages
Children ages 3 to 10 will enjoy the vibrant and energetic Clemyjontri Park.
- Glen Echo Park — Glen Echo
The whole family may have fun, learn something new, and be fascinated at Glen Echo Park.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Glen Echo Park will take you on a time capsule unlike any other if your family appreciates reflecting on history and the past.
Explore the whole park, taking in the magnificent art exhibits and quaint architecture that will enthrall you along the way.
Recommended Ages
For kids ages 3 and above, this exciting tour to Glen Echo Park is advised.
- Georgetown Waterfront Park — Georgetown Historic District
At the Georgetown Waterfront Park, take a tranquil stroll that will leave you and your whole family feeling refreshed and renewed.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Potomac River park offers beautiful, clear water perfect for paddling, kayaking, and just taking in the scenery.
This park is one of your options if you’re seeking the greatest things to do in Washington, DC, with kids.
Thanks to the kiosks, restaurants, and other events, this park is constantly bustling and exciting for the whole family.
The park hosts inexpensive, family-friendly events from June through August, including outdoor family exercise classes and movie nights.
Recommended Ages
Young people of all ages are welcome in the Georgetown Waterfront Park.
- Rock Creek Park — Northwest D.C.
Rock Creek Park, which covers around 1,674 acres and is said to be America’s oldest urban natural park, is a haven for entertaining activities.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Get your baskets and cheetah-print attire ready for a family picnic in Rock Creek Park’s tranquil setting.
The abundance of activities available at this park, like horseback riding, stargazing, and even hiking the park trails while escorted by a park ranger who can inform everyone about the family-friendly setting, is sure to keep the clan happy.
Recommended Ages
Children of all ages should visit this park since it is open and full of activities.
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — Downtown D.C.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is the nation’s official Holocaust memorial and is close to several other famous American landmarks.
Why We Recommend This Activity
If your family is looking for profound meanings, complex histories, or stirring messages, here is a terrific place to look.
You may explore the dark ages of history here at this museum and see all the many exhibits, which include historical relics, film footage, and highlighted accounts of holocaust survivors and witnesses.
Recommended Ages
Children ages 8 and above should take this educational and engaging tour of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Take the kids to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to see how dollar notes are created if you’re still stumped about what to do in Washington, D.C., with kids.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Take the kids on a fascinating tour of the nation’s money factory to learn about the events that shaped the dollar note into what it is today.
Walk through several exhibitions, look around the manufacturing floor, and watch a movie explaining the significance and function of the Bureau.
Recommended Ages
Children three and older are advised to take this tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture — National Mall
The 400 000 square-foot National Museum of African American History and Culture features a stunning architectural style and a variety of kid-friendly activities to keep everyone amused.
Why We Recommend This Activity
A visit to the National Museum of African American Heritage and Culture is a must for your family if you’re the kind that values the country’s rich history.
The museum’s displays and short videos allow visitors to explore three levels of African American history and culture.
Additionally, all the components and attractions are shown in historical order, from antiquity to modernity.
Recommended Ages
Children aged 7 and older should take advantage of the chance to learn about African American history.
- Wheaton Regional Park — Montgomery
Bring the entire family on a revitalizing hiking excursion to one of D.C.’s most beautiful and tranquil settings.
Why We Recommend This Activity
To make the vacation even more unforgettable, the Wheaton Regional Park provides a range of activities, such as strolling along gorgeous paths, bringing the kids to the adventure playground, and even riding on a miniature train or an old-fashioned carousel.
In addition to its recreational sections, this park has over 60 acres for its beautiful gardens, stables, and wildlife, where visitors can get up close and personal with various species, including reptiles, amphibians, and even beehives.
Recommended Ages
We wholeheartedly advise parents to bring their kids to this park.
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute — National Zoo
You can see all the variety that the United States offers, including cheetahs, pandas, and even apes, at this zoo, one of the oldest in the nation.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute will surely occupy your children if they appreciate marveling at various animal and mammal species.
Discover how scientists are working to save extinct species and how to bring endangered ones back to life. This will teach you all you need to know about biodiversity and its significance.
Recommended Ages
Children ages 3 and older should journey to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
- Mount Vernon Trail — George Washington Memorial Parkway
The Mount Vernon track stretches for more than 18 miles and is a must-see for families who like bicycling together.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Take in the crisp, chilly air as you stroll, ride a bike, or even run along the Mount Vernon Trail.
Enjoy all the nearby attractions, including the many restaurants, upscale boutiques, and historical sites.
Recommended Ages
Families with children ages 3 and up are encouraged to take this exciting hike on the Mount Vernon path.
- Founding Farmers DC — Foggy Bottom
The Founding Farmers, one of D.C.’s most well-known eateries, will allow you to enjoy the city’s well-known dishes and cuisine.
Why We Recommend This Activity
When dining in its barn setting, The Founding Farmers D.C. provides the entire family with a unique and rustic experience.
This restaurant will undoubtedly provide you with a meal to enjoy with the entire family, whether it’s a great breakfast or a sophisticated supper with a view.
Recommended Ages
Children 3 years and older are encouraged to have a pleasant food getaway at the Founder Farmers DC.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — National Mall
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History can be ideal if you’re still seeking family-friendly attractions in Washington, DC.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This museum should be at the top of your list if you’re searching for somewhere to go this weekend since it’s accessible to your small children 364 days a year.
A visit to this museum will undoubtedly spark your attention as you explore its educational and amusing environment and take in the variety of exhibitions, galleries, collection artifacts, and research on the show.
Recommended Ages
Children ages 3 and up will enjoy taking a tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
- National Geographic Museum — Northwest D.C.
This visit to the National Geographic Museum should be on your list of things to do with adolescents if you’re seeking something entertaining to include in your plan.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Through its engaging displays, you can engage with the masterpieces created by National Geographic conservationists, incredible photographers, and top-notch scientists.
On tour packed with family activities in Washington, D.C., see an immersive and captivating exhibit unlike any other, with holograms, media applications, and relics together in one location.
Recommended Ages
Although children of all ages are welcome at the National Geographic Museum, we strongly suggest it to families with older children.
- United States Botanic Garden — United States Capitol
This restorative excursion to the United States Botanic Garden can be the ideal pit break for your family if you take a newborn along.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The United States Botanic Garden offers everything from tours and exhibitions to gorgeous scenery and several kid-friendly activities like the Children’s Garden, making it a welcome respite from the daily rush of the city.
With over thousands of examples and kinds within the region, this plant sanctuary, which covers an area of more than 28 000 feet, will show you all the lovely and lush flowers and greens the country has up its sleeve.
Recommended Ages
Children of all ages are welcome at the US Botanic Garden.
- National Air and Space Museum — National Mall
The National Air and Space Museum should be on your list of options if you’re searching for toddler-friendly activities in Washington, D.C.
Why We Recommend This Activity
With IMAX theatres, observation towers, and even discovery stations to keep everyone amused, this museum has some of the most thrilling activities for families.
Discover the origins of everything and the history of airplanes in the United States, and explore all the simulators, excursions, and relics for the journey of a lifetime.
Recommended Ages
Children ages 3 and up will love this wonderful and thrilling excursion to the National Air and Space Museum.
- Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
The Hirshhorn Museum is the nation’s foremost collection of modern and contemporary art, housing pieces from around the globe.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Younger visitors will find contemporary art far more enjoyable in the Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, even though most people think of it as dull or merely splashes of random paint.
The Hirshhorn Museum offers a variety of events and exhibitions for kids of all ages, from engaging storytimes to kid-friendly Art Carts.
Recommended Ages
Although most of the artwork is accessible to all ages, the Yayoi Kusama special exhibition of five of the artist’s pieces is advised for visitors aged 12 and older.
- Beauvoir Outdoors Playground
The Beauvoir Outdoors Playground at The Cathedral Grounds is a private school playground featuring a range of play structures for children of all ages.
Why We Recommend This Activity
A family excursion is necessary if you want to include swings and jungle gyms, and the Beauvoir Outdoors Playground is among the most enticing locations in DC for kids to do that.
The playground has rope bridges, wooden jungle gyms, slides, and even a zip line to keep your kids entertained for hours.
Who could reject that?
Recommended Ages
Children aged 2 and up are advised to use this playground.
- The Yards Park
All families may enjoy The Yards Park, a large green area with a promenade along the river, a waterfall, and a performance theatre.
Why We Recommend This Activity
While your kids enjoy the dancing fountains, indulge your feeling of adventure by kayaking or canoeing the Anacostia River!
The opportunities for great body exercise in this wonderful park are nearly unlimited since it is home to a trapeze school, no less.
Additionally, various events are held on the waterfront green space, such as kid-friendly music classes and movie screenings.
Recommended Ages
Teenagers, infants, and toddlers may all enjoy The Yards Park.
- International Spy Museum
The study of espionage in all of its forms throughout history and the present is the focus of the private, nonprofit International Spy Museum.
The greatest collection of items related to international espionage is housed there.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Your students will be introduced to the exceptional individuals who have influenced historical events via this investigation of espionage.
You and your children can check out unusual tools, such as cameras and automobiles, and even sign up for programs that let them participate in covert operations, crawl through ductwork, spread atomic bombs, hang from a construction site, and test their espionage skills.
If possible, go during the week to minimize crowds, and if you must go on the weekend, get there early.
Arriving should be easy for your children, especially if they are interested in espionage-related activities. A good spy is typically on time.
Recommended Ages
Kids under 10 should check out the spy gear, and everyone else of all ages should do the rest.
- The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the largest in the world and the oldest government cultural institution in the United States.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Your kids will have access to a treasure mine of over a million books in this undiscovered gem, including pictures, maps, and manuscripts.
You won’t have to watch the kids have all the fun since the Library of Congress offers fantastic guided tours, exhibitions, and kiosks for both kids and adults.
The Young Readers Center organizes book groups and storytimes you may listen to after an arduous stroll exploring the area, especially for book-loving kids and teenagers.
Recommended Ages
All researchers above the age of 16 who have completed high school are welcome to use the library. However, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- National Children’s Museum
The National Children’s Museum is a children’s museum that strongly emphasizes teaching kids and their families about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) issues via interactive exhibits.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Your eyes will be opened to a whole new world of possibilities by the National Children’s Museum.
Combining the best of both worlds, the hands-on learning environment sparks children’s interest and motivates them to pursue careers in the STEAM fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Children frequently find it challenging to focus on subjects unless they find them extremely interesting.
Thank goodness this facility exists.
Slides, kid-friendly interactive buttons, a lively Nickelodeon section, a sports section, and even an intriguing green screen that alters the look of clouds, rain, and lightning depending on how visitors walk are all included.
Recommended Ages
Children aged 0–12 may enjoy the exhibits and events at the National Children’s Museum.
- Lincoln Memorial
One of the most visited tourist attractions in the country is the Lincoln Monument, a national monument honoring Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Stand in front of the enormous statue and appreciate the significance of Lincoln in American history, and you can learn more by spending some time reading the memorial’s inscriptions as well before taking a stroll around to take in the sights from every angle.
There is also a children’s museum nearby that you can visit after the monument, and the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument are stunning sights you can witness on the way.
Don’t forget to take pictures (get your kids to stand beside the statue to have a fun height difference test).
Recommended Ages
The attraction is ideal for all ages.
- Museum of the Bible
The Museum of the Bible, which opened its doors in 2017, is home to treasures from one of the world’s oldest texts that date back thousands of years.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Don’t pass up this rare chance to provide your kids with information about the Bible’s background, story, and relevance by skimping on your visit to this museum.
One of the most enjoyable things to do with kids in Washington, D.C., is to experience the Bible as it comes to life before your eyes via cutting-edge technology.
Thanks to its world-class theatre, FlyBoard ride, and personalized digital guides that would amaze children and adults, The Museum of the Bible may be appreciated by visitors of all ages.
Recommended Ages
All ages of babies, toddlers, children, and teenagers are welcome at this museum.
