Copyright 2011 by Ellie Van Houtte
DC is a great place for kids. So get out and explore the city and its museums, zoos, parks, festivals, and more. There are lots of opportunities for hands-on learning, and most stuff is free.
Bookstores and Libraries
826DC Writing Workshops [4]
Carpe Librum Bookstore [7]
Browse thousands of gently used books, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records. All items for sale at Carpe Librum (“seize the book“) are donated by the public and all proceeds go straight to Turning the Page [8], in support of their family literacy programs. Check the Carpe Librum website for dates and locations of their outdoor pop-up book sales in the DC area throughout spring, summer, and autumn.
DC Public Library [9]
East City Bookshop [12]
Kramerbooks & Afterwords [13]
Library of Congress [14]
Library of Congress Young Readers Center [18]
Lost City Books [20]
Politics and Prose Bookstore [21]
READ Book Nook [22]
Look to the Book Nook in Ballston Quarter for carefully curated children's titles, as well as fun activities and workshops. The revenue from the READ Book Nook is used by the nonprofit organization READ (Read Early and Daily) [23] to get new, quality, culturally relevant books into the homes of the youngest and most vulnerable in the Arlington community.
Solid State Books [24]
Solid State Books is a full-service, Black-owned general interest bookstore with a great selection of titles, literary gifts, stationery, greeting cards and puzzles for all ages. They have a carpeted, playful children’s area in both their stores (other location is 1809 14th St. NW) for kids and parents alike to spread out and read together.
Wonderland Books [25]
This women-owned, independent bookstore has a diverse selection of adult, young adult, and children's books, as well as cards, stationery, toys, and other gifts. Near the cozy reading nook, kids will find books, stuffed animals, crafts, toys, and other wonders.
Farms and Markets
Eastern Market [26]
Farmers Markets (DC Metro area) [30]
Visiting and shopping at farmers markets help kids understand where their food comes from and learn a bit about healthy eating. You might get the chance to have a conversation with a local farmer and pick up a few recipes for the week's meals.
Old Maryland Farm [31]
Historic Sites and Government Buildings
African American Heritage Trail (Washington DC) [34]
Bureau of Printing and Engraving [36]
C&O Canal Boat Rides [38]
$Carter G. Woodson Home [41]
Before Dr. Carter G. Woodson, there was very little accurate written history about the lives and experiences of Americans of African descent. Today a National Historic Site, Dr. Woodson’s home served as the headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Dr. Woodson established Negro History Week here in 1926, which we celebrate today as Black History Month.
City Within a City: Greater U Street Heritage Trail [42]
Civil War to Civil Rights: Downtown Heritage Trail [44]
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site [45]
$The Victorian house, furnished much as it was when the famed abolitionist and orator lived there, is filled with photographs, documents, and gifts from friends like Harriet Beecher Stowe and Abraham Lincoln. Check the website for information about the Junior Ranger program and to make tour reservations.
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House [46]
Roads to Diversity: Adams Morgan Heritage Trail [47]
Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia) [48]
The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail is a 560-mile land and water route that tells the story of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region. It connects historic sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia and commemorates the events leading up to the Battle for Baltimore, the aftermath of which inspired Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem. The trail traces American and British troop movements, introduces visitors to communities affected by the war, and highlights the Chesapeake region’s distinctive landscapes and waterways.
Supreme Court of the United States [49]
The White House [50]
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center [51]
Washington National Cathedral [52]
Monuments and Memorials
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial [53]
Dedicated to the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, and to the era he represents. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself...." iconic words from an iconic president. Learn more about the man, his memorial and his lasting legacy to the Nation.
Korean War Veterans Memorial [54]
The Korean War Veterans Memorial, located just south of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, commemorates those who served in the Korean War. Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.
Lincoln Memorial [55]
"In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." This memorial honors the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The north and south side chambers contain carved inscriptions of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and his Gettysburg Address. The central hall contains the solitary figure of Lincoln sitting in contemplation.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial [56]
Thomas Jefferson Memorial [57]
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, modeled after the Pantheon of Rome, is America's foremost memorial to our third president. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence document, first Secretary of State for the United States of America, and a complex, 19th century man with a wide ranging impact on America itself.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial [59]
The memorial wall, designed by architect Maya Lin, includes the names of over 58,000 servicemen and women who gave their lives in service or are missing in action in the Vietnam Conflict. The memorial also includes "The Three Servicemen" statue and the Vietnam Women's Memorial.
Washington Monument [60]
First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of his Countrymen. Built to honor George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first President of the United States, the 555-foot marble obelisk towers over Washington, D.C.
World War II Memorial [61]
Through stone architecture and bronze sculptures, the World War II Memorial recognizes the ways Americans served, honors those who fell, and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.
Museums and Galleries
American Art Museum [62]
Anacostia Community Museum [63]
Butterfly Pavilion at the National Museum of Natural History [65]
$Insect Zoo at the National Museum of Natural History [67]
National Air and Space Museum [68]
National Archives [72]
National Building Museum [73]
$National Gallery of Art [74]
National Geographic Museum [75]
National Museum of African American History and Culture [76]
Learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience and how it helped us shape this nation. The exhibitions and collections explore every aspect of the African American experience, covering the arts, slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, athletics, and much more.
National Museum of African Art [77]
National Museum of American History [78]
National Museum of Asian Art [80]
National Museum of Natural History [81]
National Museum of the American Indian [84]
National Portrait Gallery [85]
National Postal Museum [86]
Planet Word [87]
Planet Word is an immersive language experience located at the historic Franklin School in Washington, D.C. Ideal for all ages, Planet Word is a voice-activated museum (the world’s first!), featuring interactive galleries and exhibits that bring words and language to life in all sorts of fun ways.
Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art [88]
Outdoors in the City
Abstract Sculptures of DC [89]
Along the city’s streets, and within its parks and plazas, outdoor art enhances DC's landscape. Check out some of the public abstract artwork found throughout DC, from large metal sculptures in the city’s center to human figures dancing in a neighborhood park. (Self-guided walking tour)
Public Art Tour [90]
Metro: ShawThis Public Art Tour, curated by the DC Commission for the Arts & Humanities, spotlights a few classic and recent public art projects in the Shaw and Logan Circle neighborhoods. (Self-guided walking tour)
Parks, Nature Centers, and Gardens
Discover the Forest: Find Forests and Parks Near You (Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia) [91]
Find forests, parks, and outdoor activities close to home with this searchable site and interactive map.
East Potomac Park [92]
Enid A. Haupt Garden (Smithsonian Institution) [93]
Garden at Tudor Place Historic House [94]
This 5 ½ acre Georgetown garden is inspired by formal and informal European landscape styles, with specimen trees, open lawns, roses and heirloom shrubs. Registration is not required if you only want to visit the garden, but is necessary to visit the Tudor Place Historic House. A free illustrated garden map is available. A scavenger garden hunt is available for children.
Gravelly Point [95]
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens [96]
Varieties of exotic water lilies bloom from late May through early September. Morning is the best time to see them; the flowers close when the temperature rises above 89 degrees. Explore this beautiful wetland habitat where you can see birds, dragonflies, beavers, and muskrats.
Kingman + Heritage Islands [97]
The islands are the product of dredging the Anacostia River over 100 years ago and are now home to important and rare ecosystems, including tidal freshwater wetlands, vernal pools, wildflower meadows, and tidal swamp forests. Bike or hike and look for the more than 100 different species of birds, mammals, and other wildlife that call the islands home.
National Arboretum [98]
Pollinator Garden (Smithsonian Institution) [99]
Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium [100]
Theodore Roosevelt Island [101]
U.S. Botanic Garden [102]
Urban Bird Habitat at the National Museum of Natural History [103]
The Urban Bird Habitat wraps around the south, west, and north sides of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and furnishes an oasis for many bird species and an opportunity to learn about the plants there to provide birds with food, water, shelter, and a place to raise their young.
Watkins Regional Park [104]
Planetariums
David M. Brown Planetarium [105]
$Adjacent to Washington-Lee High School, the David M. Brown Planetarium has been serving the community for over 40 years. Throughout the season, there are public multimedia programs including “Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity,” “Magic Tree House Space Adventure,” “The Exploding Universe” and a new children’s show called “Perfect Little Planet.” Additionally, “Stars Tonight,” a live sky show that highlights the celestial sights of the coming month, is offered on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium also boasts a monthly schedule of full-dome programs with lectures on topics such as NASA, science fiction, robots and more. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for both children under 12 and seniors.
Hylton Planetarium [106]
$Visit this state-of-the-art planetarium located in Hylton High School. Public programs include full-dome shows about astronauts, legends of the night sky, stars and other astronomical features. Music fans will love the wide variety of lyrical laser shows featuring genres such as pop and country and iconic artists like the Beatles and Pink Floyd. Check the calendar for full descriptions and schedules. Tickets for all programs are $10 each and must be purchased in cash with exact change only. Because seating at this intimate venue is limited to only 65 people, it’s highly suggested to purchase tickets early.