Things to do with kids in dc

[Anonymous]

Looking for ideas for an extended weekend stay in DC with kids. We’ll be at the Hyatt on the mall. Planning on National Zoo,Spy museum, Natural History Museum etc. Any suggestions for fun activities, particular exhibits, or places to eat that we may have overlooked? Kids are 5, 9 & 11

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for ideas for an extended weekend stay in DC with kids. We’ll be at the Hyatt on the mall. Planning on National Zoo,Spy museum, Natural History Museum etc. Any suggestions for fun activities, particular exhibits, or places to eat that we may have overlooked? Kids are 5, 9 & 11

It’s difficult to give ideas for things like exhibits when you don’t give the dates of your visit.

[Anonymous]

Anacostia skate pavilion. Bring your own skates or rent there.

https://www.nps.gov/anac/planyourvisit/roller-skating.htm


Malcolm X Park drum Circle

https://washingtonparks.net/rhythm-in-the-park-drum-circle/

[Anonymous]

Eastern Market

[Anonymous]

Planet Word, The People's House, and the Postal Museum. Also I haven't been to the Spy Museum, but I've heard it's not the best for younger kids due to lots of reading. YMMV.

There's also a Parkour thing at the National Building Museum right now, I think, but I don't know details or recommended ages. I think they have a permanent or semi-permanent exhibit about children's book settings that I also haven't made it to.

I'd ask my kids what history they want to see. One of mine really likes the monuments.

This https://nationalmall.org/content/horse-stables also looks cool, but it was closed unexpectedly when we tried to go so can't speak to it.

[Anonymous]

Rock creek park nature center

[Anonymous]

This is a fun exhibit at the natural history museum

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/qrius-coralyn-w-whitney-science-education-center

And if you’re going in the summer the national Museum of the Native American has really fantastic films. You can watch while cooling off. They also have a neat section with drawers. The kids can pull out and look at artifacts.

https://americanindian.si.edu/

[Anonymous]

Second on Planet Word. It’s fabulous https://planetwordmuseum.org/

[Anonymous]

When are you doing this?
The zoo is hilly and half the animals stay hidden away. Not worth it if it’s 90 degrees in my opinion.
If you’re coming in the summer I’d do the mall itself and the monuments in the evening when it’s cooler.
Is 6 flags an option? Not in DC proper

[Anonymous]

Boardwalk at the Wharf
Nats game
planet word
postal museum
botanic garden
air and space (need advance tickets)

[Anonymous]

Your kids may be a little young to really enjoy/appreciate the Spy Museum IMO. Especially as that one is paid, you may be better off focusing on more of the Smithsonians where it feels easier to pick and choose what the kids are interested in.

As far as I know downtown Air & Space is still only partially reopened - if you can get to Udvar-Hazy I’d include that.

[Anonymous]

The partially opened Air and Space is great if small, but you need times tickets and even with tickets the line gets long in the afternoon so try to go early.

Basically go to all the free museums on the Mall. Natural History, African American History and Culture is great though I'd maybe keep the younger ones out of the basement history exhibit for that one. Check things that need reservations like Washington Monument but you may be able to go early for same day walkups.

I do think Nats stadium is super kid friendly so if you like baseball it's a good one

[Anonymous]

As other's have said, go to Planet Word! I'd skip the spy museum unless the kids really want to see it.

During the day, we always hit up a Shake Shack or one of the museum cafes because it's time and kid friendly but my kids (8 and 10) beg to go to Zaytinya for dinner.

[Anonymous]

Check out millennium stage. I think it’s still being offered. Hard to know wit the KC takeover.

There are often outdoor movies in the summer throughout the city. https://washington.org/visit-dc/outdoor-movies-in-washington-dc

Museum of Illusions https://moiwashington.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22744835482&gbraid=0AAAABAbN3HG3jTPVivpvHfYJqp_daLghX&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6b72rO-6jgMVYihECB0GagpFEAAYASAAEgL52PD_BwE

Artechouse https://www.artechouse.com/location/dc/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As other's have said, go to Planet Word! I'd skip the spy museum unless the kids really want to see it.

During the day, we always hit up a Shake Shack or one of the museum cafes because it's time and kid friendly but my kids (8 and 10) beg to go to Zaytinya for dinner.

There’s a Shake shack on ninth Street that’s right close to the American art Museum/portrait gallery. Which has a fabulous atrium that kids love to run around in.