Most overrated kid-friendly attraction in DC?

[Anonymous]

We travel a lot. Basically, every attraction everywhere on earth is pretty much overrated. Anything remotely good (or really good) has a super steep cover charge and/or gets inundated with people. Which, regardless of how awesome the attraction is, being swamped among so many other people makes it suck. Anything that's not overrun with people is just not that good of an attraction. I think ankor wat in cambodia might be the only thing that we didn't think was overrated, and that was only because we went so long ago that there was almost no one there.

Starting around 8 years ago, we started skipping almost all "attractions" when we travel and now we just explore on our own.

DC is no different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We travel a lot. Basically, every attraction everywhere on earth is pretty much overrated. Anything remotely good (or really good) has a super steep cover charge and/or gets inundated with people. Which, regardless of how awesome the attraction is, being swamped among so many other people makes it suck. Anything that's not overrun with people is just not that good of an attraction. I think ankor wat in cambodia might be the only thing that we didn't think was overrated, and that was only because we went so long ago that there was almost no one there.

Starting around 8 years ago, we started skipping almost all "attractions" when we travel and now we just explore on our own.

DC is no different.

[Anonymous]

I think the zoo is overrated simply because it disgusts me to see those animals living in captivity. Not a place I want to take my kids.

[Anonymous]

Claude Moore is awesome. We go at least once a week. Most overrated is clemyjontri.

[Anonymous]

The zoo would be good if they actually bothered to replace the animals that die but the workers are too lazy to do so, so the zoo is under populated and a huge disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We travel a lot. Basically, every attraction everywhere on earth is pretty much overrated. Anything remotely good (or really good) has a super steep cover charge and/or gets inundated with people. Which, regardless of how awesome the attraction is, being swamped among so many other people makes it suck. Anything that's not overrun with people is just not that good of an attraction. I think ankor wat in cambodia might be the only thing that we didn't think was overrated, and that was only because we went so long ago that there was almost no one there.

Starting around 8 years ago, we started skipping almost all "attractions" when we travel and now we just explore on our own.

DC is no different.

Ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Zoo.

That's crazy talk. It's a free, large wooded place for my crazy toddler to walk/run herself into a sleepy daze.

+1 Why is the zoo, of all places, overrated?

Because you have to pay $20 for parking and $6 for a basic hot dog!

^^Actual complaints I've heard.

(Never mind that there is no admission fee, saving you a bare minimum in other cities of $60 for a family of four-- maybe more than $80. Never mind that r/t public transport for four people anywhere in a major city is going to run you at least $15, and parking anywhere in a major city generally runs you at least $15 for six hours, if not much more. Never mind that same hot dog would still cost you $3 on the street and you're not forced to buy it anyway. Etc., etc.)

I agree. I don't like the zoo either. It's so hilly and spread out. Parking is a huge pain. Driving there is a huge pain too - I miss the exit or take a wrong turn and there's no way to turn around or make a u-turn.

Plus, I feel bad for the animals in such small enclosures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Air and Space on the Mall. I want to love it but most of it is really boring.

I think Udvar Hazy is even worse. Plus, the parking is such a ripe off. And offering free parking after 4pm? Give me a break? Like I'm going to battle traffic during the weekday to get there after 4pm for free parking?

At least the Air&Space on the mall has buttons to push and some interaction. From what I remember, Udvar had none of that except maybe a flight simulator with a gigantic line of people. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

The National Building Museum is not that great for adults either. Especially since there is an admission fee as well.

I think the National Zoo is fine and as many pointed out, it's free. But, it's not as great as ppl make it sound. I'm curious about Maryland Zoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is just a craptastic area for kids.

This is insane. The freaking Smithsonian (including the Zoo) is here and FREE. Not to mention many other paid attractions and many great playgrounds. And not far from Baltimore, within 5 hours of Philly and NYC. Is it the most kid-friendly area in the world? Probably not. But craptastic? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish we had an actual children's museum. Most other cities have awesome children's museums and I don't understand why we don't!

I know! We drive to Fredericksburg to play at their branch of the children's museum of Richmond. It's in a strip mall and nothing great, but it's more than we have here for sure.

There's one at National Harbor, but I've heard mostly negative reviews.

[Anonymous]

Building museum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish we had an actual children's museum. Most other cities have awesome children's museums and I don't understand why we don't!

I know! We drive to Fredericksburg to play at their branch of the children's museum of Richmond. It's in a strip mall and nothing great, but it's more than we have here for sure.

There's one at National Harbor, but I've heard mostly negative reviews.

It closed more than two years ago. Man you people need to get off the dcum and get on the google. And don't comment on "but I've heard"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The zoo would be good if they actually bothered to replace the animals that die but the workers are too lazy to do so, so the zoo is under populated and a huge disappointment.

Do you actually believe the "lazy workers" control whether animals are replaced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish we had an actual children's museum. Most other cities have awesome children's museums and I don't understand why we don't!

I know! We drive to Fredericksburg to play at their branch of the children's museum of Richmond. It's in a strip mall and nothing great, but it's more than we have here for sure.

We drive to the one in Winchester every once in awhile.

The one by JMU is pretty good too.