Our kids LOVED the National Postal Museum (right across the street from Union Station) at that age. Trust me OP, it is totally cool...complete with a stagecoach, big rig, train car (all of which the kids can sit in!), an indoor forest trail, mail-sorting interactive games, etc.

It is really quite impressive and one of the least-crowded museums in DC! And FREE!

Anonymous wrote:Air and Soace is currently about halfway closed for renovations. I think your boys would like Udvar-Hazy out by Dulles more than the main museum on the mall, TBH.

Yes. The main museum on the mall also has fewer planes and more rockets. I always leave a little depressed knowing that the main technologies of the space race were basically a way to advance our missile technologies to deliver nuclear weapons.

History of aviation is fun, though. The stuff at Udvar-Hazy is cool.

Anonymous wrote:We used to live in DC and will be taking a road trip back for a few days with our kids ages 6 and 3.5 (both boys) I think I know where we should go but please let me know if Im missing anything regarding museums, etc. Thx

- Tidal basin paddle boating
- Walk around the outside monuments
- Museum of Natural History, Building Museum, Air and Space Museum
- Zoo

Paddle boating is so not as fun as it may seem. Would not be fun with kids that young. You would have to do all the work.

+1 for the kids' area at the Museum of the American Indian. The Botanic Gardens are right next door, my 3 YO thought the fountains and the indoor rainforest were kind of cool and it doesn't take long to walk through.

Agree that Udvar-Hazy is a better bet these days than the original museum.

Be advised that security screening lines for all the popular Smithsonians back up quickly, so you'll want to either aim for early arrival (right when they open) or wait until later in the afternoon when the bulk of the crowds have left.

Air and Soace is currently about halfway closed for renovations. I think your boys would like Udvar-Hazy out by Dulles more than the main museum on the mall, TBH.

If you're on the MD side, try Watkins Regional Park (PG County), Glen Echo (carousel opening this weekend) or Trolley Museum in upcounty "Silver Spring." On the VA side, Clemyjontri Park.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used to live in DC and will be taking a road trip back for a few days with our kids ages 6 and 3.5 (both boys) I think I know where we should go but please let me know if Im missing anything regarding museums, etc. Thx

- Tidal basin paddle boating
- Walk around the outside monuments
- Museum of Natural History, Building Museum, Air and Space Museum
- Zoo

Zzzzzzz...

Any other suggestions then??

Anonymous wrote:We used to live in DC and will be taking a road trip back for a few days with our kids ages 6 and 3.5 (both boys) I think I know where we should go but please let me know if Im missing anything regarding museums, etc. Thx

- Tidal basin paddle boating
- Walk around the outside monuments
- Museum of Natural History, Building Museum, Air and Space Museum
- Zoo

Zzzzzzz...

http://www.kidfriendlydc.com/

^^ This is a great source.

Also for transportation lovers, College Park Aviation Museum and the Postal Museum. National Arboretum and/or Rock Creek Park for running around and short trail hikes/nature walks.

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir is a good option on the weekends for a fun playground.

Ahh yes, I remember that playground. Thank you!!

Anonymous wrote:If your boys are in to transportation (trains, buses) the transportation hall at American History is pretty cool. My train obsessed 3 year old loved it there. For something different, the Museum of the American Indian has a pretty good interactive area for kids and great food.

Great! Thanks for this info!!

If your boys are in to transportation (trains, buses) the transportation hall at American History is pretty cool. My train obsessed 3 year old loved it there. For something different, the Museum of the American Indian has a pretty good interactive area for kids and great food.

Beauvoir is a good option on the weekends for a fun playground.

We used to live in DC and will be taking a road trip back for a few days with our kids ages 6 and 3.5 (both boys) I think I know where we should go but please let me know if Im missing anything regarding museums, etc. Thx

- Tidal basin paddle boating
- Walk around the outside monuments
- Museum of Natural History, Building Museum, Air and Space Museum
- Zoo