United States

Washington DC

Washington DC is one of the most genuinely family-friendly capitals in the world, where the Smithsonian museums are free, the National Zoo has pandas, and the monuments along the Mall can be explored at any pace without buying a single ticket. The International Spy Museum near L'Enfant Plaza is the kind of engaging, well-designed attraction that older kids and teens actively enjoy rather than tolerate. A day trip to Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate on the Potomac, puts the city's history in physical context in a way no museum can replicate. FamiVentura's Washington DC guides cover the Mall, great family restaurants, and day trips into Virginia and Maryland.

10 activities3 free 15 food spots3 free 10 excursions3 free 10 hidden gems3 free 5 neighbourhoods1 free 1 Itinerarie0 free

Activities

The best things to do with kids

National Zoo

One of the best free attractions in Washington. The National Zoo covers 163 acres, holds some of the US's most significant animal collections, and charges nothing to walk through. The Smithsonian does the whole thing well: enclosures are large, the signage is honest about conservation challenges, and the Kids' Farm provides a different kind of experience for the youngest visitors.

Address: 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC
Hours: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM (hours vary seasonally)
Price: Free entry; parking $30 or Metro
Duration: 3-5 hours
Booking required: No

Tips

Free admission; parking $30 at the zoo or use Metro (Woodley Park or Cleveland Park stations).
Hours vary seasonally; grounds open at 6 AM year-round but buildings open later.
Stroller-accessible throughout; the main path has hills but manageable grades.

ZooAnimalsFamily

Planet Word Museum

A museum that treats language as something to experience rather than study, voice-activated exhibits, animated libraries, interactive composition stations, all set inside a beautifully restored historic school. Free admission, quiet on weekdays, designed explicitly to work for families rather than separated age groups.

Address: 925 F Street NW, Washington DC
Hours: Noon - 6:00 PM weekdays, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM weekends
Price: Free (donations appreciated)
Duration: 1-2 hours
Booking required: No

Tips

Free admission (donations appreciated). Open noon to 6 PM weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM weekends.
Fully stroller-accessible with elevators serving all floors.
Located in Penn Quarter near Gallery Place Metro station.

MuseumInteractiveWords

Find the best picks for your family

Select your children's ages and we'll personalize Washington DC for you

Tap an age group, then select your children's ages

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum in L'Enfant Plaza asks visitors to take on a cover identity at the entrance, then walks you through actual espionage tradecraft using real Cold War artifacts and hands-on simulation rooms. Both ages engage with the concept of a cover identity, though kids respond to the spectacle of the simulation rooms while teens understand the tradecraft techniques more deeply. The museum deliberately doesn't talk down to younger visitors; the Cold War history and the psychology behind why people become spies apply across age ranges. Book timed entry online to avoid long waits, especially in summer, and budget 2-3 hours to move through all sections without feeling rushed.

Address: 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC
Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (hours vary seasonally)
Price: $27-33 per person
Duration: 2-3 hours
Booking required: Yes

Tips

Arrive at opening or book the first timed entry slot to get the most out of the simulation rooms before crowds build.
Allow 2-3 hours; rushing defeats the purpose of the interactive format.
L'Enfant Plaza Metro stop is directly below the building.

MuseumSpyInteractiveHistory

Activities

The best things to do with kids

National Zoo

Address: 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC
Hours: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM (hours vary seasonally)
Price: Free entry; parking $30 or Metro
Duration: 3-5 hours
Booking required: No

Tips

Free admission; parking $30 at the zoo or use Metro (Woodley Park or Cleveland Park stations).
Hours vary seasonally; grounds open at 6 AM year-round but buildings open later.
Stroller-accessible throughout; the main path has hills but manageable grades.

ZooAnimalsFamily

Planet Word Museum

Address: 925 F Street NW, Washington DC
Hours: Noon - 6:00 PM weekdays, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM weekends
Price: Free (donations appreciated)
Duration: 1-2 hours
Booking required: No

Tips

Free admission (donations appreciated). Open noon to 6 PM weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM weekends.
Fully stroller-accessible with elevators serving all floors.
Located in Penn Quarter near Gallery Place Metro station.

MuseumInteractiveWords

Find the best picks for your family

Select your children's ages and we'll personalize Washington DC for you

Tap an age group, then select your children's ages

International Spy Museum

Address: 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC
Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (hours vary seasonally)
Price: $27-33 per person
Duration: 2-3 hours
Booking required: Yes

Tips

Arrive at opening or book the first timed entry slot to get the most out of the simulation rooms before crowds build.
Allow 2-3 hours; rushing defeats the purpose of the interactive format.
L'Enfant Plaza Metro stop is directly below the building.

MuseumSpyInteractiveHistory