fun things to do with kids in washington dc    
  Travel for Kids
United States
   
     
    Washington, D.C.
Washington DC
Washington, DC, capital of the United States of America, is a "biggie." Traveling with kids in Washington, DC, you could wander for days, exploring the riches of fabulous free museums and historic sights. The key to a fun family trip is don't try to cram too much into each day (especially in summer, which can be quite hot and humid). The city has space and grace, trees and grass, so take time to sit in the shade and wonder how Thomas Jefferson could walk two grizzly cubs around the White House gardens.
Don't miss our top picks for children's books on Washington, DC, recommended by the staff of Travel for Kids, see below.
  The National Mall – Museums
    Capitol Hill
    Downtown - Penn Square – White House
    Memorials and Tidal Basin – Washington Monument
    Upper Northwest
    Washington, DC day trips – Mount Vernon
    Tourmobile Sightseeing Trams – A convenient way to get to the museums and monuments (which are pretty spread out) is to take the hop-on, hop-off Tourmobile Sightseeing Trams. There are 16 stops around the city, kids are half price. Click here for the map and kiosk location.
DC Circulator – The Circulator bus is inexpensive, easy to ride, and has a good loop route around the National Mall. It's also a good way to from Union Station or Georgetown to downtown. Click here for the map routes.
    Ride the metro – The Washington, DC metro is clean, well-run and a fun and easy way get around. Kids will enjoy the distinctive coffered ceilings in the subway, as well as the huge long escalators to ascend or descend from the street. Fares aren't expensive, and there's also a one day pass for unlimited travel.
   

Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, VA) – Arlington National Cemetery remembers America's war heroes, from the American Revolution to the present day, as well as astronauts, explorers, writers, doctors, presidents, and Supreme Court justices. Arlington National Cemetery is big, and you may want explore on your own, but your best bet is to hop on Tourmobile Sightseeing and ride through the cemetery, stopping at the graves of John F. Kennedy, Tomb of the Unknowns, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial.

family hotels washington dc

Travel for Kids has so many fun things to do with kids in Washington, D.C., but you'll need a fun place to stay.

Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels in Washington, D.C., all styles and price ranges, in neighborhoods that are comfortable for families, and near to places you'll want to explore:

Washington DC family hotels
kids books washington dc
     
So You Want to Be President? - kids books Washington DC  
So You Want to Be President?
Judith St. George, David Small

Being president of the United States has its good things (you don't have to eat yucky vegetables) and bad (people get mad at the president). It helps if your name is James (six presidents were named James), but presidents can be homely or handsome, vain or heroic, a tailor, sailor, teacher or movie actor, there are all kinds of presidents. Hilarious caricature illustrations of each president and fun for all ages – this book is a gem. (Picture book)

 

     

Fun facts about Washington, DC, each with a matching sticker. Over 60 reusable stickers of landmarks, statues, monuments, portraits, memorials, and objects in the museums.(Sticker book)

Also, the companion sticker book, Presidents

 

 
Washington D.C. - kids books Washington DC
     
Capital - kids books Washington DC  
Capital
Lynn Curlee

Story of great buildings in Washington, DC – United States Capitol, the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial. Design of each building and fascinating details – the Capitol dome is made of cast iron, Washington Monument is the tallest stone structure in the world, statue of Lincoln is carved from 28 blocks of marble. (Picture book)

 

     
What To Do About Alice?
Barbara Kerley, Edwin Fotheringham

“How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world and drove her father Teddy crazy.” High-spirited story of Teddy Roosevelt’s adventurous daughter, delightfully illustrated! (Picture book)

 

 
What to Do About Alice - kids books Washington DC
     
White House Q & A - kids books Washington DC  
White House Q & A
Denise Rinaldo, Smithsonian

Get an inside look at the White House, with answers to kids' questions, "What is the most important room in the White House?" Where does the first family live?" and more, plus fun facts about the White House and president's families. (Picture book)

 

     
Wackiest White House Pets
Gibbs Davis, David A. Johnson

A humorous look at presidential pets – grizzly bears, alligators, a herd of elephants, bald eagles, a garter snake named Emily Spinach, tigers, parrots, opposums, lizards, pygmy hippos, the First Fish, best-selling dog, and more. (Picture book)

 

 
Wackiest White House Pets
     
The Ghost, the White House, and Me - kids books Washington DC  

KayKay Granger has just moved into the White House (her mom is the new president), and she’s eager to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom, to see if it’s haunted by Lincoln’s ghost. A humorous story filled with White House legends and lore. (Chapter book)

 

     
Second Sight
Gary Blackwood

Fascinating novel of Lincoln's assassination in Ford's Theatre – what if the plot was discovered and Lincoln survived? A young stage performer, Joseph Ehrlich, rubs elbows with the actor John Wilkes Booth, but it's Joseph's friend Cassandra who sees events in the future, and changes the course of history. (Chapter book)

 

 
Second Sight
     
 
Mystery at the Washington Monument
(Capital Mysteries #8)
Ron Roy, Timothy Bush

In the latest mystery with KC Corcoran and her best friend Marshall, there's something strange going on in Washington Monument, and the clues are a broken memorial stone and some peanut shells. Plus, info about the Washington Monument. (Easy reader)

Don't miss more adventures of KC and Marshall, all centered on historic Washington, DC landmarks: A Thief at the National Zoo (#9), Trouble at the Treasury (#7), Fireworks at the FBI (#6), Who Broke Lincoln's Thumb? (#5) A Spy in the White House (#4), The Skeleton in the Smithsonian (#3), Kidnapped at the Capital (#2), Who Cloned the President? (#1)

 

     
The Black Paw (Spy Mice)
Heather Vogel Frederick

The International Spy Museum is the perfect location for the Spy Mice Agency, and Glory Goldenleaf is a top field mouse. Glory teams up with two kids to retreive a lethal weapon and defeat Dupont Roquefort, leader of the rat underworld – it's a fun action adventure all around Washington DC. (Chapter book)

 

 
The Black Paw - kids books Washington DC
     
Wilkie the White House Cockroach - kids books Washington DC  

Wilky the cockroach just wanted a good hot pizza, but he's in big trouble when the pizza is delivered to the White House. Wilky's first adventure may be his last, as he's chased by the President and First Lady, senators, FBI and Secret Service. A humorous, bug's eye adventure in the White House. (Picture book)

 

     
First Ladies (Eyewitness Books)
Amy Pastan

Forty-two fabulous first ladies, from Martha Washington to Laura Bush. Portraits, fashions (including the very elegant Jackie Kennedy), biographies, furniture and personal memorabilia – Dolley Madison's snuffbox, Mary Lincoln's mourning watch, Mamie Eisenhower's charm bracelet.
(Picture book)

 

 
First Ladies - kids books Washington DC
     
Capital - kids books Washington DC  
Capital!
Laura Krauss Melmed, Frane Lessac

Take a tour through Washington, DC, find out how money is printed, touch a lunar rock at the Air and Space Museum, take in a play at the Kennedy Center, check out the National Zoo, plus memorials and branches of government. Super illustrations and lots of great info, perfect for your visit to Washington, DC. (Picture book)

 

     
You Can't Take a Balloon into the National Gallery
Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman, Robin Preiss Glasser

A wayward balloon leads everyone on a hilarious chase through Washington, DC. Delightful illustrations, sprinkled with historical figures and fun paintings and sculpture from the National Gallery of Art. (Picture book)

 

 
     
National Gallery of Art Close Up - kids books Washington DC  

Play five different card games with paintings from the National Gallery of Art, including a treasure hunt . Each painting is featured on two cards – the whole painting, and a marvelous close up detail. Fun for everyone in the family! (Card game)

 

     

50 colorful cards with maps on one side, and information on the other, for the monuments, museums, parks, places to eat, and walks around Washington, DC. Let the kids pick what to see today! (Guide)

 

 
City Walks with Kids Washington DC
(More children's books on other Washington DC pages)
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