For general information, contact the Washington DC Convention and Tourism Corporation at 800/422-8644.  One of DC's unique perks for families is Children's Concierge (877/888-5462) a special service that plans individual, supervised itineraries for visitors of all ages, all needs, and with all interests.

Great Fun for the Kids

(Toddler to Age 8)

National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
202/673-4800
Open Daily: 6am to 8pm from April 2-October 28, 6am to 6pm from October 30-April 1.
Established in 1889, the National Zoo is home about 400 species of animals, many of whom are rare or endangered, including the Giant Panda. Young children love wildlife, but you'll have to bring a stroller to enjoy one of the nation's largest zoos. It's a beautifully maintained, landscaped 163-acre park, not far from the center of the city.  A note of advice though; during the summer months, when Washington is hot and humid, the zoo is not the place to be.  Trust us on this. 

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
14th & C Streets, SW
Washington, DC 20228
202/874-3019, 866/874-2330
Open Monday through Friday: 9am to 10:45am and 12:30pm to 2:00pm with tours every 15 minutes.
The Treasury Department presses turn out billions of dollars in bills annually, making "The Money Factory" one of the capital's most popular (and most crowded) attractions.  The sight of a room full of printing machines spewing money is one that won't soon be forgotten by an older child (or adult, for that matter).  However, the rushed guided tour is not as satisfying as lingering in the money museum and superb, reasonably priced gift shop. Free tours require same-day tickets during the peak season from March to August.

Washington Monument
15th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20001
202/426-6841
Open Daily: 9am to 4:45pm.  Rising 555 feet above the ground, the Washington Monument stands as a symbol of the capital city. A painless elevator ride to the observation deck at the top offers a magnificent view of the entire city, and all of the other landmarks that will be part of a DC visit. Tickets can be reserved at (800/967-2283) or earlybirds can get free tickets the morning of their visit at kiosks on the grounds.

Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20002
202/633-5555
Open Daily: 10am to 5:30pm.  Blessedly far away from the tourist masses huddling on The Mall, this is a fascinating and engaging small museum where your kids can climb into an original Pony Express mail wagon, make their own photo postcards and learn some trivia about stamps, their design, and how the postal system changed America's history.  Follow up your visit with lunch at the historic Union Station train terminal across the way. 

Fun for Older Children

(Up to Age 18)

National Air and Space Museum
6th St and Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20560
202/633-1000
Open Daily: 10am to 5:30pm.  Anyone with even the slightest interest in flight or space travel will be more than satisfied with an afternoon spent at the National Air and Space Museum. From the 1903 Wright Brothers flyer to the Apollo 11 command module,  there's tons to explore.  Recently opened at Washington's Dulles International Airport in nearby Virginia, the new Udvar-Hazy Center offers a spacious facility for the display of even more of the collection of the Air and Space Museum.  On view is the Space Shuttle Enterprise, an SR-71 Blackbird and the B-29 Enola Gay, as well as helicopters, rockets, and experimental aircraft. Call the Udvar-Hazy Center for details about the collection and presentations at (202/633-1000), or follow the link from the NASM website above. 

Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20535
202/324-3447
One of the most popular attractions, this facility is closed for renovation until further notice.  Please check their website or call for updates.

National Archives
700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC  20408
866/272-6272
Open Daily: 10am to 9pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10am to 5:30pm through March 31, and 10am to 7pm until Memorial Day.  There is no reason to spend more than an hour or so here, but some of the National Archives documents on display in the Rotunda of the Exhibition Hall can be stirring for any child that has studied our nation in elementary school: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  These "Charters of Freedom" are back on display after a careful re-encasement project.

National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street & Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC  20560
202/633-1000
Constructed on the last open space available on the National Mall, the NMAI opened its doors in September 2004, after 15 years of planning. Both the impressive building and the exhibitions are designed from a Native viewpoint.  "Our Peoples: Giving Voice to Our Histories" is a fascinating exploration of Native Americans' struggles presented in their own words, with displays of objects and artifacts documenting their lives.  Other exhibits focus on ceremonies and spiritual beliefs and the contemporary world of Native peoples.  Also on view are totem poles, sculptures, carvings and weavings, as well as groundbreaking works by contemporary Native artists.

Fun for the Family

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC  20006
202/456-7041
Tours are conducted Tuesdays through Saturdays: 7:30am to 12:00pm.  After a post-September 11, 2001 boost in security, The White House now offers tours again for groups of ten or more.  Such groups should submit a request one to six months in advance through their Congressional Representative.  Call for more details. Once inside, marvel at a beautiful collection of furniture and art that has been collected by first families for over two hundred years.  And of course, marvel at being inside the White House! 

The US Capitol
Capitol Hill at east end of the Mall
Washington, DC  20515
202/225-6827
Tours conducted Mondays through Saturdays: 9am to 4:30pm.  Historian Allan Nevins once called it "the spirit of America in stone" and it is perhaps the most important building in the history of the nation.  Around the walls of the central Rotunda, paintings depicting prominent historical events are displayed. In the Statuary Hall guides will demonstrate that a whisper can be heard at the other side of the huge room.  Visitors must obtain free tickets for tours on a first-come, first-served basis at a neighboring kiosk.  Note that to enhance security, vehicles are no longer allowed to approach the building; instead, free golf carts are available to shuttle your little ones and elders from the security perimeter to the steps.  To enter and get a glimpse of the legislative chambers, a pass from your local member of Congress is necessary. 

Lincoln Memorial
900 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20024
202/426-6841
Open Daily: 8am to 11:45pm.  The stunning neoclassic architecture surrounding a larger-than-life statue of one of our nation's most beloved men seldom fails to render visitors at the Lincoln Memorial silent for a few moments. To the east is the reflecting pool, a stunning sight on a sunny day, providing a view of the Washington Monument and the Capitol beyond.  Inside the monument, take time to read the Gettysburg Address which is inscribed in the limestone structure, and look closely at Lincoln's head; occasionally birds make their nests upon it!