1. National Zoo: This 163 acre zoo is located in the center of D.C. It has free admissions. The open hours vary depending on the season. Kids will definitely enjoy listening to interpreters, who answer visitor questions, and give information on the particular animals. The interpreter for Gorillas, Orangutans, giant Pandas, Bird valley and other many animals are available at different days and times between 10-4. These times are listed at the zoo or you can check their website. You can also enjoy watching fish feeding, elephant bath, and kid’s farm -where they teach kids how to take care of farm animals.

2. National Mall: National mall is in the heart of D.C. The green lawn surrounded by museums , and memorials, stretches 2 miles from the Lincoln Memorial at the west end, Capitol Building to the East end, and the Washington Monument slightly west of the center.. Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research Institute with, the largest museum complex of 19 museums, and 9 research centers, and most of the facilities are located in D.C . Nine of the Smithsonian Museums are located at the National Mall Admissions to all Smithsonian museums are FREE, in Washington D.C. You can enjoy, learn, and enrich your mind about, American history & culture, science &technology, arts & design.

3. National Museum of Natural History: Admission is free. This museum in particular is very popular with the kids. There are tons of amazing things to see and do: the dinosaur skeletons, a vast collection of gems & minerals, learn about the evolving earth, climate change, enjoy many exhibits, such as The Saint Ocean Hall, which is the interpretive Global Ocean. There are host of activities for kids: At the Discovery Room, you can learn and do activities by using real museum objects, and artifacts. Fossil Lab: Here you can look through a glass window as technicians removed fossilized dinosaur from block earth. Insect Zoo: You can watch and hold live insects.

4. Air and space Museum: There are ongoing activities for kids, some of which are: Paper Airplane Contest, Forces of Flight, inventing the Airplane. For smaller kids 3-7 there is Story times Saturdays 11-1:30, reservation is required; you can call 202 633 2563. There are opportunities for interactive learning experience on aviation and space exploration.

5. National Portrait Gallery: This museum holds portraits of distinguished American who made a difference to the history, and culture of this country. There are 20,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs and drawings. Some of the exhibitions at the time of this writing include: The mask of Lincoln, Collection of American Presidents, and The American Revolution etc.

6. National Postal Museum: This is a great museum to visit if you are a stamp collector or anyone curious to know how the postal system in the US started, and how it plays a role in our daily lives. You can also learn about Philately – the evolution &history of the design of US stamps. It also gives you an introduction to stamp collection, and preserving the collection.

7. Bureau of Engraving & Printing: What more fun can there be for an adult or a child to see the printing of real money.

8. Washington Monument: When you’re in D.C. you can’t miss this 555ft 5.8in tall obelisk shaped memorial to George Washington. It is surrounded by 50 flagpoles, each flag representing a state. You can take the elevator and go up to get a spectacular view of D.C. The admission is FREE, but you need to have the tickets in advance for a scheduled time.

9. Lincoln Memorial: This honor to our 16th President, is a beautiful structure with large columns representing each of the 36 states in the union at the time of Lincoln’s death. Lincoln’s marble sculpture, is 19 ft 9 inches tall, it faces and looks towards the Reflecting Pool, and is surrounded by the Gettysburg address inscribed on the walls.

10. US Capitol Building: It’s a wonderful experience to see this place where our law makers from Congress and the Senate make decisions, vote, and write laws that affect us all. Free guided tours are available. Tickets are on a 1st come 1st serve basis between 8:45am -3:30pm Monday -Saturday, or you can reserve online at capitol.gov.

Also check out this related post from Moms Minivan, Fun Things To Do with Kids When Touring the Mall in Washington, D.C.

Please share your story if you visited DC during Obama Inaguration or any other time with your kids.

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