Family vacation in Washington, DC [Image by David Mark from Pixabay]Lying on the Potomac River, Washington, DC, is the capital of the USA and a compact and fascinating city to visit. Among its neoclassical monuments and buildings are the three branches of Government: the Capitol, the White House and the Supreme Court. The city also has iconic museums and many fascinating attractions for the whole family to enjoy. Read on to find out the best things to do on a family vacation in Washington, DC, many of which cost little or nothing.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
[Image @smithsoniannmnh/Instagram]Natural history museums are always great for the kids and the one in Washington, DC is among the best. The museum has so many exhibits you’ll want to visit them all. Among them are the Butterfly Pavilion, the Hall of Human Origin, the Hall of Mammals, Ancient Egypt, African Voices, Gems, Fossils and so much more.
US Botanic Garden [Image @usbotanicgarden/Instagram]The United States Botanic Garden is a great visit any time of the year and hosts three plant collections, the National Garden, the Conservatory and the Bartholdi Park. The Conservatory is full of beautiful plants from arid, subtropical and tropical regions of the world. Here the family can see medicinal, economic, endangered and even Jurassic plants, as well as a stunning showcase of orchids.
A newer addition is the Children’s Garden in the Conservatory. This features a series of terraced platforms for the children to explore, including interactive information panels. Moreover, the kids will find watering and planting stations, complete with kid-sized tools and watering cans.
National Building Museum, Washington DC
National Building Museum [Image @nationalbuildingmuseum/Instagram]For another fun experience for the kids, the National Building Museum is known for its beautiful atrium with stunning sculptures. However, when you buy your tickets, the kids will be assigned 45 minutes of truly fun play. Meanwhile, the Work Play Build room is great, with its life-size tinker toys. Let the kids use their imaginations to build themselves a house.
Other exhibits include Flickering Treasures, Secret Cities, Houses & Homes and Evicted. Meanwhile, entry to the National Building Museum is free for children 2 and under, $7 for 3 to 17, and $10 for adults.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Smithzonian National Zoo [Image Wikimedia Commons]One thing all family vacations should have is a visit to a zoo and the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is one of the best. Moreover, it is one of the oldest zoos in the US and is totally free to enter. The zoo was founded in 1889 with a mission to “provide engaging experiences with animals and create and share knowledge to save wildlife and habitats.”
While the most famous residents are the giant pandas, the zoo hosts many species of birds, big cats, Asian elephants, great apes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, small mammals and more. You are warned, however, that once the kids step into the zoo, they might never want to leave!
Take the family on an exciting vacation in Washington, DC, experiencing these attractions and many more.