Today I’m going to share with you how we explored Washington, D.C. in 4 days with our kids. We wanted to see and do as much as we could in 4 days without exhausting the kids.
Arriving in Pentagon City, Virginia
On the day before our Washington, D.C. exploration got started we drove up from Williamsburg, Virginia. Check out my post on the Historic Triangle with Kids for details on that portion of the trip. It was late in the afternoon when we pulled up to the Residence Inn in Pentagon City, Virginia. I spent many hours trying to figure out where would be the best place to stay during our visit. We wanted to be close to the metro and restaurants, but not in the heart of the city. We also didn’t want to be riding the crowded metro for hours every day. The happy medium turned out to be the Pentagon City area. The prices were a little higher than we normally like, but it had everything we were looking for. It turned out to be the perfect spot!
Pentagon City has everything a traveler could want. It is close to metro stops and the airport. The metro ride into Washington, D.C. is only 30-45 minutes depending on where you are headed. The area has lots of restaurants, shopping, and hotels. The Fashion Centre has a great Food Court. It is a safe and family-friendly area!
Metro passes
That evening after having dinner in the Fashion Centre Food Court we walked across the street to the metro station that we would be using often over the next 4 days. At the station, we purchased our metro passes. If you are able, I recommend purchasing them online. We had a little hassle with our credit card when we tried to purchase multiple passes. The card got flagged for fraud. If you can’t purchase ahead of time, get passes with low balances. Then after you return to your hotel, go online and add more money to the card. The metro website is great for figuring out exactly how much money you will need on the pass.
Washington, D.C.
Day 1: White House and American History Museum
White House
On day 1 we had tickets to tour the White House. You have to request free tickets for White House tours from your Congressman or Senator up to 6 months in advance. Since our tour was in the late morning, we decided to check out the White House Visitor Center. It is a small, but interesting Visitor Center.
After taking a short walk from the Visitor Center, we got in line for our White House tour. There were lots of security checkpoints. No bags were allowed inside. They are very strict. Make sure you read all the rules carefully. The tour was short but still gave the kids a thrill. They enjoyed it!
American History Museum
After our tour, we walked about 4 tenths of a mile to the American History Museum. Our first stop in the museum was the Food Court. The kids were hungry after all the walking. We soon found out that museum food is not cheap! If you can, bring food and eat it outside the museum before entering.
The American History Museum is huge and free! You could easily spend all day exploring everything. We viewed all the floors and spent more time on the things that interested us, and just glanced at the stuff that didn’t. Plan on spending at least a couple hours here. It can get crowded at popular points of interest.
Day 2: Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Monuments
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Day 2 started off with a metro ride to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Admission is free, but you need a ticket. In the off-season, you can just walk up to the Bureau to get your tickets. In season, there is a special ticket booth away from the entrance. We all really enjoyed the tour. The kids were super excited to watch 5 dollar bills being made.
Monuments and Memorials
Next, we walked over to the National Mall to start our walking tour of all the monuments and memorials. All are free to visit. We saw the monuments in this order: Washington Monument, World War II Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial. It was about 3 miles of walking from the Bureau of Engraving then to all the monuments and memorials. It seemed like so much more. The kids did great!
There are food kiosks at the Lincoln Memorial or you can picnic along the way. There are very few picnic tables to be found. Restrooms are only found at the larger monuments, like Lincoln and Jefferson. I recommend bringing your own food and drinks. Like the museums, kiosk food can get a little expensive. Especially if you have a lot of mouths to feed.
Day 3: US Capitol and the Air and Space Museum
US Capitol
Day 3 began at the US Capitol Visitor Center. If you want to tour the actual Capitol Rotunda, you will need to request tickets from your Congressman or Senator. You can do this at the same time that you request White House tickets. Security at the Capitol is very tight. You can bring inside bags, but no food or water. They even make you dump your water outside. Our kids only had a slight interest in the Visitor Center. If your kids are older, definitely take the tour.
Air and Space Museum
Afterward, we walked a couple blocks to the Air and Space Museum. We found this free museum to be very busy and crowded. Like the American History Museum, it has a Food Court. During our visit it was closed, but that actually worked in our favor. There were multiple Food Trucks outside the museum and prices were a lot more reasonable. I recommend bringing your own food to eat outside or stopping at a Food Truck.
The Air and Space Museum is awesome! There are lots of interactive things for the kids to explore. The museum covers everything from the first flight to modern space flight. You could easily spend all day here.
Day 4: Arlington National Cemetery and the Natural History Museum
Arlington National Cemetery
Our 4th and final day in Washington, D.C. began early at Arlington National Cemetery. Visitors have the choice of walking around the grounds or taking a paid tram tour. We chose the tram tour and were so glad that we did. The tour stopped at significant spots around the cemetery and pointed out other areas of interest. You can get off the tram at the stops and then walk around at your leisure. One must-see is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard. It is a very moving ceremony. During our visit, we were also privileged to see 2 wreath layings.
Natural History Museum
After a quick ride on the metro, we spent the second half of our day at the Natural History Museum. Like the others, this museum is free and huge! It also has a Food Court, but like I’ve said before, bring your food to eat outside or visit a Food Truck. Museum food is pricey! We learned the hard way.
Our kids really enjoyed the Natural History Museum. They loved the Hope Diamond and all the animal exhibits. This museum is spread out over multiple levels, so it never felt overly crowded like the Air and Space. This is another museum where you could easily spend all day exploring.
Washington, D.C. Tips
- Bring your food or purchase from Food Trucks. Museum food is expensive.
- Use public transportation. Purchase metro passes ahead of time, if you can.
- Be prepared for many security check points. Some just check bags, others have metal detectors. Double check what you can and can’t bring inside. It varies widely!
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. You will walk a lot!
- Take note of museum hours. They open later and sometimes close early.
- If you have extra funds on your metro pass and won’t be returning to the city, leave it with a note for your hotel housekeeping staff.
- Don’t pack your day too full. Enjoy your vacation and include some down time for the kids.
There is so much to see and do in Washington, D.C. it is easy to get overwhelmed. Pick places that interest your family. I hope my suggestions help you with your planning.
Stay tuned for the final portion of this road trip, Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
*Update 3/7/2020: Need more to do in the DC area, check out:
- Museum of the Bible with Kids
- National Post Office Museum & Union Station with Kids
- Christmas on the White House Ellipse
- What you need to know about the International Spy Museum
- Theodore Roosevelt Island with Kids
- Pentagon Memorial with Kids
- United States Air Force Memorial with Kids
- Great Falls, Virginia vs Maryland
- What you need to know about the Smithsonian National Zoo
- Our Year in Washington, D.C.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are my own. I did not receive compensation for this post.
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