A Brief Guide to Family-Friendly Trips to Washington, D.C.

Trips to Washington, D.C. offer educational fun that’s great for families with kids. From museums and monuments to exciting watersport activities and dining experiences, there’s always something to explore. 

“As the nation’s capital, D.C. serves as not just an interesting metropolitan city, but also a direct representative of every Americans’ interests, hobbies, and passions. Whatever you and your family are looking for, we’re sure to have it,” Shane Menzel, general manager of Yours Truly DC, Vignette Collection, IHG Hotels & Resorts, told TMR. 

Here’s a guide to the city’s gems to add to your next family-friendly itinerary. 

Accommodations

The adventure starts at the hotel – here are some options that are well-suited for families with kids and nearby the best attractions. 

Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf is conveniently located just next door to the International SPY Museum and a five-minute walk down to The Wharf, which is ripe with things to do (more on that below). It is also just south of the National Mall and is one of the few properties with King/King room types, offering plenty of space for families. 

Just north of the National Mall is IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Yours Truly DC, Vignette Collection, in close walking proximity to many great family restaurants and The O Museum in the Mansion, a 5-star hotel that’s also a community center for concerts and events.  

Another great option for families is the Capitol Hill Hotel, which puts you right in the center of the action, across from the Library of Congress and steps away from Capitol Hill and all the nearby museums. The hotel caters to families with kids with its large rooms with kitchenettes, continental breakfast, and highchairs and roll away beds upon request. 

Museums and more

D.C. is famously home to 17 Smithsonian Museums that line the National Mall. They are all free, but most require a timed entry ticket that can be booked online. Some that may interest kids are Planet Word, the National Zoo, American History Museum, Air & Space Museum, and the Natural History Museum. 

The U.S. Botanical Garden, also free, offers a seasonal Children’s Garden. From May through October, there are watering and planting stations for kids, plus other interactive installations. For more engaging fun for kids, there’s the National Children’s Museum, which is paid. 

“This is where the country is run and with so much history and sights, you can get lost in one museum for the entire day and still have many, many more places to visit,” Cathy Lacey, marketing manager at Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf, told TMR. 

The Wharf, on the south end of D.C. overlooking the water, is a calm, family-friendly area to dine and shop. Here, you’ll also find bike rentals, ferry rides up the Potomac, and SeaDC electric boat rentals. After all that exploring, there’s a s’mores truck and plenty of ice cream shops for the kiddos. 

Other fun D.C. activities include the Old Town Trolley’s Monuments by Moonlight Tour, pedal boats on the Tidal Basin, and Boat DC’s kayak and rowboat rentals in Georgetown. 

Dining

For restaurants that cater to kids, Destination DC, the city’s tourism marketing arm, recommends Ted’s Bulletin for its Mr. Pancake breakfasts, Open City for comfort foods and all-day brunch staples, and Founding Farmers for sustainable eats at various locations across the city. 

There’s also Pinstripes, a family-style restaurant that also offers bocce and bowling, and Cactus Cantina located near Glover Park, a great place for kids to run around.