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Washington DC area Family Sights
14
items I’ve spent 20 years in the DC area - here are some of my favorite places!
Sections
3
Northern Virginia
Maryland
Washington DC
Northern Virginia
Free museum located near Old Town in Alexandria. Lots of fun hands on exhibits for children and teens to learn more about patents and trademarks.
National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum - Alexandria
Free entrance to this hidden historic site. The historical part of the park can be easily seen in an hour and then there is a playground down the hill for the kids.
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site | City of Alexandria, VA
Free admission to a wonderful nature escape from the city. The fall leaves here are incredible and counting frogs is a great spring activity.
Huntley Meadows Park
This famous statue is located in Northern Virginia near Arlington Cemetery. There is a small parking lot for the park or you can walk over from the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop.
US Marine Corps War Memorial
This museum is located on Fort Belvior and is FREE! Adults can spend hours viewing the video, and displays organized by wars. Older kids and teens will love the interactive STEM area where they complete activities such as building bridges and droppin...
National Museum of the United States Army
If you liked touring George Washington’s Mount Vernon I highly recommend visiting George Mason’s Gunston Hall. I love the home even more than Mount Vernon due to its clean design but the grounds are slightly less detailed as Mount Vernon.
George Mason's Gunston Hall
A trip to Northern Virginia isn’t complete without visiting George Washington’s Mount Vernon. They have different activities to things to see each season. Admission comes with a times entrance tour of the mansion and then you can see the rest of the ...
George Washington's Mount Vernon
Maryland
Fort Washington is a great place for families to explore. There is lots of room for kids to run and stairs to climb. You can take a stroller but there isn’t a paved path for most of the for. You can go all the way down to the Potomac River and there ...
Fort Washington Park
Highly recommend spending time at this free working farm in Maryland. They a fun little visitors center and lots of room to run around the farm. We saw lots of animals including chickens, cows, pigs, and goats.
Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm (U.S. National Park Service)
It’s free to enter the riverwalk and you can buy admission to different activities like the carousal and Ferris Wheel. There are several restaurant options nearby and often holiday events.
National Harbor
The Maryland side is better. The view of the falls is better. The walking path is more fun and scenic. The canals are better. Go to the Maryland side of Great Falls.
Great Falls Park (U.S. National Park Service)
The visitor center for the LDS Temple is free and open to the public. They have lots of exhibits and free performances in the large auditorium. If you go during the Christmas holiday time you can expect to see Nativities from around the world, amazin...
the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors' Center
Washington DC
Prepare to spend several hours here!! It’s packed with lots of fun activities for kids.
I recommend parking offsite and not in the parking garage closest as it is usually full.
If you are a local to the DMV area check with your local library for ...
National Children’s Museum of Washington DC
Like most activities in the DC area, the National Zoo has free admission. You do however, have to pay for parking or take the Metro.
I recommend visiting sea lions and the petting zoo.
Wear good shoes - the zoo is built on a big hill and you wil...
Smithsonian National Zoological Park