A Family Day Trip to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. has been at the top of my family travel list for a while. There are so many kid-friendly things to do, and one of the best parts is that many of the city's museums and attractions are completely free. I also wanted to visit early in the summer before the heat and humidity made it miserable to explore on foot.
I had a full day planned, but it rained from the moment we arrived until we left. Even with the weather, we still had an amazing time, and it's a trip we'd absolutely do again.
The Drive
We left Pennsylvania early in the morning for the little over three-hour drive to D.C. I packed plenty of snacks and water for the ride, and because we hit the road early, traffic wasn't bad at all.
Stop #1: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
650 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20004
Admission is free, but you'll need to reserve timed-entry passes in advance.
Reserve your tickets here:Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Timed Entry Passes
This museum was such a fun experience. Be sure to check out the interactive exhibits on the second floor. The kids loved walking through the aircraft, exploring the cockpit, and seeing what the passenger cabins looked like up close.
The museum also has a café, but we grabbed lunch from one of the food trucks parked just outside before heading to our next stop.
Originally, I planned for us to have a picnic on the National Mall between museums, but the rain had other plans. We'll definitely save that for our next visit.
Stop #2: International Spy Museum
700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024
Admission:
Adults: $37.95
Children (7+): $26.95
Children under 7: Free
The museum also offers discounts for military members and law enforcement. Be sure to bring your military ID, as it will be verified at the entrance.
Purchase tickets here:International Spy Museum Tickets
This ended up being everyone's favorite stop of the day.
When you arrive, each guest receives a unique spy identity card that unlocks interactive missions throughout the museum. As you move through the exhibits, you'll complete different challenges tied to your undercover identity.
Some of our favorite experiences included:
Solving secret codes
Choosing hilarious disguises
Completing debriefing missions
The "Can You Hang?" challenge, where you hold onto a bar as if you're hanging from the side of a building to see how long you can last
Crawling through the ventilation system while another person tries to catch the "spy" by making the glass transparent
The museum is incredibly interactive, and the kids stayed engaged the entire time. We spent about three hours exploring, but honestly, we could have stayed even longer.
Parking
LAZ Parking600 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
$28 for all-day parking
Both museums are within walking distance.
Reserve parking here:LAZ Parking Reservation
Final Thoughts
Even though the rain changed our plans, this was still one of our favorite family day trips. Between the free Smithsonian museum, the hands-on exhibits at the Spy Museum, and everything being within walking distance, Washington, D.C. is an easy destination for families looking for a fun weekend adventure.
Next time, we're hoping for sunshine so we can finally enjoy that picnic on the National Mall.
