
Visiting Washington DC for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do
Here's everything you need to know to make the most of your first trip to DC.
Reopened in 2019 after roughly a decade of renovations, the National Children’s Museum is a must-visit destination for families. The 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square-meter space is focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics and includes an array of interactive, hands-on exhibitions.
Those visiting with infants and toddlers can head to the Little Dreamers and Little Movers spaces, which are aimed at the youngest visitors. Older kids can venture to the Dream Machine (a 3-story climber and slide, and the museum’s centerpiece), play in the Innovation Sandbox (an immersive digital experience), take part in Data Science Alley, and more.
To make your visit even simpler, book advance tickets online to guarantee your admission.
The National Children’s Museum is located on Pennsylvania Avenue NW. It is just steps from the Federal Triangle Metro station (served by the Blue, Orange, and Silver Metro Lines), and close to Archives—Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Station (served by the Yellow and Green Lines). The museum can also be reached on foot, by bike, by taxi, and via a range of bus services.
The National Children’s Museum is open daily during school holidays, but closed on Mondays during term time. The museum is closed each year on New Year’s Day (January 1), Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (the first Monday in September), Thanksgiving (the last Thursday in November), and Christmas Day (December 25).
Visiting the nation’s capital with the kids in tow? Venture beyond the National Children’s Museum, and discover Washington DC’s other family-friendly offerings. Nearby attractions—including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, the Discovery Theater, and the Carousel on the National Mall—are all popular among younger visitors, and all just minutes away on foot.