Parent's Guide to
Washington, DC

Discover activities, events, and resources for children.
The Phillips Collection
The Phillips Collection is American's first museum of modern and contemporary art in an intimate setting. The Phillips Collection is home to an extraordinary collection of more than 4,000 works ranging from masterpieces of French impressionism and American modernism to contemporary art. By displa...
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s preeminent museum and research complex. The Museum is dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the natural world through its unparalleled research, collections, exhibitions, an...
National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American offers free admission. It is a museum of living cultures dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of the life, languages, literature, history and arts of the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere.
National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum houses one of the largest and most significant philatelic and postal history collections in the world and one of the world’s most comprehensive library resources on philately and postal history. The museum’s many exhibition galleries present America’s postal history fro...
Newseum
The Newseum, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. A TripAdvisor 2015 Top 25 Travelers’ Choice Museum, the Newseum is considered one of the most interactive museums in the wo...
O Street Museum
The O Street Museum Foundation promotes and embraces life, from every culture, resulting in a wide-ranging collection of paintings, photographs, sculpture, books, artifacts, and music, from all over the globe. the O Street Museum has always been dedicated to exploring the creative process. The c...
Old Town Trolley Washington DC Tour
As our nation’s capital, Washington, DC captures the true spirit of America. Symbols of our patriotism, the fight for our freedom and the diverse history that spans centuries are present on every corner. For more than 30 years, Old Town Trolley Tours has provided extraordinary sightseeing adventu...
National Zoo
Always free of charge and open 364 days a year, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. Founded in 1889, the Zoo sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park and is home to more than 1,500 anim...
Rock Creek Nature Centre
Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation's capital. This 1,754-acre city park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the 3rd national park to be designated by the federal government. It offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of the city and find a peaceful refuge, recreati...
National Museum of Crime and Punishment
The Crime Museum in Washington, DC is described by Good Morning America as a “must see for CSI fans.” This museum provides America’s most thorough and comprehensive study of the development and evolution of crime and punishment in a museum environment. Five distinct galleries burrow deep into the...
The White House
Anyone visiting DC can experience the history and art of the White House in person after submitting a tour request through one's Member of Congress. Public tour requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesda...
United States National Holocaust Museum
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational p...
Verizon Centre
Home to the AFL's Washington Valor, NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and the NCAA’s Georgetown Hoyas’s men’s basketball team, the arena averages 220 events a year. The 20,000-seat arena offers world-class sporting events, concerts, family shows, ...
Canal Boat Rides
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is visited by over five million hikers, campers, bicyclists and history enthusiasts each year. Please be aware there is no main entrance into the park. Explore the links below or the navigation on the left to help you plan your exploration of...
Washington Soccer Club
The Washington Soccer Club (WSC) was founded in 1990. Since then, it has had travel teams play in and win all divisions of National Capitol Soccer League (NCSL). WSC has sent 6 players from those teams to MLS and numerous more to Division I soccer programs. The Club's first 1st Division was th...
DC Stoddert Soccer League
DC Stoddert Soccer League, Inc. (DCSSL) is a non-profit, youth soccer organization, providing organized teams and supervised games for girls and boys ages 4 1/2 - 19 through the cooperation of parent volunteers, paid staff, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, the National Park Service, sch...
Capital Futbol Club
CapitalFC provides travel soccer opportunities for boys and girls in the Washington DC and DMV area. CapitalFC builds community by organizing teams for kids to play soccer, instilling a passion for the game, and seeking ways to promote diversity. CapitalFC strives to put the player first. Our ...
All Fired Up
All Fired Up is a great place to paint pottery in DC or Bethesda area. All Fired Up offers Pottery Painting, Mosaics, Glass Fusing (DC store only), Ceramic Fusion, weekly specials, camps and more. Provide the best Birthday Parties and a great Summer Camp Program. It also will come to your school,...
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Through incomparable collections, rigorous research, and dynamic public outreach, National Museum explores the infinite richnes...
National Geographic Museum
The National Geographic Society is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to exploring our planet, protecting wildlife and habitats, and helping assure that students in K-12 are geographically literate. National Geographic is taking on the biggest challenges of time: savin...
National Gallery of Art
NGAkids interactives offer an entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history. Featuring a variety of art-making tools that encourage exploration and creativity, these computer-based activities are suitable for all ages.
National Arboretum
Established in 1927 by an Act of Congress. The Arboretum is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. The U.S. National Arboretum enhances the economic, environmental, and aesthetic value of ornamental and landscape plants through long-term, multi-discipl...
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA display the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts.
Madame Tussauds
At Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C., experience the glory of the U.S. presidency first-hand in an unparalleled interactive exhibit, featuring life-sized wax figures of all 44 Presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama. Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C. is a highly-interactive wax attraction...
Lincoln Memorial
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated just after the end of the Civil War on April 14, 1865. By March of 1867, Congress incorporated the Lincoln Monument Association to build a memorial to the slain 16th President. The Lincoln Memorial is made of stone from several regions of the United States, assemb...
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center is America's living memorial to President Kennedy—presenting the greatest performers and performances from across America and around the world, nurturing new works and young artists, and serving as a leader in arts education.
International Spy Museum
The International Spy Museum opened in Washington, DC on July 19, 2002. It is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage and the only one in the world to provide a global perspective on an all-but-invisible profession that has shaped history and continues to have a ...
Fords Theatre
Ford’s Theatre lives at the heart of the Washington, D.C. experience—a vibrant stage for engaging and entertaining theatrical encounters and an immersive environment that celebrates the life and values of Abraham Lincoln. With its moving, dynamic theatrical productions, passionate and compelling ...
East Potomac Park Tennis Centre
East Potomac Tennis is indoor and outdoor tennis facility located at Hains Point right outside Washington, D.C. EPTC offers five indoor hard courts under a state-of-the-art facility. Play is available year round at a comfortable 70 degrees.
East Potomac Park Miniature Golf
The mission of East Potomac Park Miniature Golf is to provide affordable and accessible golf facilities and programs for new, casual and experienced golfers, while protecting and maintaining the natural, cultural and historic resources at each golf course and the surrounding community. olfDC Aca...
Corcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at the George Washington University offers advanced creative studies in an inspiring academic atmosphere. The school reserves the right to delete content that is defamatory, obscene, threatening, or harassing; targets or disparages any ethnic, racial, r...
Capital City Bike Tours
Capital City Bike Tours first gained our passion for touring with bikes and knew that they would fit in seamlessly with our tours here in the Nation's Capital. So, in 2011, Capital City Bike Tours was born! Unique mix of tour guides provide informative and entertaining tours, regardless of whet...
Botanic Gardens
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America and informs visitors about the importance, value and diversity of plants, as well as their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological significance. With more than a million visitors annual...