National Air and Space Museum Kids’
dreams are founded on and inspired by these ravishing soaring devices
and spectacular rockets, while their parents and grandparents can
reminisce over the early days of aviation and see how far we’ve come.
End the visit by treating children to a scoop of the freeze-dried ice
cream.
National Air and Space Museum
National Zoological Park The
animals in Washington, D.C.’s zoo are housed in large, recreated
natural habitats and are close enough to be clearly observed. Sea lion
demonstrations never fail to delight. The Kids’ Farm is an educational,
interactive, outdoor exhibit, where children can touch and learn about
farmyard animals .
National Zoological Park
National Geographic Society Explorers’ Hall These
first-class exhibits explore the major domains of society, including
foreign cultures, nature, archaeology, and superb photography. The hall
is at the forefront of designing and constructing interactive and
immersive displays to involve visitors in their fascinating subject
matter. Kids need little direction here – they take to the explorations
and activities enthusiastically, sometimes with a more immediate grasp
than adults. The well-stocked shop complements the exhibitions. Verizon Sports Center Children
love the energetic events here. The Ringling Brothers Barnum &
Bailey Circus performs here, along with touring ice skating
spectaculars, professional wrestling, hockey games and many top-name pop
and rock acts. The food is better than usual at an arena and,
naturally, is geared toward kids . National Building Museum This
interesting museum runs regular programs for families, where children
and parents can learn about various methods of construction,
architecture, and design. Together, families can build edible houses,
learn about different construction materials, or solve a city’s
transport problem. The permanent and visiting exhibitions will also
appeal.
National Building Museum
National Aquarium The
star attraction for children here is the 2pm feedings: sharks on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, piranha on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Sundays, and alligators on Fridays. The aquarium houses about 300
specimens in its glass tanks, and provides easy-to-understand
informative material about freshwater habitats and the oceans and the
marine life they support. Inquisitive little visitors always surround
the touch tank. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and
children’s questions are handled with aplomb .
Turtle, National Aquarium
Discovery Creek Children’s Museum This
outdoor-oriented center for children aged between one and eleven years
provides wonderfully engrossing activities that bring to life aspects of
local nature, science, arts, and history. The museum has five locations
in the D.C. area, including the only surviving one-room schoolhouse and
the historic stables in the beautiful Glen Echo Park. Daily programs
for children are always popular with Washingtonians. National Museum of Natural History There
is plenty here for young visitors, in particular the Insect Zoo
featuring live specimens of giant hissing cockroaches and large
leaf-cutter ants, and the Dinosaur Hall which contains a cast of a nest
of dinosaur eggs and reconstructions of dinosaur skeletons. The new,
interactive Hall of Mammals features 274 taxidermied exhibits from a
variety of environments. For another hands-on experience, the Discovery
Room allows children (and adults!) to hold objects like crocodile heads
and elephant tusks. Smithsonian Carousel In
front of the Arts and Industries Building at the Smithsonian is a
delightful authentic carousel with brilliantly painted hand-carved
animals. It only operates in good weather, but don’t miss this bit of
old-world fun if you have the chance. It also makes a refreshing break
for kids beginning to tire of the surrounding museums. Rock Creek Park Nature Center The short nature trail here is only 1-mile (1.5-km) long so it is easily negotiated by children. Many native species can be
spotted en route, including foxes, racoons and deer. There is also a
small planetarium. A number of activities that appeal to children,
including arts and crafts workshops, are scheduled throughout the year.
On a sunny day, this is also a great place to bring a picnic, and enjoy
one of the city’s truly natural environments. In other parts of the park
there are also tennis courts and horse riding trails. 5200 Glover Rd NW Open 9am–5pm Wed–Sun Free
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