These are some of our favorite places to visit in Northern Virginia and the Washington DC area that are family-friendly.
If you've ever thought about visiting the Washington D.C. area, it is a trip I highly recommend. There's something for everyone, even kids!
My husband and I grew up in Northern Virginia. It's where we met, began dating, and ultimately married. Our parents still live in the area. So, we always have multiple opportunities to return and experience different adventures.
Sometimes, we like to act as tourists when visiting and check out some famous sites. Because of the rich history, there is always much to see and do. One week isn't enough to see everything. Although sometimes that's all we have.
This post contains our top favorite family-friendly places that we all enjoy.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
This museum is always a hit with kids. And one of the best parts, is that it's FREE! All Smithsonian Institution museums and sites are free since they're publicly funded.
It's filled with almost everything kids love from dinosaurs to animals to various cultures that have been a part of this land we now call the United States of America. The displays are wonderful and there is so much to see that just going through this museum can take all day.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
This has always been one of my favorite zoos in the country. It's well laid out and the animals are well taken care of.
The designated parking lot does charge a fee. However, access to the zoo itself is free since it's part of the Smithsonian Institution. If you wish to arrive by train, there is a metro stop pretty close to the main entrance off Connecticut.
Mount Vernon
This famous house was home to the first president of the United States, George Washington. It sits on 500 acres and overlooks the Potomac River. You can tour most of the buildings, even the main house where a guide takes you through each room and gives some more in-depth knowledge of its history.
If you wish to visit George Washington's tomb, he's laid to rest there, next to his wife Martha. The site is located adjacent to some of the gardens and stables, a little ways past the main house.
While touring the houses, you do want to make sure kids keep their hands to themselves. But aside from that, there are many hands-on opportunities. The grounds themselves are also so vast that kids can effectively wear themselves out.
I suggest visiting in the fall when they have fall harvest activities going on. It's always a lot of fun. Or also around the winter holidays, when they decorate for Christmas. They do a beautiful job.
Leesylvania State Park
This is one of many state parks in Virginia. I love visiting this one as it's down the street from where I grew up.
There are many activities for families to enjoy from playgrounds, nature trails, fishing, boating, bonfires, swimming, and viewing historical landmarks.
Robert E. Lee's family owned land in this park. Remnants of the house can be found on one of the hiking trails. There are also cannons and other old artillery from an outpost that used to be located there.
National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The Smithsonian has an Air and Space Museum in D.C. itself. But it also has this one located about 30 minutes outside the city limits, very close to Dulles International Airport. Both are awesome in their own ways, but this one holds a spaceship!
The Discovery is housed here. It's also home to various aircraft, not just from America, but from around the world. Some with great significance in world history such as the Enola Gay, a Concorde, and a plane built by the Wright brother's themselves.
They also have an IMAX to view a current feature they're presenting and a watchtower that you can go up to and get a 360 view of the area.
It's fun for the whole family and people of all ages. My boys were in awe at all the planes, spaceships, and satellites around them.
Great Falls Park
Location: 9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102
Great Falls National Park can be found just over the border, in Virginia. This hidden gem is a beautiful way to quickly get yourself immersed in nature if you need to take a break from the city.
It's full of various hiking trails and waterfalls to view.
Washington Union Station
If you have kids who are train-obsessed, this would be the place to bring them. This breathtaking, active train station is a great place to view locomotives coming and going.
We have also liked visiting this station in the past because aside from the trains they also have nice restaurants and shops.
I highly recommend this spot around Christmas time. It's beautifully decorated and they have amazing model train displays.
The Monuments
All of the following monuments and memorials are must-sees if you're ever in the area. They're all free and absolutely stunning. They are a perfect tribute to the history they embody.
It would take a full day or two to view the ones I've listed, but it's entirely possible. All of them are positioned relatively close to each other. The only one that is kind of an outlier is the Jefferson Memorial, which I would recommend driving to.
While some of these sites may be more somber than others, I included them as family-friendly because they are mostly outdoors. It is also a great way to get kids interested in history and learn more about various topics through exposure.
Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool
Washington Monument
Korean War Memorial
Vietnam War Memorial
WWII Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
If you're ever in Washington DC, I hope you have a wonderful time and have a chance to check out some of these amazing places.
I'd love to hear your input! Drop a comment below.
If you've been, what was your favorite place to visit? What was most memorable?
Safe travels!
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