Family-Friendly Guide to Washington, DC | Discover the Real DC

Plan your kid-friendly DC adventure with free things to do, monumental tours and hotels for the whole family.

DC is as popular as ever for its hands-on museums and kid-friendly attractions, the National Mall, zoo animals and one-of-a-kind events. Check out these ideas to make your trip to the nation's capital the most memorable yet.

Children at National Building Museum

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Kid-Friendly Museums & Hands-On Attractions

Family having a picnic on National Mall

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Free Things to Do: Family-Friendly DC

Families at the Hyatt House Washington hotel at The Wharf - The best kid-friendly hotels in Washington, DC

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Check Out These Kid-Friendly Hotels in DC

Family walking along the Georgetown Waterfront - Family-friendly activities in Washington, DC

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Explore Family-Friendly Tours

Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC - Freer & Sackler Galleries

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Explore DC's Smithsonian Museums

Biking near the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, Washington DC

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Guide to the National Mall

Thomas Jefferson Memorial with Fireworks in the night sky

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How to Celebrate Independence Day in Washington, DC

DC Water Taxi on River

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12 Ways to Enjoy Labor Day in Washington, DC

Featured Places to Stay

Book a family-friendly time away at DC hotels

Boutique hotels, family-friendly hotels, budget-friendly hotels - whatever you're looking for, you'll find it. Explore the hotel options waiting for your arrival.

Downtown

Capital Hilton

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Foggy Bottom

Park Hyatt Washington, DC

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Georgetown

Rosewood Washington, D.C.

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Downtown

Sofitel Washington, DC Lafayette Square

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Downtown

JW Marriott Washington, DC

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Washington Marriott Georgetown

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Start Planning Your Summer Experience

DC Skyline at Dusk

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20+ Memorable Things to Do this Summer in Washington, DC

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Summer Deals and Discounts in Washington, DC

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Summer Deals & Discounts

Deals & Discounts This Summer in Washington, DC

Ice Cream Jubilee

/summer

Guide to Summer

Find the best things to do, from on-the-water fun to weekend travel ...

@jbflorez98 - DC Skyline

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30+ Things to Do This August in Washington, DC

Summer rolls on with an incredible month of events in the nation’s c...

@wwwchris - Renwick Gallery

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Things to Do This Week in Washington, DC

Things to do the week of Aug. 2-5

Botanic Garden Exterior

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Things to Do This Weekend in Washington, DC

From scoring the cheapest bottomless mimosas to dining with the sass...

Riggs Hotel Washington, DC

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12 Great Summer Hotel Experiences in Washington, DC

Book a summer getaway with these deals at Washington, DC-area hotels

Kids looking up at airplanes at Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Udvar Hazy

@bigtripswithfourlittles

Kids and Mom at US Botanical Garden water fountain

#ExperienceDC on Your Next Visit

Follow the hashtag to discover what DC is all about, and then tag your experiences.

Little one at National Gallery of Art

@somewhere_withsneha

Little one looking up at US Capitol

@thewanderlustmomma

Little one looking up at dinosaur in National History Museum

@skylar_arias_adventures

Kids looking up at airplanes at Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Udvar Hazy

@bigtripswithfourlittles

Kids and Mom at US Botanical Garden water fountain

Little one at National Gallery of Art

@somewhere_withsneha

Little one looking up at US Capitol

@thewanderlustmomma

Little one looking up at dinosaur in National History Museum

@skylar_arias_adventures

Travel Updates & Information

What's Open & Reopening in Washington, DC

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Travel Status Update

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More on Family-Friendly DC

Planet Word Museum Opening

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Your Guide to Visiting Planet Word

DC’s newest museum showcases the immense power of language through i...

Family shopping in City Center DC

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Staycation Hotel Deals in Washington, DC

Book a safe fall or winter getaway in your own backyard

Couple walking in Rock Creek Park

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4 Trails to Explore This Summer in Washington, DC

These paths, all part of the Capital Trails Coalition, are fit for a...

@eatthecapital - Dukes Counter

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15 Places to Grab the Best Cheeseburgers in Washington, DC

Grab a delicious cheeseburger at any of these awesome local spots

View of the water park at Six Flags America's Hurricane Harbor - Water parks in and around Washington, DC

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Where to Find Water Parks & Outdoor Pools In & Around Washington, DC

Your summer isn’t complete without visiting these outdoor hotel pool...

Dinosaur fossil at Fossil Hall at the National Museum of Natural History - Free Smithsonian Museum exhibit in Washington, DC

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6 Reasons Why You Must Visit the New Fossil Hall at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC

Don’t miss the highly anticipated ‘Deep Time’ exhibit, an absolut...

International Spy Museum

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Your Guide to Visiting the New International Spy Museum in Washington, DC

We’ve got everything you need to know about the new home for one o...

Free and family-friendly National Cherry Blossom Festival Blossom Kite Festival on the National Mall - Must-see Washington, DC events

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16 Must-See DC Events & Festivals

You won’t want to miss these signature events and festivals – man...

Families at the Hyatt House Washington hotel at The Wharf - The best kid-friendly hotels in Washington, DC

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10 Kid-Friendly Hotels in Washington, DC

Book an unforgettable family vacation at one of these hotels in the ...

Child at United States Botanic Garden on Capitol Hill - Free living museum in Washington, DC

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10 Reasons to Visit the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, DC

Discover natural beauty at this free-to-enter, kid-friendly landm...

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