We recently moved to the D.C. area, and I found myself on the lookout for a bunch of new things to do as a family. With summer in full swing, we have been looking for some fun things to do here as a family. If you are looking for some things to do in the Washington DC area & Northern Virginia, this list is perfect!
National Museum of Natural History
If you are looking for an interactive space that kids of all ages will enjoy, you can’t go wrong with the National Museum of Natural History! This place has everything from live tarantula feedings to a fossil basecamp for kids that will teach them everything about fossils from evolution to fossil dating.
U.S. Botanic Garden
One of the best parts of visiting the U.S. Botanic Garden is the cool scavenger hunt that you can get for your kids! It will send them all over the garden to find plants and get their passport stamped! There is also a Children’s Garden where kids can play and dig with shovels. Sometimes they can even help the staff plant and water the flowers there.
Madame Tussauds Washington, DC
Walk amongst some of the world’s greatest celebrities as you head to Madame Tussauds! You’ll find everything here from musicians and all the U.S. presidents! There are interactive selfie spots with lifelike wax figures that’ll make you do a double-take.
Visit the National Mall
There are a ton of monuments and memories here that you can visit for free! The National Mall has a bunch of free museums that you can visit any time of year! There are all kinds of experiences ranging from art to aviation!
Watkins Regional Park
This country park is well worth the trip as you’ll find a lot more than your usual playground equipment here. You can visit a ton of animals from peacocks to llama at the Old Maryland Farm. Make sure you have quarters handy to feed the birds at the Watkins Nature Center too! They have a fun Wizard of Oz playground and mini-golf for the whole family to enjoy.
Smithsonian National Zoo
You have never been to a zoo until you’ve visited this one! This is a must-do for any family, and one of the best things to do is head down Asia Trail! Here you’ll see giant pandas, red pandas, and so much more! There are more than 1,000 different animals in this zoo, so there’s no shortage of animals.
Rock Creek Park
Head to Rock Creek Park for their Planetarium! Here, you’ll find the only planetarium that is operated by the National Park service! You can explore the universe and see seasonal night sky spectaculars all year long. All of their programs are free to attend, and if you don’t want to visit the planetarium, you can head to the Nature Center.
Whether you are looking for a fun date with your spouse or a fun time with your kids, you can’t go wrong with any of these things to do in the Washington DC area! In light of recent events, make sure to check all of their websites or social media pages to see if they’re open & hours.
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For more local insights on things to do in Washington DC, check out the local moms blog! Mom Collective Blog
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