Spring Break is right around the corner and we think Washington D.C. would be a perfect family vacation. In this post we are going to share what we did during our Spring Break In Washington DC: A Family Vacation Guide.
A couple years ago we took our children to Washington DC for the first time. I have to be honest I was a little nervous when I was planning this trip. I wasn’t sure how our children would like it since it wasn’t our normal fun filled Disney vacation.
To my surprise our kids absolutely loved our trip to DC and have been talking about it ever since. They have even mentioned wanting to go back as there was so much that we didn’t get to experience during our time there.
Below, I’m going to share with you some of our favorite things we saw and experienced during our 4 day vacation to Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas, many of which were free. Yes you heard that right free!
National Museum of Natural History
This was our first stop during our time in DC. Just a couple blocks down from the National Mall this museum is packed with tons of fascinating history honoring this beautiful planet.
It is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and admission is free.
When you enter the museum you will meet Henry the 11-ton African Elephant who stands tall in the museum’s rotunda. From there you can explore bone hall and hall of fossils where you can see skeletons from giant dinosaurs like the T-Rex, massive sea turtles, grey whale and more.
How about coming face-to-face with a 52-foot-long model of the mega-toothed shark or get a close up look at the 45.5-carat Hope Diamond.
There is so much to see and explore in this museum that you could easily spend a full day here.
Tip: You can expect a full security screening upon arrive. Food is not permitted in the museum, however there are numerous food trucks outside the museum where you can grab a bite eat after exploring the museum.
Washington Monument
What’s a trip to DC without seeing the monument in honor of the United States’ first president, George Washington?
This was on my kids bucket list and let me tell you it was so cool to look up from the base of this 555-foot marble tower. They were in awe as the monument towered above them.
You can enter the monument, however tickets are required. You can make a reservation at recreation.gov . The tickets are free however there is a $1.00 service charge per advance ticket.
You can also reserve tickets 30 days in advance, but if time slots are not available you can try to get tickets the day before you plan to visit. You can find these tickets at the Washington Monument Lodge starting at 8:45 a.m. These tickets are free and on a first-come basis.
The monument is surrounded by tons of beautiful open grass areas, so we recommend packing a lunch or grabbing something from a near by food truck and enjoyIng the scenery.
If you’re lucky you can catch the gorgeous cherry blossom trees. Unfortunately, we went in the beginning of April and most of the trees had already lost their flowers, but we managed to find a couple.
Cherry blossom season typically is around the last week of March into the first week of April, depending on the weather.
For all the information on this monument and link to reserve tickets click the link here.
National Mall and Memorial Parks
There are several other monuments, in addition to the Washington Monument, to see within the National Mall. Like I said before, If you can experience the Mall during peak cherry blossom season the views are spectacular.
We caught the tail end of the flowers so we only saw a few trees in bloom, also they had the reflecting pool drained, however it was still very cool to see.
Here you will see memorials like the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, National World War II Memorial, and our favorite the Lincoln Memorial.
One of our favorite locations besides being front and center of the Lincoln Memorial, is the view from atop the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial. Here you can enjoy the spectacular view of the Reflecting pool, World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument.
If you would like more information on the National Mall, tours and near by Memorial Parks click here.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is a beautiful granite building with a gold torch atop its dome. It has an elaborate interior filled with a vast amount of literary treasures including the Gutenberg Bible and what started the literacy expansion, the Printing press.
You can visit the library Tuesday through Saturday. You must book a free time-entry ticket prior to arrival. These tickets can be reserved through the library website.
During our visit my kids so badly wanted to see the main reading room, however you must be 16 years or older to access this . There is a viewing balcony to get a birds eye view of the popular library.
To secure your free timed entry ticket or find out more information on library hours click the link here.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The Smithsonian Zoo is home to 2,200 animals and the best part is it is absolutely free! The zoo is open every day except December 25th. Their winter hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the last entry at 3 p.m and they are open until 6 p.m. in the summer.
You must have an entry pass to enter the zoo. The passes are free and can be reserved up to 4 weeks in advance for each person in your party. To reserve your free passes click here.
Here you will see everything from red panda, cheetah, elephants, gorilla, lions and more.
The only challenge we had while visiting the zoo was finding parking. The zoo is in the heart of northwest Washington D.C. so parking is very challenging. We recommend getting to the zoo early as many of the near by street parking fills up fast.
Now, if you’re wondering about food while visiting, you are allowed to bring in food and non-alcoholic drinks. They do have several quick service restaurants and food trucks, however it can get pretty expensive.
Arlington National Cemetery/Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
One of the most memorable experiences of this entire trip was our visit to the Arlington National Cemetery. There was something so humbling about honoring and remembering past and present military members and their families.
The cemetery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there is a bus available for those who need it to reach the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
For more information about the National Cemetery check out the official website here.
National Archives Museum
If you have seen the movie National Treasure with Nicholas Cage and love it just as much as our family, then you have to visit the National Archives Museum.
Home to the Declaration of Independance, Constitution and the Bill of Rights, it makes you feel like you’re stepping into the National Treasure movie yourself.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Entry is free and does not require a reservation to enter however reservations are recommended during the month of March and around Labor Day.
There are no photos or videos allowed when viewing the documents and your bags will be throughly searched upon arrival to the museum.
Old Town Alexandria
Located just minutes from Washington D.C,, Old Town is the heart of Alexandria. It rests along the Potomac River, with brick-lined side walks and century old buildings. It is absolutely adorable and a must stop spot.
There are numerous boutiques, restaurants and live music that will keep you fully entertained while visiting.
Visit Old Town Alexandria for a full listing of historical attractions, restaurants and more.
National Harbor
National Harbor is another really fun location to spend a few hours or even a full day of your trip. When you arrive you won’t miss the iconic Capital Wheel (Ferris wheel) that stands 180-feet and has views of D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
The Waterfront District was one of our favorite locations. There is a great beach area for kids to run and play and there is also a variety of restaurants, shops, entertainment and night life entertainment that is fun for the whole family.
You can check out a full listing of places to stay, restaurants and more at the National Harbor Website.
Whether you are looking for a last minute spring break vacation or want to immerse yourself into our Nations history, Washington DC is a great vacation for all ages.
If you want to check out some of our other adventures like our recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or our adventures around Oahu, Hawaii, click here.