Guest post by lbarkan
Map tips: each color represents a different day. Click a marker to learn more about the spot, and click the star in the map header to save the entire map under Your Places in Google Maps.
Day 1: Smithsonian National Zoological Park
We drove from Ohio and were staying with family in Olney, Maryland. We parked at subway stations and took public transportation to the sites each day. Day 1 we went to the zoo, which was amazing (especially since it doesn’t cost to get in). Highly recommend.
Day 2
- Natural History Museum
- Old Post Office Pavilion
It was raining so we went to the museum. Got to see the dinosaur exhibit area, which had been closed for years. Kids loved it.
The Old Post Office is in the highest building in downtown DC (inside the Trump Hotel) and it’s free to go to the top. One of the best views overlooking the area.
Day 3: National Air and Space Museum
We drove to the National Air and Space Museum in Virginia, which was 45 minutes from where we were staying and about the same time if you’re coming from DC. There’s a full space shuttle and lots of airplanes. Another free attraction, great for families.
Day 4
- Foggy Bottom-GWU
- White House
- Lincoln Memorial
- World War II Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Jefferson Memorial
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Foggy Bottom is the subway station closest to the White House and Lincoln Memorial. We walked past the White House first – never got super close, except to the backside, which is the closest you can get. We then walked all the way to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum with many stops along the way.
It’s a bit of a hike because you have to go around the pond and cross the water to the Jefferson Memorial, but all are worth seeing. We didn’t have much time at the air and space museum and would like to have spent more time there, but are glad we went to the one in Virginia the day before.
Washington D.C. is a very affordable destination for families since all the memorials and museums are free. The highs were in the 70s, perfect temperature in June 2019.
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