There are hundreds of free and low-cost attractions in Washington DC, America's capital, the place to celebrate all presidents and their legacies.

One of DC's unique perks for families is Children's Concierge (877/888-5462), a special service that plans individual, supervised itineraries for visitors of all ages, all needs, and with all interests. Try to find time to book a free walking tour with Free Tours By Foot, who offer a 2-hour guided adventure at no cost, just for tips!  For lodging suggestions in the area, see Hotels in Washington DC. For general information, contact the Washington DC Convention and Tourism Corporation at 800/422-8644. Please keep in mind that visitors are subjected to a baggage search at many of the Washington attractions, so try to carry as little as possible.

Great Fun for the Kids

(Toddler to Age 8)

National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
202/673-4800
Open Daily: 10am to 6pm from April-October, 10 am to 5pm from November- March.
Established in 1889, the National Zoo is home more than 2,000 animals of 400 different species, many of whom are rare or endangered, including the Giant Panda. Young children love wildlife, but you'll have to bring a stroller to enjoy one of the nation's largest zoos. It's a beautifully maintained, landscaped 163-acre park, not far from the center of the city. A note of advice though; during the summer months, when Washington is hot and humid, the zoo is not the place to be. Trust us on this.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
14th & C Streets, SW
Washington, DC 20228
202/874-3019, 866/874-2330
Open Monday through Friday: 9am to 10:45am and 12:30pm to 2pm with tours every 15 minutes. The Treasury Department presses turn out billions of dollars in bills annually, making "The Money Factory" one of the capital's most popular (and most crowded) attractions. The sight of a room full of printing machines spewing money is one that won't soon be forgotten by an older child (or adult, for that matter). However, the rushed guided tour is not as satisfying as lingering in the money museum and superb, reasonably priced gift shop. Free tours require same-day tickets during the peak season from March to August.

Washington Monument
15th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20001
202/426-6841
Open Daily: 9am to 10pm. Rising 555 feet above the ground, the Washington Monument stands as a symbol of the capital city. A painless elevator ride to the observation deck at the top offers a magnificent view of the entire city, and all of the other landmarks that will be part of a DC visit. Tickets can be reserved by calling 877/444-6777, or earlybirds can get free tickets the morning of their visit at kiosks on the grounds.

Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20002
202/633-5555
Open Daily: 10am to 5:30pm. Blessedly far away from the tourist masses huddling on The Mall, this is a fascinating and engaging small museum where your kids can climb into an original Pony Express mail wagon, make their own photo postcards and learn some trivia about stamps, their design, and how the postal system changed America's history. Follow up your visit with lunch at the historic Union Station train terminal across the way. 

Fun for Older Children

(Up to Age 18)

National Air and Space Museum
6th St and Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20560
202/633-1000
Open Daily: 10am to 5:30pm. Anyone with even the slightest interest in flight or space travel will be more than satisfied with an afternoon spent at the National Air and Space Museum. From the 1903 Wright Brothers flyer to the Apollo 11 command module, there's tons to explore. Recently opened at Washington's Dulles International Airport in nearby Virginia, the new Udvar-Hazy Center offers a spacious facility for the display of even more of the collection of the Air and Space Museum. On view is the Space Shuttle Enterprise, an SR-71 Blackbird and the B-29 Enola Gay, as well as helicopters, rockets, and experimental aircraft. Call the Udvar-Hazy Center (202/633-1000) for details about the collection and presentations or follow the link from the NASM website above.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20535
202/324-3447
One of the most popular attractions, this facility is closed for renovation until further notice. Please check their website or call for updates.

National Archives
700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20408
866/272-6272
Open Daily: 10am to 5:30pm from Labor Day to mid-March, and 10am to 7pm from mid-March through Labor Day. There is no reason to spend more than an hour or so here, but some of the National Archives documents on display in the Rotunda of the Exhibition Hall can be stirring for any child that has studied our nation in elementary school: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These "Charters of Freedom" are back on display after a careful re-encasement project.

National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street & Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20560
202/633-1000
Constructed on the last open space available on the National Mall, the NMAI opened its doors in September 2004, after 15 years of planning. Both the impressive building and the exhibitions are designed from a Native American viewpoint. "Our Peoples: Giving Voice to Our Histories" is a fascinating exploration of Native Americans' struggles presented in their own words, with displays of objects and artifacts documenting their lives. Other exhibits focus on ceremonies and spiritual beliefs and the contemporary world of Native peoples. Also on view are totem poles, sculptures, carvings and weavings, as well as groundbreaking works by contemporary Native artists.

Ford’s Theatre
511 10th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
202/426-6924
Open Daily: from 9am-5pm; the box office, where visitors can pick up their free tickets, is open from 8:30am to 5pm.  The site where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, Ford’s Theatre recently re-opened as a National Historic Site in July of 2009.  Tickets include slated entry time into the basement museum which contains a variety of historic artifacts and interactive exhibits that illustrate Lincoln’s presidency and the Civil War.  Plus, access is granted to the newly restored and renovated theatre itself, where visitors can hear a Park Ranger “talk” about the events of the evening Lincoln came to see the play Our American Cousin.  After catching a glimpse of the Presidential Booth, visitors can head across the street to the Petersen House (open from 9:30am-5:30pm) where Lincoln eventually died hours after being shot.  Note the theatre is an active playhouse and thus visitors should check the website as box office hours vary if there is a performance scheduled.  Families interested in theater, should consider purchasing tickets to a play.

Fun for the Family

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20006
202/456-7041
Tours are conducted Tuesdays through Saturdays: 7:30am to 12:00pm. After a post-September 11, 2001 boost in security, The White House now offers tours again for groups of 10 or more. Such groups should submit a request six months in advance through their Congressional Representative. Call for more details. Once inside, marvel at a beautiful collection of furniture and art that has been collected by first families for over two hundred years. And of course, marvel at being inside the White House!

The US Capitol
Capitol Hill at east end of the Mall
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-6827
Historian Allan Nevins once called it "the spirit of America in stone" and the Capitol is perhaps the most important building in the history of the nation. Around the walls of the central Rotunda, paintings depicting prominent historical events are displayed. In the first year since its December 2008 opening, more than 2.3 million people have visited the Capitol Visitor Center, a well designed and dramatic space where families can see a 13-minute film about Congress and the building of the Capitol, and an exhibit of rarely-seen artifacts and documents. Instead of 2-3 hour waits, most visitors can go right into the center, tour the gift shops and even dine (and the food is quite good!) in the new restaurant. Free tours and lectures are scheduled regularly, and audio tours via cellphone are always available. To enter and get a glimpse of the legislative chambers, a pass from your local member of Congress is necessary.

Lincoln Memorial
900 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20024
202/426-6841
Open Daily: 9:30am to 11:30pm. The stunning neoclassic architecture surrounding a larger-than-life statue of one of our nation's most beloved men seldom fails to render visitors to the Lincoln Memorial silent for a few moments. To the east is the reflecting pool, a stunning sight on a sunny day, providing a view of the Washington Monument and the Capitol beyond. Inside the monument, take time to read the Gettysburg Address which is inscribed in the limestone structure, and look closely at Lincoln's head; occasionally birds make their nests upon it!

Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia 22211
(703) 607-8000
Open Daily: 8am until-7pm (April through September), until 5pm (October-March).  Although located outside of Washington D.C., over 200 acres surround the Arlington House, making this cemetery the resting place for more than 300,000 American citizens, including veterans from every war (Revolutionary through Iraq) buried on the grounds.  Overlooking the Potomac, the land originally belonged to George Washington’s adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis.  Ironically, his only child, Mary Anna Randolph Custis married childhood friend, Robert E. Lee.  After the Civil War, the land was never returned to the family, the government made it into a cemetery.  Must-sees include the Kennedy Graves, the Tomb of the Unknowns where visitors can watch the Changing of the Guard, and Lee’s former residence, the Arlington House.  The grounds are big so families should take a tour to limit walking. 

Tourmobile stops at all of the aforementioned locations and picks up visitors at each stop every 15-20 minutes.