Washington D.C. is a top tourist destination, especially for the Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring. There is definitely a lot to do, with or without kids. Compared to other cities, it’s not the liveliest at night, but still offers enough activities and great restaurants. Living in Virginia, D.C. is where we go when we want a proper outing and actually feel like making the drive. The kids love when we go there for an activity or just for dinner, but they don’t like the car ride (even though it’s only an hour). Some of our favorite spots are the Smithsonian Museums and Zoo, the National Arboretum, Georgetown Waterfront, Alexandria Old Town, and many more. There are many places to visit that are free admission, which makes it a great spot for families.

When I first moved to Arlington, Virginia, I loved walking around and exploring D.C., particularly gardens. My favorite ones are the National Arboretum, Dumbarton Oaks Museum, and Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens. The Arboretum and Kenilworth are a bit outside of D.C., but are near each other (12 min drive) and can be done in the same day. Both the National Arboretum and Kenilworth offer FREE parking and admission – always a plus! Kenilworth is great in the summer when the water lilies are in bloom. Dumbarton Oaks and the Arboretum were places I visited more than once since there was more to see at different times of the year.

The Arboretum is quite large and has a cool spot for photos with large columns (National Capitol Columns) in the Ellipse Meadow, which were part of the United States Capitol from 1828 to 1958. Also to see at the Arboretum, one of my favorite sections, is the Azalea Collection. These are in bloom in the spring, between April and May. Another section is the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. There are also magnolias, dogwoods, conifers, and more. It’s definitely a great spot for a nice a walk and the kids will love all of the space to run around. Be sure to check their Bloom Calendar here to see what’s blooming before you visit.

Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens – parking is street parking and timed-entry tickets for the Regular Season are $15, plus a $2.79 fee (children under 2 are free). *NO tickets are sold at the gate and must be pre-purchased online. The entry time is between the time shown on the ticket and when the gardens close at 5:30pm. The gardens are only open Tuesday-Sunday, and not until 2:00pm. A paid ticket is required for the gardens only, the museum is free and open from 11:30am-5:30pm Tuesday to Sunday. The Museum holds a collection of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art. In the Gardens you’ll find daffodils, irises, tulips, azaleas, cherry trees, magnolia trees, and more. There is a section in the gardens called “Cherry Hill” where you can see the cherry blossoms (when in season).

During the cherry blossom season in DC, the main spot to visit is around the Tidal Basin, where the Thomas Jefferson Monument is, but there are many other spots around DC where you can find the beautiful trees without the crowds. If you’re wanting the experience though, and that iconic photo, then the Tidal Basin is the spot to go. It’s definitely beautiful during peak bloom. Two places that I enjoy seeing the blossoms at to avoid the crowds are Dumbarton Oaks Museum and the National Arboretum. Honestly though, there are so many random spots with cherries where you can stop and snap a beautiful photo.

On the western side of the Tidal Basin, there is the MLK Jr. Memorial, which is a nice little spot. Northwest of that is the Lincoln Memorial, which I loved going to for sunrise photos of the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument. There are also several other memorials around this area and along the National Mall. For the Washington Monument, tickets to go in are only $1 (for advanced purchase) or FREE at the window (everyone must have a ticket). Demand far exceeds the availability so, you should probably book in advance and right when they are released via recreation.gov daily, at 10:00am. They can be purchased 30 days in advance. Shockingly, I personally have never gone to the top so, I can’t say whether it’s amazing or not, but it’s worth a try since it’s free (or just $1).

Other free things to do in DC besides visiting the Tidal Basin, White House (1 miles north of the Monument) and memorials are: The Smithsonian Museum National Museum if American History, the Zoo, the Air and Space Museum, Museum of African American History and Culture, and many more! I highly recommend Museum of American History as there is lots to see and explore there and the kids love it. Another favorite of mine and the kids’ is the Air and Space Museum. There are two locations – one in DC and one in Virginia – both are cool, but I like the activities for kids at the one in DC. The National Zoo is also wonderful. It’s not the largest zoo, but I like that there are so many trees throughout, making it more enjoyable to stroll around on a hot summer day – and it’s free. Near the zoo there’s Rock Creek Park with great nature trails so, if you’re in the area for one, check out the other. I have yet to visit the Museum of African American History as it wasn’t built until after we left Arlington, but I have heard great things about it.

Heading North from the National Zoo and Rock Creek Park is Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens. It’s about a mile walk from the nearest metro station (Cleveland Park). Parking here is limited. The entrance fee for adults is $20 and $5 for children ages 6-18. Under 6 is free. I took some friends a couple of times and we enjoyed it. There is a cafe on site, but I never got anything from there. There are docent-led tours and it’s interesting to see all of the rooms and design from the early 1900s. I would recommend it for anyone that enjoys touring mansions.

One of our favorite hang-out spots in DC is the Georgetown Waterfront. There are many restaurants and several stores to shop at. We love walking along the river and sitting on the steps there to enjoy the view. There’s also a nice a grassy area for the kids to run around. There are some restaurants on the waterfront and dessert spots nearby to grab some ice cream or something to enjoy while walking. You can also grab a boat sightseeing tour from there. It was many years ago that we did that so I don’t quite remember which company we booked through, but I think it was Capitol River Cruises. Tickets start at $25 for adults and $15 for kids ages 3-12. The tour takes 45 minutes.

Another favorite spot of mine is in Arlington – just a hop over the bridge – where there’s the Mount Vernon Trail. I went for so many walks along here – it extends for miles and is so beautiful and peaceful walking along the river. I would start my walk in Crystal City and head North towards Rosslyn. Along the way there’s Gravelly Point where you can watch the planes from Reagan National Airport taking off or landing, flying right over your head. The kids love going there for a picnic and watching the planes while they run around. From there, the trail leads to Theodore Roosevelt Island – I nice little gem with a nature trail. The total round trip distance including walking around the island, is about 11 miles.

Now for the food – see below.

As you can see, there is so much to do in D.C. for free and great places to eat and there are so many other places I didn’t list here that I haven’t explored, but most of the top free spots I covered. The Metro in D.C. isn’t the greatest so, I would recommend getting around by car, unless you’re okay with a lot of walking. I hope you can make a trip and enjoy all that D.C. has to offer!

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