We’re nearing the end of summer, and it’s about this time each year that every parent, babysitter, or nanny has heard those fateful words at least once (and possibly more like a dozen times)… “I’m bored!”
While there’s evidence to show that boredom can be good for kids, you can only make sand art so many days in a week. At some point, you’ll want to gather the brood and head off on a wild adventure. And if you live in or near D.C., you are in luck! The city is brimming with cool, free activities that will make a big splash with your kids.
Visit the National Zoo
Address: 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Hours:
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Grounds: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Last admittance is 6 p.m.
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Exhibit buildings: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Amazonia opens at 10 a.m.
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Dining & shopping: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
With its focus on conservation and webcams that allow you to watch the pandas, lions, and elephants (oh my!), there’s a lot to love about the National Zoo. Boasting over 1,500 animals on 163 acres, the zoo has plenty to see and do. We have all been aflutter, waiting to see if our famous panda mom, Mei Xiang, is going to have another baby soon. And to celebrate World Tiger Day on July 29, the Great Cat keepers were excited to announce that the Sumatran tiger cub born July 11 appears to be a boy! Make time this summer to visit the National Zoo, and you may catch a glimpse of his mother, Damai, and his father, Sparky.
Explore Rock Creek Park
Address: 3545 Williamsburg Lane NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Hours: Open year-round during daylight hours
Are you tired of the hustle and bustle of the city? Want to expose your kids to the great outdoors? Rock Creek Park has your back. Nestled on 1,754 acres of beautiful green space, the park includes a nature center, a planetarium, the oldest building in Washington, and, um, even coyotes. The planetarium features a special show for children ages 4 to 10 every Wednesday at 4 p.m. The nature center is open Wednesday through Sunday, and you can meet a park ranger and learn about the park’s natural history. And with over 32 miles of trails to explore, you can pack a picnic basket and spend the day enjoying nature. Just make sure you bring along a map of the park so you don’t get lost!
Check Out Every One of the Smithsonian Museums
Addresses & hours vary by museum: Click here for detailed information.
Seriously, check out all of them. And the galleries, too. One of the funny things about living in a tourist town is that so often its own residents never have time to visit its gems. This is especially true when you live in fast-paced D.C. But these museums and galleries are among the best in the nation. Let’s make time.
Start with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Admission is free, but you’ll need to acquire a timed entry pass for the morning you want to head out. The American Museum of Natural History is popular with kids of all ages. Also be sure to hit the National Museum of the American Indian, the American Art Museum, the National Museum of American History, and the National Air and Space Museum. And before you go, take a look at the Smithsonian Institution’s webpage on Visiting with Kids so you don’t miss a thing.
See the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Address: 1850 W. Basin Drive SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
Hours: Open 24/27
Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy is larger than life. So it makes sense that his monument is, too. The memorial sits on 4 acres of the National Mall and honors King’s words and actions in the fight for justice, equality, and civil rights. While you’re there, you can easily visit the Lincoln Memorial and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, as well. A bookstore, restrooms, and drinking fountains are located across West Basin Drive near the main entrance. Challenge your elementary or middle school child to find the spot on the steps where King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Dip Your Toe in a D.C. Public Pool
Addresses & hours vary by pool: Click here for detailed information.
If you live in the city, you swim for free! Bring along an ID or even your utility bill and you and your little ones can cool off in any of D.C.’s 21 outdoor pools or jump into the deep end at one of the 10 indoor aquatic centers. With so many pools to choose from, there’s likely one close to your home. And if you don’t live in the city, you can still take advantage of the free spray parks. There is one in every ward in the city. If you live in Maryland or Northern Virginia, there is very likely a spray ground in your town. Check out the Downtown Silver Spring Fountain or the Fairfax Corner Interactive Fountain. Generally open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, these pools and parks are sure to please your little merman or mermaid.
Catch a Free Show at the National Theatre
Address: 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Free Show Hours: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Every Saturday from fall to spring, the National Theatre holds two free shows at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. You can reserve tickets online a week before the show. The fall season starts Sept. 9. The shows are designed for kids ages 4 to 10, but all ages are welcome! It’s a great, inexpensive way to introduce your budding actress or playwright to the stage.
Drop by the Library of Congress
Address: 10 First St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20540
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Library of Congress might not seem like the first place to take your little ones, but it is actually wonderful for kids. There are free walking tours, and during peak business hours they offer special tours geared toward kids ages 6 to 14. They also have a Young Readers Center, open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., where you can read to your children or participate in one of their many activities. Be sure to print out the activity sheets before you head over. They will keep your kids engaged and interested while your whole group explores the rest of the building.
Score a Free Ticket at the Shakespeare Theatre Company Free for All
Address: 610 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Hours: Performances run Aug. 15-27
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Tuesday & Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
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Thursday & Friday, 8 p.m.
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Saturday, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
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Sunday, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
If you’re passionate about Shakespeare and want to pass that love down to the kids in your care, you must check out the Shakespeare Theatre Company Free for All. Children must be at least 5 to get a ticket, and it is probably more ideal for tweens and teens. Still, it is almost never too early to meet William Shakespeare. You can enter the ticket lottery the day before the show and have the chance to score up to two tickets. If you have a bigger group, your best bet is to go early to the performance and get in the ticket line. They have a block of tickets set aside for Free for All-ers. And bonus, they give out coupons to local restaurants and a host of other goodies. The next season starts in mid-August, so get thee ready!
Experience the Drum Circle at Meridian Hill
Address: 16th Street NW & W Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
Drum circle hours: Sundays, 3 p.m.
Bored on a Sunday? Head on out to Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park and witness a 40-year tradition that is still going strong. The drum circle starts at 3 p.m. every Sunday, and it is powerful and positive. Adults and kids of all ages are welcome. Watch dancers, tightrope walkers, hula-hoopers, and jugglers do their thing. Some have said it offers a spiritual lift that is difficult to find elsewhere on the busy D.C. streets.
Tour the White House
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20500
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Friday & Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
It would be difficult to list the 10 best free things to do in D.C. and not include a visit to the White House. Tours are free, but getting tickets is a somewhat complicated process. You must submit your request to your congressional representative at least 21 days in advance, but not more than three months in advance. You will need to supply a bit of detailed personal information, and tours are, on occasion, subject to last-minute cancellation. Nevertheless, it is worth the hassle to see the historic building where 45 presidents have made their home and governed our land.
