If you have been around for a while, you will know I am not really a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal. But my husband took a last minute week off of work and we decided to plan a super quick trip to Washington D.C. as a family. And I have to say, it was such a good decision!
We didn’t have a lot of time to plan things out and were only planning to stay for three days. I did a ton of research and crowdsourcing on the best places to eat, the most exciting places for kids, and tips for navigating around the city. It was a major success and exactly what our little family needed.
D.C. is an easy trip from New York City with just a three ish hour drive. We rented a car from Sixt, a newer to the US car rental company. I have to say, I haven’t ever had a better experience with a car rental company. We got hooked up with a sweet Cadillac mid size SUV and the check in/drop off process was super fast and easy.
We had a few agendas for our long weekend getaway. See the sights. Eat amazing food. Take a deep breath and relax.
What to See When Traveling to D.C. with Kids
Now, much of what you can see in D.C. can take ages. And when you have a four and a half year old in tow, that is pretty much a recipe for disaster. Set your expectations to a level that you know both you and your kids can enjoy the sights.
We knew that at most, we could squeeze out two hours per museum. A bit more at the kid friendly ones, and a bit less elsewhere. The big monuments would be easy, as you can run, jump and play outside. The best part about D.C is that SO many spots have free entry, which makes it that much easier to call it a day when your kid is just done looking at old papers.
- National Air and Space Museum – This is a must visit. While it was under construction during our visit, we still had such a blast. From navigation to engineering to learning about the solar system, this was by far my oldest’s favorite spot!
- The National Archives – We made sure to chat a lot about some of the more exciting parts of U.S. history on our way, and told my oldest all about why we celebrate the Fourth of July. He was actually pretty excited to see the Declaration of Independence!
- Traveler Tip – Go here right before close. We arrived at 4:45 and there was zero line, which really helped!
- The White House – Obviously, this is one of those that you can’t miss. We ended up going around 8:00pm after dinner one night, and it was glorious. There were almost no people around, making it easy to get right up to the gate. My oldest ran, spider jumped and danced right in the middle of Pennsylvania Ave. It was a moment that I will always remember!
- Traveler Tip – You can visit The White House and take a tour, just make sure you have enough time to submit your request if this is high on your priority list!
- The Jefferson Memorial – I know everyone talks about the Lincoln Memorial, and while we did visit Abe, the Jefferson Memorial was such a dream. It is far less crowded, and gives the most stunning view of The Washington Monument. We picnic’d on the steps with cookies we had grabbed earlier in the day, and spent a glorious hour playing around.
- The Warf – This was our last stop before heading out of town, and we almost skipped it. But I am so glad we didn’t! It was just gorgeous and so peaceful on our midweek visit. There are lots of shops to peek into, restaurants, and you can get fresh cooked fish right on the dock. It was a great place to take Sheldon, and enjoy just a bit more time in beautiful Washington D.C.
Honorable Mentions
These were all amazing, but were probably the least enjoyed by our little travel partner.
- Georgetown
- The Holocaust Museum
- Capital Hill
Let’s Talk Food
Because let’s be real, this is the number one thing we research when we travel to a new spot. The food. There are always lists upon lists out there with where to eat, but getting first hand recommendations from people you trust is the way to go. So, I went to YOU guys for your suggestions.
To Not Be Missed
- Baked and Wired – It was my birthday the first day we were in D.C., so we stopped at Baked and Wired for cupcakes to eat along the Potomac River. Holy s*&@ these are some great cupcakes. They also serve a bomb latte and the lemon cake is to die for. Be sure to walk down the hill to enjoy your sweet treat with beautiful views of the river.
- Federalist Pig – My husband and I love to think we are BBQ critics, so we had to check this place out. It didn’t disappoint and was in such a cute part of town. Don’t skip the rib tips or the Brussels sprouts!!
- Ben’s Chili Bowl – To be honest, I wasn’t sold on this stop, but so many of you guys recommended we hit it up. Wow! This was definitely my oldest’s favorite spot, because hot dogs. But even I enjoyed it. The chili was just spicy enough. The fries were hot. And there is nothing quite like a vanilla milkshake as a midday pick me up.
- Jeni’s Ice Cream – We walked around Georgetown for a good two hours, and needed a sweet treat to tide us over till dinner. I had never had Jeni’s before, but OMG do we need one of these in NYC. Do not order anything other than the Ooey Butter Cake. Orgasmic, I tell you!
- District Doughnut – I’m not normally a doughnut girl (bagels are more my speed), but the doughnuts at District Doughnut are incredible. The Baklava and Nutella Dream were spot on.
Where to Skip
I always appreciate when people share things that didn’t quite hit the mark, and unfortunately we had one meals that just wasn’t great.
- Founding Farmers – This was probably the most suggested restaurant recommended to us, and it was by far the least exciting. Maybe it was an off night, but the service was subpar, the food was mediocre, and I definitely wouldn’t go back to dinner again. With that being said, the drinks were so fun and absolutely delish! Worth a stop to sit at the bar and enjoy an evening cocktail.
Traveling with Sheldon
We knew that we were going to bring Sheldon with us, which both complicates things and makes them less stressful at the same time. We haven’t had the best of luck with using a dog sitter, so it felt so much better to have our furry family member with us the whole trip.
We decided to find a pet friendly AirBnB. It gives us a bit more space to relax, is much less expensive than a pet friendly hotel, and gives us a little bit more peace of mind when traveling with the pup.
We packed Sheldon’s crate with us to keep him happy and not have to worry about any accidents in a home that wasn’t ours during our stay. Having him with us, also gave us an excuse to slow down a bit, come back mid day and recharge for late afternoon sightseeing.
I hope this gives you a little insight when planning your own family trip to D.C.! It was such a fun way to spend a few days, and honestly one of the most affordable weekend trips we have taken. We can’t wait to go back, as there is just so much to see and do.
Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? Share your personal recommendations in the comments below!
