Space... the final frontier.... Whether you're a kid, or just a kid at heart, your mind will wander…read morewith the possibilities of seeing the actual vehicles and relics of historical significance and marvel at the drive of the human spirit to first take flight, then zoom past the curvature of the ocean until you hit new land, and, finally, break the bonds of gravity and stake your claim in the cosmos. I've been so many times, and it's free to go and see these incredible achievements of humanity in real life. You can look at the lunar capsule and imagine the bravery and ingenuity of the millions of people whose guts and brains it took, over thousands of years, to make such an achievement possible. This is the true legacy of humanity and it inspires while posing the question, what is next for mankind....

We loved coming to the air and space museum. We got the 10 am tickets for when it opened and the…read moreline wrapped around the building. We had a lot of fun here and watched one of the IMAX shows which was about the future of space, it was perfect timing because the astronaut on Artimus II was in it and it was the day they launched. My only wish is that it wasn't so crowded or a way to have less people to be able to enjoy exhibits more and have it be less overwhelming. My kiddo was definitely overwhelmed and overstimulated as were we. We didn't get though everything but all the top floor and some of the first. The cafe doesn't have a ton of food options and the line gets long but it was what we had for lunch.

Small kids play area located on the first floor of the American history museum. Nothing big or…read morefancy but a good spot that is enclosed with staff at the doors so kids can play freely in the area.

If you have littles, the Wegman's Wonderspace on the first floor of the National Museum of American…read moreHistory is a great place to get your wiggles out on a cold or rainy day. Concept wise, this place is tops! There is a special seating area for parents, a child-sized replica of Julia Child's kitchen, farm replica complete with a hen house, construction area, and the piece de resistance -- a discovery climbing station. There is a museum employee at the front door who helps check guests in, but I suggest having an actual play space attendant to make sure that things do not go array. It can get crowded quick and there are lot of really big kids mixed in with the babies/toddlers and I feel like if there is not dedicated eyes on all corners things could get pretty crazy. Bring a pack of sanitizer wipes, lower your expectations, and make sure you are keeping an eye on your child and you'll have a great time!

I must have visited this museum half a dozen times over the years, but each and every time, it…read morefeels so fresh...and always so awe-inspiring! It's been over a decade since we last visited...and it felt as if I visited it the first time. So many new additions, it seems? I was especially interested in seeing the parts of the museum featuring the Dinosaurs and the Human Evolution...as I recently saw series on Netflix and PBS. The exhibits on both were phenomenal. I won't go into too much details since everything has been written and then some by other Yelpers...but all I can say is that this should be part of each and every DC trip. It's definitely one of the more popular (bustling!) Smithsonian museums...and with good reason! It's truly a treat to see this and other amazing exhibits and art works at these Smithsonian museums...and all for free!

4.5 stars Great…read moremuseum with a lot to see. It's free and you don't have to reserve a ticket. I spent about 2-2.5 hours here one afternoon and still didn't get to see everything, so I came back the next day and it was still very fast paced. They have a lot of great specimens (including mummies) and some of my favorites like the Hope Diamond, all the gems, and the ocean critters. 2026 #13

I was raised in the greater DC metropolitan area and began visiting the museum at age eight…read more There have been many changes and updates to the Air and Space Museum, and the hardware is magnificent. I noticed that not one spacecraft -- particularly the robotic -- have a single description of the hardware. Why not? What visitor has looked up at the Mariner or Voyager spacecraft and wondered what the components are. Same for the Martian landers and surface robots. I think the Museum staff is missing the point: it's great to have the machine there, but explain something about its structure and components -- and explain the hardware's purpose. I noticed a lot of young children in the museum. I don't mind them, but the experience is lost on them, too young to understand what they're seeing, or to understand most explanations. I noticed several of them falling down stairs yesterday, unsupervised by the adults with them. Perhaps there should be a lower age limit? (There were no apparent injuries to any of the kids.) Last of all: there is an exhibit about SPEED. Know what populates the exhibit? Cars. Really? How does this apply to an Air and Space museum? Just filling up the space? Don Garlitz and Mario Andretti are no doubt legends in their time, but what does this have to do with aviation or spaceflight? There are dozens -- if not hundreds -- of speed records set in manned aviation and spaceflight: why not have these records posted? This exhibit was exceptionally disappointing. All in all: I think the leaders of the museum have lost their vision.

The National Air and Space Museum is absolutely worth a visit when you're visiting Washington DC…read more It's on the national Mall and one of the best of the museums. We spent about two hours there in total and it was incredible. We found that the Wright Brothers Section was one the most enjoyable to us. A very extensive history of aviation as well as land speed records. Their Gift Shop is absolutely amazing as well. Reservations are required and you cannot enter and tell the time of your reservation. Associates are quite welcoming and friendly when you enter. Overall, A+ experience!

One word: breathtaking! This place is absolutely…read morebreathtaking! I am so in awe of the history and detail that lies within this place!! To our beautiful and wonderful tour guide, Kim, thank you for this memorable experience! If you ever get a chance to step inside the Naval Observatory, you won't be disappointed (unless you're lame and you hate history, then that's on you)! Every bit of this tour left me wanting to learn and research more! And our tour guide's knowledge was so vast and in depth... I truly don't know how she is able to retain and store all of the knowledge about the observatory that she shared with us (which was sooo much)! Again, thank you Kim!!

Beautiful grounds. Would love to come here again if invited. Really enjoyed the Christmas decor,…read moreespecially the gingerbread house. The Navy Band is incredible.

A Spectacular Journey Through Washington, D.C…read more The views throughout Washington, D.C. are nothing short of breathtaking. I started by taking in the skyline from a rooftop, which set the tone for what would become a truly unforgettable tour. The vantage point from the Marine Corps Memorial was powerful and inspiring, with Arlington Cemetery stretching solemnly behind it, reminding me of the deep history and sacrifice embedded in this city. Standing at the Lincoln Memorial, I was able to see the iconic sweep of the National Mall, the Washington Monument rising proudly in the distance. Walking down toward it, every step felt like strolling through the center of American history. Cutting across to the Jefferson Memorial, I was greeted by a beautiful structure perfectly reflected in the surrounding waters--absolutely outstanding. From there, I could look back across the Mall and glimpse the White House anchored in the heart of the capital. That view alone was gorgeous. Approaching the Washington Monument up close was awe-inspiring, its height dominating the city's horizon. The next day, I continued this incredible journey by seeing the White House from all sides--the north, the west, and the south--each angle offering a different look at one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Finally, strolling down the streets lined with federal institutions--from the Department of Labor, to the IRS, to the Securities and Exchange Commission--really showcased the power and importance of the nation's government at work. And as a perfect finale, I arrived at the magnificent Capitol Building on Capitol Hill, standing proudly above it all. From start to finish, the views around Washington, D.C. are stunning, historical, and moving--a visual reminder of the incredible story of America.

What a cool place to show off the hub of the DMV! From 31…read morefloors up and not including the outside observation deck, you can see all of the DMV for several miles on a clear day. This is the perfect place to bring new visitors to this area to see all the major landmarks all at once. Ofcr. Adams was kind enough to escort me to the observation floor and point out all the cool places to show off on my next visit! Despite the city atmosphere, parking is pretty decent and the Rosslyn Metro is right across the street.

Located across from the Fashion Centre in Pentagon City, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)…read moreMuseum is excellent and a worthwhile visit. It's also free. Plan on taking an hour for your visit. But to enter the museum, you must go through airport-style security, i.e. show your ID, take all the stuff out of your pockets (plus take off your belt if you are wearing one) and go through a scanner. This makes sense because this also the headquarters of the DEA. Security is so tight that even after going through the scanner there's another security checkpoint at the elevators that go to the DEA offices (the museum is on the first floor so there's no need to take an elevator). The museum itself is clean, modern and attractive with lots of interesting exhibits. I liked the interactive exhibit where you role play as an agent seeking to nab the supplier of drugs that are dropped off at a car wash. I was kinda surprised to see a photo here of the sheriff from the Washington State community I grew up in picking/confiscating poppies in a field. I really appreciated that the language used in the exhibits was objective and matter-of-fact. You don't see hysterical 1930's-style Reefer Madness propaganda. I was the only museum visitor during my time there. Ironically, after I left the museum, I saw a woman wearing a government badge smoking a joint out on the sidewalk nearby (to be fair, I don't know if this lady was a DEA employee).

Came here with my boyfriend. Learned a lot through the exhibits. It's small and you're able to…read morecomplete it within an hour. You'll need to present your ID and go through a metal detector. Museum itself is free.

Funny story - I was looking for kid-friendly ideas of things to do in DC and asked ChatGPT for…read moreideas. One of the responses was the Planet Word museum, which I never heard of. I looked it up and decided to try it! They recommend you get timed passes online ahead of time; it's free but they do recommend a donation. This museum is SO COOL! As someone who loves different languages and words I loved everything about this place! My kids loved all of the interactivity. There is a room with an interactive word wall and you can interact and answer and request more info on the history of certain words. For example, I learned that "ketchup" was named after a Chinese sauce even though they are not similar. There is also a magical library room where you can pick a book off the shelf and place it on a book holder and the book is read to you. There are also mirror shadow boxes that come to life if you read the inscription. Finally, the kids loved the karaoke room - you select a song and as you sing along you see the types of parts of speech at play in the song. Great experience, would for sure recommend and go back!

Planet Word is a fun pit stop geared mostly toward children, though adults will still find plenty…read moreto enjoy. The space feels very modern, with clean and well maintained exhibits throughout. I appreciated the free coat rack and lockers available to all visitors. One thing to note is that the stairs are unidirectional, so moving between floors requires walking across the entire level each time. We were advised to start on the third floor and work our way down. The third floor featured a massive globe surrounded by multilingual iPads. Each one offered different languages along with cultural and linguistic context. The video and audio quality stood out as especially clear. There was also an interactive show exploring the history and cultural influences behind everyday words. While museum shows can sometimes feel skippable, this one held attention for the full fifteen minutes with clever use of visuals, lighting, and a dynamic word driven backdrop. On the second floor, the free photobooth stood out as a highlight. Individuals or pairs pose based on randomly assigned words. The photo quality is not the best, but it still makes for a fun and memorable souvenir. There is also a sing along room where groups of children gather to perform songs. I had to laugh when Eminem came on, though I was genuinely impressed by how the lyrics were broken down and analyzed on screen. A small library space is also available, stocked mostly with children's books for casual reading. I also tried the Lexicon Lane experience, which cost forty dollars and is designed for groups of up to four. It is set up similarly to an escape room, but with a stronger focus on wordplay and language based puzzles. Since we were the first group of the day, we had full choice of the cases, while later groups had to pick from what remained. Each case offers a normal or expert level, though both were fairly challenging. Some puzzles rely heavily on familiarity with American idioms and cultural references, which could make them tougher for some players. That said, the staff were very accommodating and offered helpful nudges when groups got stuck. I would especially recommend this for puzzle lovers, as it is a unique add on and actually more affordable than a typical escape room. One of the standout aspects of Planet Word is the staff. They were consistently friendly, approachable, and clearly invested in making the experience enjoyable. Overall, it is a great museum to visit if you are looking to be entertained for an hour or so.

Unique and interesting place! Not many museums like this in the USA, so was very glad to have…read morefounded and visited it! The staff is wonderful, and the guided tour is informative and a must, and also the only way to go the second floor. If you are in the area, highly recommend!

The place is very quaint, but incredibly interesting. You…read morecan go on a self guided tour of the main room or a self guided which takes you upstairs to see where all the medications/remedies were mixed and prepared. My sister in law lives in VA so she got a discounted rate for her ticket. My cousin and I paid $5 a piece for the self guided tour, All of the bottles and vials have been sealed and the materials inside are still the original from when the Apothecary was still running. There are cool relics like old nail clippers and other materials for viewing. There is a small gift shop. I bought myself a cheek tint made of roses and am obsessed. Would recommend if you're in the area. Beautiful and unique piece of history to explore!