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!

Had a wonderful time here. This was the top museum we wanted to visit on our trip to DC. I could…read morehave stayed and wandered for hours, but I let my kids lead the way. Some of the things I thought for sure they would love, were not a hit as I had expected: namely dinosaur bones and the animal displays- but it was also very crowded and a lot to take in. Every where we turned there was more info, more interesting things to see- beautiful, fascinating, interesting- but I think it can be overwhelming- it is almost too much, if that is possible! We had to pace ourselves. A museum is designed for all ages in mind, so it is difficult to know what exhibits will appeal to whom. The part my kids loved the most was the live bug displays. So many species, and so fun to try to find each creature. We stayed here a long time. The exhbits are built with children in mind, many at eye level for little ones. The exhibits with glow in the dark species were so fun! I had to block the way at the end of the exhibit so they didn't move into the mummy section, as just seeing the hint of this display really scared them. I had a blast in the gems section, but my kids were not as excited about this section as I had hoped. We had to take breaks by going to the eatery on site, perusing the gift shop (I let them fill a bag of gems, which was incredibly exciting for them!), and chill out watching a documentary in a screening area.

What a great museum! How can you not love going here? I didn't have time to read a lot or explore…read moretoo many things in detail, but walking through, I could tell I wanted to come back. It has a decent layout and the maps guide you to the various areas nicely. Obviously dinosaurs are cool and prevalent in any Natural History museum. But they had lots of other cool things too. Probably the biggest draw is the Hope Diamond... It's big and beautiful diamond (BBD) and just something you should check out if you're here. This is one of the more popular of the museums straddling the National Mall, so plan accordingly if you want to get in and spend more time exploring. The crowds can get a little crazy. I got there at 3p and there was a line to get in.

I've lived in the area for years but never made it out to this museum. I finally decided to come…read morehere a little early before the Formula 1 movie. There are street parking spaces on one side of the museum, but it'll be tricky to get a spot. They let people in at the top of the hour. You'll scan a barcode at the entrance to get to a website to sign up for free tickets. Then, you get ticket barcodes for them to scan at the entrance. Having been to the Chantilly A&S multiple times, I thought this museum wouldn't be anything new. I'm a little off here. The two A&S museums offer different things. The Chantilly one has a lot of space to house so many more planes. If you want to see the actual planes, Chantilly is the place. It's more complete in my opinion. The DC A&S is more educational. It offers a more complete history of human flight, but not a lot of space to show you that many planes. You'll find all the way from the Wright brothers' beginning, and space explorations to Star Wars X-Wings here. I like seeing the astronaut food section.

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.

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).

DC is always good for museums, and if you watch Law & Order or any other police shows on TV, this…read morefree museum is a good spot to spend an hour if you're in the Arlington area. Located in the lobby of the DEA building, I had to go through a security checkpoint to get in. The space itself is small, but doing the interactive exhibits makes it a full hour. The majority of the museum consists of static displays of items such as DEA raid jackets, weaponry and equipment as well as items seized during raids of (in)famous criminals. They also have various educational posters about drugs, their history and street names. It is similar to the DARE programs a lot of us took in Elementary School. The best part is the interactive exhibit where you get to take part in a simulated surveillance operation. The options and paths in the exhibit are pretty well organized. This museum would be better if there was someone, at least a Public Affairs Officer around for questions..or even cooler, a masked agent to talk about activities.

One of the really best museums and very close to metro stops. Bring your kids, they will have a ton…read moreof fun, so many interactive installations, karaoke room where you can sing together top hits. Museum is free and they work on donations. You do t have to give anything but suggested amount is $15 per person. I think it's a great suggestion for all the things this museum can offer.

This museum is so magical!…read more Our group of nine had a blast weaving our way from room to room. The museum is equally fun for kids and adults with topics like language, reading, translation and karaoke to make a few. Everything was so well thought out and interactive. I couldn't get enough of the library room where books come to life with video-like illustrations building off the pages. It felt like we were transported into Belle's massive and dreamy library from Beauty and the Beast complete with a secret hidden room off the side (tucked behind a bookcase door). We had kids ages 2-5 and it was perfect for them. Note that you'll need to park strollers in the basement level. To top it all off, we had a fabulous lunch at Immigrant Food located on the lower level. Oh, how could I forget to mention that the museum is free? Amazing!