In Reston, Virginia, this family water park offers over an acre of slides (some as high as three stories), splash areas, and a water playground to top it all off. There is also a 725-foot-long lazy river for those who would prefer to relax. Toddlers should head to the gentle bubblers and pint-sized slides.

In 2006, Clemyjontri Park became Virginia’s first accessible park, where children of all abilities can have a parallel playground experience. Look for the lowered monkey bars, swings with high backs, and rubber ground surfaces so wheelchairs can roll easily.

Founded in 1891, this historic park offers a beautiful vintage carousel and an arts and cultural center with classes, workshops, and performances. Don’t miss the annual Family Day, a kid-centric day of magic shows, storytelling, and face painting.

The National Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the nation—not to mention it’s free!—and it houses everything from cheetahs to pandas to apes. There are also annual family-friendly events like Boo at the Zoo and ZooLights, a must-see for holiday lights in December.

Perfect for biking, this 18-mile paved trail stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. Head over to this map for helpful parking locations, and don’t forget the water.

This kid-friendly oasis provides a little bit of everything, like a train ride perfect for tots, a carousel, ice rink, dog park, and picnic tables. Sure, it’s a bit farther out of the city than most options on this list, but it’s worth the trek.

Ignore the boring name and get ready for a 40-minute tour that covers how U.S. currency is printed. No tickets are required and the fast-paced tours operate every 15 minutes. If your child loves collecting coins or is a budding entrepreneur, this one’s for you.

A stunning museum with nearly 400,000 square feet dedicated to exploring the African-American story, this museum is a must-see stop for school-aged children to learn about inclusion, injustice, and tolerance.

Sports-addicted kiddos will like the “Leveling the Playing Field” exhibit to learn how sports players fought for equality, while other exhibits teach similar stories through music or fashion. Don’t miss Explore More!, an interactive exhibit where kids can drive an antique car and search for a sunken slave ship. Pro tip: While the museum is free, its popularity means that you’ll likely need timed entry tickets.

For families that enjoy a bit of intrigue, head to the International Spy Museum. Best suited for kids seven years and older, the interactive KidSpy Zone lets you explore fun games and learn to talk like a spy. The museum opened in a newly constructed building in L’Enfant Plaza in 2019.

History moves way beyond boring at this museum, where a collection of three million artifacts are brought to life through top-notch exhibitions. Younger kiddos should head to the hands-on spaces Object Project and Wegmans Wonderplace, while kids aged 6-12 will love becoming inventors at Spark!Lab.

Located in the Ripley Center on the National Mall, the Discovery Theater is an interactive experience for school-aged children. You can expect weekday puppet shows, music, storytelling, and even mimes.

Hains Point, at the southern tip of East Potomac Park, is a waterfront park between the main branch of the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. Enjoy views of the river and plenty of green space and trails for picnics or biking. You can also watch planes taking off and landing at Reagan National Airport.

The massive collection—think everything from Byzantine altarpieces to pop art—at the National Gallery of Art might seem more geared towards adults, but kids can still have a great time. Stop by the Education Studio in the East Building for an interactive guide and hands-on art activities, and don’t miss story times and other family-friendly program offerings.

Older kids will love the Newseum, an under-the-radar and interactive museum dedicated to defending free speech and the history of communication. Get ready to become a television reporter, play in a life-like newsroom, and tackle real-life reporting dilemmas to see how journalists adhere to media ethics. Plans are in the works for the museum to relocate, so check it out while it’s still in its current location.

No matter the time of year, the National Building Museum has something to offer. Every summer in the Great Hall there is a larger-than-life, interactive installation designed by famous architecture firms. At other times, families can enjoy exhibits like the Building Zone, a hands-on introduction to the building arts for those under six.

There are plenty of hands-on activities at this top-notch museum; start by diving into ancient cultures at the ImagiNations Activity Center. Kids will have a ball playing drums, listening to a story, and earning badges by playing an interactive quiz show.

Kids love getting mail of their own, so it’s no wonder the National Postal Museum is a hit. Check out this kid-friendly itinerary and don’t miss the chance to make your own stamp design or meet Owney the Dog, the mascot of the Railway Post Office.

While offering one of the best ice skating rinks in the D.C. area, Canal Park also comes with three acres of seasonal markets, dancing fountains (in the summer), and family events. The Northern Block of the park is perfect for picnics and lawn games, while the Middle Block comes with benches with A/C power for laptops and mobile devices. The Southern Block is also worth a visit if hungry as there are a variety of places for eating.

This recently constructed riverfront park offers loads of retail and restaurant options, but the highlight in the summer is the dancing fountains. You can also enjoy the view of the Anacostia River or have a picnic on the grass.

Adults will love seeing the columns that originally supported the old East Portico of the Capitol building and a 390-year-old bonsai tree that survived an atomic bomb. But kids should visit the U.S. National Arboretum for the Washington Youth Garden, a one-acre demonstration garden—complete with a stage and sand boxes—where they can learn about, dig, and even water the plants.

Located on the Anacostia River, this waterfront park is perfect for the younger set who want to get active. Families can canoe, kayak, bike, take an interpretive river boat tour, fish off the pier, and explore the many hiking trails. Even in the winter it’s a good spot to stretch your legs on a sunnier day.

Enjoy some natural beauty with your family at this gorgeous national park within the city limits. Budding artists can try drawing or painting the waterlilies and lotuses that fill the place. Watch out for various species of birds and other critters, too.