Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

202  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

Children’s Washington, DC

Visiting the city’s monuments can be one of the most
memorable activities for children in DC. Book online in
advance to arrange a tour with a park ranger, during which
you take a trip in the elevator to the top of the Washington
Monument (see p80), then walk down the steps. Young children
will like feeding the ducks at the Reflecting Pool or Constitution
Gardens. You can view the Jefferson Memorial from a paddleboat
on the Tidal Basin (see p84), and before you leave Washington be
sure to see the monuments lit up against the night-time sky.
Practical Advice The beautiful wooded park of Children in front of the National Museum
A good source of information the National Zoological Park of Natural History
on specific events for children (see pp140–41) is a good place
can be found in the “Going Out for a walk, and you can also National Museum of Natural
Guide” of The Washington Post. watch panda feeding and History (see pp72–3).
It also lists family-friendly sea lion demonstrations. If you want to experience outer
museums and For a break from the Mall space, see “Journey to the Stars”
dining options. museums, take a ride on the or “Big Bird’s Adventure” and the
As you would Carousel on the Mall (open Albert Einstein Planetarium at
expect in a major all through the year), in the National Air and Space
city, food is widely front of the Arts and Museum. A series of children’s
available in DC, Industries Building. films and family programs are
whether it is hot dogs Also worth a run by the National Gallery of
from a vendor along visit is the Art (see pp60–63). Children can
the Mall or even carousel in discuss famous paintings and
strange space food Sea lion at the Glen Echo Park take part in a whole range of
(such as freeze-dried National Zoo (open May–Sep), that hands-on activities.
ice cream) from the was built in 1921. From The National Museum of the
National Air and Space December to March, ice skaters American Indian (see pp70–71)
Museum gift shop (see pp64–7). can head for the National has many events, workshops,
Gallery of Art Sculpture films and demonstrations
Garden Ice Rink. Skate rental designed for the family. Similarly,
Outdoor Fun equipment is available and the National Museum of African
For a trip into the past, take a visitors can also take part in Art (see p69) hosts educative
ride on a mule-drawn barge on group skating lessons. music and storytelling events.
the C&O Canal from April to mid- Children are always fascinated
October at Great Falls (contact by the National Postal Museum
the C&O Canal Visitor Center Museums (see p55), with its many intriguing
for details). Park Service rangers The Discovery Center, a vast hands-on activities.
dress in 19th-century costumes educational complex with an
to add to the experience. IMAX® theater, is housed in the
Children’s Theater
The Ripley Center of the
Smithsonian houses
the Discovery Theater, which
stages puppet shows and plays.
See a puppet show or fairytale
production at the Adventure
Theatre in Glen Echo Park. The
theater company Imagination
Stage, located north of
Washington in Bethesda,
Maryland, presents lively
theater productions for children.
The Kennedy Center
(see pp120–21) and Wolf Trap
Farm Park for the Performing
Arts also provide information
on all sorts of children’s events
Children’s tour in Cedar Hill, the historic home of Frederick Douglass in the city.

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