Start the day with a stop at the Lincoln Memorial. As you race up the steps to pass through the Greek columns and catch a glimpse of Honest Abe, be sure to stop at the spot where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. And after you stand in awe of Lincoln and read the Gettysburg Address that is inscribed inside, be sure... More to turn around and snap some photos of the National Mall from this end.
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900 Ohio Dr., SW
202-426-6841
www.nps.gov/linc
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Admission Free
No tickets required
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Hours
Daily 24 hours
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Walk west toward the Reflecting Pool, a shallow pool that dramatically reflects images of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the surrounding trees and benches. Look left and you'll see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial or right for the Korean War Memorial. If you want to impress the kid with some facts, the Reflecting Pool is 18 inches deep,... More over a third of a mile long and holds approximately 6,750,000 gallons of water.Less

As you approach the National World War II Memorial, ask the kids to find their home state among the 56 granite pillars. If the kids are confused why there are more pillars than states, explain that the memorial represents the 48 U.S. states as of 1945, as well as the District of Columbia, the Alaska Territory and Territory of Hawaii, the Commonweal... Moreth of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Look closely and try to find the graffiti-like engraving that reads "Kilroy was here" and has a bald-headed man with a prominent nose peeking over a wall. During WWII, servicemen commonly drew the doodle where they were stationed, encamped or visited. On the west side of the memorial, the Freedom Wall includes 4,048 stars--one for every 100 Americans who died in the war.Less

From the original "Star-Spangled Banner" to Kermit the Frog, there is no better place to immerse your child in the heritage of the United States than the National Museum of American History.

Recently renovated, other highlights include the Greensboro, N.C., lunch counter, a Dumbo ride car, Dorthy's ruby slippers ("Wizard of Oz"), Juli... Morea Child's kitchen and a steam locomotive. The kids will have so much fun looking at all the artifacts and interacting with the "Invention at Play" and "Spark!Lab" exhibits that they'll barely realize the history lesson they're receiving.

Depending on the child's level of interest, a family could easily spend a few hours here--but don't get too carried away, the National Museum of Natural History is next!
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1400 Constitution Ave., NW
202-633-1000
http://americanhistory.si.edu/
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Admission Free
No tickets required
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Hours
Daily 8:30am-5:30pm
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With 7.4 million visitors annually, the National Museum of Natural History is the most visited of all the Smithsonian museums and an easy favorite for kids of all ages. Walk into the museum's main rotunda and stand in awe of a giant African elephant that weighed 8 tons when it was hunted. From there, it's up to kids' wildest imaginations where to g... Moreo next: back in time to see a Tyrannosaurus rex facing off with a triceratops in the dinosaur collection or the deep blue in the Ocean Hall, where a 45-foot-long North Atlantic right whale hangs overhead?

There's also an insect zoo, Hall of Mammals, live butterfly pavilion, Hall of Bones, the National Gem and Mineral Collection (which includes the Hope Diamond) and more, plus a series of temporary exhibits to keep things fresh.

There is a lot to see inside the museum, so prepare to spend at least a few hours here. If you and the kids get hungry, there is usually a vendor selling hot dogs, pretzels and other snacks from a cart on the stairs to the main entrance.
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10th Street and Constitution Ave. NW
202-633-1000
http://www.mnh.si.edu/
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Admission Free
No tickets required
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Hours
Daily 10am-5:30pm
Less

Take a break at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. The informal garden has more than six acres of space to spread out among flowering trees, a fountain (which serves as an ice rink in winter) and a cafe with year-round service and indoor seating.

Of course, the best part is the works of art themselves: Just make sure kids ke... Moreep their hands off the sculptures as you explore.
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7th St. and Constitution Ave., NW
202-216-9397
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/sculptureinfo.shtm
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Admission Free
No tickets required
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Hours
Monday-Thursday, Saturday 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-9:30pm
Sunday 11am-7pm
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