Discover why Washington D.C. is  a great place for a family vacation.
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  • Jul16

    balloons

    I started Kids Will Travel a year ago and what a fun adventure it has been! Thanks to everyone for all of your support. We look forward to sharing lots more Washington, DC travel tips with you in the years to come.
  • Jul10

    Lincoln Memorial, check.

    Jefferson Memorial, check.

    The U.S. Capitol, check.

    If your kids are feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the touring then take a side trip to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum for a little bit of fun, pop culture and history (snuck in there quite cleverly!)

    Never heard of Madame Tussauds? She was a famous French artist who created wax models popular with the family of the famous King Louis XVI. She began a museum to exhibit these models and it still continues around the world today. Quirky, yes, but also lots of fun.

    The museum is now home to models of our present day rich and famous, think Tiger Woods, Angelina Jolie and JLo. The museum in Washington, DC is also is home to models of all 44 U.S. Presidents. Your children can get their picture with George Washington crossing the Delaware or sit with President Lincoln in the famous Presidential box at Ford’s theater.

    Madame Tussauds DC

    There is also a special section dedicated to the current president where you can take questions from the podium during a press conference or make a call from the Oval Office.

    Madame Tussauds wax museum DC

    In addition to posing with our favorite presidents, movie stars and singers, the best surprise was actually getting a wax mold made of our hands. Very cool!

    Wax mold Madame Tussauds

    It took us about an hour to go through the museum (plus time in the gift/candy shop.) There is a video when you first arrive explaining how the molds are made.  It was a bit off to the side and we missed it when we first walked in so watched it before we left. I would definitely recommend watching it though as it was really interesting…and narrated by Beyonce.

    All in all the museum was a big hit with the kids. We enjoyed looking at the different styles of clothes all of the presidents wore and commenting on who was tall and who was short. We struck our most fierce pose with Madonna, pretended to walk on the moon and gave Katie Couric a few reporting tips. The kids gave it two thumbs up and we have the wax mold to prove it!

    • Location: 1001 F Street NW (Corner of 10th and F Street)
    • Metro Stop: Metro Center on the red, blue and orange lines
    • Hours: The museum is open 365 days a year and opens at 10:00 am. Closing times vary depending on the time of year so check the website for current hours.
    • Tickets: It is advised to buy your tickets online in advance as they are less expensive.  Tickets can be even less expensive if you plan to visit during non-peak hours during the day. The prices range from $12-$20 for adults and $10-$14 for children ages 3-12.