Discover why Washington D.C. is  a great place for a family vacation.
  • Outside D.C.
There is certainly plenty to keep you busy in D.C., but if you are driving to town and want a stop along the way here are a few of our favorite places to visit outside of D.C.

National Aquarium and the Baltimore Inner Harbor

Baltimore Aquarium

Quick Facts:

  • Hours and Tickets: The National Aquarium is open Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm and Saturday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. In order to avoid the crowds the best times to visit are before 11:00 am or after 3:00 pm
  • Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance on the aquarium website, but can also be purchase at the door. Adults: $29.95 and children 3-11: $20.95
  • Dining: There are dining options within the aquarium, but there are also plenty of options around the aquarium in the inner harbor. Don’t miss the famous Maryland crab cakes, yum!
  • Location: The National Aquarium has two locations. One in D.C. located in the Department of Commerce, but we prefer the bigger and better museum in Baltimore which is about an hour outside of DC: 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
  • MARC Train – If you don’t have a car, you can take the MARC train Penn Line that leaves from Union Station and stops in downtown Baltimore.
  • Strollers are permitted and family bathrooms are available.
  • Food and drinks must be kept in your bags.
The Aquarium is a great way to introduce your children to the great blue sea. They have sharks, dolphins and my favorite, the jellyfish. There are five floors of exhibits, a 4D theater, a huge dolphin pool with an underwater viewing area and daily feedings. The aquarium is located in one of the revitalized areas in Baltimore, the Inner Harbor. Here you will find shops and restaurants as well as tall ships that will sail you out to Fort McHenry. (The Battle at Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner – visit the National Park Service website to learn more.)

National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy

Center at Dulles Airport

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Dulles

Quick Facts:

  • Hours and Tickets: The museum is open 10:00 am – 5:30 pm every day except Christmas. May 25th – September 3rd there are extended hours and the museum stays open until 6:30 pm.
  • Tours: Docent tours are led by retired Air Force and Navy pilots who offer unique insight into the planes. Tours vary daily based on docent availability, but are often held on the hour starting at 1:00 pm and running through 4:00 pm. Tours meet at the information desk under the large clock on the lower level. Call before you arrive to confirm the tour times offered that day. 703-572-4118
  • Dining: Like the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, there is a McDonald’s located at this location as well.
  • Location: About 45 minutes outside of DC: 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, Virginia
  • Getting there: The best way to get there is to drive. Parking is available for $15. Your other option is a cab which will cost about $60.
  • Strollers are permitted and family bathrooms are available.
  • As with all Smithsonian museums you will have to go through a metal detector.
  •  Only bottled water is allowed in the museum.
This is where you will find the iconic Space Shuttle, along with dozens and dozens of other aircraft hanging from the ceiling, and parked throughout the hanger. This is the place to see the big stuff  like the “Spirit of Kitty Hawk,” the “Enola Gay” and the Stealth Fighter. I’m a girl and not really very interested in airplanes and space, but even I thought it was very cool. In addition to all of the planes, there are also flight simulators and 4D theaters. You can go to the top of the observation deck to watch the planes at Dulles take off and land. There are also family programs and interactive experiences on a regular basis so check the Calendar of Events before you go.

American Girl

Tysons Corner American Girl

photo by The Washington Times/Claire Courchane

Quick Facts:

  • Hours: The store is open Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm, Friday: 10:00 am – 9:30 pm, Saturday: 9:00 am – 9:30 pm and Sunday: 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
  • Dining: The Bistro is open Monday–Friday: 11 am – 5:30 pm, Saturday: 9:30 am – 7:30 pm and Sunday: 11 am – 4:30 pm. Reservations are essential and can be made online.
  • Location: About 30 minutes outside of DC: Tysons Corner Center: 1961 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons Corner, VA
  • Getting there: The best way to get there is to drive. The store is located in a shopping mall so there is plenty of parking. Your other option is a cab which will cost about $30.

It’s here, American Girl is at Tysons Corner. I will let you decide whether or not to share that information with your daughter, but if you decide to go bets are it will be the highlight of her trip. The store is located in the huge Tysons Corner Mall so there are plenty of additional shopping options to explore while you are there. The mall has a Macy’s, Bloomingdales, L.L. Bean, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and H&M to name just a few. Visit the Tysons Corner website for a complete list.


Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns

photo by Luray Caverns

Quick Facts:

  • Hours: The caverns are open 365 days of the year with tours starting at 9:00 am. Dependent on the time of year the last tour ends between 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
  • Tickets: Tickets can be purchased in person or online. Adults: $24.00, Children 6-12: $12.00 and Children 5 and under are free.
  • Strollers are permitted, but I would’t recommend it. The pathways are narrow and there are areas where it would have to be carried up and down stairs.
  • Location: About an hour and a half outside of DC: 101 Cave Hill Road, Luray, VA.
  • Getting there: The best way to get there is to drive. If you’re coming for a visit from the South stop on your way to or from DC and stretch your legs.

Located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley this is an underground cavern with amazing views around every corner. The ticket price covers an hour long guided tour through the caverns with 11 stops along the way to view different rock formations. The ticket also includes an optional self guided tour through the car and carriage museum and the Luray Valley museum. I don’t know who loved the caverns more, me or my six year old daughter. It can only be described as super cool. And don’t forget to give the garden maze a go too. Visit the website for an aerial view and plan out your route!


 Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon

Quick Facts:

  • Mount Vernon is open seven days a week, 365 days a year
  • Hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Ticket prices: Adults – $13.00, Children 6- 11- $6.00 and Children 5 and under are free.
  • Location – About 30 minutes outside of DC, but a world away! 3200 Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria, VA
  • Getting there: Driving by car or metro are your best bet. To metro take the Yellow Line Train to Huntington Station in Virginia. Exit at the lower level (Huntington Avenue) of the station to catch a Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon
  • Be sure to first stop at the Ford Orientation Center and pick up your family adventure map.