Washington, D.C

The best things in Washington, DC with kids

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2024

The best things in Washington, DC with kids

America’s capital city is a fantastic destination to visit with children in tow. It’s filled with kid-friendly museums, has an abundance of parks in which younger visitors can burn off excess energy, and a logical, pedestrian-friendly layout (let’s not forget that DC was designed to showcase urban planning at its very best).

Here are our top tips for exploring the city with children.

Take advantage of extended hours at the National Gallery of Art and other museums © Barbara Noe Kennedy / Lonely Planet

Is Washington, DC, good for kids?

As America’s first purpose-built city, Washington, DC, is, in many ways, a dream to explore with younger visitors. It’s flat with very few hills, and roads and sidewalks are wide, smooth and well-maintained, perfect for parents pushing strollers.

Almost all of DC’s top attractions are refreshingly accessible – every Smithsonian Museum has ramps, for example, and most museums and major landmarks will have family-friendly restrooms. Generally, you’ll almost always be able to enter with strollers, although the White House, which has some of the tightest restrictions, is one of the few places where strollers are on the banned list.

The large number of gardens and parks means there are endless places for kids to burn off excess energy – the National Mall, for example, has over 20,000 trees and numerous dedicated picnic areas with benches and tables. Thirsty kids (and their parents) are also in luck – most businesses, including restaurants, museums and galleries, will happily top up water bottles, and you’ll find public water fountains throughout the city, including 47 on the National Mall alone.

A tactical approach to timing can transform your holiday. If you’re visiting during August and September (the hottest months of the year), you’ll want to avoid spending too much time outside in the late morning and early afternoon. Take advantage of the extended opening times offered by many museums – crowds tend to thin out after 5pm, and the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art are just a few of the institutions that run so-called “late nights.”

Catching public transport

Public transport in Washington, DC, is also incredibly accessible, and all train stations have ramps, elevators and extra-wide ticket gates designed with strollers and wheelchairs in mind. All Metro trains have priority seating, usually next to the train’s doors. Almost all public buses have ramps, although if you’re traveling with a stroller, check the size – most buses, including the DC Circulator buses, won’t allow strollers more than 48″ long and 24″ wide.

Getting around DC is easier than you think – here’s how

Hiking path in Rock Creek Park during Spring time in Washington DC — Rock Creek Park is a great spot to ramble in nature with little ones © Getty Images/iStockphoto

Best things to do in Washington, DC, with babies and toddlers

National Museum of American History

At the National Museum of American History, parents can take some time out at the Wegmans Wonderplace in the museum’s west wing. This baby and toddler-friendly hangout has a playroom, family restroom and nursing area (complete with nursing pillows).

Rock Creek Park

The beautiful Rock Creek Park north of the city center has 1754 acres to explore and plenty of fantastic picnic spots (including several next to waterfalls). Toddlers will love the park’s Discovery Room, filled with hands-on exhibits and children’s books about wildlife, and many of the trails – including the Edge of the Woods Trail – have been designed with strollers and wheelchairs in mind.

Best things to do in Washington, DC with children

US Botanic Garden

The US Botanic Garden, which is free to visit, has a dedicated Children’s Garden where younger visitors can help staff care for the various plants, along with a scavenger trail lined with rare plants – kids who spot certain species can get a passport book stamped.

A boat tour along the Potomac

A riverboat tour is a great activity for kids, who can tick off the city’s famous landmarks as they float along the Potomac. Capitol River Cruises offers a range of sailings, although their 45-minute scenic sightseeing cruise hits all the highlights. Tickets are priced around $25 for adults and $15 for children between three and 12. Kids under three are free.

Paddle boats in the Tidal Basin at Washington D. C. with cherry blossoms. — Tweens and even teens will love paddleboating across the Tidal Basin © Julia Kim / EyeEm/Getty Images

Best things to do in Washington, DC with teenagers and tweenagers

Mount Vernon

Let’s face it: teenagers and tweenagers are prone to occasional protestations of boredom, but we’ve got the perfect solution for anyone who starts to moan about being “museumed out.”

For a change of scenery, head across the water to the Mount Vernon estate, the former home of George and Martha Washington. You can explore the main house on guided tours, watch sparks fly in the blacksmith’s shop and stop by the estate’s working farm (activities here include sheep-shearing lessons and the chance to pet the ridiculously cute Hog Island Sheep). Not only will you learn about the Washington family – you’ll also gain insights into the lives of people enslaved on the estate. The estate is 15 miles south of Washington, DC. To get there, take the metro’s Yellow Line to Huntington Station before hopping on the Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon.

The International Spy Museum

Wannabe James Bonds will love L’Enfant Plaza’s International Spy Museum, which is filled with interactive exhibits, including ones that encourage them to take part in their very own undercover mission. Our only gripe is that this is one of the few museums that isn’t admission-free. Entry fees vary according to the time of year, but children’s tickets start at around $19, while adults’ tickets start at around $29. Children aged under six visit for free.

Paddle across the Tidal Basin

This is a two-mile-long reservoir wedged between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. Teens and tweens can hire a paddle boat (from $38 per hour) and admire landmarks such as the Jefferson Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial from the water.

Planning tips

Don’t underestimate how accessible DC’s transport network is – the city’s bus and metro system is refreshingly easy to navigate.
If you’re visiting a museum or gallery, always ask what kid-friendly programs and events are taking place.
DC has plenty of places to cool off, including lots of splash parks, such as The Yards Park in the Capitol Riverfront area. There’s a large splash pool and brightly lit dancing fountains after dark. Another notable destination is Canal Park Fountains (also in the Capitol Riverfront area), which has numerous fountains and splash pools with stepping-stone crossings.
Always ask what kid-friendly freebies are available. For example, staff at the US Capitol’s visitor center have stashes of police badges to hand out to children.
Whether it’s a museum, gallery or landmark, always book in advance if tickets are required, even if tickets are free – you won’t just get guaranteed entry but will also cut queuing times.

Keep planning your trip to Washington, DC:

These experiences should be on your DC itinerary
And these incredible experiences won’t cost you a thing
Get up close with nature and more history on these day trips
Get to know DC like a local in these top neighborhoods

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Washington, D.C

DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton announces retirement at end of current term

Published

11 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Press Room

DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton announces retirement at end of current term

WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton announced Tuesday she will retire at the end of her current term, ending more than three decades representing the District.

Norton, a Democrat, has served as D.C.’s delegate since 1991.

In a statement, she said she is stepping aside to make room for the next generation of leaders while continuing to serve through the remainder of her term.

“I’ve had the privilege of representing the District of Columbia in Congress since 1991. Time and again, D.C. residents entrusted me to fight for them at the federal level, and I have not yielded,” Norton said. “With fire in my soul and the facts on my side, I have raised hell about the injustice of denying 700,000 taxpaying Americans the same rights given to residents of the states for 33 years.

RELATED | DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton ends re-election campaign

Norton is known for her long-standing fight for D.C. statehood and equal rights for District residents.

Although she will not seek reelection, Norton said she plans to remain active in advocating for D.C. after leaving office.

“The privilege of public service is inseparable from the responsibility to recognize when it’s time to lift up the next generation of leaders. For D.C., that time has come. With pride in all we have accomplished together, with the deepest gratitude to the people of D.C., and with great confidence in the next generation, I announced today that I will retire at the end of this term.”

Before Congress, Norton said she helped plan the 1963 March on Washington, served as chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, argued cases before the Supreme Court and taught law at Georgetown University.

“Thank you to my constituents for choosing and trusting me to fight for you in Congress 18 times,” Norton said. “I will leave this institution knowing that I have given you everything I have. And while my service in Congress is ending, my advocacy for your rights, your dignity, and your capacity to govern yourselves is not.”

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Washington, D.C

DC Water continues efforts to contain sewage, environmental group calls pipeline break ‘a catastrophe’ – WTOP News

Published

23 hours ago

January 26, 2026

Press Room

DC Water continues efforts to contain sewage, environmental group calls pipeline break ‘a catastrophe’ – WTOP News

Crews with D.C. Water are continuing to try to divert millions of gallons of sewage and wastewater from the Potomac River after the failure of a 6-foot sewer line Jan. 19.

Crews with D.C. Water are continuing to try to divert millions of gallons of sewage and wastewater from the Potomac River after the failure of a 6-foot sewer line last week.

The collapse of the pipe, called the Potomac Interceptor, which carries up to 40 million gallons of sewage and wastewater each day, led to crews establishing a workaround involving the installation of pumps and diversion of the waste into the C&O Canal, according to Sherry Lewis, spokesperson for D.C. Water.

The break occurred in a portion of the interceptor near the Interstate 495 interchange and the Clara Barton Parkway near the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

“This is a dry section of the canal that is contained,” Lewis explained.

She said the wastewater is being channeled downstream from the break, and back into the Potomac Interceptor.

By Monday, the crews were able to make significant progress in redirecting the flow of the wastewater, Lewis said.

“There is some residual wastewater in that area that needs to drain,” she added.

Lewis clarified that D.C.’s drinking water is not affected by the millions of gallons of untreated wastewater that were released by the collapse of the Interceptor.

“The drinking water is safe. There is no impact to it from this overflow,” she said. “The primary intake for the Washington Aqueduct’s drinking water supply is in Great Falls, so it is not anywhere close to where this overflow occurred.”

Lewis said the timeline for how long it might be before the 72-inch pipe could be repaired hasn’t been determined.

“It’s not an overnight fix when you’re talking about a 72-inch, 6- foot-diameter sewer pipe,” she said.

While D.C. Water cited progress on stemming the sewage flow in frigid temperatures, Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks told WTOP, “We’re grateful that the flow has been reduced, but there’s still raw sewage that’s coming into the Potomac River.”

“If this happened in the summer, I can assure you the entire river would be closed for public access and there would be public health notifications,” he said.

The National Park Service and D.C. Water have posted signs in the area notifying passersby that raw sewage poses a contamination hazard.

A news release from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network showed what the group called a “catastrophic impact” on the health of the Potomac River. Testing by Naujoks’ group Friday showed the presence of E. coli at nearly 12,000 times the amount allowed for safe human contact.

“Infrastructure failure is at the root of this disaster,” Naujoks said in the news release. “The interceptor pipe … should have been better maintained in order to avoid this catastrophe.”

D.C. Water issued a statement saying it’s allocated $625 million in its Capital Improvement Program to rehabilitate the Potomac Interceptor over the next 10 years.

In the same statement, D.C. Water said it’s been working closely with federal, state and local partners, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, Washington Aqueduct, D.C.’s Department of Energy and the Environment and Maryland’s Department of the Environment, among others.

“Together, we are coordinating efforts to contain the overflow, monitor and assess environmental impacts, and keep the public informed,” the release said.

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Washington, D.C

1 year later, DC remembers deadly midair collision over Potomac River

Published

1 day ago

January 26, 2026

Press Room

1 year later, DC remembers deadly midair collision over Potomac River

WASHINGTON (7News)) — Nearly one year after a midair collision over the Potomac River killed 67 people aboard two aircraft, the Washington, D.C. region is reflecting on a night that reshaped aviation safety and left dozens of families grieving.

The crash happened just before 9 p.m. Jan. 29, 2025, as an American Airlines regional jet approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after a flight from Wichita, Kansas.

A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crossed into the plane’s flight path, and the two aircraft collided near the airport, erupting into a fireball before plunging into the river.

RELATED | Helicopter flights now banned near Reagan National Airport

Map shows the path of the aircrafts involved in the midair collision over the Potomac River near DCA on January 29, 2025. (7News)

All 67 people aboard were killed, 64 passengers and crew members on the plane, and three soldiers on the helicopter, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the Washington area in decades.

Emergency calls flooded dispatch centers within moments of the impact. First responders from the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland rushed to the scene as boats and divers searched the dark, icy waters.

The response stretched on for days in freezing temperatures. Divers worked in murky, eight-foot-deep water, maneuvering around ice and debris from the shattered jet. Recovery efforts were temporarily halted at times so that large pieces of wreckage interfering with the search could be removed.

Reagan National Airport shut down immediately after the crash, and the Federal Aviation Administration issued an extended ground stop. Hundreds of flights were disrupted, with incoming aircraft diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport. Metro services were expanded to help stranded travelers return to vehicles parked at Reagan National, and warming buses were sent to assist the recovery crews.

Officials later recovered both flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the plane, along with the helicopter’s voice and data recorder. Investigators have spent months reviewing that information as part of a comprehensive federal probe.

SEE ALSO | Chair of NTSB speaks with 7News ahead of plane crash findings next week

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to share its final report on Tuesday in a board meeting, including the probable cause of the collision. That report is expected to be released on Feb.10, 2026 — one year after the investigation began.

For families, the anniversary has reopened deep wounds. Relatives of victims have spoken about the suddenness of the loss and the lasting impact on tight-knit communities across the country.

As Washington pauses to remember the victims, officials say the findings of the investigation will be critical in preventing a similar tragedy from happening again.

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