Be prepared for a lot of walking if you take the Metro to the zoo. The walk there is uphill and in warm weather you can become exhausted before you even arrive! I suggest going early before the crowds arrive.

The zoo is very pretty and is laid out with exhibits along a central walkway. The kids loved watching the elephant training session and seeing the giant panda. The panda gift shop was really cool, but VERY crowded - waited in line for close to 45 minutes just to check out!

We went on an extremely hot day...thankfully the zoo has cool water misters placed along the main walkway. I don't think the kids would have made it through the day without them!

There was so much to see that we could have used another day to see everything. FYI - there is a McDonald's near the Metro stop and it was a great place to grab an ice cream cone and regroup before heading home.

We took 6 kids ages 4-1/2 to 9 on the tour and they all really enjoyed it. The older kids enjoyed it more, but even the younger ones were entertained.

First off, it is a bit of a hike from the Smithsonian Metro stop so be prepared and leave enough time to get there before your tour starts (we were practically running to get there!) The tour starts with a short video (which the kids didn't really pay much attention to). Then we were taken through a guided walkway tour of several of the areas where the bills (or notes as they call them) are printed. Our guide was very knowledgeable and some of the people working even waved and interacted with the kids. The gift shop was a bit chaotic and I'm sure there are money souvenirs sold at other places in DC, so it might be wise to just slip out the door afterward.

A fun tour and you can't beat the price - FREE!

We have been to the Natural History Museum on two trips to DC and both times the kids have loved it. There are several halls filled with animals - the ocean area, the land animal area, and the dinosaur area. They love all three! I liked the gem area where the Hope Diamond is. The gift shops are great as well.

I was expecting much more to interest the kids at this museum, but we finished quickly and there wasn't a lot to interest them. The Pop Culture exhibit was way smaller than I expected and the kids only knew a couple of the things there - Kermit the Frog and Oscar the Grouch. I did enjoy the First Ladies' Inaugural Gowns and the kids played in a small kids' space while I wandered through. I would save this museum for teenagers +.

We have been going to the GLSC for many years. When the kids are little, they really enjoy the Polymer Room that has a slide, moonbounce, ball pit, dress up corner, and more. School-age kids will love the rest of the place with exhibits on space and many on how things work that are very hands-on. There is a very small cafeteria with limited offerings-probably better to bring your own lunch. The gift shop is really cool - although we usually just browse. We have only seen one movie in the IMAX theater because it is an additional cost.