When I was in fourth grade, we took a class trip to all the Smithsonians and I was completely underwhelmed. It was deja vu when I took my kids. There are so many museum and monument options in D.C. that it becomes overkill for many kids. Unless you have older children or serious history buffs the excitment of it all wears off quickly. My advice would be to figure out what exhibits you want to see ahead of time and create a plan before you get there. Stick to the plan and get in and out quick before boredom sets in. Otherwise, you'll find yourself in front of the Hope diamond with a small child who says, "eh, it's ok. I thought it would be bigger." Like mother, like daughter though because I said the same thing.

There is probably a zoo in your city, but does your city have pandas? Probably not since only four in the country can claim that honor. The National Zoo is probably best known for having giant pandas, but the other animal exhibits were top notch too. The best part, it is FREE! Plus, you are allowed to bring in your own food and snacks. If you take the Metro to the zoo you will also get a chance to ride a gigantic escalator from the subway to the surface. My kids liked that as much as a ride at an amusement park. There is a lot to see in D.C., but this should definitely make your list!

This was a great museum. I think the thing I liked best is that it was very spacious. There were enough exhibits to keep you there all day, but they were all in large rooms so you didn't feel crammed in with everyone else. We only went there once, but I got the impression that many of the exhibits were traveling and that they were changed pretty often. It seemed like a place you could go again and again and continually see something new. The best part for me was an exhibit called the Power of Children.on It featured Anne Frank, Ryan White and Ruby Bridges. Due to subject matter, these might be better suited to older children. My children liked the Barbie exhibit the most. We spent a couple hours dressing up and designing new fashions. The only drawback to this museum for us is that they didn't offer a discount to museum members from other cities. Other than that, it was a great way to spend the day and we will definitely go back when we are in the area again.

Amusement parks are one of those things that you can only put off for so long if you have children. Six Flags is a pretty good place to start. The park is not that big, so you don't have to walk very far between attractions, which is a plus if you have small children. There is a pretty large little kids section to keep the wee ones entertained while the older kids and adults ride the big roller coasters. For most of the "big" rides kids have to be 48" tall. There are a few thrill rides that will allow shorter children as long as they are accompanied by an adult. If you are visiting in the summer, there is also a separate water park that you can visit. Admission is included in the entrance fee, so you don't have to pay anything extra. There is a Scooby Doo ride and Scooby and Shaggy are walking around. You can also spot a lot of the Looney Tunes characters. The downsides are the typical for this type of place- expensive admission, long lines and inflated food prices. The park will let you leave and come back in, so it is possible to eat off premises or have a picnic in the parking lot.

City Garden in downtown St. Louis is an award winning park and it is easy to see why. It is a combination of fountains, flowers and functional art sculptures. It is a great place to go in the summer when it is hot out. Kids can play in the fountains and swim around. The total depth is about 18 inches, so even those who can't swim could have a good time. There are no life guards, so you will need to keep a sharp eye on your children. There are generally a couple of park officials that keep kids from horsing around in ways that could get them hurt. Your children will get soaked. Towels are a necessity and bathing suits are a good idea. All throughout the park are gorgeous flowers and unique pieces of art. Some of the art kids can climb and slide on. Some make music. All are entertaining. The few times we have gone there has been a vendor present selling refreshments. You can also bring your own items and have a picnic. The downsides are parking and bathroom access. Bathrooms are porta potty only, unless you eat at a local cafe. Those bathrooms are for patrons only, even if you bring your cutest toddler doing the pee pee dance up to the hostess. Since it is a downtown area, parking can be scarce. The nearby spots are metered, so you will need quarters.