Washington DC - Fun, Free, and Outdoors
by JCrane
(KS)
I would suggest the National Mall in Washington DC as a great place to take your kids. No need to worry about being quiet or not running around, because it’s outdoors and informal. You can walk as much as you want, and get some fresh air. It’s a good break between museums, hotels, and other quiet, indoor sites where kids might feel stifled.
In addition, you are in the middle of a very historic area. You can walk to and visit the Lincoln Memorial—what kid doesn’t know who Abraham Lincoln is? They can “see” him for themselves and visit the bookstore there. Depending upon your kids’ ages, they can also read the words of Lincoln himself on the engraved walls inside the memorial.
Walk the other way, and go see the Washington Memorial. At 555 feet, it’s an impressive site that pays tribute to another well-loved president whom kids will know.
The National Mall places you between several areas of historic interest (you can see the White House in the distance as well) that every American should see. The Mall itself has also been the site of many important historic events. This is where African-Americans gathered to hear Martin Luther King Jr. give his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and where, more recently, people from all over gathered after the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Your kids will see for themselves a place where Americans have made their voices heard, celebrated the good that our country has to offer, and paid their respects to our founding fathers.
