Most kids tend to love air and space. Bonus if they're into space exploration, because the newly renovated halls at the DC location are amazing, and the Chantilly location has a space shuttle. Personally, i find air and space boring after about an hour. The natural history museum is much more my speed. Gem hall never fails to be a hit for me, the new dinosaur hall really wow'ed me when i first got to go through it, and there's a bug zoo and butterfly garden. If you stick to the national mall location you can hit both in one day, if one museum fails to be a hit. It's about a 10-15 minute walk between the two museums, but most of it is on the mall, and you can stop for ice cream along the way, if the kids need any sort of motivation for the walk. :) Answer from LiteBriteJorge on reddit.com
Smithsonian Institution
si.edu › visit › kids
Visiting with Kids | Smithsonian Institution
Bring your young, budding artists and participate in fun hands-on activities at the Smithsonian American Art Museum that will be sure to spark their creativity! Visit the Luce Center to check out secret eye miniatures, audio tours, cool jewelry, ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/smithsonian › where to visit with kids?
r/smithsonian on Reddit: Where to visit with kids?
January 14, 2024 -
I've got family friends visiting next weekend and I'm trying to plan out what to do. Between us, there are seven kids from 2y to 12y old and four adults (with lots of autism sprinkled in there, so sensory seeking is a Thing).
The zoo is obviously our first choice, but it looks like rain next Friday (March 8), so the zoo is probably out. Do y'all think the kids would like Air & Space or Natural History better? Something else?
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Most kids tend to love air and space. Bonus if they're into space exploration, because the newly renovated halls at the DC location are amazing, and the Chantilly location has a space shuttle. Personally, i find air and space boring after about an hour. The natural history museum is much more my speed. Gem hall never fails to be a hit for me, the new dinosaur hall really wow'ed me when i first got to go through it, and there's a bug zoo and butterfly garden. If you stick to the national mall location you can hit both in one day, if one museum fails to be a hit. It's about a 10-15 minute walk between the two museums, but most of it is on the mall, and you can stop for ice cream along the way, if the kids need any sort of motivation for the walk. :)
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You need the Postal Museum. Trust me on this. People overlook it but it's the best museum for children, hands down. Especially kids with sensory issues. It's big, has lots of space for them to run around, lots to touch, and far, far fewer people. That means you won't have to worry about them getting lost or overwhelmed in a crowd. After, I suggest walking to the Capitol, even with the rain. Air and Space will be literally insane, and Natural History won't be much better. You'll be in a line for both, and you need timed passes for Air and Space. March starts the busy season, and we're starting to get weekday lines now at NH. Plus, NASM is only half finished.
Videos
Save these kid-friendly museums for your next trip to ...
Coming to DC with kids? These are the best Smithsonian museums and sites for families! #Smithsonian #DCtravel #dctiktok #washingtondc #museums | TikTok
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Fun Museum 🖼️ To Visit with Children in Washington DC - YouTube
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Fun in Washington DC with Kids - A Day at the Smithsonian National ...
KidFriendly DC
kidfriendlydc.com › 2019 › 09 › 23 › tips-for-visiting-smithsonian-museums-with-young-children-ages-0-6
Tips for Visiting Smithsonian Museums with Young Children (Ages 0-6) | KidFriendly DC
September 23, 2019 - The Smithsonians can be a great pop-in destination whether you live nearby or not. 3. Connection: Visiting a museum with younger kids requires a lot more attention for the parent or caregiver (why is Obama’s portrait at toddler-touch-level at the Portrait Gallery?!), but it leads to incredible ...
Kids Out and About
toronto.kidsoutandabout.com › content › kid-friendly-museums-and-around-toronto
Kid-friendly museums in and around Toronto | Kids Out and About Toronto
Which museums are best for kids? Toronto has over 50 museums, and most of them are places you want to take your kids! Here is KidsOutAndAbout list of kid-friendly museums in & around Toronto. If
Reddit
reddit.com › r/washingtondc › best museums for toddlers?
r/washingtondc on Reddit: Best museums for toddlers?
December 22, 2021 -
Since it's too cold for the playground, anybody have museum or galleries that they like to take their younger kids to?
We have recently enjoyed the National Gallery (they have little strollers you can use!) and Udvar-Hazy Air and Space.
Obviously Natural History museum would be great if the lines to get in weren't so long. Postal Museum is apparently closed.
If you have found any of the other Smithsonians or other museums around here to be particularly good or bad for small kids, please share!
Reddit
reddit.com › r/washingtondc › kid-friendly museum recommendations?
r/washingtondc on Reddit: Kid-friendly museum recommendations?
April 5, 2023 -
I’ve never done the DC museum thing and I’m bringing my elementary schooler along. Any tips or suggestions are much appreciated
Edit: bonus points if free during the week?!
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Planet Word is where I want to take my nephews when they're older (maybe like 3rd-5th grade). It's so interactive - games, puzzles, writing something on the wall - just visually cool and a quick trip too. There were a some toddlers there when I went, but the 5-10 kids actually seemed to enjoy it (as did me and my 30-something friends). And it's "ticketed" (you can reserve online but we walked in) so it's not as crowded as the others.
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Air and space, national galleries, hirschorn can be cool too
SavvyMom
savvymom.ca › home › articles › a look at visiting toronto museums for families
A Look at Visiting Toronto Museums for Families - SavvyMom
January 10, 2025 - Most Toronto museums feature at least one gallery or exhibition designed to engage with kids on a hands-on, interactive level.
Destination Ontario
destinationontario.com › en-ca › articles › kid-friendly-museums-ontario
Kid-friendly museums | Destination Ontario
August 21, 2025 - There are various exhibits to see, including the exclusive full-size Shay locomotive and a baggage car with a HO scale model train layout and a caboose. Kids will want to ride on the miniature steam locomotive at the back of the museum.
Thechaosmanager
thechaosmanager.com › home › having a great time with kids at 3 smithsonian museums
The Smithsonian Museums with Kids ⋆
September 19, 2025 - Tips for visiting Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian with kids! Info on Air & Space, American History and Natural History Museums included.
Wanderlog
wanderlog.com › list › geoCategory › 119784 › -best-childrens-museums-in-toronto
The 14 best children's museums in Toronto
Loved seeing the couple be able to take photos in the museum, too! Really beautiful! Please go, spend all day (you’ll need it) and enjoy! Lots of amazing things to see. If you’re a student bring your card as well, discounted rate applies!Jovanka S — Google review · The ROM is World Class, all the way! Better then any of the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
Quora
quora.com › Which-DC-museum-is-the-best-for-kids
Which DC museum is the best for kids? - Quora
Answer (1 of 8): Richard Thigpen’s answer is good: Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum at Dulles, VA and the Newseum. Both have impressive things to look at and lots of eye-candy for small groups of kids. Not sure if this option is still in business, but the Spy Museum near the Verizon Center ...
Metropolitan Mom
metropolitanmom.com › home › best family-friendly museums in toronto – free, fun & educational
Best Family-Friendly Museums in Toronto – Free, Fun & Educational
October 8, 2024 - Here are some of the top free museums to check out: A great spot for history buffs and children alike, with outdoor spaces for kids to run around. A working farm in the middle of the city, ideal for kids who love animals. Step back in time and explore Toronto’s early days through exhibits and activities for kids.
BabyQuip
babyquip.com › blog › smithsonian-museums-for-kids
Best Smithsonian Museums for Kids
March 12, 2025 - Following these tips, create an engaging, stress-free, and memorable Smithsonian experience that sparks your child’s curiosity and love for learning! ... Washington, D.C., is packed with incredible museums, but with little ones in tow, it’s best to plan a kid-friendly itinerary that balances excitement with breaks.
Ciao Bambino!
ciaobambino.com › 72-hours-in-washington-dc-with-kids
72 Hours in Washington, D.C. with Kids | Ciao Bambino!
September 15, 2025 - The National Museum of the American Indian is another great museum for kids. It includes an interactive Imagination Center for younger visitors and houses one of the world’s largest collections of Native American artifacts. It also has the best food of all the Smithsonians, hands down.
Smithsonian Institution
si.edu › kids
Fun Stuff for Kids and Teens | Smithsonian Institution
Customizable to any skill set, these digital puzzles feature images from Smithsonian Libraries. ... Try your hand at these fun digital activities from the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. National Museum of African American History and Culture · Explore the Joyful ABC activity booklets for early learners, ages 3 - 5, or for infants and toddlers.
Family Trip Guides
familytripguides.com › smithsonian-museums-kids
Smithsonian Museums Kids: 2025 Updates
Museums | Washington DC · Playground - Arlington, VA · Outdoors | Free | Parking Lot · For Babies & Toddlers - Elementary Age | 🚻 ·
Family Trip Guides
familytripguides.com › museum-matchmaker-tying-kids-interests-to-each-smithsonian
Museum Matchmaker! Tying Kid's Interests to each Smithsonian
What's faster than a rocket?! The Air and Space Museum is an inspiring place for kids of all ages who love transportation and engineering. The museum is divided into Airplanes and Flight in the West Wing and Space Exploration in the East Wing.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/askto › cultural outings with young children in downtown toronto?
r/askTO on Reddit: Cultural outings with young children in downtown Toronto?
January 21, 2025 -
I'm looking for more cultural experiences to do with my 6yo son in Toronto (the more downtown the better). We have done the ROM and the AGO, walked most of High Park, all of the Brickworks, nature walks in Rouge Park, gone to Centre Island. I took him to a Blue Jays game, but avoiding the Raptors or Leafs since it is so much more expensive. We have walked around a few neighborhoods but that is not so exciting for him. Exploring different cuisines is fun for me, but he does not enjoy the different flavours so that is also not what I am looking for. Any other recommendations on experience in Toronto over the weekend (other than just going to the playground)?
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Little Canada!
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This isn’t really cultural but I recommend going to a woodsy park like Taylor creek or high park after a heavy snowfall. Great way to learn about tracking and different animals and how they move. Ideally morning when there will be fresh tracks and less pedestrians.
Sunshine Whispers
sunshinewhispers.com › sunshine whispers › blog › destinations › washington d.c. › the absolute best smithsonian museums for babies!
The Absolute Best Smithsonian Museums For Babies! - Sunshine Whispers
October 23, 2019 - These are our top picks for the best Smithsonian Museums for babies! ... When you think of a baby play area, you probably don’t picture the world-renowned Smithsonian Museums, right?! Surprisingly, I have found these museums to be a wonderful place for both babies and toddlers after years ...
Smithsonian Magazine
smithsonianmag.com › blogs › smithsonian-books › 2025 › 08 › 07 › whether-youre-a-local-or-a-tourist-give-your-kids-the-best-smithsonian-experience-with-our-official-guide
Whether You're a Local or a Tourist, Give Your Kids the Best Smithsonian Experience With Our Official Guide | Smithsonian Voices | Smithsonian Books Smithsonian Magazine
August 7, 2025 - Space, which are located on the first floor of the museum. For more information about upcoming programs, please visit their website or call 202-633-5385. SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM AND RENWICK GALLERY