Hi all,
I am going to dc this weekend and taking my eight year old sister. This is her first trip so I need some kid friendly museums and attractions to take her to.
I was thinking about the Air and Space museum and also the American History museum. What about the Capitol Childrens Museum (is she too old for this?) and what about the zoo? Thanks in advance!

Doing a search on this site will pull up more opinions on the CCM. I think the Capitol Children's Museum would be perfect, and afterwards you could have lunch at Union Station. Although the museum appears a bit shabby, it's great fun for the 4-12 year old set. However, if you're only in town for the weekend, the Smithsonian museums will more than fill your time.

We're supposed to relatively nice weather this weekend --- mid to low 80's, moderate humidity -- The National Zoo is a great place to visit and your sister should love the Pandas.

Thanks to all!

Milissa and Kailey

I'd take your sister on an FBI tour. It's a tour I think most children really like. The locale is 10th & Pennsylvania, J. Edgar Hoover Building.

You probably wouldn't be able to get Washington Monument Tix, so consider a short walk to the Old Postoffice Pavilion Building and take the free trip to the clock tower. Food Court down below (no as good as Union Stations). Maybe a short trip to the Postal Museum next door to Union Station, she might find some displays interested, others boring, so just go with the flow if so.

Kennedy Center often has some childrens programs. The play, "Shear Madness" was great, but I don't know if good w/ an 8yr old. Walk around the Tidal Basin, visiting FDR & Jefferson Monument.

I forgot the paddle boats just down from Rouel Wallenberg (sp?) Ave ... maybe at beginning or end of the Tidal Basin Walk. Enjoy your trip!

Same-day timed tickets (free) for the Washington Monument are distributed from a kiosk on the 15th Street side of the Monument grounds begining at 8:00 each morning. In recent weeks, they've been running out pretty early in the day.

There is a free performance at the Kennedy Center every day at 6:00 -- could be anything from string quartet to high school choral group to tap dancers (free shuttle bus from the Foggy Bottom subway station). For the schedule, see http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/

Don't miss the First Ladies' Inagural Dresses collection at one of the Smithsonians. Air and Space was our sons' fave when we took them there at about that age, but I think the First Ladies' would appeal to an 8 year old sister. The zoo, IMHO, is lot of walking for not such an outstanding zoo. How about a river boat down to Mount Vernon----give her a book about George Washington to read beforehand. It's a pleasant trip and an interesting house.

I think your ideas of Air and Space and Am History museums are the best. If you like zoos and don't have a chance to see them often, I think that would be good, also. Although some pan it, I also found the FBI tour fun for a change, but I don't know if it would appeal so much to 8 yr old girls. I think Mount Vernon would be nice if you can make it out there.

I would not spend my time at all going to the Kennedy Center, espec. to see the free hallway shows they have at 6. There are no seats, it's noisy, and rather boring (just standing around in the hallway seeing 3rd rate entertainment); the building itself is pretty ugly and I'm sure an 8 yr old will not be interested in it. It wouldn't even give a child the experience of going out to the theatre at night or whatever a kid might think a special event.