Washington, DC is a city that truly has something for visitors of all ages. There’s the impressive Smithsonian Institution, which includes more than a dozen free museums and galleries in the DC area, along with the National Zoo. Add to that all the history that comes alive at the memorials and monuments along the National Mall, plus places like Ford’s Theatre and the National Archives. Finally, throw in all the delicious opportunities to try cuisines from all over the world, and you can understand why DC averages over 20 million visitors per year. But where do you start in a city with so much to offer, and so many interesting free attractions? We pulled together a list of 20 things to do in Washington, DC to get you started. The bucket list is based on our experiences as a family growing up in the suburbs of DC. It’s a mixture of some of the classic must-sees, plus a few more cool experiences that we’ve discovered over the years.
*This post was updated November, 2024
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I recently got back from a fall girls trip to the Seattle area. It had been quite a few years since our Pacific Northwest family road trip, so I was excited when my friend invited me to tag along on her visit to see family in the area. We stayed in a house on the water in Bremerton, with amazing views of Mount Rainier. Given what I knew about Seattle weather, I was prepared for cold, rainy weather. It was definitely a pleasant surprise to have sunshine the entire time! Our plans included my friend sharing a few of her favorite places around Seattle and Bainbridge Island, along with a food tour at Pike Place market. We took advantage of both the Bremerton and Bainbridge Island ferries to get back and forth to Seattle on foot. Read on to learn about 4 fun things to do in the Seattle area and bookmark this page for your next visit to Seattle.
Washington, DC is a wonderful place to visit, and we are fortunate to live in the suburbs of this popular city. How many other towns can boast about such an amazing collection of galleries and museums with no admission fees? Over the years, we’ve learned about animals, airplanes, history, and art by visiting many of the Smithsonian museums. But we’ve also had the chance to enjoy some of the other unique museum offerings in DC. While some might not want to pay admission given all the free museums nearby, I think these 6 other museums in DC that aren’t part of the Smithsonian complex are worth considering. Many are popular with both tourists and locals for their unique exhibits, and we have enjoyed visiting them over the years. Always check online before you go, as you may find a discount for the museums that charge admission.
*This post was originally published in January, 2016 and updated January, 2024. 
Head east, less than 40 miles from DC, and you will find the charming town of Annapolis, Maryland. On warm, sunny days, locals and tourists alike fill the streets of this capital city, relaxing by City Dock and enjoying the small town ambiance. Filled with history, boats of every shape and size, and some of the best seafood in the area, there are plenty of things to do during a visit to Annapolis. But there is no easier way to get to know the city than to take a tour with a local guide. Keep reading to learn more about the Original Annapolis Seafood Crawl before you plan a visit to Annapolis.
As the new year begins and the coldest winter months set in, many of us will start daydreaming about a warm weekend escape. I don’t know about you, but a winter getaway to a destination like Arizona or Florida when it’s not 100 degrees in the shade sounds pretty appealing to me. So whether you need a short break from frigid temperatures, or just a quick recharge from everyday life, here’s 5 suggestions of places known for mild winter weather along with some ideas for things to do during a long weekend getaway.
*This post was updated November, 2024 
I love exploring new places whenever I get the chance, so when the opportunity presented itself to explore the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina for a quick trip, I took it. If you haven’t visited Charleston, it’s one of those places filled with colorful historic homes, palmetto trees and waterfront views. There’s an almost endless selection of ways to explore the historic downtown area, several nearby family-friendly beaches, and enough restaurants for eating your way around town. Definitely too much to see and do in a short visit, but here’s some of colorful photos from my weekend in the Charleston area. I hope you get inspired to plan a trip to this historic and beautiful slice of the south.
*Updated September, 2023 
When my daughter and I arrived in New Orleans for a 4 day mother-daughter adventure, I wasn’t really sure that we would have enough activities to fill our time. Neither of us had ever been to New Orleans, and we weren’t really sure what to expect beyond the craziness of Bourbon Street. We had a few things on our list (mostly food related), but since we had family that lived locally, we were relying on them to show us around. Seeing the city through the eyes of a local helped us explore New Orleans beyond the boundaries of the French Quarter, discovering delicious food, history and many fun activities along the way. Here’s our list of 8 fun things to do in New Orleans that will take you beyond Bourbon Street.
*This post was updated August 2024.  When you visit New Orleans for the first time, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the variety of food choices. With well over 1,000 restaurants, it’s impossible to try all the New Orleans favorites on any given trip or to even know where to start. During our recent 4 day mother/daughter trip, I felt like we left with a good sampling of the local cuisine, including things like spicy boiled crawfish, chargrilled oysters, po’ boys and of course, the iconic beignets! We were fortunate to have a local family member who was a fabulous personal tour guide, especially when it came to food. Staying at the Hotel Indigo in the Garden District gave us the perfect opportunity to explore restaurants outside of the French Quarter. We could easily get up and walk to several popular breakfast spots. If you are staying in the French Quarter, don't hesitate to take an early morning St. Charles streetcar run to the picturesque Garden District for breakfast. But be sure to save room for lunch and dinner. Here’s how we spent 4 days exploring all there is to eat in New Orleans.
*This post was updated October 2022. 
Travel to cities around the USA, and there’s one thing you might notice that many have in common - colorful street art covering the empty sides of buildings and alleyways. Whether it’s a giant mural on the side of an old warehouse, or a colorful alleyway wall filled with local & cultural icons like the one outside of DC’s Ben’s Chili Bowl, one thing is for sure, street art has become more mainstream. In many places, organized street art/mural campaigns have been started in the hopes of revitalizing parts of downtown areas that have been subject to urban decay. Much like the Federal Art Project (FAP) of the Works Progress Administration that was funded to assist struggling artists during the Great Depression (resulting in over 100,000 murals and paintings mostly inside buildings), city mural projects are being used to bring life and visitors back to the city. I admit that it wasn’t until I started regularly participating in the monthly Street Art Chat on Twitter, did I really open my eyes and truly appreciate some of the amazing pieces of street art that I’ve encountered. Plus searching for street art is a fun thing to do with teens on vacation. So journey along as I share some favorite street art found in 5 cities from Miami to New York city, along with a few pieces of bonus street art from Hawaii.
*This post was updated October, 2022 
Spring is finally settling in around the country, and it’s the perfect time to plan a visit to a national park. Did you know that every year in April, the National Park Service designates a week as National Park Week? During this time, the public is invited to spend some time celebrating America's treasures, with daily themes and special events. Some of our favorites national parks are the ones that preserve the history and cultural heritage of the United States, in a way that also offers an opportunity for family fun through interactive activities. With insight from fellow travel bloggers, read on to find out why these 5 historic east coast national parks are worth a visit.
This post has been updated for 2022. |
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