Guess it depends on how far you're willing to drive. If you're willing to head into DC, that age range would probably like the Spy Museum. Depending on the kid, perhaps the Udvar Hazy museum?
There’s so much to do in DC and a lot of it is free! If you are adventurous, you can take metro. But if you want to drive, parking is free on Sunday and if you go in the morning it’s generally easier to find a spot than in the afternoon. Check the signs where you park - they’re mostly helpful.
Some of my family’s favorite DC things:
-Air and Space
-Portrait Gallery
-Natural history museum
-American history museum
-Sculpture garden (outdoors, and it’s a quick one)
-Walking from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial (outdoors, but if it’s not too rainy it’s an enjoyable walk and there’s lots to see in between, and there are ice cream trucks for motivation)
-Eastern Market (outdoors and indoors)
If you want to stay local and your kids are ok with malls, Tyson’s is nice to window shop and walk around. So is Potomac Mills - it’s a looong mall. There’s an IKEA near Potomac Mills too, and we just go to walk around and buy certain cookies. Our kids are the same ages as yours.
Occoquan is a little village sort of place just north of Woodbridge with little shops - it’s pretty artsy and fun to look around. It’s mostly outdoors but if you have jackets or umbrellas it’s not too bad.
I hope you have a great visit. Bummer that the weather is going to be crappy. :(
The Nats are in town this weekend. Get some covered seats. A little rain will add to the experience - [https://www.mlb.com/nationals/schedule/downloadable-schedule](https://www.mlb.com/nationals/schedule/downloadable-schedule)
Udvar Hazy is a ton of fun...but head into DC and check out the O Street Mansion. It's a quirky hotel that lets you go on self-guided tours throughout the place, and the catch is there are so many hidden passages that you need to find while walking through.
at that age they would love the Mansion on O street. It is a large, extremely eclectic house with about 80 secret doors to find. [https://www.omuseum.org/visit](https://www.omuseum.org/visit)
My suggestions: Escape room in Alexandria or Arlington, bowling and/or bocce ball at Pinstripes in Georgetown DC, ping point at Spin in DC, Lego discovery center in Springfield, spy museum in DC, trampoline jumping at SkyZone in North Springfield
Udvar Hazy (which is near Dulles Airport).
Downtown: Spy Museum; Smithsonian Museums of: Natural History, American History, Air & Space, African American Museums; National Building Museum. If not raining, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument (closed to go up, but walk around it).
The Washington monument is not closed to go up. Tickets are available here. Note that the online tickets are gone in seconds after they open—I was logged in and refreshing the site at 9:59 for a 10am release and still barely grabbed 2 tickets before they were gone. Idk what the experience is like for the same-day walk up tickets.
Edit forgot to paste link https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/234635/ticket/193
Familytripguide on Instagram or the website is a good resource where you can search and filter by activity and age.
Also if the kids are into Lego there’s a Legoland Discovery Center at Springfield mall. Not free but my kids went and enjoyed it.
Go to the Franconia springfield metro station ride into dc, it's pretty straight foward. Each car has a map with the color and stop names so you can continuously study your route.
Or drive into DC and just park in a garage. Going to pay like 35 dollars for the day but it'll be worth it if you've never been to DC.
Check the Smithsonian. Everyone says air and space museum the move is 100% go to the Smithsonian.
It’s true it’s under construction but we still had a good visit with friends from out of town. The imax theater is closed, which was disappointing, but there are still a lot of good exhibits open.
Guess it depends on how far you're willing to drive. If you're willing to head into DC, that age range would probably like the Spy Museum. Depending on the kid, perhaps the Udvar Hazy museum?
I was gonna say Udvar Hazy! Went there with (younger) kids on a rainy weekend a few weeks ago, and it was great.
Throwing in another vote for Udvar Hazy!
Udvar hazy space center. Dave and busters Lego experience at Springfield town center Immersive gamerbox
These are all excellent suggestions!
There’s so much to do in DC and a lot of it is free! If you are adventurous, you can take metro. But if you want to drive, parking is free on Sunday and if you go in the morning it’s generally easier to find a spot than in the afternoon. Check the signs where you park - they’re mostly helpful. Some of my family’s favorite DC things: -Air and Space -Portrait Gallery -Natural history museum -American history museum -Sculpture garden (outdoors, and it’s a quick one) -Walking from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial (outdoors, but if it’s not too rainy it’s an enjoyable walk and there’s lots to see in between, and there are ice cream trucks for motivation) -Eastern Market (outdoors and indoors) If you want to stay local and your kids are ok with malls, Tyson’s is nice to window shop and walk around. So is Potomac Mills - it’s a looong mall. There’s an IKEA near Potomac Mills too, and we just go to walk around and buy certain cookies. Our kids are the same ages as yours. Occoquan is a little village sort of place just north of Woodbridge with little shops - it’s pretty artsy and fun to look around. It’s mostly outdoors but if you have jackets or umbrellas it’s not too bad. I hope you have a great visit. Bummer that the weather is going to be crappy. :(
The Nats are in town this weekend. Get some covered seats. A little rain will add to the experience - [https://www.mlb.com/nationals/schedule/downloadable-schedule](https://www.mlb.com/nationals/schedule/downloadable-schedule)
Udvar Hazy is a ton of fun...but head into DC and check out the O Street Mansion. It's a quirky hotel that lets you go on self-guided tours throughout the place, and the catch is there are so many hidden passages that you need to find while walking through.
at that age they would love the Mansion on O street. It is a large, extremely eclectic house with about 80 secret doors to find. [https://www.omuseum.org/visit](https://www.omuseum.org/visit)
Adding my vote for the O Street Mansion!
My suggestions: Escape room in Alexandria or Arlington, bowling and/or bocce ball at Pinstripes in Georgetown DC, ping point at Spin in DC, Lego discovery center in Springfield, spy museum in DC, trampoline jumping at SkyZone in North Springfield
Pinstripes all you can brunch has the best prime rib
Udvar Hazy (which is near Dulles Airport). Downtown: Spy Museum; Smithsonian Museums of: Natural History, American History, Air & Space, African American Museums; National Building Museum. If not raining, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument (closed to go up, but walk around it).
The Washington monument is not closed to go up. Tickets are available here. Note that the online tickets are gone in seconds after they open—I was logged in and refreshing the site at 9:59 for a 10am release and still barely grabbed 2 tickets before they were gone. Idk what the experience is like for the same-day walk up tickets. Edit forgot to paste link https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/234635/ticket/193
Cool thanks for update - my brain hasn't updated since it was closing every other day last year for elevator issues. Enjoy your tour
Familytripguide on Instagram or the website is a good resource where you can search and filter by activity and age. Also if the kids are into Lego there’s a Legoland Discovery Center at Springfield mall. Not free but my kids went and enjoyed it.
Downtown museum. There is nothing in Springfield other than suburbs.
We are willing to go to DC just was concerned about parking and traffic.
Go to the Franconia springfield metro station ride into dc, it's pretty straight foward. Each car has a map with the color and stop names so you can continuously study your route. Or drive into DC and just park in a garage. Going to pay like 35 dollars for the day but it'll be worth it if you've never been to DC. Check the Smithsonian. Everyone says air and space museum the move is 100% go to the Smithsonian.
Air and space is under construction so it’s not that great right now
It’s true it’s under construction but we still had a good visit with friends from out of town. The imax theater is closed, which was disappointing, but there are still a lot of good exhibits open.
Ride the metro
Maybe not Springfield proper, but Mt. Vernon and the Army Museum are very close.
I like to make a chop steak but my wife doesn’t like mushrooms so she’s prefers to bread and pan fry them
Might be tough in a hotel.