A Mom's Tips On Visiting DC Museums With Kids This Summer

WASHINGTON, DC—Last summer, Jennifer Liao set a goal of visiting 12 Smithsonian Museums and the National Zoo with her kids. They made progress visiting eight before a round of colds hit the family.

Regardless, the Springfield, Virginia, mom gained something more valuable: getting her 3- and 6-year-old kids excited about going back. That's why friends began asking how she handles trips to the DC museums with her kids.

Liao began writing up museum guides and blog posts covering everything from beating the crowds, transportation options to can't-miss exhibits at each museum and specialized tips for different age groups.

Liao shared some of her tips with Patch.

1. Go at the right time.

On a busy summer day, lines can start to form at the museums on the National Mall. If you're going on a weekday, plan to get there early. "I think the main thing is getting there before they open," says Liao. That way, you might have the place to yourself and can see exhibits without crowding.

Try weekend afternoons if going on a weekday isn't an option, since Liao says weekend mornings are busy. Overall, summer is the ideal time to go since you'll avoid the school groups that come in the spring and fall.

2. Get the kids excited for the exhibits they'll see.

It can be difficult to get kids engaged in exhibits that aren't hands on. But Liao says it's all about letting them know what to look for in the museums. For instance, she and the kids might check out a book on fossils at the library and search for them at the National Museum of Natural History. They might also set the goal of touching everything in the hands-on kids' areas.

"Kids are naturally curious. It's all exciting and engaging for them," she says.

Another way to keep kids engaged is having them collect stickers from each museum. Look for volunteer carts, where the kids can learn about a featured exhibit and receive a sticker. Liao's museum guides also come with passports for kids to fill out when they visit each museum.

3. Have a plan going in.

You don't have to see everything in one visit at each museum. In fact, Liao's toddler sometimes is done with the visit after an hour. Try focusing on specific exhibits, such as the newly-reopened National Fossil Hall at the National Museum of Natural History.

4. Know what you can bring to museums.

It can get very hot and sunny on DC summer days. Smithsonian museums allow visitors to bring water bottles inside, but don't allow aerosol sunscreen. As for food, Liao has a picnic lunch ready in the car. If you don't bring a lunch, there are usually food truck and food court options around the Mall. The Smithsonian has a list of what you can and can't bring to museums.

5. Don't stress about getting there.

Liao says taking Metro is the best option when you have kids. But that may not be an option for some families, especially with the summer shutdown of six Northern Virginia Yellow and Blue Line stations in progress. "For people who don't have access to Metro, don't be afraid of parking," she says.

On weekdays, she almost always finds on-street parking. On the National Mall, Constitution and Independence Avenues are close to the museums. When there's no on-street parking availability, she has go-to options for parking garages or uses the Spot Hero app to locate parking.

For more tips and guides to specific museums from Liao, visit familytripguides.com.