Many people think of it as a pilgrimage for families, so that their children can learn about American history. But in reality, Washington, DC has great restaurants representing virtually every culture in the world, all kinds of performing arts – from the Kennedy Center to Georgetown and U Street jazz clubs, lots of boutique shopping, great places to stay from four-star hotels to point little bed and breakfasts frequented by the foreign service crowd. There’s tons for adults, with some fun nightlife, and great activities for children that doesn’t include just dragging them through countless museums.

The last time going out to dinner, while having a drink at the bar, I met a couple from visiting from Costa Rica, a Ph.D. candidate studying in DC from Russia, and two gentlemen from Egypt and Nigeria. Needless to say, it’s a great place for learning about other cultures.

I could have almost written this piece. My first trip to D. C. was in high school, as a senior, going with Close-Up– no parents, just high school friends and the way too cool comparative politics teacher, whom we photographed posing in the women’s restroom doorway.

My 2nd trip to D. C. was not somber, but a reflective trip for myself. I was visiting a friend who was interning a semester, which left me free to explore during working hours. I spent the entire week at the Smithsonian and the other museums at the Mall. I got lost on the bus once.

My 3rd trip to D. C. I planned last summer, to take my 3 boys (11, 12 and 14) on their first trip. We are “those” parents who dropped the boys off at the Washington Memorial with a cellphone and a map, and told them to meet us in a few hours at an agreed upon location.

D. C. is magical, and our trips are always too short.

Books that I found helpful when traveling to DC with my kids: “Mouse” books (one for
Congress, one for President and one for the Supreme Court) by Cherly Shaw Barnes and “A Kids Guide to Washington DC” by Diane C. Clarke.

It’s a great place to take your kids.