Union Market
$$NoMa, 1309 5th St. NE
A food hall with more than 50 vendors under one roof, so everyone can pick something different.
Good for: Lunch with picky eaters.
Skip if: you need a quiet meal; it’s loud on weekends.
Report a problemGUIDE Washington, DC · The District
Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Washington, DC: the parent guide.
DC with little kids is easier than it looks: the big museums are free, and the zoo is too.
Around town10 spots · checked Oct 28
The DC places we go back to, again and again.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Eat
Kid-friendly restaurants
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in DC that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour. For toddler classes and every indoor playground we’ve checked, with prices and sock rules, see indoor play in DC.
Freeper child
U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory
Capitol Hill, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
A free glasshouse at the foot of the Capitol, with a jungle room toddlers like to walk through. No tickets.
Tickets
- Adults Free
Good for: A warm, free hour on a cold day.
Skip if: it’s Dec 25; it’s closed.
Conservatory daily 10am–5pm · closed Dec 25Site ↗ for U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory
Report a problemFree
DC Public Library
Citywide
Free story times, baby lap times and family events at neighborhood branches across the District.
Good for: A free morning in any neighborhood.
Skip if: you need it on a holiday.
Report a problemFree
Montgomery County Public Libraries
Montgomery County, MD
Story times, play dates and family events from Silver Spring to Germantown.
Good for: A free story time in the Maryland suburbs.
Skip if: you need it on a holiday.
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in DC that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride
Parks and outdoor play
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
McLean, 6317 Georgetown PikeFree
Clemyjontri Park
A free playground in Fairfax County built so kids of all abilities can play together, with a carousel in season.
Tickets
- Kids Free
- Adults Free
Good for: A free playground morning in Northern Virginia.
Skip if: you’re counting on the carousel in winter; it’s seasonal.
Report a problemGlen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd.$
Glen Echo Park
An old amusement park turned arts park, home to the Puppet Co. and Adventure Theatre, both with shows for small kids.
Good for: A puppet show and a picnic.
Skip if: you want a playground day; it’s mostly theaters and studios.
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in DC that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
National Children’s Museum
$$Federal Triangle, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
A STEAM museum built for kids up to about 12, in the Ronald Reagan Building. Tickets are timed; buy online.
Tickets
- Kids 1 and up $18.95 through Oct 31, $19.95 from Nov 1
- Adults $18.95 through Oct 31, $19.95 from Nov 1
- under 1
Good for: A rainy morning with kids 1 and up.
Skip if: your baby is under 1 and you came only for them; there’s more for walkers.
Report a problemSmithsonian’s National Zoo
FreeWoodley Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
A free zoo in Rock Creek Park. Admission is free, but every guest needs an entry pass, babies included. Reserve online.
Tickets
- Kids Free
- Adults Free
Free entry passes required for everyone
Good for: A long morning with a stroller; the hill is steep, so start at the top.
Skip if: you show up after 3pm; that’s last entry.
Grounds 8am–4pm · last entry 3pm · animal buildings 9am–3:30pmSite ↗ for Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Report a problemNational Museum of Natural History
FreeNational Mall, 10th St. and Constitution Ave. NW
Dinosaurs, the Hope Diamond and the ocean hall, all free with no passes needed.
Tickets
- Kids Free
- Adults Free
Good for: A free rainy day on the Mall.
Skip if: you hate crowds on Saturdays; go at 10am or on a weekday.
Daily 10am–5:30pm · closed Dec 25Site ↗ for National Museum of Natural History
Report a problemNational Air and Space Museum
FreeNational Mall, 650 Jefferson Drive SW
Free, with timed-entry passes needed for every visitor. Reserve up to nine at a time.
Tickets
- Kids Free
- Adults Free
Free timed-entry passes required
Good for: Kids who love planes and rockets.
Skip if: you didn’t reserve passes on a busy day.
Daily 10am–5:30pm · closed Dec 25Site ↗ for National Air and Space Museum
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in DC that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
No ticket needed
Free things to do
Where a family can go in DC without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in DC.
Capitol Hill, 100 Maryland Ave. SWU.S. Botanic Garden ConservatoryA free glasshouse at the foot of the Capitol, with a jungle room toddlers like to walk through.FreeIndoor
CitywideDC Public LibraryFree story times, baby lap times and family events at neighborhood branches across the District.FreeIndoorMontgomery County, MDMontgomery County Public LibrariesStory times, play dates and family events from Silver Spring to Germantown.FreeIndoor
McLean, 6317 Georgetown PikeClemyjontri ParkA free playground in Fairfax County built so kids of all abilities can play together, with a carousel in season.Free
Woodley Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NWSmithsonian’s National ZooA free zoo in Rock Creek Park.Free
National Mall, 10th St. and Constitution Ave. NWNational Museum of Natural HistoryDinosaurs, the Hope Diamond and the ocean hall, all free with no passes needed.FreeNational Mall, 650 Jefferson Drive SWNational Air and Space MuseumFree, with timed-entry passes needed for every visitor.FreeLittlest explorers
Best for under 3s
Free or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Federal Triangle, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NWNational Children’s MuseumFree under 1, with toddler areas.$18.95 through Oct 31, $19.95 from Nov 1 eachunder 1IndoorWoodley Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NWSmithsonian’s National ZooStroller friendly, though hilly.FreeCapitol Hill, 100 Maryland Ave. SWU.S. Botanic Garden ConservatoryShort, easy loop.FreeIndoorEvery week
Library storytimes
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in DC.
Most weekdays and SaturdaysDC Public Library
Free story times and baby lap times at neighborhood branches.
Schedule ↗Weekday morningsMontgomery County Public Libraries
Free story times and play dates in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Germantown and more.
Schedule ↗Weekday morningsArlington Public Library
Free story times at Central and the neighborhood branches.
Schedule ↗Babies and 1-year-olds
Things to do with a baby or a 1-year-old in DC
Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Baby and lap-sit storytimes
Mondays at 11am · Woodridge LibraryBaby Lap Time · DC Public Library
Songs, movement and early literacy play.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 1pm · Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central LibraryBaby Lap Time · DC Public Library
For pre-walking babies. Free tickets from when MLK Library opens that day, first come, first served.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 1pm · Southwest LibraryBaby Laptime · DC Public Library
20 to 30 minutes for babies from birth until they start walking.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 1:30pm · Takoma Park LibraryBaby Lap Time · DC Public Library
Stories, songs and rhymes for pre-walking babies.
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10am · Chevy Chase LibraryBaby Lap Time · DC Public Library
30 minutes for babies from birth until they start walking.
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 11am · Brigadier General Charles E. McGee LibraryBaby Storytime at McGee Library · Montgomery County Public Libraries
Ages 0 to 18 months. Free tickets on the 5th floor at 10am the same day.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 10:30am · Germantown LibraryBaby Lapsit Storytime · Montgomery County Public Libraries
Ages 0 to 18 months.
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10:30am · Rockville Memorial LibraryBaby Storytime · Montgomery County Public Libraries
Registration required; limit 20 families.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 10:15am · Central LibraryBaby Lapsit Storytime at Central · Arlington Public Library
Babies 0 to 12 months. Songs, rhymes and games, no registration.
Storytime calendar ↗Fridays at 11:30am · Westover LibraryBaby Lapsit Storytime at Westover Library · Arlington Public Library
Babies 0 to 12 months. Songs, rhymes and games, no registration.
Storytime calendar ↗Babies get in free
National Children’s Museum
under 1
Admission page ↗By season
Seasonal spots
Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices. For holiday and indoor rinks with season dates, prices and skate aids, see ice skating with kids in DC.
This week
What’s on this week in DC
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Washington, DC right now.
- Stamp & Scream Family Festival at the National Postal MuseumNational Postal Museum · Free
- Kidchella: Halloween Edition at Arena StageArena Stage · Adults $10, kids 1–6 $5, under 1 free
- Hill-O-Ween on Capitol HillEastern Market · Free
Good questions
Things to do with toddlers in Washington, DC: the FAQ
Is DC good for toddlers?
Yes. The zoo, the Natural History museum and the Botanic Garden are free, and the National Children’s Museum is built for small kids.
What’s free for little kids in DC?
Most of the Smithsonian, the National Zoo (with a free pass), the U.S. Botanic Garden and library story times.
What can we do in Washington, DC on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, DC Public Library and Montgomery County Public Libraries. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Washington, DC?
National Children’s Museum: Free under 1, with toddler areas. Smithsonian’s National Zoo: Stroller friendly, though hilly. U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory is also easy with a baby or toddler. See best for under 3s.
Where are the free storytimes in Washington, DC?
DC Public Library: Most weekdays and Saturdays. Montgomery County Public Libraries: Weekday mornings. Arlington Public Library: Weekday mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the DC weekly list.
How do you choose the places in the Washington, DC guide?
Every one of the 10 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 6 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 28, 2026. How we choose and check.
How much is Smithsonian’s National Zoo for a toddler?
Kids: Free; adults: Free (free entry passes required for everyone). We checked this on its official site on Oct 28, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
How much is the National Children’s Museum for a toddler, and who gets in free?
Under 1; kids 1 and up: $18.95 through Oct 31, $19.95 from Nov 1; adults: $18.95 through Oct 31, $19.95 from Nov 1. We checked this on its official site on Oct 28, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
Get the list every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in DC.