How To Do Attractions in Washington, D.C. – every family is different but honestly you can “do” as many as your family desires if you work the 10am-7pm full day.

DAY ONE – We came into the area on a Tuesday afternoon and started mid-day, after lunch. Our teen-age daughter had just studied WWII so she had interest in the Holocaust Memorial Museum (ushmm.org).

The museum is FREE but they stress that kids under 12 may not enjoy this attraction. There are two “exhibit tracks” to follow: the General Exhibit and Daniel’s Story (a softer version for tender hearts and kids). We’d recommend walking through Daniel’s Story to everyone BEFOREHAND to prepare you for the intensity to follow in the main exhibit.

After this, grab a bite to eat and then, instead of getting caught in rush hour, opt to visit the Memorials of your choice all the way to dusk. The Washington Monument requires FREE timed tickets so do that first (or save it to sneak in another day). Ranger talks at the Lincoln Memorial are best to catch before 4:30pm.

As the sun started setting, we especially enjoyed walking the perimeter of the Tidal Basin in Potomac Park with a view of the FDR Memorial & the Jefferson Memorial, as they are backlit towards nightfall. (nps.gov/nama)