By Yonni Wattenmaker

Looking for a great place to take the kids that you can enjoy too? Whether you have a weekend or a week, a plane ticket or a full tank of gas, Washington, DC is the perfect place to go at any time of the year.

Paul Busse's Capitol at the Botanic Gardens, photo by Yonni Wattenmaker

The Smithsonian Institution, with its 19 museums and the National Zoo, has so much to offer. You can explore things like the Wright Brothers ingenuity to fly at the Air & Space Museum, see the fabulous gowns of America's first ladies and Dorothy's ruby slippers at the American History Museum, or the ancient Egyptian exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History.  On this visit, my son and I spent a couple of hours at the beautiful Botanic Gardens, just south of the grand Capitol steps.  Paul Busse is the artistic mastermind behind the special "seasons greenings" exhibit.  As in New York, he uses twigs, pine cones, grapevine tendrils, seashells and other natural objects to recreate famous Washington landmarks, from the Jefferson Memorial to the Library of Congress, and a spectacular train exhibit with fantastical features along the track like fairy flat, giraffe garage, mermaid mansion and a replica of Cinderella's castle.

Not far from the Smithsonian is the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.  Daniel's Story is a well-done exhibit for children eight and up, created to gently introduce them to this difficult period in time, while the main exhibit is geared to those 13 and older.  It can be a harrowing, emotional experience, but young children can be guided through the main exhibit carefully, as I did with my son, as long as you control how much they see or read.  At the very end, beyond a touching memorial, there is a space where you can learn about more recent crimes against humanity, and even learn how to get involved in advocacy. That is a wonderful opportunity, especially for teens.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument, photo by Yonni Wattenmaker

If the weather is warm, a walking tour of the monuments is a must.  On this trip alone, we went from the imposing new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, along the water to the expansive FDR Memorial, and then back to the National Mall to look at the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, and the always majestic Lincoln Memorial. The Washington Monument is under construction thanks to the earthquake this past summer, but the World War II Memorial is also located nearby, just up from the reflecting pool.

Once you've built up an appetite, walk straight up 23rd Street from Lincoln's perch to I Street, or take the Metro from the Smithsonian stop to Foggy Bottom/GWU and grab a quick bite at SweetGreen, where you can make your own salad or try Roti Mediterranean Grill.  Both are fast, fresh and tasty and have menus anyone can enjoy.  For more formal dining, check out Founding Farmers.  The first LEED certified restaurant in DC, it boasts a wonderful farm-to-table menu complete with homemade sodas and a separate vegan menu, dessert and all.  The atmosphere is comfortably chic and the fare is fresh and flavorful.  The service was excellent, and we really enjoyed our dinner.

"Political" cupcakes from Hello Cupcake, photo © John Healey Photography

From Foggy Bottom, follow M Street into Georgetown.  Not only will you find great shopping, and restaurants like Filomena's or J. Paul's, but you'll also find the Georgetown Cupcake Shop from the TV show DC Cupcakes on TLC.  Be prepared to wait in line, from what my son and friends have told me, it's worth the wait!  As a vegan, I loved Hello Cupcake, just a quick cab ride away in Dupont Circle, another nice DC spot to wander around and grab a bite.

The Penn Quarter district has some other tourist attractions you might want to check out. We went to the Booth Theater to see where Lincoln was shot, and then across the street to the apartment where he was then taken. We also had a blast at both Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and the Spy Museum.  Unlike the Smithsonian, these have admission fees, but both are worth a visit.

This part of DC has been regentrified and boasts some of the best dining in the area.  Jose Andres' Zaytinia and Jaleo are two of the brightest stars, one serving Greek mezze and the other, Spanish tapas.  Carmine's is a great destination for family style Italian.  You may know it from its other locations in New York City, Atlantic City or the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, but with staples like chicken parm and its Titanic dessert, an ice cream sundae that can likely feed eight, you can't go wrong.  Even those on vegan or gluten-free diets can be accommodated here, but it's really best for parties of 4 or more.

The White House, © Martina Barbist

There is so much to be explored!

Be sure to contact your congressional office to book tickets for a tour of the White House (not available between Christmas and New Year’s).  Tickets must be requested 6-8 weeks in advance, so you need to plan ahead.  It is well worth the experience.

Yonni Wattenmaker is the Executive Director of Breast Cancer Alliance, based in Greenwich, CT. In 2010, after becoming a vegan for medical reasons, she created The Trendy Vegan, a lifestyle blog for those who are vegan for a lifetime or just for a meal. To subscribe to Yonni's blog and learn more about her story, her recipes, and more fabulous places to dine, visit www.thetrendyvegan.com.

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