This summer, venturing to Washington DC ignited the minds of my daughters and me, and (hopefully) motivated them to dream big as they began the new school year! Over three days, we explored and experienced much that the city has to offer.

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the National Building Museum

Folger Shakespeare Library put on Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the National Building Museum. The play took place in a custom-built theater inside the majestic Great Hall.

Before the show, there was face painting, balloon twisting, costume displays, and a life-size immersive installation based on Joanna Robson’s pop-up book A Knavish Lad from the Folger collection. 

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

My daughter learned about theater, arts, and culture, and she had fun with the kid’s activities before the play began. The tween years can be a mix of an interest in younger things (balloon twisting) and wanting to move into more mature activities (learning about Shakespeare). This experience was a wonderful mix of the two.

Cons

Since the play was a romantic comedy, it might not appeal to some tweens. Although it was recommended for ages 10+, I felt age 12+ was a good fit. At times, the dialogue and actions were suggestive, which was not necessary to convince the audience to enjoy Shakespeare, but didn’t detract from it really either.

Getting to the National Building Museum was more difficult than I had anticipated. We encountered some trouble finding a parking lot nearby since most ended up being closed on the weekend.

American Girl Bistro Tyson’s Corner Center

American Girl Bistro at Tyson’s Corner Center was a special experience for brunch. Dining here gave my daughters the opportunity to see what dining on a multi-course, fixed-menu meal was like, while their dolls experienced the adorable meal with them. Since the tween years go by fast, having memorable, wholesome moments together matters.

Our favorite part was making s’mores at the table together. This bonding experience brought the sweet sensation of summertime indoors. ‎As we dined, my daughter pulled up American Girl Trivia on her phone, and we had fun quizzing each other.️

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

American Girl Bistro is the quintessential destination for doll fans of all ages to experience miniatures and dining together at once with cute food arrangements and pretty pink decor.

Cons

Visiting during the tween years can be hit-or-miss because they can grow out of the dolls at different ages. My daughters still make American Girl stop motion movies, so they both had fun with the experience.

One suggested improvement would be that although we were delighted with the food presentation, the servers could be more interactive and playful with the dolls, even talking directly to them as they serve the food.

As a serious side note, the s’mores actually caught on fire with the flames. Adult supervision is required for this tasty treat.

Union Market

At Union Market, we picked out food from a wide variety of cuisines. This open air market offers food, souvenirs, plants, and more. In the Union Market District, there is also a nearby record store, a book store, movie theater, and some other shops.

Out of all the types of cuisines, we decided to eat classic British fish and chips, and we picked out a Yorkie chocolate bar to bring home for later when we returned home to our Yorkshire Terrier.

Since the indoor dining was crowded, we opted for the outdoor tables. Some tables were reserved, so we ended up in a more sunny area on a hot day. However, the view of the dogs enjoying the outdoor space with their owners cheered my daughter up as we finished our meal together.

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

Having a choice of food provides an interesting cultural experience. Free parking was easy to find next to the market. Even though there were crowds, plenty of tables were available.

Cons

Choices and crowds can be overwhelming. Getting to the other shops outside of the market required crossing busy streets. On top of the market, there was a turfed rooftop space, but it was only a bar. Overall, it was somewhat okay for bringing tweens, but also not the most exciting experience for that age.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

At the Hirshhorn Museum, entry is free to see interactive exhibits. My daughter enjoyed filming the exhibits to share with her friends.

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

Since the sculpture installations were interactive and thought provoking, it was entertaining to walk through, and it was nice to stay cool in the AC on a hot summer’s day. Parking was convenient at the Capital Gallery, which was across from a Starbucks.

Cons

Some of the exhibits were mature for younger tweens, but age 12+ seemed appropriate. I found out upon arrival that we should have gotten there when it opened to reserve tickets to the One with Eternity Yayoi Kusama exhibit ahead of time. After the museum ran out of tickets, they didn’t offer any later in the day, even if some people didn’t show up for their time slot.

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

On our walk around the National Mall, we enjoyed visiting the sculpture garden at the National Gallery of Art. Venture down the shaded path to enjoy the coolness of the fountain by the National Archives and the Smithsonian Pollinator Garden.

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

Walking in the sculpture garden was free, and some of the path was shaded. The sculptures were eye-catching.

Cons

Walking was an activity that could be strenuous or tiring if it was a hot day.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

At the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the free entry provided hours to explore the magnificent exhibits of mammals, sea creatures, live bugs, and more.

The museum had gigantic displays that made learning interesting. It was also a good spot for taking photos and videos, which many tweens enjoy.

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

The magnificent exhibits were memorable, and the live bugs were a popular thing to see.

Cons

Since we went during a heat wave, many people in the DC area went to the museum at the same time. The AC felt incredible on a hot day! However, the crowds were overwhelming in certain areas, like the entry way and the live bug exhibit.

Lincoln Memorial

From the Lincoln Memorial, the view of the water at the Reflecting Pool was spectacular. While finding parking, we drove the loop of Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue where my children enjoyed seeing views of the Washington Monument, the United States Capitol, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

Understanding the foundation of our country matters, while it’s also a popular photo spot for those tweens who are into social media.

Cons

The Lincoln Memorial attracted a large crowd. Seeing everyone vying for the perfect shot of themselves against the backdrop took away from the experience.

Constitution Gardens

We walked down the path from the Lincoln Memorial through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where my daughter had the freedom to run and play. Although there were DC playgrounds that weren’t a far drive, this was the best place for a movement break in the heart of the city.

Across a bridge on the path to an island, we came across the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence. My daughters spotted the memorial stones that had golden copies of the signatures of the signers from our state. They read through the 13 colonies listed on the stones, and they enjoyed a quiet, peaceful view of the Washington Monument.

Pros and Cons of Visiting with Tweens

Pros

Visiting Constitution Gardens provides a convenient movement break. Seeing a replica of the signatures painted in gold was an interesting way to tie in learning about history.

Cons

Although my younger daughter needed to have the movement break and was happy to learn about the Declaration of Independence, my older daughter looked bored, but at the same time, happy to rest for a moment.

3 Day Itinerary in Washington DC with Tweens

Day 1

During my first visit, my older daughter and I scouted out the city, just the two of us, to get an idea of what it would be like to navigate with her younger sister.

We found parking for $20 at the Capital Gallery Parking Garage by a Starbucks, which she was excited about as her first activity in the bustling city life.

The location was a short walk to the National Mall where everything else, including the Hirshhorn Museum of Sculpture and Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, were free to do.

Day 2

On the second day, I brought both children, and we started at Tyson’s Corner Center for the American Girl Bistro. We had a reservation for an early brunch, which I do recommend because they fill up and have very specific hours.

After doing some back-to-school shopping, we used our afternoon to visit the Lincoln Memorial and Constitution Gardens.

Day 3

My daughter and I began an English-inspired day at the Union Market for some fish and chips. Then, we watched ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and the National Building Museum.

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Disclosure: I received a free item, but it in no way influenced my opinion.