Spring break is right around the corner, and what better place to go if you have kids then a quick jaunt to Washington DC?

The capitol of the United States, Washington DC is known for being the seat of government in the US,  its grand architecture, having streets that are laid out like the spokes of a wheel with the White House (home to the President) at the center of the wheel and being the home of the Smithsonian Institution.  While there are plenty of interesting things of historical and educational interest in DC everyone knows just how difficult it can be to get kids interested in anything educational, so how can you make it interesting for them?  Below are the five best bets for making sure that your kids have as good of a time in DC as you do.

National Zoo

The national Zoo is probably one of the best collections of animals in the United States.  Technically a part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Zoo brings together animals from across the globe and houses them in natural settings that mimic their home.  For more information on the National Zoo, please go to:  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

Discovery Theater

Would your kids rather be entertained?  Then you might want to consider the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater.  Located in the Ripley Center (right on the National Mall) the Discovery Center is a live theater where located in the Ripley Center on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  Here you get children’s classic fairy tales and folktales told by dancers, musicians, mimes, even puppet shows.  There really is something for everyone here, and kids of all ages will fall in love!  For more information on show times and hours of operation:  http://discoverytheater.org/

National Museum of Natural History

If your kids have a love of animals, a great compliment to the National Zoo is to take a stroll through the National Museum of Natural History.  Here you’ll not only find out everything there is to know about the animals you saw at the zoo, you’ll find out cool stuff about the earth, plants, minerals, dinosaurs and any number of awesome things.  For more information about the Museum of Natural History, you can go to:  http://www.mnh.si.edu/

Paddle Boats in the Tidal Basin

Tired of museums?  Why not take a ride in a paddle boat?  The Tidal Basin is located right in the heart of Washington DC and within walking distance of most of the Smithsonian Institution

museums, the Capital and even the White House.  But here your kids can work off some of their pent-up energy by serving as the power source to get their boat across the basin and back.  For hours of operation and price, please see: http://www.tidalbasinpaddleboats.com/

Spy Museum

Are you kids more hands-on oriented?  If so, why not try out the International Spy Museum?  Not only is this an excellent source of historical information on the different spy programs promoted by countries around the planet, they also have an interactive program that gets kids physically involved; giving them tasks and having they use what they learn to solve the mystery with which they are presented.  For more information on the Spy Museum, go to:  http://www.spymuseum.org/

While DC has hundreds of ways to keep you busy on vacation, it can be a bit more challenging if you have kids along.  So why not try some of these out and make this a spring break that the whole family will enjoy!