Go to the Spy museum. Kids love that.
The Pentagon has escorted walking tour.
Excellent and very interesting. . .and not many people take the tour.
Just contact them: https://pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/
and
https://pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/tour-selection.jsp
At least 14-day notice and send them your name and poof, you are taking the tour.
Have no fear...it’s a great trip, especially with the chilrun. We did not do the White House tour, but there’s so much other stuff. I envy you.
There’s the room across the street from Ford’s Theater were Lincoln was taken after being shot. I recall seeing his blood stained pillow under a glass cover on the bed.
Maybe a little morbid, but I found the experience very moving.
Of course, that was decades ago. So I don’t even know if it’s still there.
LOL! Tell your daughter not to worry, the Secret Service always checks to make sure the President has his teeth brushed and his pants on before they let anyone near him.
Also, please tell her she made my day!
Air and Space Museum. A Don’t Miss.
If you have a car, make sure to stop at Gravelly Point. It is a park right at the edge of the runway at Reagan National Airport. The planes are right over your head as they come in to land. Kids (and grownups) love it.
Be sure to visit the Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Bonus is there are many interesting exhibits, as well. Building itself is breathtakingly beautiful.
My daughter live in and got married and had her first child in DC. WE got to visit a few times. One of my fav sites besides the Smithsonian was the National Cathedral. Very historic.
http://dc.about.com/od/touristattractions/a/NationalCathedr.htm
Cool was climbing the bell tower then looking down at Reagan National and watching the planes land
Air and space museum,portrait gallery and National art gallery are great. The Indian museum was garbage, so disappointing.
Smithsonian Air and Space is a 2 day sucker but you MIGHT get it done in a day.
Caution: the name is misleading as there is stuff in it.
All the normal Capitol Mall stuff is fantastic. Weather permitting, take the red double-decker bus to get a good sightseeing tour.
If you visit the Capitol building make sure the last one in put the lid down before you enter.
Born and raised in Washington DC.
Greatest city in the world in my opinion.
I HIGHLY recommend Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Air and Space Museum - yes, great for kids and adults.
I agree that the Indian Museum was not worth the visit.
Lincoln Memorial is impressive.
Library of Congress - do a little research first as it is massive, and target what your children would be interested in there if you go.
Since my fellow FReepers seem to have the sites covered I'll suggest an eatery, Founding Farmers, near the White House. It's simple food very well prepared and is delicious. Great place for families.
Air and Space museum. Fantastic even if you aren’t that into airplanes (ask my wife...she loved it)
How much time do you have? On a short visit, the tourist standards on the Mall will keep you busy. If you have time, Mount Vernon, National Cathedral, and the Basilica at Catholic U. are good. Your girls are the right age for the zoo. Consider a dinner cruise on the Potomac. If you are here in season, consider a canoe or kayack rental; with younger kids, I’d recommend Bladensburg and the Anacostia over a Potomac rental. The Anacostia is a kid friendly river and the Bladensburg Waterfont Park is nice. Great Falls is memorable for kids as well.
Folger Shakespeare Library. And they sometimes have kids activities.