Washington, D.C. is home to wonderful independent museums and places of interest to adults & children. We suggest five places to find books and toys, four \u201coff the mall\u201d museums, and three relaxing green spaces. (Distances are given from the Convention Center). <\/p>\n
1. Young Readers Center, The Library of Congress<\/strong><\/p>\n www.read.gov\/yrc\/<\/a><\/p>\n Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ G29 (ground floor), 10 First St. S.E.<\/p>\n A book-filled haven welcomes children and teens 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. The Friday morning story time for infants and toddlers has limited space\u2014call ahead: 202-707-1950.<\/p>\n 2. Barstons Child’s Play<\/strong><\/p>\n www.barstonschildsplay.com<\/a><\/p>\n 5536 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015 (5.4 miles) and other locations.<\/p>\n Red Line: .7 miles from Friendship Heights.<\/p>\n A neighborhood toy store with a terrific, well-thought-out selection of toys, games, and books.<\/p>\n 3. Busboys & Poets<\/strong><\/p>\n www.busboysandpoets.com<\/a><\/p>\n 450 K Street N.W. (.3 mile) and other locations<\/p>\n The name of this restaurant chain is a nod to poet Langston Hughes who once worked as a busboy in D.C.\u00a0 Extensive and reasonably child friendly food menu\u2014and an intriguing selection of books.<\/p>\n 4. Carpe Librum Pop-up Bookstore<\/strong><\/p>\n www.turningthepage.org<\/a><\/p>\n Union Station, 2nd level (1.2 miles); on the Red Line.<\/p>\n This pop-up used book store benefits Turning the Page<\/strong>, a D.C. and Chicago non-profit engaging families in children’s education.<\/p>\n 5. Politics & Prose<\/strong><\/p>\n www.politics-prose.com<\/a><\/p>\n 5015 Connecticut Avenue N.W. (5 miles), Red Line: .8 mile from Van Ness\/UDC.<\/p>\n Union Market 1270 5th St N.E. (1.5 miles), Red Line: .4 miles from NOMA\/Gallaudet.<\/p>\n An outstanding children’s\/teen section in a renowned independent bookstore.<\/p>\n 1. National Building Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n www.nbm.org<\/a> (Preschool and up)<\/p>\n 401 F Street N.W. (.5 miles). Red Line: 1 block from Judiciary Square.<\/p>\n Visit the immense Great Hall museum shop, caf\u00e9, and take the historic building tour for free. Tickets for special exhibits: adults $10; ages 3-17, students, seniors $7.<\/p>\n Fascinating look at the history of architecture and building, plus a hands-on Building Zone<\/em> for ages 2-6.<\/p>\n 2. National Geographic Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n www.nationalgeographic.org\/events\/visit\/<\/a> (Elementary to adult)<\/p>\n 1145 17th Street N.W. (1 mile). Red Line: .2 miles Farragut North.<\/p>\n The permanent exhibit, Exploration and the National Geographic Society, is free. Current exhibition (The Queens of Egypt): 0-4 free; 5-12 $10; adults $15; students & seniors $12.<\/p>\n 3. Newseum<\/strong><\/p>\n www.newseum.org<\/a> (Middle school to adult)<\/p>\n 555 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. (.8 mile). Green\/Yellow Line: .2 miles from Archives\/Navy Memorial.<\/p>\n Dedicated to the First Amendment and the idea that, as The Washington Post<\/em> says, \u201cDemocracy Dies in Darkness.\u201d\u00a0 Admission: 0-6 free; 7-18 $15; 19-64 $25; 65+ $20.<\/p>\n 4. International Spy Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n www.spymuseum.org<\/a> (Elementary to adult)<\/p>\n 700 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. (1.5 miles). Green\/Yellow Line: .4 miles from the L’Enfant Plaza station on the Green\/Yellow line.\u00a0\u00a0 Cost: Opens in May 2019<\/p>\n James Bond\u2019s car, espionage, intrigue\u2014and real spies you thought were ordinary people.<\/p>\n 1. S. Botanic Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n www.usbg.gov\/visit<\/a><\/p>\n 100 Maryland Avenue S.W. (1.3 miles). Blue\/Orange Line: .2 miles from Federal Center S.W.<\/p>\n A remarkable collection of exotic plants and a children\u2019s garden.<\/p>\n 2. Hirschhorn Sculpture Garden<\/strong><\/p>\nTry these \u201coff the mall\u201d museums:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Relax for free with art, greenery, and a cool breeze in these garden<\/strong><\/h3>\n