Family Fun in the Capital Region
- Washington DC
- International Spy Museum
- Smithsonian Discovery Center
- Six Flags America,Hurricane Harbor and Busch Gardens theme parks
- whale and dolphin cruises
- surfing, hiking, white water rafting
Depart from London on your direct flight to Washington’s Dulles Airport and transfer to your hotel by taxi or airport shuttle.
Funky, fun and family-friendly, a stay in the Capital of the USA, Washington, DC, will tick all your family’s holiday boxes. Explore the city by bike, trolley tour or on foot. Kayak along the Potomac River or enjoy the view of the iconic monuments from a quirky Duck Tour.
Go on a spy mission at the International Spy Museum or visit the pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Have hands-on fun in the National Children’s Museum or view the world’s largest collection of spacecraft at the National Air and Space Museum.
Want to cool off in the summer heat? Just 15 minutes from Washington, DC in Woodmore, Maryland, is the thrilling Six Flags Theme Park and Hurricane Harbor, an exciting waterpark, which will have all the family screaming for more!
After collecting your hire car head to Baltimore – DC’s friendly neighbour to the north, and home to the fabulous National Aquarium, offering aquatic fun for all the family with its daily dolphin presentations.
Make sure you check out Port Discovery – an interactive children’s museum designed by Walt Disney imagineers and take in the incredible views from the Top of the World Observation Deck. Enjoy a day at the ballpark by taking in a baseball game at Camden Yards, home to the Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball Team.
Discover the “Yachting Capital of the USA” today – lovely Annapolis. The vibe is laid-back, the scenery is awe-inspiring and the local fare is seasoned with the flavours of the Chesapeake Bay. The narrow streets feature historic homes and restored buildings and the waterfront harbour in Annapolis is great for ship watching, harbour cruises and lively cafes and shops. After all the excitement of the city the kids will enjoy the sights of Annapolis with it’s walking tour that includes the impressive US Naval Academy and for younger children ‘Pirate Adventures’ a 75 minute adventure filled cruise. Other sailing cruises & kayak rentals are available too.
Take two days to explore Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Visit the beautiful Chesapeake harbor town of St. Michaels’s. Here, you can feast on the local specialty, crab – whilst overlooking the small picturesque harbour. Browse through the town with its antique shops, ice cream parlours and cafes and enjoy the delightful ambiance of this quaint town. Visit Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum , hire bikes and explore on 2 wheels or alternatively go on a Crabbin’ cruise.
Time to head for the sea and the world’s longest pleasure beach. Try your hand at surfing or kayak Virginia’s coastal waters on a search for dolphins. At the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, a stingray touch tank is one of 300 hands-on exhibits and there’s splashing harbour seals, sharks and other large creatures to see too.
Hire a bike and pedal the miles of boardwalk that line the beach and be sure to leave time to visit the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge where pristine areas offer a very special nature experience. And if you still have the energy there’s an Adventure Park, mini golf courses and Virginia’s most visited state park, the 2,888-acre First Landing State Park, featuring sandy Chesapeake Bay beaches and 20 miles of trails ready to be explored.
Don’t miss Colonial Williamsburg, the most extensively restored 18th century town in the US. This 173-acre historic area will allow the whole family to experience what life was like there in the 18th century. Walk the same streets as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Patrick Henry. Here you can stroll round more than 500 restored and reconstructed buildings and this unparalleled view of 18th century life is brought alive by costumed townspeople interacting with visitors and going about their daily lives as they would have done at the time. Nearby, the fast-paced rides and attractions of Busch Gardens Williamsburg creates an ultimate family experience and probably one of many highlights of the holiday for the younger members of the family! You can cool off at Water Country USA which offers slippery slides galore (both are seasonal).
Travel through an area which Thomas Jefferson called the “Eden of the United States” You can visit his home, Monticello, atop a mountain in Albemarle County. It is described as one of the country’s foremost architectural masterpieces. Today, Charlottesville is a charming college town with many shops, restaurants and tea rooms. If the kids have had enough of The amazing scenery there’s the Virginia Discovery Museum – plenty of hands-on experience for children up to 13 years and Chris Green Lake Park Which offers swimming from a sandy beach area as well as canoeing.
Today, your route takes you through lush rolling countryside, past gracious horse farms to the splendour of the Skyline Drive. Travel this National Scenic Byway, stopping at overlooks for views of the valley below. With more than 500 miles of hiking trails, you can relax and explore the lush forests, streams, waterfalls and wildflowers. Amble along a beautiful bridle path on a guided horseback ride. Visit Luray Caverns, the largest caverns on the east coast. Visit the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester with its interactive exhibits. This area also gives the more adventurous families to try some white water rafting, go on a Shenandoah National Park Ranger tour or try some hiking along the Appalachian Trail.
After a leisurely start you will need to make you way back to Washington to drop off your car before you catch your flight home. However, the good news is there’s still plenty of time to pay a visit to The National Air and Space Museum located near Dulles Airport. This is a must-see for every visitor to Washington and a great way to end a memorable holiday to this lovely part of America.
Departures available year round.
Please call us on (01892) 779900 or email info@awwt.co.uk stating your travel dates, and preferred standard of accommodation for a detailed & competitively priced quotation.