At first glance, the area between The White House and The Washington Memorial known as the National Mall appears immense. In reality it’s a short hike of approximately one mile and it is packed full of things to do and see along the way. The trick is to find them before you’re too tired to care.

Once you’ve walked by all the monuments and peered through the barricades to see the White House, you might find yourself tempted to take a picture with a life-size cut-out of the president and purchase lunch and souvenirs. Once this is done you’ll be broke and the young kids may not be impressed. Don’t be discouraged, I can help add a few free stops along the way that will help keep the little ones interested.

National Postal Museum

While not directly on the mall this museum is just a short Metro ride away. It’s worth the trip. Who doesn’t love the mail? The Moving the Mail exhibit at the National Postal Museum covers the pony express, stagecoaches, railroads, and planes. This is a great place to explore with children. They can climb inside a stagecoach or hop aboard a re-created railway mail train. There is also a collection of postcards and letters on display in the Art of Cards and Letters gallery. They are often touching and sometimes very funny. Try to corral the kids long enough to read a few of these. It’s worth the time.

Freer Gallery

If you’re looking for one stop visual amazement, The Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery is the place to go. Created by artist James McNeill Whistler (famous for his mother painting) for a wealthy London shipowner, it is a testament to artistic vision taken to extreme. And it is stunning in an extreme kind of way. Send the kids on a mission to find all the peacocks while you sit and rest contemplate the mind of an artist.

Sculpture Garden at The National Gallery of Art

The Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art is a requested stop every time we visit Washington D.C. There is something about the size and unusual shapes of the sculptures that fascinate the little ones in ways Mona Lisa never could. This combined with beautiful plantings and a comfortable bench or two makes it a great place to unwind after one too many security check points.

The National Museum of Natural History

The Natural History Museum is packed full of exhibits. Everything from animals to insects can be found here. There are also some impressive rocks and fossils. Even if you don’t have the time or energy to see everything at the Natural History Museum, a quick stop to see Henry is a must. Another must see is the above head whale and the fish fossils in The Sant Ocean Hall. It opened in September 2008 and is a very well done interpretive exhibit. It covers ocean life from tiny plankton to giant whales and will give even the smallest visitors an appreciation of the ocean’s ecosystem and the role the oceans plays in our lives.

This is my short list of top stops in Washington, D.C. There are many more kid-friendly attractions that are either free or low cost. I’m always looking for a new place to take the girls. If you have any suggestions let me know.

Photo Credits: A whole sack of thank you notes to Cliff1066 for the mailbag photo. A full stream of gratitude to NCinDC for the Sculpture Garden Fountain Photo.

Few places capture the spirit of California like Hollywood.  It is filled with stars, dreams and lots and lots of cameras.It is also filled with clubs, trash, costumed characters and unpleasant odors.  There’s something for everyone, and that means family fun!

The sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard are themselves a destination, and make an interesting stop on any vacation.  The walkways are lined with the engraved stars of Hollywood’s biggest names.  However, unless there is a premiere, dedication or award show you’re unlikely to see anyone very famous.

The Kodak Theater, the current home of the Oscars, sits right next to the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater (which has also hosted the Oscars).  The Chinese Theater is known for its collection of cement impressions which permanently display signatures and foot/hand prints of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Most tours of Hollywood sites and homes of the stars start here.It is also the area where you will find a collection of costumed “movie icons” ranging from Yoda to Jack Sparrow and three or four Spidermen.  These street performers will engage you for photo opportunities and they work for tips.

Across the street are the El Capitan Theatre and the home of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel.   The El Capitan is a restored theater operated by Disney and is in itself worth a family trip to Hollywood.  Adjacent to the theater is the Disney Soda Fountain, with an array of tasty ice cream creations (and full menu).

Other venues of interest include the Hollywood Wax Museum,  Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the Guinness World Record Attraction.

The streets in the Hollywood and Highland area tend to be very crowded and in addition to the costumed characters and street performers there are the proverbial prophets of doom and the occasional film crew.  It’s the kind of scene that can make parents, especially those with small children, a bit uncomfortable.  It’s loud and it’s overwhelming, but it is Hollywood and everyone needs that stamp in their passport.

Dining: There are plenty of places to eat.  The shopping area at Hollywood and Highland is the cleanest and has typical food court fare and a few sit down establishments.  The Disney soda fountain mentioned above is good and a blast for the kids, but be warned that it doubles as a store.

The Snow White Cafe (not Disney) is perhaps the worst restaurant I’ve ever been in. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s not charming or magical.

Parking:  Parking is available in lots accessible from the street.  I recommend the garage under the H & H (Hollywood and Highland) shopping area, especially at night, as it is well-lit, clean, busy and accepts validation from most establishments within walking distance.

Photos: Hollywood Sign /Disney Soda Fountain by Whit Honea

While hotels across the nation are adding amenities and facilities for family travelers, the problem in Orlando is that the hotels are too kid-friendly. They’ve grown so used to catering to kids and families that these Orlando hotels have become attractions in their own right.

Who needs Disney World when you have the Nickelodeon Family Suites with bunk beds, video games, and Spongebob Squarepants on the walls to keep you company in-room. The Nick hotel, as it is known, features two massive pool complexes with a 4 story water tower, a 400 gallon dump tank, seven slides, water jets, climbing nets, themed parties, a video arcade, and a host of other kiddie attractions. And the newest thing they recently added is the 4D theate, where wind, water, bubbles, and scents await you with Spongebob for a virtual sliming.

Then there’s Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, which sits in the middle of Universal’s resort attractions, and also has its own attractions. So that’s further blurring the line between hotels and kiddie attractions. I mean, they have this gigantic 12,000 sq ft palm lined swimming pool (BTW, there was a bear found hanging around the pool area a few weeks back) with its own sand beach and underwater stereo, interactive fountains, and a 260-foot pool slide. What’s more, there’s a water taxi for hotel guests called the Universal Express which takes you straight through to the other attractions and rides, bypassing the lines.

And don’t even get me started on the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. I could go on listing all the major family hotels and the kiddie attractions they offer, but I think you get the drift. Orlando is pied pipering kids, and they get addicted to this fantasyland world that these resorts and theme parks have created. What ever happened to the good old American family roadtrip?

Photo copyrights – Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc.

For those of us here on the West Coast of the U.S., leaf peeping is something we have only really heard about, but not experienced. Most of our trees change color and lose their leaves all in the same 24 hour period. Over at CNN.com, Eileen Ogintz has a great article on leaf peeping in Wisconsin. That and cheese curds almost make me want to move there. However, for now I am staying here and thought I would throw out some suggestions for experiencing the wonders of Northern California in October:

• The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival
• Webb Ranch on Alpine Road in the Stanford foothills
• Apple picking at Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville
• Ardenwood Farms Harvest Festival in Fremont
• Halloween Haunts at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills
• Oktoberfest by the Bay at Fort Mason Center (don’t miss the accordion players)

What is your favorite fall activity? I would love to know what folks outside of the Bay Area do to celebrate the changing seasons!