Taking the Kids: Washington, D.C. in the winter

Free is good. Guess what American city has more than 100 free world-class activities, including museums – more than any other city.

Welcome to Washington, D.C., sometimes called “The Capital of Free.” If you are a first- time visitor, take a free (or name your own price) guided walking tour with DC by Foot, including those on the National Mall, Arlington Cemetery, even one on the Lincoln assassination.

You may not think so, but winter is a great time to visit the nation’s capital. Come after the inauguration and you will find great hotel deals.

The deluxe Riggs has a fun Family Stay Package right now that includes a second room at half price, breakfast, a Riggsy bear to take home and more (starting at $309). The newly opened Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, less than a mile from the U.S. Capitol and a short walk to the DC monuments and Smithsonian museums, has a winter deal up to 30 percent and another offering 50 percent off Sunday night stays with a two- night stay. There’s also a pet package and if you are taking the grandkids, one for seniors. (Check out the third edition of my Kid’s Guide to Washington, DC with lots of fun facts, tips from kids and for parents.)

Did you know the Founding Fathers couldn’t decide where the new nation’s capital should be? Thomas Jefferson, a Southerner, and Alexander Hamilton, from the north, decided it should be on the border. President George Washington decided on a site on the Potomac River, just 20 miles from his Mount Vernon home.

Sadly, the newly completed president’s house and the Capitol was barely done when the British marched in August of 1814 and burned most everything down. ( Congress almost voted to move elsewhere.)

Certainly, it won’t be as crowded to visit Washington as it would be in spring nor as hot as it would be in summer. It isn’t that cold either, with average temperatures in the 40s in January and February. You’ll be inside most of the time anyway at the Smithsonian Museums (there are 17 museums to choose from and they are all free), the US Capitol Building and the White House (make reservations in advance).

There’s plenty new to see and do, starting with the newly arrived pandas from China at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Bao Li and Qing Bao are making their public debut on Jan. 24, with The District of Panda Party, a public celebration from Jan. 25 to Feb. 9 with special events, including screenings of “Kung Fu Panda” and cultural activities courtesy of the Embassy of the Republic of China.

(The Zoo will relaunch the Giant Panda Cam, sponsored by The Boeing Company, once Bao Li and Qing Bao make their public debut, ensuring virtual visitors can join in the celebration. Free entry passes and paid parking passes should be reserved in advance through the zoo’s website.)

February is Black History Month and the National Museum of African American History and Culture is an important part of any visit to Washington, DC. You can see In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World, a new exhibit. The museum’s first international touring exhibition features more than 190 artifacts, 250 images, interactive stations and newly commissioned artworks.

Experience Black Lives Matter Plaza, the two-block area of 16th Street where a mural features those words in 50-foot-tall letters.

There’s no better time to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial than after his birthday (celebrated Jan. 20), in direct sight between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials and one of the highlights on the National Mall. Did you know that this is the first memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor a man of color? Don’t miss the quotes on the Inscription Wall, chosen with Dr. King’s main principles of justice, democracy, hope and love. Take your pick of Black-owned restaurants, including Ben’s Chili Bowl that has been a fixture here since 1958, and Oohh’s & Aahh’s, which offers Southern comfort food (mac and cheese, cornbread and wings).

Visit the renovated Folger Shakespeare Library and see the new How to Be a Power Player: Tudor Edition (opening Feb. 8) with the chance to learn about jousting, hawks, bad handwriting, scandal and politics. The library offers many interactive activities. Ready to make your own Shakespeare scene or set type for printing? (Reserve a pay-what-you-will timed-entry pass.)

February, of course, marks Presidents’ Day and George Washington’s Mount Vernon, easy to reach from Washington, D.C., is a must-see. Get free admission on Presidents’ Day. On Feb. 22, celebrate Washington’s 293rd birthday with birthday cake, the chance to create your own birthday card for him and an opportunity to watch people from around the world become U.S. citizens. There will also be children’s storytime, fife and drum music and more. Mount Vernon is one of the nation’s most visited historic sites, including the places where enslaved people worked, the tombs of George and Martha Washington, the farm, which also offers a glimpse into the lives of the enslaved people here, and more (Explore with Mount Vernon’s interactive tools before you visit and pick up the Adventure Map, complete with colorful pictures and written clues, at the Orientation Center once you arrive.) Be forewarned that some of the mansions are closed as renovation work continues.

Who knew history and learning about government could be so much fun?

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)