Wherever you live in the United States, there’s no question: Your kids study American history. Whether they’re singing “America, the Beautiful” or “Can’t beat the history blues,” there’s nothing like a family trip to Washington, D.C., to bring a civics lesson to life.

Great Places for Fun and Learning

First thing you have to know:  The Homewood Suites in D.C. is in the best location possible, right downtown, just blocks away from Dupont Circle and all kinds of great attractions (think the White House; the Smithsonian Institution; the Washington Monument; the National Zoo; the Jefferson; Lincoln and Vietnam Veterans Memorials; and Ford’s Theatre).  It’s also super close to the McPherson Square Metro stop, making navigating D.C. by public transportation a breeze.

Good Eats and Tasty Treats

If you’re looking for tasty, kid-friendly eats, the neighborhood offers lots of options.  We enjoyed Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro near Homewood and the Verizon Center, especially because their mini-burgers and wood-oven-fired pizzas were super kid- friendly. Mei Wah, largely known as a D.C. standby, was also a quick and easy walk from Homewood and offered some of the best Chinese food around.  And for dessert?  We wandered five blocks over from Homewood to Hello Cupcake in Dupont Circle, where they had the kids at “hello” with banana cream cheese cupcakes, in addition to the chocolate and vanilla standbys.

Sports Fans

Is your crew into sports?  You’ll love the D.C. Homewood’s proximity to the Verizon Center, where you can take in the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Washington Capitals, as well as excellent Georgetown Hoyas basketball.  If you’re more into the arts, the Kennedy Center (which is a short cab ride or long walk away), and the Smithsonian museums (like Air & Space and the National Portrait Gallery) are easy-access and can fill a whole day. And if you have older kids, they’ll love the Capitol Steps concert on the weekends at the Ronald Reagan Building. The politically satirical singing group has been around for more than 25 years and can make even the most jaded Washington visitor giggle.

Must Take the Kids

The National Zoo, part of the federally run and therefore free (!) Smithsonian Institution, can’t be beat.  My kids love the baby animals, including a newborn gazelle, baby lion tamarins, a prehensile-tailed porcupine, a pygmy falcon and a toddler panda named Tai Shan, who was born at the zoo three years ago.  They’re also way into the educational programs that seem to be going on at every turn, including opportunities to meet the zebras and see the elephants get a bath.

And, of course, for young and old alike, every Washington adventure includes a can’t-miss visit to the White House, especially this month.  Even better?  It’s only five blocks from Homewood.  If you call your U.S. Representative or Senator’s office ahead of time, he or she can even set up a guided tour for you.  White House Tour line:  202-456-7041; U.S. Capitol (for members of Congress):  202- 224-3121.

Without the Kids

If your kids can handle one more activity after your Welcome Home dinner at Homewood, consider a Washington, D.C., Monuments by Moonlight Tour onboard an old-fashioned trolley. Although D.C. is beautiful by day, nothing can match the beauty of the monuments at night. On-board, you’ll see some of the city’s most popular monuments, such as the Capitol Building, the White House, the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. The trolley will also make stops at the FDR Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial.