Our weekend trip to DC was phenomenal. There is no shortage of things to do in DC with toddlers. I’m not saying it was totally peaceful or perfect, but spending quality time with our little guys while making memories was worth all of the juggling. Before having kids, I didn’t get why people would take their young children on vacation. Now that I have my own, I realized it’s not just about their memories (whether or not they remember) but it’s also about ours. The quality time we get to share as we go on an adventure in a now or old city. Those are the moments that matter, especially since our time together is short with Hubby’s obligations to work out of town half of the month.
Our flight was pretty interesting, to say the least. We used travel points to purchase a ticket for Gozie and they allowed Kezie to travel as a lap baby (although we got a couple of side glances since he’s practically the same size as Gozie). Being completely transparent, we do not travel lightly (yet). I had a suitcase dedicated to toddler ‘stuff’ which included their toys, diapers and wipes, and food items for my picky eaters. That wasn’t an issue on the plane since Southwest Airlines still allows 2 free checked bags.
Our Trip To DC With Toddlers
We brought our own car seats to get around in our rental car. Hubby questioned if the Mazda CX-9 would fit all of our luggage, stroller and 2 car seats. He was pleasantly surprised when it exceeded expectations! Cup holders are my jam so having them for all 3 rows makes the Mazda CX-9 a winner in my book. DC parking can be annoying and costly, but it worked out for us to have a car this time. When the boys are older we may give the Metro a try.
Kimpton Carlyle Hotel
We really enjoyed our stay and service at The Kimpton Carlyle in Dupont Circle. Their bold and playful design fit perfectly with the picturesque neighborhood. This luxury hotel was so accommodating to the boys. The cozy kitchenette was helpful for our picky eaters. The weekend of our trip fell on my 31st birthday which made it an even better treat when The Kimpton Carlyle provided complimentary champagne, cake, and fruits to our suite! If you have IHG Rewards you can use them to book your stay! (Make sure to have your Ebates account on for even more savings.)
Check out a tour of our room in the vlog below.
Outside of family time at the Kimpton Carlyel, the first few days were spent connecting with family and friends from all over the world for our cousin’s wedding. The rest of the trip was filled with exploring the National Museum of African American History, The National Air & Space Museum, and historical monuments.
You can check out all of the antics below in our vlog.
If you are planning to travel to DC with toddlers I assure you there is more than enough to do. We’ll plan for repeated trips to explore even more. This was our first flight with both of them, but now we can tackle the airport and flight like a boss! Stay tuned for a post on helpful tips for navigating airports and flights with toddlers. Until then, check out my solo travel with toddlers post! Once you start flying more, you will know more of what works best for your child so you can learn to accommodate their needs and wants.
Still wondering about things to do in DC with toddlers? Before you go, make sure to check out our DC vlog below!
