Taking the Kids: Visiting Washington, D.C. in the spring

Take in a ball game. The Washington Nationals play at Nationals Park; soccer fans can watch the women’s Washington Freedom or the men’s DC United starting in early April.

Take in a performance. At Ford’s Theatre, A new musical "Shout, Sister, Shout!" Tells the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who in the ’30s and ’40s paved the way for Black rock, R&B and gospel singers. She was a pioneer for racial and sexual equality.

Go to the Kennedy Center at 6 p.m. for a free concert at the Millennium Stage or to one of their Kinderkonzerts.

Try some new food. Not only do restaurants feature dishes from around the world but Eastern Market near the Capitol is a great place to sample food from many different countries, meet local farmers and shop handmade crafts. Sweet potato bread, anyone? (Head to Honey’s Desserts!)

Head outdoors for a bike ride or a walk at the Tidal Basin, waterfront or Rock Creek Park, one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the national park system. “My favorite thing to do in DC outside is to walk around National Harbor on a nice day,” said a local 12-year-old interviewed for my kid’s guide.

The Planetarium at Rock Creek Park is run by the National Park Service so tours of the night sky are free.

Canoe or kayak on the Potomac. There are boat houses along the Georgetown waterfront where you can rent canoes and kayaks by the hour.

See the pandas at the National Zoo. They are set to return to China at the end of the year, but hopefully others will come.

Visit Black Lives Matter Plaza with the words “Black Lives Matter” spelled out in 50-foot-tall letters.

Kids are especially drawn to the International Spy Museum (they host a week-long Spy Camp during the summer, as well as Operation Secret Sleepover, a special KidSpy overnight in the exhibits). You’ll find activities to download, like how to make invisible ink or a disguise.

It’s one of the coolest places to visit,” said one local 10-year-old I interviewed. “I found out that DC is the city with the most spies!”

The International Spy Museum is one of more than 50 museums in Washington, D.C., and 30 of them are free. There are 100 playgrounds to choose from, including the Palisades Recreation Center, a Potomac-themed playground complete with a huge climbing rock and canoe slide.

In fact, Washington, D.C., may have more free attractions than most cities and excellent public transportation. However, you may need entrance reservations. Whether you want to visit the Capitol, the White House, the National Zoo or the National Museum of African American History and Culture, or a military band concert, visit their websites as soon as you’ve confirmed the dates of your visit to see what will be required.

Just remember you can’t possibly see everything in one visit. Relax and enjoy what you do see. The monuments and museums will be there next time!

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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 Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia and The Kid’s Guide to Camping are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)