Mount Vernon

Further than Arlington—about 20 miles from D.C.—Mount Vernon is another quintessential kids field trip. The grounds of this sprawling 18th-century estate include the meticulously restored, 21-room mansion that George Washington lived in. There’s also the outbuildings that were home to daily operations like laundry, spinning, meat curing; six acres of gardens; a crew of animals (many are the same breed as in Washington’s day); the Mount Vernon slave memorial; the Washington family tomb; and working gristmill. There’s a lot for kids to learn here about plantation life, and the live reenactments and hands-on activities serve as a real draw.