ChaseKBH's current favorite destination is the
National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - or, as its called in our house, the "New Space Airplane Museum" and occasionally the "Space Airplane Museum at Dulles." I try to remind ChaseKBH that the Udvar-Hazy Center predates him, but he seems to disbelieve me.
The Udvar-Hazy Center is a fantastic destination for a toddler -- there are cool planes and other large objects to look at, the space is large and fun to move around in, and there's a nice observation deck from which you can see takeoffs and landings at Dulles. Though the Udvar-Hazy Center is part of the Smithsonian, and therefore admission is free, there is a parking charge of $15, and its hard not to drive to get there. Its a bit of a hike, requiring travel on I-495 and the Dulles Toll Road, so we avoid weekday travel there if possible.
ChaseKBH likes to go up to the observation tower - its fairly short, but it gives a great view of takeoffs and landings at Dulles. The windows are floor to ceiling so short people have a full view. There's also a nice view of the Virginia countryside. The observation deck and the floor below host an exhibit about air traffic control. The tower closes before the rest of the building, and the lines can be rather long to get onto the tower elevator, so we either do the tower first or skip it entirely. Strollers are not allowed on the elevator to the tower, but there is stroller parking at the entrance to the elevator.
http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/concessions/tower.cfm
The Boeing Aviation Hanger houses aircraft ranging from the time of the Wright brothers to modern warplanes. The McDonnell Space Hanger currently displays the space shuttle Discovery, as well as exhibits ranging from missiles to rockets and the containment trailer used by the Apollo 11 astronauts. The space shuttle seems to be of particular interest to the parents walking around - particularly those of us in our early 30s to early 40s who remember the heyday of the shuttle program. The kids seem more interested in the rockets than the space airplanes.
The Udvar-Hazy Center is a fantastic destination for a toddler -- there are cool planes and other large objects to look at, the space is large and fun to move around in, and there's a nice observation deck from which you can see takeoffs and landings at Dulles. Though the Udvar-Hazy Center is part of the Smithsonian, and therefore admission is free, there is a parking charge of $15, and its hard not to drive to get there. Its a bit of a hike, requiring travel on I-495 and the Dulles Toll Road, so we avoid weekday travel there if possible.
ChaseKBH likes to go up to the observation tower - its fairly short, but it gives a great view of takeoffs and landings at Dulles. The windows are floor to ceiling so short people have a full view. There's also a nice view of the Virginia countryside. The observation deck and the floor below host an exhibit about air traffic control. The tower closes before the rest of the building, and the lines can be rather long to get onto the tower elevator, so we either do the tower first or skip it entirely. Strollers are not allowed on the elevator to the tower, but there is stroller parking at the entrance to the elevator. http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/concessions/tower.cfm 
The Boeing Aviation Hanger houses aircraft ranging from the time of the Wright brothers to modern warplanes. The McDonnell Space Hanger currently displays the space shuttle Discovery, as well as exhibits ranging from missiles to rockets and the containment trailer used by the Apollo 11 astronauts. The space shuttle seems to be of particular interest to the parents walking around - particularly those of us in our early 30s to early 40s who remember the heyday of the shuttle program. The kids seem more interested in the rockets than the space airplanes.
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