On the Mall:

• NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM. 6th Street and Independence Avenue, SW; 202/357-2700. The most popular of the Smithsonian museums and one of the most popular museums in the world, Air & Space chronicles man's love affair with flight, from the Wright brothers' Flyer to the Apollo 11 command module Columbia--piloted by former museum director Michael Collins--to the backup for the Hubble Space Telescope. Also popular: To Fly and the other IMAX films shown in Langley Theater's five-story screen. Daily 10 am to 5:30 pm. Metro: L'Enfant Plaza on the Green, Yellow, Blue, and Orange lines. Admission: Free; IMAX films and the Einstein Planetarium cost $2.75 - $4.
  

• NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW; 202/357-2700. From a Ford Model T to Duke Ellington's musical transcripts, this museum chronicles America's everyday life from the Revolutionary War through the Information Age and highlights some of the nation's most extraordinary moments and achievements. Among the most popular attractions: The Star-Spangled Banner, the Foucault pendulum, the first ladies' gowns, and two hands-on"centers. Gift shop and cafeteria. Daily 10 am to 5:30 pm. Metro: Smithsonian or Federal Triangle station on the Blue and Orange lines. Admission: Free.
  

• NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW; 202/357-2700. Another Smithsonian favorite, this is the only place in town that greets visitors with a stuffed African bush elephant. The museum takes its title seriously: Virtually every element of natural history is represented here, along with dioramas depicting mankind's earliest days and the development of native cultures. The staggering collection of gems is now on Display in the new Geology Hall and the famous Hope Diamond remains on display. Children especially enjoy the Discovery Room, where they can check out boxes of fossils, rocks, and other artifacts. Gift shop, cafeteria. Daily 10 am to 5:30 pm. Metro: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian on the Blue and Orange lines. Admission: Free.
  

Near The Mall

• NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM. BIG SPACE near AARP, 401 F Street, NW; 202/272-2448. This museum celebrates American architecture and building with permanent exhibits and changing shows such as the one on Frank Lloyd Wright's work in Japan that will begin in June. It is located in the Pension Building, a museum in itself with the world's tallest Corinthian columns, a quarter-mile-long frieze, and a grandeur that befits the 13 inaugural balls held there. Café and gift shop. Monday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday noon to 4 pm. Summer hours Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm. Metro: Judiciary Square on the Red Line. Admission: Free.
  

• WHITE HOUSE. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; 202/456-7041.(You'll never get in but you can walk past it and see the visitors' center). Home to every US president except George Washington, the White House is one of Washington's most popular attractions, which means that lines to get in can be very long in summer. The self-guided tour takes about 20 minutes and includes two rooms on the ground floor and all the ceremonial rooms on the State Floor. The visitors center, on 15th Street near E Street, offers films, special programs, and a gift shop. Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to noon. Metro: Federal Triangle on Orange and Blue lines. Admission: Free, but tickets must be obtained from the visitors center, on 15th Street near E Street, the morning of the tour beginning at 7:30
  

Near Union Station

• NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM. 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE; 202/357-2700. Galleries hold exhibits on mail service in colonial times and during the Civil War, the Pony Express, the evolution of modern mail service, and a priceless stamp collection. Daily 10 am to 5:30 pm. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line. Admission: Free. ** Capital Children's Museum: 800 Third St. NE, Washington 20002 PHONE: 202/675-4120 HOURS: Mar 30-Sep 1, Daily 10:00am- 6:00pm , CROSS STREET: H Street PRICES: $6 adults and children 3 or older; $4 seniors; free for children ages 2 and under; Admission is half-price Sunday 10 a.m. to noon and after 4 p.m. each day. Family memberships are $50. PAYMENT: American Express, Cash, Check, Mastercard, Travelers Checks, Visa METRO: Union Station (Red Line) PARKING: Free museum lot; on street and pay lot FOOD: Vending area with picnic tables inside and out The Capital Children's Museum prides itself on giving little ones the freedom to "learn by doing"-- no "don't touch" signs here. The museum is geared toward preschoolers and elementary school students, but many exhibits appeal to the child in all of us. Children can perform on an "invisible harp" by waving their hands through the air; climb into the driver's seat of a Metro bus; try out a police motorcycle; or slide down a fire station pole after donning a yellow slicker and helmet. They can wander through a maze with mirrors, learn Pig Latin or explore the world of animation, even appearing with cartoon characters on camera. Staff members help children make their own paper and yarn crafts as a way of learning the cultures of Japan, Thailand and Mexico. Visitors enter through a "fantasy garden" designed by Indian folk artist Nek Chand, with figures made from bits of glass and tile, broken jewelry and even bicycle parts. Once inside, it's a good idea to start at the third floor, where there are many hands-on activities for eager children to choose from, then walk down to the first floor galleries. Staff members say the quietest weekday visiting hours are after 1 p.m. The museum is located behind Union Station in a pocket of Capitol Hill that isn't often visited by tourists. If you arrive by Metro, the museum staff suggests you exit Union Station through the parking garage, turning right on H Street, then walking one block down a small hill to Third Street. That should be less than a 10-minute walk.
  

A Drive or longer metro ride in DC:

• **NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 3000 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW; 202/673-4800. Tree-lined paths lead visitors to some 5,500 animals, many of them endangered. Popular attractions include the zoo's giant panda, Hsing-Hsing; the Amazonia rain-forest exhibit; the Great Ape House; the Reptile Discovery Center; the invertebrate exhibit; and the new Pollinarium, filled with butterflies and hummingbirds. Think Tank, a new permanent exhibit, uses interactive techniques to show how primates think, communicate, and employ social skills. Gift shop and cafeteria. Buildings open 9 am to 4:30 pm; grounds open 8 am to 8 pm in summer, 8 am to 6 pm in winter. Parking: Paid and limited. Metro: Woodley Park - Zoo and Cleveland Park stations on the Red Line. Admission: Free.
  

Driving in VA

• MOUNT VERNON. George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon; 703/780-2000. George Washington's Colonial-style plantation house was lovingly restored and preserved by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union. Visitors can roam through more than 40 acres of manicured grounds and gardens, see a working, 18th-century - style farm, and visit a collection of outbuildings that are as carefully tended as the big house. Next to the residence is a museum filled with personal clothing, jewelry, and other possessions. Gift shops, cafeteria, and Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. Daily 9 am to 5 pm; Parking: Free. Admission: $4 - $8.
  

• *Newseum (Freedom Forum World Center, 1101 Wilson Blvd.; 703-284-3544): Location: 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. Take Metro's Blue or Orange Days/Hours: Newseum -- Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days. Freedom Park -- open daily from dawn to dusk. admission: Free. Visitor Services:Wheelchairs, strollers and baby backpacks are available for loan at the coat-check rooms. The News Byte Cafe offers beverages and light snacks. Computer stations in the cafe provide access to a selection of news-related Internet sites. Food and drink may be consumed only in the News Byte Cafe or in Freedom Park. Restaurants offering more substantial fare are located near the Newseum. Directions: The Newseum is at 1101 Wilson Blvd., in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Va. The Newseum is located in The Freedom Forum World Center building, which contains a Riggs Bank branch office that is visible from the street.The building also has a parking garage, immediately to the left of the Riggs sign. By car, follow signs to Route 1 North toward Washington. Route 1 becomes Route 110 North just outside Crystal City. Follow Route 110 past the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery/Memorial Bridge exits. Stay in the left lane and follow signs for Rosslyn. This puts you on Wilson Boulevard. The Newseum is on the right just past the first stoplight at Kent Street as you go under the Freedom Park overpass. To prepare groups for expenses they may encounter while visiting the Newseum, here is a list of activities with fees associated. "Be a Broadcaster": No charge to participate, but $7 to purchase a copy of your video. "Put your face on the cover of a magazine": No charge to participate, but to purchase a copy of the photo.
  

• Old Town Ramsay House is Alexandria's official visitors center The center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). Brochures on Alexandria's historic attractions, special events, restaurants, accommodations, antique stores, art galleries and import specialty shops are provided by travel counselors. Free parking passes for out-of-city visitors are available for metered on-street space. Alexandria Convention & Visitors Bureau 221 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3209 Office (703) 8384200 TDD (703) 838-6494
  

• Great Falls Park a site that is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, is an 800 acre park located along the Potomac River 14 miles upriver from Washington D.C. The park is known for two things, it's scenic beauty at the head of Potomac River fall line and the historic Patowmack Canal. Daily: "History of Great Falls" All Day Hold onto your hats as this ten minute slide presentation introduces you to approximately 11,000 years of history here at Great Falls! The program is shown in the auditorium at fifteen minutes before and after the hour. Daily: Children's Area All Day How well do you know Great Falls? What kind of animals are in the park? What's the weather at Great Falls? You can find the answers to these questions in the Children's Area. Check out our seasonal exhibits and activities to have fun learning about Great Falls Park. The Maryland side of the Potomac is within an easy drive. This center is a part of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, and thus its historical and natural history themes are closely allied with Great Falls Park here in Virginia. The C&O park offers a wide range of recreational activities. You can reach Great Falls Tavern by returning to the Washington Beltway (Route 495), traveling north across the Potomac, and taking exit 41 toward Carderock.
  

Driving in MD

• * NATIONAL COLONIAL FARM MUSEUM. 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, Maryland; 301/283-2113. The museum consists of a colonial farmhouse, an original tobacco house, heirloom varieties of crops and plants, and livestock that roam the farm much as they did 200 years ago. The museum will host parts of the tricentennial celebration of Prince George's County on June 9 and October 19. Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 4:30 pm. Parking: Free. Admission: $0.50 to $2. Monday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Regular Hours (September - June) Saturday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Building opens at 9 a.m. March - October) Prices and hours are subject to change without notice. Admission: Adults $11.95, Children 3 to 11 years of age $7.50 Children under three admitted free The best times to visit are weekdays after 3 p.m., and 9 a.m. on weekends when the building is relatively quiet and free of crowds. A tour of the Aquarium takes approximately two and one-half hours. Since it involves a lot of walking, it is a good idea to wear comfortable shoes and leave heavy bags at home. Baby strollers are not allowed in the buildings because they can jam the escalators and movealators which take people from floor to floor. For safety and convenience, families are asked to check strollers at either the coat check or outdoor Stroller Check (in season) and use the backpack provided by the Aquarium. The Children's Cove - Level 4 At the North American Tide Pools (Children's Cove) Exhibit, children of all ages are captivated by the opportunity to investigate a horseshoe crab, cradle a sea star, or examine whelk egg cases.
  

Not for Kids: On the Mall

• Holocaust Memorial Museum The Museum is open daily 10 am to 5:30 pm and closed on Yom Kippur (in 1998 Yom Kippur falls on 30 September) and Christmas Day. From April 2 through September 3, 1998, the Museum will also be open until 8pm on Thursdays. Pass Desk: 10 am-4 pm Museum Cafe: 9 am-4:30 pm Pass Information: ONLY the Permanent Exhibition requires a timed entry pass to begin the self-guided tour of the Museum's primary exhibition. Passes are FREE and are NOT required for the Museum's other exhibitions, memorials, resources and facilities (currently including Remember the Children: Daniel's Story, Hidden History of the Kovno Ghetto, the Wexner Learning Center, and the Museum building itself). Same day: Daily pass pass distribution begins at 10am at the Pass Desk (14th Street Entrance). First come, first served; members receive priority. Arrive early for best selection as passes are frequently distributed by noon, particularly on weekend days. Passes are timed at 15 minute intervals from 10 am to 3:45 pm. Limit: 4 per person. Driving Directions from Virginia: From the south, take 95 N to 395 N to Rte. 1 N to the 14th St. Bridge. There is a parking lot on the right just after the bridge and the Museum is on the left. From the west, take 66 E to Independence Ave. There is a public parking lot at 12th and C Streets and metered parking along Independence Ave.