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The Heart of the American Experience

Student Trips to Washington, D.C.

Our nation’s capital is a place where you can feel a part of something bigger than yourself. From the monuments and documents that represent the ideals of the Founding Fathers to memorials honoring soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, visiting the sights during a Washington, D.C. educational student tour will put you and your students at the heart of the American experience.

Discover Your World

Sample Itineraries

Washington, D.C., Gettysburg & Philadelphia – 5 Days, 4 Nights

Highlights include Smithsonian Museums, Capitol Hill, Gettysburg National Military Park Museum, and Liberty Bell.

5 days, 4 nights

Washington, D.C. – 3 Days, 3 Nights

Highlights include Arlington National Cemetery, Smithsonian Museums, Capitol Hill, and the National Archives.

3 days, 3 nights

Washington, D.C. & New York City – 5 Days, 4 Nights

Highlights include Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the Statue of Liberty, and Broadway.

Teachers, Parents, and Students Trust NationsClassroom

“I have thought about providing our students with a Washington, DC tour for many years. However, I was very concerned with the time commitment and support it would take to make a trip happen. From our first phone call, to your help with my Parent Night, handling all parent payments and finally running our tour I could not be happier. The NationsClassroom staff made my role so much simpler than I could have imagined. As a result, we had 160 students on our first tour that had a great experience. I am sure that the tour will now be a yearly highlight for our school. Thank you.”

Social Studies Department Head

Connecticut

“Thank you for an amazing trip to Washington, DC. My friends and I had a great time. My favorite parts were the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery and going up in the Washington Monument. This was my best trip by far and I have been on a lot.”

“I have planned my Washington, DC and New York City tour with just about every student tour company that there is. Hands down, NationsClassroom is the best. Your staff really cares about doing things great and providing my kids with a great trip, year, after year. Every part of the process is done right-your company simply gets it.”

History Teacher

“I just returned from an amazing experience with my daughter on her Washington, DC and East Coast school trip with NationsClassroom. I have to say I am very pleased and frankly quite surprised. Companies in other fields can take note of your attention to detail, dedication to providing great service and the passion of your employees. Our tour was very well thought out, the meals were better than I expected and the hotels were very nice. Our check in and check out were both very smooth. Most importantly, your Tour Guide was phenomenal. I don’t know how he was able to relate to everyone so well. He had the students really get involved in what they were seeing and didn’t just talk non-stop. Thank you for a wonderful lifelong memory.”

Related Blog Posts

SCHOOL TRIP SPOTLIGHT: The National Native American Veterans Memorial

January 15, 2021

SCHOOL TRIP SPOTLIGHT: National World War One Memorial

January 27, 2021

How To Win Internal Support For Your School Trip

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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Plan a School Trip to DC

Planning a school trip to Washington, DC can be difficult, especially if you haven't been before - that's where we come in.

Our guides spend almost as much time in the year leading school trips in DC as they do leading our popular "name-your-own-price" walking tours.

Let us help you plan your school trip to DC.

• Washington DC School Trip Planning Tips
• Sample Itineraries
• FAQS for School Tours
• Popular DC Restaurants for School Groups
• East Coast Trips: Philly, NYC or Boston?

Contact us to book a school tour!

WASHINGTON DC SCHOOL PLANNING TIPS:

• Hire tour guides for the most important sites - National Mall, Arlington Cemetery, Capitol Hill.

There are some places that are just better with a local guide. Some of our most popular tours for school groups include:

Memorials & Monuments on the National Mall  - Any combination, either on foot or stepping on your bus to give narration.  We can even help you arrange a coach/minibus/van. Let us know what you want to focus on, and we can work out the details with you.

Arlington National Cemetery  - This tour covers history of the cemetery, the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and the final resting place of the Kennedy brothers, including, of course, President Kennedy. This tour and topics covered can be customized to your group.

Capitol Hill  - We can guide you around the outside of the Capitol Hill complex, including a tour inside the Library of Congress and outside of the Supreme Court.

We can also help you figure out the logistics to tour inside the Capitol, either through the Capitol Visitors' Center or through your own Congressional offices.  

Lincoln Assassination - A thrilling story-telling experience that starts at the White House and ends outside Ford's Theatre. We offer this tour at any time of day, but it is a very popular evening activity.

Ghosts of Georgetown - Our most popular evening tour for school groups looking for something fun but still educational! This tour is more about the scary and spooky history of DC's oldest and most charming neighborhood, deeply intertwined with this history of our nation.

• Don't schedule too many things in a day.

We've been doing this for a long time now and can tell you: you will not see everything DC has to offer in a single trip, so don't even try! Instead, focus on the sites that are most important to both you and your students.

Your excitement for these places will be infectious for your students, so spend time at the places you enjoy and that make sense in terms of your students' knowledge base and interests. But know that you will inevitably run late.

There will be security lines and traffic can be a nightmare at certain times of the day.  Build in downtime and some travel-time padding and don't feel bad about not seeing everything. Things take longer than you expect in DC, especially with large groups of students!

• Book tickets (even free ones) as soon as possible!

Some museums and attractions require tickets and they get booked out early and fast.

If you aren't able to get tickets, or just don't want to bother trying, here are some alternatives:

• Our Lincoln Assassination tour is a great alternative or compliment to going inside Ford's Theatre
• While we cannot get you in the Capitol building without tickets, our Capitol Hill tour offers an informative and fun exploration of the American political system and sometimes, though no guarantees, we are able to get you on a Capitol tour if time allows.
• There are no alternatives to the one of kind Holocaust Memorial Museum or National Museum of African American History and Culture, but we do have specialty theme tours to explore Black history of Washington DC, or women's history, or even a Civil Rights themed tour.
• Try to come in the off-season.

March through early June are the most popular times for school groups, especially the end of May and first week of June. October is becoming another popular option in the last few years, largely because late spring can be so crowded.

Granted, these times are popular because that is the best time in the school year to come, but if you can come at other times of the year, you'll be rewarded with a lot less crowding.

If you can't avoid coming at the same time as everyone else, here a few things to keep in mind:

• Arlington Cemetery opens at 8am and will be very crowded until 1030am - but we're pros at guiding groups through the crowds.
• George Washington's Mount Vernon opens early just for school groups.
• Lincoln Memorial is very crowded after dinner - but our guides know how to plan a memorials tour to deal with this!

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SAMPLE ITINERARIES

We have led more than 10,000 students on school tours through DC over the past decade. Each group is different and each day is different in DC, so there are a lot of things to take into consideration when planning a school trip to our nation's capital city.

Here are some ideas of activities to pick and choose to plan your day:

Early Morning DC Activities for School Groups:

Most museums don't open until 10am, so if you want to get a head start on the day here are things that are open earlier.

• Arlington National Cemetery
• George Washington's Mount Vernon (reservations required)
• Capitol Building Tours (tickets required)
• Library of Congress
• White House Visitor Center

Other Popular Attractions:

Here are a list of popular things to do on a DC field trip, with notes on what requires advanced reservations & tickets.

• Holocaust Memorial Museum (tickets required)
• White House  (reservations *and* a background security check required)
• Pentagon (reservations *and* a background security check required)
• Smithsonian Museums (some tickets required)
• Washington National Cathedral  (reservations required for tour)
• Ford's Theatre  (tickets required)

Evening Things To Do with School Groups in DC:

Evenings can be tough for school groups, as most museums close at 5pm, as do the federal buildings. Things to do at night with school groups can be tours or a fun night out. Popular suggestions are:

• Nighttime tours
• National Portrait Gallery is always open until 7pm, but during summer months some other Smithsonian museums will have extended hours
• International Spy Museum
• Bowling (Pinstripes in Georgetown is a popular choice!)
• Sporting Event (The 2019 World Champion Washington Nationals Baseball team is always a popular choice, but DC also has hockey, basketball, and soccer to check out)
• Dinner/sightseeing Cruises on the Potomac

Morning: Arlington National Cemetery

Afternoon: Smithsonian Museums (lunch in museum cafes or food trucks)

Evening: Baseball Game (dinner at the stadium)

Morning: Capitol (tickets required), Supreme Court & Library of Congress (lunch at Capitol Visitor Center)

Afternoon: Holocaust Memorial Museum (tickets required March-October)

Evening: Memorials by Moonlight (dinner before at Vapiano Italian Restaurant)

Morning: Daytime Memorials

Afternoon: Lincoln Assassination Walking Tour & Ford's Theatre (lunch at EAT! @ National Place)

Evening: Ghost Tour (dinner at Pinstripes in Georgetown)

Morning: Old Town Alexandria Walking Tour (Lunch at Fish Market)

Afternoon: George Washington's Mount Vernon

Q. What is the minimum / maximum group size you tour with?

Minimum is 1. Maximum depends on the tour, but most tours can be arranged with one guide per coach (Ghosts of Georgetown tours are limited to smaller groups due to the narrow streets and residential nature of the neighborhood).

We can run tours with multiple guides at the same time if you have a large group to break up. Though we recommend staggering or letting each bus do a different itinerary to avoid overcrowding.

Q. Can you get on our bus?

Yes! As long as you have a seat for the guide (this is mandated by law), we can hop on your bus to use it for the tour. Our guides know how to get around the city, where coaches can load and unload, and the best way to route stops to help avoid traffic.

Q. Can you arrange tickets for us?

Depends. We DO NOT arrange tickets to any attractions in the Spring (March- early June). At other times of the year, we can assist with Capitol building tickets if you're booking our Capitol Hill tour and Ford's Theatre tickets if you're booking our Lincoln Assassination tour.

We DO NOT arrange tickets to any other attractions and we DO NOT arrange tickets if you aren't booking the corresponding tour.

Q. Can you arrange meals for us?

We do not arrange meals, but you can read our Popular Restaurants section  below

Q. Can you arrange accommodation for us?

Q. Can you arrange transportation for us?

We can assist with booking a coach for touring purposes only. We cannot arrange transportation for times you are not booking a tour, but if you do book a tour with us, we can always offer advice for other times.

Q: How do I book a school tour in DC?

Send us an email ! Let us know when you're visiting, how many people, and what tours you're interested and what times work best for you and we'll offer you availability and rates.

Rates vary based on group size (large or small, we do not charge per person), and what tour(s) you're interested in.

POPULAR RESTAURANTS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS

Food Courts:

• Pentagon City Mall
• Ballston Quarter
• Union Station (this is technically an option, but we do not recommend it due to location, bus parking issues, and facility conditions)
• Reagan International Trade Center Food Court (must pass through security to access, reservations required during peak season)

Restaurants for groups:

• Ben's Chili Bowl on U St NW (*The* DC eating spot, famous for celebrity sightings and their "half-smoke" hot dogs)
• Harriet's at Hotel Harrington (American, near Ford's Theatre)
• Hard Rock Cafe (next to Ford's Theater)
• Good Stuff Eatery (burgers) and We the Pizza (multiple locations)
• Bertucci's (Pizza, multiple locations)
• Buca di Beppo (family-style Italian, Dupont Circle)
• Carmine's (family-style Italian, Chinatown)
• Pinstripes (American in Georgetown, can be paired with bowling)
• On good weather days, foods trucks are a unique options - weekdays they can be found on Maryland Ave SW by Air and Space Museum and Farragut Square. You an also often find them on the National Mall.

Museums/Attractions with Restaurants:

• American History
• Natural History
• African American History & Culture
• National Gallery of Art
• Capitol Visitor Center

EAST COAST TRIPS: PHILLY, NYC, OR BOSTON?

Did you know that our company has the same high caliber guides in Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston? (many other cities as well but these three options are popular for school trips).

Contact our city managers in these cities to inquire about tours for school groups.

• Philadelphia
• New York City

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Student Trips to Washington DC: 15 Best Places to Visit

The hub of our national government, an iconic commemoration to historical events, and the center of politics and law, there is no better way to teach your students about the functions of government than a school trip to Washington DC. Bring your classroom to life and relive pivotal moments in history as you tour some of DC’s most famed destinations.

1. Capitol Hill

2. Library of Congress

An underground passage leads from the U.S. Capitol to the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library where you can find one of the last three surviving Gutenberg hand-printed Bibles, a draft of the Declaration of Independence by Jefferson and dozens of galleries filled with exhibits covering a multitude of topics.

3. Smithsonian Museums

The Smithsonian is made up of 19 museums all offering endless opportunities for learning in a wide variety of subjects. This list includes the National Museum of the American Indian where students can gain new perspectives on Native American History & Culture, the new National Museum of African American History & Culture which is setting the bar for state-of-the-art museum experiences, and the always popular National Air & Space Museum.

4. Supreme Court

Students can also tour the first two floors of the Supreme Court, the highest federal court in the U.S. Students can learn about the role of the judicial branch in our government, gaining free access to legal information, court rules and can even attend oral arguments open to the public. Learn of the judicial function of the Courts, the history of the Building, and the famed architecture of the Courtroom.

5. Arlington National Cemetery

A tribute to veterans and home to historic memorials, the Arlington National Cemetery is best known for housing The Tomb of the Unknowns. A highlight of a visit is to see the changing of Tomb Guard sentinels. The Tomb is guarded 24/7 and undergoes this elaborate military ritual every day.

6. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

Giant pandas, red pandas, gorillas, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles and Sumatran tigers are just a sample of the nearly 2,000 types of animals living in the National Zoo. Students can watch as zoo members feed the animals, engage in educational talks and watch demonstrations. And visiting is completely free!

7. The International Spy Museum

A KGB poison dart umbrella, the Enigma cipher machine that broke Nazi codes, movie props from James Bond, and other disguised cameras and weapons are just a few of the artifacts students will see while learning about the history of espionage at the International Spy Museum. The museum is moving to a new location in Spring 2019 with expanded interactive exhibits and Never Before Seen Artifacts!

Your journey into the world of news starts before you are even in the doors, as you walk past the day’s headlines from around the world. Inside students can read newspapers from the revolutionary war, record their own news segment, view a piece of the real Berlin Wall, and learn about American history over the years as portrayed and reported through various media outlets. In addition to their impressive collection of interactive exhibits, the Newseum offers educational programs to groups.

9. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The Kennedy Center has many musical and theater performances throughout the year, housing the National Symphony Orchestra, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet and the Washington National Opera. Join a free guided tour to learn about the theater’s history and architecture, or get tickets to a performance and treat your students to a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical performance.

10. Ford’s Theater and Petersen House

The site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Ford’s Theater offers tours, exhibitions and discussions about the Lincoln assassination. Designed to complement your classroom curriculum, come tour the full historic site including the museum, exhibits and the Petersen House, where Lincoln took his last breath.

11. Homes of Famous Individuals

Mt. Vernon offers a glimpse into 18th-century plantation life and the home of George Washington. Guided tours of the mansion and the estate are offered. Or visit the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, a nine-acre estate with a 21-room Victorian mansion. The first home bought by an African-American in that area, students can learn about slavery abolishment, justice and equality.

12. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

A living memorial and eye-opening experience to the Holocaust, the Holocaust Museum was created in order to “inspire citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity.” A narrative history of this time, the museum displays artifacts, film footage and photographs. Recommended for students 11 and up.

13. The National Mall

The National Mall houses some of the most iconic memorials and monuments commemorating our leaders, history and troops. Learn of pivotal moments in history by visiting the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Celebrate our history, the heroic actions of American troops and influential leaders of our past while enjoying the breezes off the Potomac River

14. National Archives

Be sure to go north of the National Mall to check out the National Archives. See some of the most important documents concerning America’s history, such as the Charters of Freedom, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States.

15. White House

Perhaps the most iconic building representing the U.S. government, the White House is a must-see for any student tour of DC. Students can enter through the black iron gates surrounding the iconic home, walk through the pillars and tour the President’s office and public rooms. However, it is necessary to contact your representative or senator 3 months in advance to plan a tour.

Are you ready to learn more about booking a student tour of Washington DC? Talk to one of our travel experts today and check out our Washington DC student adventures!

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PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES

• Help decorate the floats!
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PHILADELPHIA

• Rich History,
• The Liberty Bell
• Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed)
• Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Immortalized by Sylvester Stallone’s triumphant run in the film “Rocky.”)
• Philadelphia Cheesesteaks!

WASHINGTON D.C.

• Nation’s Capitol,
• White House,
• Lincoln Memorial,
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Popular Washington, D.C. Tours

Discover our nation's past, present and future. from the smithsonian museums to the memorials and monuments, d.c. is brimming with history. check out some of our most popular washington, d.c. tours for students..

Washington, D.C.: The Capital Tour

Visit the Smithsonian museums, Washington Monument and Capitol Hill.

Washington, D.C. & Gettysburg

Visit Gettysburg, Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon.

Washington, D.C. & New York

The Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and Times Square await.

Washington, D.C. & the Civil War Battlefields

Walk through Manassas, Antietam and Gettsyburg.

Washington, D.C. & Williamsburg

See the U.S. Supreme Court, Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello.

Missed the fun, or want to do it again?

Your next adventure is around the corner, or around this page, rather. take a look at our tours to find the right one for you and your group..

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School Trips in DC: What Visitors Need to Know

Participating in one of the multi-day school trips in DC is a right-of passage for many 8th graders across the U.S. If you are not visiting with one of these groups but coming to DC between mid-March and mid-June, these are a few things you need to know.

What is school field trip season?

School trips in DC are a huge part of the local tourism industry. Most schools send eighth grade class trips. This is why you will also occasionally hear referred to as “eighth grade field trip season”. Eighth grade is usually the class that gets to come to DC because it’s a final reward before the kids head off to high school.

Trip Hacks DC offers tours specifically designed for school groups . We have led tours with students in fifth grade all the way up to 12th grade. Our tours are best for small schools who don’t pay for an all-inclusive package. For large schools, these services might make more sense.

When is school field trip season?

School group trips in DC typically happen at one of two times during the year. The big one is in the spring, roughly from mid-March through mid-June. There is also a secondary field trip season in the fall roughly from early October through Thanksgiving.

If you’re trying to avoid field trip season the months you want to consider for your trip are: December, January, and February in the winter, and July, August, and September in the summer. Most schools choose to come in the spring because it’s an end-of-the-school-year reward. Plus, the students get to spend all school year learning about social studies and history and then they get to come to DC and see things up close.

Fall field trip season is much less busy since most schools don’t want to do the trip at the beginning of the school year.

How will field trip season impact your trip?

The most important thing to know is that school groups travel together in large packs. So, if you are visiting the memorials, there might be four groups of 50 students or more at once. This can really change the feel of some of the sites, particularly smaller memorials like the Vietnam and Korean War memorials.

School groups are only in DC for a limited amount of time. They need to maximize that time as best as possible. That means that during the day they’re going to be at the sites that are only open from 10 to 5. This includes the museums and the other indoor sites. Then, after dinner, they are going to head out and tour the monuments and memorials. This is because there are not a lot of evening activities you can do with big groups of teenagers.  

The bottom line is that if you’re visiting during spring field trip season you’re going to be sharing those monuments and sites with a lot of other people.

Where do field trip groups eat?

As far as restaurants go, school trips groups in DC tend to stick to a limited number of places. For lunch they go to food courts. The food courts at Union Station, L’Enfant Plaza, the Reagan Building, and Pentagon City Mall are all popular choices. Food courts are ideal for school groups because they’re cheap and they give the students a lot of different choices. For dinner, they go to the inexpensive restaurants that can accommodate groups. This includes places such as the Hard Rock Cafe, Buca di Beppo, Carmine’s, and similar chain places.

Where do school groups stay?

School groups usually stay at suburban hotels because they travel on charter buses. Thus they do not need to be near Metro. Suburban hotels usually offer group rates to schools. Although, you will occasionally see school groups staying downtown, especially if they’re a small group who doesn’t have a charter bus. So if you plan to stay at a downtown hotel and eat at mostly local restaurants, you are probably not going to bump into too many of these groups at those places.

Coming to DC and want to book a tour? Trip Hacks DC was founded by Rob, a veteran tour guide in the Nation’s Capital. Trip Hacks DC provides tips, tricks and travel hacks for planning your trip; and guided tours to show you around once you get here. Our tours are family and school group friendly and our guides specialize in the major Washington, DC sites.  Click here to check out the upcoming tour options  and to book your tour here today!  Feel free to contact us if you have any tour questions

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Trip planning resources.

• DC Airports: a Guide to Navigating DCA, IAD and BWI
• The Ultimate Washington DC Travel Guide (2023)
• Hotels in DC: A Guide On Where to Stay
• The 5 Best Local Washington DC Tours
• Washington DC Trip Planning: Trip Hacks DC E-book
• Packing for Washington DC: What To Bring for Your Trip

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• Podcast Ep.57 Everything Visitors Should Know About Washington DC Cherry Blossoms
• Podcast Ep.56 Managing Your Washington DC Travel Expectations
• Podcast Ep.55 What to Expect for Washington DC Tourism in 2024
• Podcast Ep.54 Every Holiday in Washington DC
• Podcast Ep.53 Why I Don’t Recommend Airbnb in Washington DC
• Podcast Ep.52 Washington DC Experiences to DO and SKIP
• Podcast Ep.51 Rob’s Washington DC Travel Philosophy
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Top 10 Places to Visit in Washington, DC with Students

No other destination is richer in our nation’s history!

A Washington, DC tour is possibly the greatest field trip you can plan for your students. No other destination is more rich in our country’s history, and no other city provides so many incredible tour options per square mile. Read on for our 10 must-see sites.

A visit to the hub of representative democracy in our country should be at the top of any school tour of Washington. It is a gorgeous monument, a working office building and the forum of all national legislation. For a personal tour with extra access (and less lines), contact one of your U.S. Senators  or Member of Congress  and request a staff-led tour.

Visitors are welcome to tour the first two floors of the building that houses the highest federal court. Trained docents lead 30-minute programs that introduce the judicial functions of the Court, the history of the Building, and the architecture of the Courtroom. When the Court is in session, tours are available only after Court adjourns for the day, so be sure to check the Court calendar .

4. Lincoln Memorial

The world’s largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, this museum will provide students with a comprehensive history of human flight. For a bit of fun amidst the history, spring for an IMAX planetarium show!

7. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

This museum strives to serve as a living memorial to the Holocaust, and inspire “citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity.” Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, the Permanent Exhibition is recommended for age 11 and up. School groups should use the Museum’s online group reservation system .

8. Mount Vernon

Located just south of the District near Alexandria, Virginia, George Washington’s home offers a glimpse into 18th century plantation life and the beginning of our democratic nation. The Slave Life Tour  is an important addition to the tour of the mansion.

When Douglass bought the nine-acre estate of Cedar Hill he became the first African American to buy a home in the Old Anacostia neighborhood. The 21-room Victorian mansion tour and programs teach visitors about Douglass’ efforts to abolish slavery. Set high in the hills, the house and its grounds also open up onto one of the most breathtaking views of Washington.

10. Washington National Cathedral

The Cathedral is a spiritual resource for all faiths of the people of America. Tours, led by a Cathedral docent, provide an overview of the Cathedral’s art, architecture, history and mission.  Group reservations are required .

Have you taken students to Washington? What are YOUR must-see sites? Share in the comments!

Also, check out our best field trip ideas for every age and interest (virtual options too), you might also like.

260+ Field Trip Ideas for Grades Pre-K Through 12 (In-Person and Virtual)

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Washington DC Field Trip Itinerary for Educators

Washington, D.C. is one the most popular field trip destinations in the United States. This suggested itinerary will help you get the most out of your time in our nation’s capital.

Check out an accessible PDF of our  Washington, D.C. Field Trip Itinerary for educators!

Before you go:

• Contact the National Park Service at Ford’s Theater  at 202-426-6924 .
• Contact the Smithsonian Institution or contact specific departments in the American History Museum.
• Contact the US Capitol to book a tour .
• Contact the National Museum of African American History and Culture for timed entry tickets .
• Show your class our Civil War Animated Map .
• Utilize our Civil War Curriculum .
• Apply to the  History Field Trip Grant Program .
• Contact your lodging and restaurant reservations to ensure everything is in order.

Ideal Itinerary if you are visiting for one-day:

Time: 5-6 hours

What to do:

Visit some of the FREE museums on the National Mall.

• 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
• 202-633-1000
• [email protected]
• 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560
• 1-844-750-3012

Walk towards some of the FREE monuments and memorials in the National Mall. 

• Visit the Washington Monument and climb to the top for the best views of DC
• 202-426-6841

Most importantly, enjoy your visit!

If you are visiting for more than one day:

Same itinerary as above for the first day in addition to the following:

Get a free guided tour of the Capitol Building.

• You may need contact your local Representative or Senator if your group is larger than 15.

Get tickets to tour Ford’s Theater and the Petersen House where Abraham Lincoln was shot and eventually succumbed to his wounds.

• 202-347-4833
• Participate in a Ranger Program here !

Book a tour of the Arlington Cemetery .

• 1-877-907-8585

Restaurants that serve groups:

• 1726 Connecticut Ave, NW. Washington, DC 20009
• 202-849-6100
• ​ 901 I St NW, Washington, DC 20001
• 202-733-5333
• 600 14th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20005
• 202-787-1000

Travel Tips:

• Renting a bus can be costly in the Washington DC area. Budget accordingly.
• Vehicle traffic is very heavy, and roads are congested throughout the day, especially during rush hour.
• The Mall is much larger than it looks on a map, and the distance between the Capitol Building and the Lincoln Memorial tricks many first time visitors. Plan you time and transportation methods accordingly.
• Get started early in the day. Crowds are smaller earlier in the day, which will allow you to explore sites more freely. 
• Most major Washington museums have security check points with metal detectors. On busy days it can take a while to get through security.
• April-June are the busiest months for field trips. Add to this time frame the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and vacationers, this means that the historic sites in the district can be jam packed.
• Washington was built on swamp land, which means it can be both hot and humid.
• Food carts and trucks around the Mall and other parts of Washington carry a wide variety of food and beverage. Most museums also have cafeterias and snack bars.
• Many of the Smithsonian museums carry band aids, sunscreen, umbrellas, and other necessities in their gift shops.

Historic Boston Field Trip Itinerary for Educators

Historic Philadelphia Field Trip Itinerary for Educators

Gettysburg Field Trip Itinerary for Educators

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4 Day Washington DC School Trip

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Washington, DC!  

Washington DC has been the middle school trip tradition for decades. Now is a good time to start planning your next memorable trip to DC with your student group. This 4 day Washington DC school trip itinerary covers many of the popular and landmark attractions needed to make this experience one of a lifetime.

4 Day Washington DC School Trip Itinerary

Sample Itinerary: 4 Days/3 Nights

Choose from the optional attractions below OR customize to your preferred attractions, meals and more! 

Day One Departure (Motorcoach, Flight, Ferry, Train Transportation)  Optional Add On Boxed Lunch  Visit the Museum of American History (Time Permitting- Closes at 5:00 PM)  Lincoln, Korean War, Vietnam War Memorials  World War II Memorial & Washington Monument Group Sit-Down Dinner  Hotel Accommodations (3 Nights)  Overnight Security Provided (3 Nights)  Day Two  Hotel Hot/Cold Breakfast  United States Capitol Building -Official Tour  National Archives (Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, Bill of Rights) Lunch Voucher or Boxed Sandwich (Customized Sandwich/Cookie Order) Smithsonian Museums (+$ Add on George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate or Frederick Douglass Historic Site)  Group Sit-Down Dinner (+$ Add on Pizza and Bowling or Dave & Busters) TJ, FDR, MLK Memorials  Day Three Hotel Hot/Cold Breakfast  US Marine Corps War Memorial  Arlington National Cemetery Lunch Voucher or Boxed Sandwich (Customized Sandwich/Cookie Order) Visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (+$ Add on the International Spy Museum) Group Sit-Down Dinner (+$ Add on the National Harbor experience OR Dinner Dance cruise aboard the Spirit of Washington or the Odyssey!) September 11th Pentagon and Airforce memorials Students at the US Marine Corps Memorial in Washington, D.C. Day Four Hotel Hot/Cold Breakfast  Guided walk around Lafayette Park and White House outdoor viewing Visit the Smithsonian Museums  Departure Trip planners looking to visit Washington, D.C should consider our 4 day Washington DC school trip itinerary. Our travel specialist are highly trained in helping you customize and personalize your itinerary. 

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The best things in Washington, DC with kids

Apr 9, 2024 • 6 min read

From the national narrative to splashing about in fountains, Washington, DC is a great destination for families © Marc Dufresne / Getty Images

America's capital city is a fantastic destination to visit with children in tow. It's filled with kid-friendly museums, has an abundance of parks in which younger visitors can burn off excess energy, and a logical, pedestrian-friendly layout (let's not forget that DC was designed to showcase urban planning at its very best). 

Here are our top tips for exploring the city with children.

Is Washington, DC, good for kids?

As America's first purpose-built city, Washington, DC, is, in many ways, a dream to explore with younger visitors. It's flat with very few hills, and roads and sidewalks are wide, smooth and well-maintained, perfect for parents pushing strollers. 

Almost all of DC's top attractions are refreshingly accessible – every Smithsonian Museum has ramps, for example, and most museums and major landmarks will have family-friendly restrooms. Generally, you'll almost always be able to enter with strollers, although the White House , which has some of the tightest restrictions, is one of the few places where strollers are on the banned list. 

The large number of gardens and parks means there are endless places for kids to burn off excess energy – the National Mall , for example, has over 20,000 trees and numerous dedicated picnic areas with benches and tables. Thirsty kids (and their parents) are also in luck – most businesses, including restaurants, museums and galleries, will happily top up water bottles, and you'll find public water fountains throughout the city, including 47 on the National Mall alone.

A tactical approach to timing can transform your holiday. If you're visiting during August and September (the hottest months of the year), you'll want to avoid spending too much time outside in the late morning and early afternoon. Take advantage of the extended opening times offered by many museums – crowds tend to thin out after 5pm, and the Library of Congress , the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art are just a few of the institutions that run so-called "late nights."

Catching public transport

Public transport in Washington, DC, is also incredibly accessible, and all train stations have ramps, elevators and extra-wide ticket gates designed with strollers and wheelchairs in mind. All Metro trains have priority seating, usually next to the train's doors. Almost all public buses have ramps, although if you're traveling with a stroller, check the size – most buses, including the DC Circulator buses, won't allow strollers more than 48" long and 24" wide. 

Getting around DC is easier than you think –  here's how

Best things to do in Washington, DC, with babies and toddlers

National museum of american history.

At the National Museum of American History , parents can take some time out at the Wegmans Wonderplace in the museum's west wing. This baby and toddler-friendly hangout has a playroom, family restroom and nursing area (complete with nursing pillows).

Rock Creek Park

The beautiful Rock Creek Park north of the city center has 1754 acres to explore and plenty of fantastic picnic spots (including several next to waterfalls). Toddlers will love the park's Discovery Room, filled with hands-on exhibits and children's books about wildlife, and many of the trails – including the Edge of the Woods Trail – have been designed with strollers and wheelchairs in mind.

Best things to do in Washington, DC with children

Us botanic garden.

The US Botanic Garden , which is free to visit, has a dedicated Children's Garden where younger visitors can help staff care for the various plants, along with a scavenger trail lined with rare plants – kids who spot certain species can get a passport book stamped.

A boat tour along the Potomac 

A riverboat tour is a great activity for kids, who can tick off the city's famous landmarks as they float along the Potomac. Capitol River Cruises offers a range of sailings, although their 45-minute scenic sightseeing cruise hits all the highlights. Tickets are priced around $25 for adults and $15 for children between three and 12. Kids under three are free.

Best things to do in Washington, DC with teenagers and tweenagers

Mount vernon.

Let's face it: teenagers and tweenagers are prone to occasional protestations of boredom, but we've got the perfect solution for anyone who starts to moan about being "museumed out." 

For a change of scenery, head across the water to the Mount Vernon estate, the former home of George and Martha Washington. You can explore the main house on guided tours, watch sparks fly in the blacksmith's shop and stop by the estate's working farm (activities here include sheep-shearing lessons and the chance to pet the ridiculously cute Hog Island Sheep). Not only will you learn about the Washington family – you'll also gain insights into the lives of people enslaved on the estate. The estate is 15 miles south of Washington, DC. To get there, take the metro's Yellow Line to Huntington Station before hopping on the Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon.

The International Spy Museum

Wannabe James Bonds will love L'Enfant Plaza's International Spy Museum , which is filled with interactive exhibits, including ones that encourage them to take part in their very own undercover mission. Our only gripe is that this is one of the few museums that isn't admission-free. Entry fees vary according to the time of year, but children's tickets start at around $19, while adults' tickets start at around $29. Children aged under six visit for free.

Paddle across the Tidal Basin

This is a two-mile-long reservoir wedged between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. Teens and tweens can hire a paddle boat (from $38 per hour) and admire landmarks such as the Jefferson Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial from the water.

Planning tips

• Don't underestimate how accessible DC's transport network is – the city's bus and metro system is refreshingly easy to navigate.
• If you're visiting a museum or gallery, always ask what kid-friendly programs and events are taking place.
• DC has plenty of places to cool off, including lots of splash parks, such as The Yards Park in the Capitol Riverfront area. There's a large splash pool and brightly lit dancing fountains after dark. Another notable destination is Canal Park Fountains (also in the Capitol Riverfront area), which has numerous fountains and splash pools with stepping-stone crossings.
• Always ask what kid-friendly freebies are available. For example, staff at the US Capitol's visitor center have stashes of police badges to hand out to children.
• Whether it's a museum, gallery or landmark, always book in advance if tickets are required, even if tickets are free – you won't just get guaranteed entry but will also cut queuing times.

Keep planning your trip to Washington, DC:

These experiences  should be on your DC itinerary  And these incredible experiences  won't cost you a thing Get up close with nature and more history on  these day trips Get to know DC like a local in  these top neighborhoods 

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A kid-friendly trip to Washington, D.C.

Lots of successes, a few mistakes in our jam-packed days in the nation’s capital.

Were we losing our minds? Some of our family and friends thought so. We were taking three young kids, ages 8, 6, and 3 to Washington, D.C., for vacation. They’re too young, they tsked. The age range is too broad, they suggested. So. Much. Work, they concurred. A better option, they suggested, only half-joking, might be an all-inclusive Caribbean resort with a swimming pool and a full-day children’s program.

Oh, pshaw!, we thought. We love D.C. and we were excited to take the kids to the nation’s capital. In fact, Washington, D.C., is one of the top family vacation destinations in the country. It’s filled with top-notch, hands-on museums — including the 17 free Smithsonian museums — expansive parks and pocket green spaces, grand-scale monuments and museums, and vibrant neighborhoods. There are giant dinosaurs, fossils and bones, meteorites and rare gems, big planes, secret spy gadgets, mega Lego buildings, live animals, creepy insects, and thousands of beautiful butterflies — to name a few highlights.

We planned to spend two nights and two days in D.C., and to see as much as we could. Our tentative itinerary was jam-packed. That was our first mistake.

Full speed ahead

The early-morning direct flight from Boston to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was a quick, easy jaunt. We hired an XL ride share, battled with the portable booster seats we’d brought, and arrived at the Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill hotel before lunchtime. The recently opened hotel has spacious rooms (standard rooms starting under $200 a night, depending on the time of year), with contemporary furnishings. We stayed in a suite with a separate seating area and an adjoining room. The two rooms gave us plenty of space. We especially liked the hotel’s location, which was an easy walk to the US Capitol and the National Mall, a 2-mile or so green park lined with Smithsonian Institution museums.

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First on our agenda was a visit to the International Spy Museum in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood along the Potomac River. Confession: This was the adults’ choice; we’d never been to the museum and wanted to check it out. Currently showing: “Bond in Motion,” a collection of 17 original James Bond vehicles. We were psyched to see it; the kids weren’t much interested.

There are a lot of displays here that go right over young kids’ heads, but the museum turned out to be the 8-year-old’s favorite spot. We picked up our secret identities and undercover mission cards upon arrival and looked for the spy mission hands-on activities throughout the museum, including cracking secret codes, practicing observation skills, creating gadgets, and testing our strength, hanging from a hand bar. The youngest played along, pushing this and peering through that, and clamoring through The Duct Crawl, several times. But we concluded that this museum is best for older children, say 8 or 9 years and older.

“Consider your kids’ ages,” Elliott L. Ferguson II, president and CEO of Destination DC , the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, advises. “Washington, D.C., boasts attractions for every age group. I recommend making sure you visit the ones tailored to spark the most interest and creativity.”

Afternoon meltdown

After the International Spy Museum, our plan was to visit the Jefferson Memorial. But it had already been a long travel day for the kids. We enjoyed Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cones at the nearby Wharf, a new, lively waterfront development, followed by a little downtime at the hotel.

Later, in the early evening, we jumped on the Big Bus Night Tour , a spur-of-the-moment decision that turned out to be the right one. Washington, D.C., is especially beguiling at night when the monuments are lit up. The hop-on, hop-off tour visits many of the major memorials, including the White House and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. The kids could relax on the bus (they skipped the headphones for the prerecorded commentary) and still took in the iconic sights.

“There’s something special about seeing the monuments and memorials lit after dark,” Ferguson agrees. “Don’t miss seeing them aglow after dinner.”

Another note about the Big Bus hop-on, hop-off tours: well worth it! The daytime Red Loop tour makes 17 stops at major Smithsonian Museums and famous monuments and memorials. We used it for sightseeing, but also for transportation, hopping on when little legs (and weary adults) needed a rest. (Tip: Also bring a stroller; you’ll need it. And wear comfortable shoes; you’ll be walking a lot.) “You won’t need a car in Washington, D.C. In fact, one of the best ways to experience the city is on foot,” Ferguson says. And taking the bus or subway and hiring rideshares all are better options than driving.

Rise and shine

Let’s go kids; we have a full day of fun activities planned! On our second day, we walked to the US Capitol and along the National Mall. The kids enjoyed running and playing tag (lesson: leave time for unstructured play), as we made our way to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History . This massive museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world, filled with extraordinary exhibits and collections, with some 148 million specimens and artifacts. The kids were instantly drawn to the Hall of Mammals, with full-size giraffes, hippos, lions, cheetahs, and many, many more. The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils , with some 700 fossil specimens, was another kid (and grown-up) favorite, including a face-to-face greeting with a life-size skeleton of the Nation’s T. Rex and triceratops. In Sant Ocean Hall we walked under a model of a 45-foot-long North Atlantic Right Whale, and gazed into aquariums filled with sea creatures and coral. The hall features more than 600 specimens. We posed for photos looking through the jaws of a megalodon, a giant shark that went extinct some 3.6 million years ago.

The 6-year-old, who had just received a rock tumbler for his birthday, was excited about the Geo Gallery and got everyone else involved, looking at the massive, shiny gemstones, and the collection of meteorites. In all, the museum has some 350,000 mineral specimens and 10,000 gemstones, one of the largest of its kind in the world, including the world-famous Hope Diamond.

We thought we’d buzz through the O. Orkin Insect Zoo , the oldest continuously operating insect zoo in the US. But the kids were mesmerized by the collection of creepy crawlies. They nudged to the front of a live presentation on a bug we didn’t recognize “Who wants to touch it?,” the presenter asked, and a group of little hands flew up. Scrambling through a 14-foot-tall model of an African termite mound was another favorite.

The museum was a hit. Next on the agenda was a visit to the National Children’s Museum of Washington, D.C. However, we’d already missed our timed entry slot. Did we have time for another museum? A visit to the National Zoo? Not really.

“A common misconception is about the time you’ll spend exploring museums,” says Ferguson. “We often hear that families had no idea how cool it would be to see the dinosaurs, or spaceships, or presidential artifacts.”

We’d overloaded our itinerary, and we suspected the kids were now on sensory overload. We grabbed snacks and drinks from a sidewalk vendor and walked and skipped our way to the Washington Monument, roaming through some of the Smithsonian Gardens along the way.

So many choices

What to do on our final morning before our flights back to Boston? The choices were overwhelming. We decided on a visit to the lesser known National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. , which had just opened its “Building Stories” exhibition. The four-room, immersive exhibition examines the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found in children’s books, including 150 books representing 28 countries. We found it fascinating for both kids and adults. The kids particularly enjoyed receiving a sketchbook and souvenir pencil that served as a guide through the exhibition, with places for stamps to collect along the way. There are cozy reading nooks, a small theater in the round, illustrating favorite books like “The Snowy Day,” a wall of alphabet books, and an entire area designed and built by David Macaulay, illustrating his “Rome Antics,” a 1997 picture book depicting buildings of Rome as seen by a homing pigeon. The final room features large, soft building blocks for kids to build their own structures. The second floor “Lego Room” (as the kids called it) featured a collection of iconic world landmarks and places built out of Legos, and a play area where kids could build their own Lego constructions.

We ended in a mad dash to the airport, where we waited for our delayed flight home. For more information, visit www.washington.org . Note that some Smithsonian Museums require timed entry reservations.

Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at [email protected]

Friday, April 26, 2024

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Student innovators travel to Washington, D.C. for STEM Festival

Two Sewanhaka Central High School District students were invited by the United States Department of Education to present during the first annual National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C., from April 11-13.

The festival, which was presented in partnership with EXPLR, celebrated student achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Floral Park Memorial High School student Apollo Casino and New Hyde Park Memorial High School student Fred Han were among 150 top student innovators from across the country to present their innovative STEM projects to the public, senior government and business leaders. Casino and Han were invited in recognition of their participation in the NASA TechRise Student Challenge last year.

Teacher Jack Chen, who leads the pre-engineering program at the district’s Career and Technical Education program, accompanied them to the festival.

Festival participants also met with representatives from numerous Federal Agencies regarding a wide choice of exciting STEM career paths. Participating agencies and organizations included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NASA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among others.

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Wamego veterans and students honor Vietnam soldiers on Honor Flight trip to Washington, DC

WASHINGTON D.C. (Gray DC) - Wamego High School students paired up with Kansas veterans for their annual Honor Flight.

VFW post 1786 commander Michael Riley says sharing an honor flight with fellow Kansas veterans is moving. The first thing Riley and the group did was honor a friend who was selected for this flight, but passed away before the trip.

“His wife gave me his flag. So that we could honor him today,” Riley explained. ”Just to remember our fallen brothers as well.”

Riley says times are different now than when he returned home from Vietnam.

“If you see anybody that says anything about Vietnam, you say ‘welcome home, brother’.”

When the veterans returned from their service decades ago, they didn’t receive a warm welcome. Fast forward to today, they are finally getting the respect they deserve.

“Coming home wasn’t good,” Korean War Veteran George Waugh said. “We weren’t received home very well… left a bad taste in my mouth.”

Waugh is visiting the war memorials alongside his grandson, Ryan. He’s happy younger generations are more appreciative of his service.

“It’s very special because some see it as an opportunity that not everybody gets to have,” Ryan Waugh said. “Some see it as a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Copyright 2024 WIBW. All rights reserved.

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‘Experience of a lifetime’: An inside look at the 59th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KWQC) - The 59th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities took their first trip of the year to Washington, D.C. Tuesday and TV6 went along for the ride to capture their experience.

“The experience of a lifetime,” said veterans and their guardians about their trip to the nation’s capital Tuesday, which consisted of several stops at museums, memorials and monuments built in honor of U.S. veterans.

It didn’t take long for veterans aboard Honor Flight No. 59 to feel welcomed upon landing in the nation’s capital. They were greeted by a water canon salute at Dulles International Airport with a marching band inside.

Their first stop was at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum near the airport, which was a special place to visit for veteran Joseph Akers who has aviation experience in the Army.

“It’s beautiful,” Akers said. “It’s a good thing to happen. People should see it, especially the veterans.”

After touring the air and space museum, veterans and their guardians made their way downtown to view memorials and monuments built to honor their sacrifices.

Veteran Mark Neal was partnered with Honor Flight guardian Pam Garrett for Tuesday’s trip.

“It’s been enlightening,” Neal said. “Especially the monuments, we went by the Iwo Jima monument, and now we’re at the Vietnam War Memorial. And to see all the people and the reverence of these monuments is very uplifting.”

Each veteran is accompanied by a volunteer guardian who guides them through the long, but special, day.

“To be able to sit down and go through and walk through these memorials and hear about their service, and also hear about how it’s applied to their life,” Garrett said. “It’s just neat to get to know a new person that you maybe might not have met under different circumstances.”

For many on the Honor Flight, they are meeting friendly strangers with a shared experience. However, this time there were three brothers who got the chance to experience the trip together.

“It’s just overwhelming when you see the Vietnam Memorial with all the names on it, and what those people could have been. That’s probably the best thing, and just being here with my brothers,” said veteran, Danny Atteberry.

Danny’s brother, Jack, agrees.

“I think it’s great,” Atteberry said. “We’ve been trying to come for three years, we finally got it where we can come together. And I’ve been saying this is the first time we’ve been together since 1967.”

After visiting World War II, Korean and Vietnam war memorials, the group got a chance to witness the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery before making their final stop at the Air Force Memorial, where they could reflect on their day and the sacrifices they made to receive such an honor.

“This was an honor that I’ll never ever ever forget,” said veteran Alfred Brunello. “It’s something that wasn’t given to us. It was something that we earned.”

The day was filled with honor, but it also came with a reminder about the lessons learned from our nation’s history with war.

“I get emotional,” said one of the three brothers, Charles Atteberry. “There’s a lot of families who have gone through a lot of grief and hurt from what’s happened to them. They went to fight for their freedoms and stuff like that. And I said, people should not take it so lightly.”

Upon safely returning to the Quad Cities International Airport in Moline Tuesday night, countless Quad Citians made clear to the veterans that their sacrifices have not been taken for granted, where hundreds cheered and welcomed them home.

More than 150 people took part in the 59th Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, including about 80 veterans whom many served in the Vietnam War, as well as in Korea and even World War II.

The veterans made it through the full day safely with the help of over 70 trained volunteers.

Copyright 2024 KWQC. All rights reserved.

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How safe is the air quality in the DC region?

Sandra Jones | [email protected]

April 24, 2024, 5:56 AM

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Did you know air quality in the D.C. area is ranked as one of the worst in the country?

The American Lung Association recently released it’s 2024 “ State of the Air ” report — it breaks down the amount of exposure to clean air days, particle pollution, and unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution impacting the region.

The results? Dr. Amit “Bobby” Mahajan, a spokesperson for the association, said “we’re still not doing that great” when it comes to air pollution.

“You know, ozone smog, we’re still an F grade. We’re still seeing a C grade for pollution,” he said. “Now, that being said, we’re doing better than we did do in the past.”

The D.C. area did have less short-term particle pollution and ground-level ozone pollution compared to the association’s report last year , which slightly improved the area’s national rankings for both categories.

Nationally, the report found that more than 131 million people live in an area with a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution.

Mahajan pointed out how the Canadian wildfires may be partially to blame for last year’s worst air quality periods in the D.C. area.

“We saw a number of wildfires over the summer and the spring which pushed a lot of particle pollution down the mid-Atlantic into our area… And on certain days, you could see it outside, that it was very dense,” Mahajan said.

The report also highlighted how the District adopted more healthy air policies in 2023, including regulations mandating that every new car registered in the D.C. region will have to be a zero-emission vehicle by 2035.

Mahajan told WTOP there has been more attention on lung health than ever before, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mahajan’s advised those who are affected by air pollution to keep wearing masks outside during a bout of bad air quality.

“You kind of enhance the use of masks, just when you’re going outside on some of those days when it’s worse,” he said. “If someone does have or feels their emphysema or asthma is getting worse, contact your physician early. Let them know you are having some underlying issues.”

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Sandra Jones is an Anchor/Reporter for WTOP. She’s been in the news industry for more than two decades.

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