National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC

All of this incredible aeronautical history for free! The Smithsonian museums are such a gift. We went with our 4 kids aged 6 to 12 and they all had a great time. There’s something for everyone whether you’re a total science enthusiast or someone who doesn’t normally have much interest in this kind of thing. This is just a great family friendly activity. And did I mention that like all the Smithsonian museums at the National Mall, the museum is free?!

Possibly the most extraordinary museum in the world, I would think this museum alone a worthy destination of the transatlantic trip but the entire experience is brought low by the way in which it is currently managed. The refurbishment that’s currently underway limits the awe factor but it’s still there. About 8 rooms, four of these are above-average quality of content but the space related rooms and Moon exploration are quite simply extraordinary. The objects are wonderfully exhibited and you often sense that you are in a world-class, premiere museum. Despite that, I couldn’t quite rise above the experience of passing through the Smithsonian facility on a busy, rainy day. Access to seating is very limited given the size of the crowd; it was very difficult to get overpriced food and a struggle to find the space to eat it (I gave up). The museum store/shop is very large but very expensive. Entry to the museum is currently allotted by the hour and we joined a block-long line in the rain with tickets that required being booked two months in advance. Attendant staff seemed passive and tired or just grumpy, while the few curatorial staff we encountered seemed somewhat overwhelmed by the crowd. The collection here is unique and inspirational , containing touchstones of the most inspirational moments in human history, but limited by the exhibition space and feels cramped. Sharing that space with such a crowd is tiring. I brought my children for my first return since I was a child in 1982 and I often struggled to maintain enthusiasm. We enjoyed the Udvar-Hazy facility much more.