Family-Friendly Hotels

Embassy Suites Hotel Washington, D.C. -- Close to both a Red Line and a Blue Line Metro station (the zoo is on the Red Line; the Smithsonian museums are on the Blue Line) and within walking distance of Georgetown, this hotel lets your kids sleep on the pullout sofa in the separate living room. Rooms have some kitchen facilities, but the complimentary breakfast in the atrium is unbelievable. There are also an indoor pool and a free game room. Also consider the Embassy Suites Hotel D.C. Convention Center, within walking distance of Penn Quarter attractions.

Four Seasons -- Spare the parents and spoil the child at this luxurious hotel, whose amenities include age-appropriate snacks and amusements, from fuzzy duckies and coloring books to Teen Vogue. The hotel's Georgetown location makes it a good choice for teens, especially if they like to shop; its location on the C&O Canal recommends it for family hikes along the towpath. (The Four Seasons does have its own pool, but it's a lap pool and not particularly kid-friendly.)

Monaco Washington DC, a Kimpton Hotel -- You're in the heart of the city, literally surrounded by attractions (International Spy Museum, two Smithsonian museums, the National Crime and Punishment Museum, and the Verizon Center), with the National Mall just a few blocks away. The Red Line Metro stop is across the street. Meanwhile, the hotel's KimptonKids program offers welcome gifts, a list of kid-friendly activities, and the loan of high chairs, cribs, and other equipment. The hotel's excellent restaurant, Poste, offers a fun and tasty kid's menu. And, like all Kimptons, you get a goldfish delivered to your room if you or your little one so desires.