Endless (free!) museum choices in DC

A trip to Washington DC wouldn’t be complete without visiting at least one of the many museums comprising the Smithsonian Institution. The largest museum complex in the world, the Smithsonian has 17 museums and a zoo - all free to the public. Some popular choices to visit with kids are the Museum of Natural History, the National Zoological Park, and the Air and Space Museum (a personal favorite of mine). Many of the museums are clustered around the National Mall – a one mile stretch of land that offers great views of the Capitol building at one end and the Washington Monument at the other. It’s also a great place to take a break from museum hopping and enjoy a game of Frisbee, grab a frozen treat from a vendor, or simply people watch.

Admission:
FREE!

Hours:
10am-5:30pm daily (except Dec 25)
check website for specific museums

http://www.si.edu/

Free science fun in St. Louis

With over 700 hands-on exhibits, OMNIMAX films, a planetarium, a flight simulator, and a sports & fitness exhibit, the St. Louis Science Center has enough activities to fill an entire weekend or more! Play a laser harp, see how DNA is used to solve crimes, work with real dinosaur fossils, or try your hand at suturing a "patient's" leg. Don't miss the live 10-minute science demonstrations that run twice an hour every day. These fun and interactive shows have a different theme each hour. And when you get hungry, there's no need to leave the center...there's a food court right inside with enough variety to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Admission:
FREE!
Additional charge for special exhibits and movies

Hours:
Monday - Thursday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday 9:30 am - 9:30 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
Check website for summer hours and planetarium hours

http://www.slsc.org/