MY TURN
The Value of Curiosity
Exploring D.C. with Kids
N ow that warmer temperatures have
arrived and the Washington, D.C. area
is in full bloom, there’s no better time
for families to venture outside and explore
the countless treasures of our nation’s capital.

As a former public elementary school teacher
in D.C. for 17 years, I’ve had the pleasure
of teaching hundreds of kids about many
of D.C.’s world-renowned museums and
memorials, diverse neighborhoods and the
trailblazing individuals who have helped shape
our monumental city. But simply reading
and writing about them only scratches the
surface. For kids to truly see and learn about
our nation’s capital, it’s imperative that they
experience it. Exploring their own backyards
as well as new neighborhood nooks can be eye-
opening, rewarding and even life changing.

When kids are afforded opportunities to
learn through exploration and experimenta-
tion, they learn just how valuable curiosity and
adventure truly are. Curious kids eventually
grow into curious adults who are interested and
engaged with the world around them. I wrote
“Secret Washington, DC: A Guide to the Weird,
Wonderful, and Obscure” and “DC Scavenger”
to inspire both kids and adults to tap into their
adventurous sides and explore the region’s
abundant beauty and richness. Whether
you’re a native Washingtonian, newcomer or
somewhere in between, in a city as vibrant as
Washington, D.C., there is so much to uncover.

“Secret Washington, DC” introduces read-
ers to the other side of D.C.: a treasure trove
of off-the-beaten-path sites, secret histories
and quirky oddities. Kids will love search-
ing for the nearly 40 boundary stones that
helped mark the perimeter of Washington,
D.C. Geocachers and adventurists will enjoy
exploring these historic markers set by sur-
veyor Benjamin Banneker and his team dating
back to the 1790s. One of D.C.’s most beloved
green spaces, the National Arboretum, holds a
wealth of beauty and history. Spend an after-
noon wandering around the iconic Capitol
Columns that were once part of the U.S.

Capitol and visit the Bonsai and Penjing
Museum, home of the nearly 400-year-old
Yamaki Pine that survived the bombing of
34 Washington FAMILY JUNE 2023
Hiroshima. Budding paleontologists may be
surprised to learn that the Capitol Hill corner
of First and F Streets SE is where a dinosaur
fossil was uncovered in 1898! Capitalsaurus
Court honors DC’s official dinosaur. Visit the
Lincoln Memorial to find the baseball-size
indentation imprinted onto the outer wall
because of an accidental firing during World
War II by the U.S. Army. While you’re on the
National Mall, head over to the World War II
Memorial to locate the ”Kilroy Was Here” graf-
fiti of a big-nosed bald-headed man sketched
around the world where battles were fought,
followed by a ride on the carousel, which rep-
resents a part of Civil Rights history.

Families looking for a more active pur-
suit with their kids will love “DC Scavenger,”
an interactive outdoor scavenger hunt book
spanning 17 neighborhoods throughout D.C.’s
four quadrants. Embark upon a thrilling hunt
with your family to explore more than 340
clues by deciphering clever hints and exam-
ining puzzling photos. Throughout each
neighborhood hunt, you’ll seek out historical
markers, lively markets and eateries, librar-
ies and bookstores, architectural gems and
of course, many of the city’s most cherished
monuments and museums. Choose to hunt
around your own neighborhood or perhaps
encourage your child to step out of their com-
fort zone and explore an unfamiliar pocket,
discovering something new and unexpected.

Get ready to lace up your walking shoes and
experience the region in a newfound adven-
turous way while creating indelible memories
with your family. T
JoAnn Hill has affectionately called Washington,
D.C. home for over twenty years. She has writ-
ten extensively about D.C. living, its food, and her
world travels on her blog dcglobejotters.org and
for others. When she’s not writing and explor-
ing, you will find her teaching fitness, indulging in
D.C.’s culinary and theater scenes, and spending
as much time outside as possible being active. Hill
is the co-founder of Capitol Teachers, a full-ser-
vice tutoring company servicing the greater D.C.

area. She lives with her husband Thalamus and
dog Jackson.

PHOTOS PROVIDED
BY JOANN HILL
Below are two clues
from the National Mall
neighborhood chapter.

#1: ‘Round and ‘round on the
horse you go,
Colorful tent of red, blue, and yellow,
Grown-ups and kids hop on
for a ride,
A plaque details its past on the side.

#2: Fifty surround it, representing
each state,
Built for our first prez, a
general so great.

Five hundred
fifty-five feet, it
stands so tall,
An iconic
symbol on the
National Mall.

Were you
able to solve
the clues?