Must-See U.S. Museum Districts: Art, History & Family Fun

In these cities, entire districts invite you to explore art, history, science and culture, all within a walkable radius. Read on to discover museum hubs that will pique curiosity and ignite imagination on your next family vacation.

Walk Through U.S. History in Washington, D.C.  

In the heart of Washington, D.C., the National Mall stretches 3 kilometers from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, forming a powerful corridor of American memory. Nicknamed “America’s front yard,” this landscaped park connects iconic monuments and memorials, honoring civil rights pioneers, presidents and veterans. Pay homage to the 16th president at the Lincoln Memorial, stand in awe of the 169-meter-tall Washington Monument and admire flowering cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. Leave time to visit neighboring Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Air and Space Museum.

Explore the Past in Chicago, Illinois 

Beneath a soaring skyline, Chicago hums with creativity and curiosity. At the heart of it is the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the oldest art museums in the USA. Families can engage in hands-on creative projects in the Ryan Learning Center and tour galleries filled with masterworks. Down the Illinois lakeshore, Museum Campus offers a walkable trio: Play with sea otters at Shedd Aquarium, step inside a tomb at the Field Museum and stargaze at Adler Planetarium.

Something for Everyone in Houston, Texas

With 21 museums packed into one Texas neighborhood, Houston’s Museum District is one of the largest in the country. For family fun, race across a ropes course at Children’s Museum Houston and visit over 6000 animals at the Houston Zoo. Learn a new skill in a hands-on workshop at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, then walk through a rainforest of fluttering butterflies at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Discover Multiple Worlds in San Francisco, California

Golden Gate Park is no ordinary green space – it’s a sprawling San Francisco escape where bison roam, fly fishers practice their cast and museum lovers find global treasures. See art and architecture at the de Young Museum, then dive into a rainforest, aquarium and planetarium under one roof at the California Academy of Sciences. Between museums, stroll wooded trails beneath twisting live oaks, sip herbal tea in the Japanese Tea Garden and watch the park’s resident bison graze in the Bison Paddock.

Meet Jazz Legends in Kansas City, Missouri

The 18th & Vine District of Kansas City, Missouri, lights up at night with music clubs, but by day, it’s a hot spot for museum lovers of all ages. Explore the American Jazz Museum, filled with sound, stories and stage costumes, then step into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to learn about the players who changed the game. After dark, grab Kansas City-style barbecue and listen in on a late night jam session at the Mutual Musicians Foundation.