250 Ways to Celebrate America Bucket List

By
Courtney Whittington
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0

Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in Washington, DC is a big deal. There are so many memory-making opportunities to celebrate now and throughout 2026. This including DC250 programming, museum exhibits, food festivals, cultural events, and major July 4 festivities. 

Photo from Brian Evans from Getty Images via Canva.

America 250 Family Bucket List

Official America 250 Experiences

  1. See the July 4, 2026 National Mall fireworks in person or at home starting at 10:30 pm.
  2. Attend the National Independence Day Parade. 
  3. Visit the US Capitol Building to see the Spirt of ’76 exhibit. 
  4. Explore DC250 events in June, July, August, September, October, and November.
  5. Attend an EAT250 food event.
  6. Read George vs George (not official, but a great book for kids!).
  7. Attend a patriotic concert.
  8. Participate in a community service project.
  9. Attend a historical reenactment.
  10. Visit the International Spy Museum for their Red, White, and Spy event. 
  11. Collect America 250 souvenirs like this ornament! 
  12. Visit MLK Library to see District Vibes / American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture.
  13. Attend a Constitution-themed event.
  14. Participate in a flag ceremony.
  15. Visit the National Archives.
  16. Watch military flyovers.
  17. Attend a storytelling festival.
  18. Join a colonial craft demonstration.
  19. Participate in a time capsule activity.
  20. See the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery’s The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees. 
  21. Visit an America 250 art exhibit.
  22. Attend a civic engagement event.
  23. Explore America’s immigrant stories programs.
  24. Attend a patriotic movie screening like the new young George Washington movie.
  25. Take part in a community celebration.

National Mall Adventures

  1. Walk the National Mall.
  2. Visit the Washington Monument.
  3. Tour the Lincoln Memorial.
  4. Visit the Jefferson Memorial.
  5. See the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
  6. Explore the World War II Memorial.
  7. Visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  8. Visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
  9. Walk around the Tidal Basin.
  10. Visit the White House Visitors Center. 
  11. Have a picnic on the Mall.
  12. Join a ranger-led tour. 
  13. Explore Constitution Gardens.
  14. Watch sunset from the Lincoln Memorial steps.
  15. Visit the Reflecting Pool.
  16. Take a family bike ride.
  17. Do a monument scavenger hunt.
  18. Count state flags around the Washington Monument.
  19. Attend a ranger talk.
  20. Visit memorials at night.
  21. Watch the changing light on the monuments.
  22. Sketch your favorite monument.
  23. Create a family monument photo challenge.
  24. Explore lesser-known memorials.
  25. Walk the entire memorial loop.

Smithsonian Adventures in Washington, DC

  1. Visit Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
  2. See the Hope Diamond.
  3. Visit the dinosaur hall.
  4. Visit the National Air and Space Museum.
  5. Explore the Wright Brothers exhibits.
  6. Visit the moon rock.
  7. Tour the National Museum of American History.
  8. See the Star-Spangled Banner.
  9. Visit the First Ladies exhibit.
  10. Tour the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
  11. Visit the National Museum of the American Indian.
  12. Visit the National Postal Museum.
  13. Visit the National Zoo.
  14. See the Smithsonian’s giant pandas or the new baby elephant.
  15. Attend a Smithsonian family program.
  16. Complete a museum scavenger hunt.
  17. Visit a museum you’ve never visited before.
  18. Attend a museum lecture.
  19. Watch an IMAX film.
  20. Explore hands-on exhibits.
  21. Visit a museum gift shop.
  22. Learn about top inventions. 
  23. Learn about transportation history.
  24. Explore American pop culture exhibits.
  25. Study presidential history.
  26. Learn about Native American cultures.
  27. Explore scientific discoveries.
  28. Visit a temporary exhibit like at the Nationals Children’s Museum. 
  29. Attend a museum family day.
  30. Collect museum passport stamps.

Historic America Sites in and around Washington, DC

  1. Tour President Lincoln’s Cottage.
  2. Visit Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.
  3. Tour United States Capitol.
  4. Visit the Library of Congress.
  5. See the Supreme Court of the United States.
  6. Visit Ford’s Theatre.
  7. Explore Arlington National Cemetery.
  8. Watch the Changing of the Guard.
  9. Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
  10. Explore Mount Vernon’s grounds.
  11. Tour George Washington’s mansion.
  12. Visit the gristmill at Mount Vernon.
  13. Explore Gunston Hall.
  14. Visit Manassas National Battlefield Park.
  15. Visit Antietam National Battlefield.
  16. Visit Monocacy National Battlefield.
  17. Explore Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
  18. Visit George Washington’s Distillery.
  19. Tour colonial Alexandria.
  20. Walk Old Town Alexandria.
  21. Visit historic Georgetown.
  22. Explore historic Annapolis.
  23. Tour the Maryland State House.
  24. Visit St. Mary’s City.
  25. Explore colonial reenactments.
  26. Visit a Revolutionary War exhibit.
  27. Explore a Civil War trail.
  28. Visit a presidential site.
  29. Read original documents at exhibits.
  30. Visit historic churches.
  31. Explore historic neighborhoods.
  32. Visit a historic farm.
  33. Visit the National Building Museum. 
  34. Visit a maritime museum.
  35. Explore Chesapeake Bay history.
  36. Learn about abolitionists.
  37. Study women’s history with kids. 
  38. Learn about civil rights leaders.
  39. Explore immigrant history.
  40. Attend a history lecture.

Explore Nature & Outdoor Fun Activities

  1. Visit United States Botanic Garden.
  2. Explore the outdoor Children’s Garden at the Botanic Gardens.
  3. Walk or hike in Rock Creek Park.
  4. See butterflies at Meadowlark Gardens. 
  5. Bike the National Mall or trails. 
  6. Paddle on the Potomac.
  7. Explore Theodore Roosevelt Island.
  8. Visit Great Falls Park.
  9. Go birdwatching. 
  10. Have a family picnic at the National Arboretum. 
  11. Fly a kite on the National Mall.
  12. Visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
  13. Explore local nature centers.
  14. Walk the C&O Canal.
  15. Visit a Maryland state park.
  16. Visit a Virginia state park.
  17. Go geocaching.
  18. Attend a junior ranger program.
  19. Watch a sunset over the Potomac.
  20. Explore Roosevelt Island trails.
  21. Visit a community garden.
  22. Plant a patriotic flower garden.
  23. Attend an outdoor concert.
  24. Watch fireworks from a new location.
  25. Explore Chesapeake Bay beaches.
  26. Visit Assateague Island.
  27. See wild horses.
  28. Make a bird feeder. 
  29. Pick seasonal fruit.
  30. Camp as a family.

Kid-Friendly Bucket List Activities 

  1. Visit Planet Word Museum.
  2. Complete a museum scavenger hunt.
  3. Dress in colonial costumes.
  4. Create a family time capsule.
  5. Make homemade flags.
  6. Learn all 50 state capitals.
  7. Build a model monument.
  8. Learn patriotic songs.
  9. Write a family constitution.
  10. Create a family history tree.
  11. Interview grandparents.
  12. Read founding-era stories.
  13. Make colonial recipes.
  14. Visit a children’s museum.
  15. Attend story time at the Library of Congress.
  16. Build a model of the Capitol.
  17. Learn semaphore flag communication.
  18. Earn Junior Ranger badges.
  19. Create a travel journal.
  20. Start a national parks passport.
  21. Visit a working lighthouse.
  22. Build a cardboard fort.
  23. Make a patriotic craft.
  24. Create a state trivia game.
  25. Learn about the Declaration of Independence.
  26. Explore maps from different eras.
  27. Watch a historical documentary.
  28. Visit a living history museum.
  29. Attend a colonial dance lesson.
  30. Create an America 250 scrapbook.

Celebrate America with Family Food Adventures

  1. Try a historic tavern meal.
  2. Have a picnic on the National Mall.
  3. Visit Le Diplomate for a family brunch.
  4. Eat Maryland crab cakes.
  5. Try Chesapeake blue crab.
  6. Sample Virginia barbecue.
  7. Visit a local farmers market.
  8. Eat at Ben’s Chili Bowl. 
  9. Try different foods.
  10. Visit an ice cream shop after monument touring.
  11. Eat at a waterfront restaurant in Alexandria.
  12. Try Ethiopian cuisine in DC.
  13. Try Salvadoran pupusas.
  14. Head to international embassy events.
  15. Visit Union Market.
  16. Explore Eastern Market.
  17. Attend a food festival.
  18. Have a red-white-and-blue picnic.
  19. Visit a bakery in Georgetown.
  20. Enjoy brunch after a museum visit.
  21. Try a colonial-era recipe.
  22. Visit a food hall.
  23. Explore neighborhood restaurants.
  24. Make homemade protein ice cream. 
  25. Bake a patriotic pie.
  26. Try regional American dishes.
  27. Create a family recipe book.
  28. Attend a culinary demonstration.
  29. Visit a historic inn.
  30. Have dinner overlooking the Potomac.

Community Service and Tradition Building Ideas to Celebrate

  1. Volunteer at a park cleanup.
  2. Plant 250 flowers.
  3. Write letters to veterans.
  4. Visit a veterans memorial.
  5. Donate books to the Little Free Library. 
  6. Organize a neighborhood picnic.
  7. Volunteer at a food bank.
  8. Fundraiser for local historical societies.
  9. Attend a citizenship ceremony.
  10. Read the Declaration of Independence aloud.
  11. Learn the Constitution’s preamble. 
  12. Start a family service tradition.
  13. Visit the children’s area at the Smithsonian Native American Museum.
  14. Create a family mission statement.
  15. Record family stories.
  16. Learn about civic engagement.
  17. Attend a town hall meeting.
  18. Support a local museum.
  19. Adopt a trail or pick up trash on a trail. 
  20. Walk through the Smithsonian Castle.
  21. Volunteer at a historic site.
  22. Share toys at Wegman’s Wonderplace at the American History Museum.
  23. Visit every DC ward.
  24. Sit on Einstein’s lap near Lincoln’s Memorial.
  25. Visit the People’s House in near the White House. 
  26. Tour the Lincoln Memorial Museum.
  27. Learn about local heroes. 
  28. Ride the Carousel on the National Mall.
  29. Attend a cultural festival.
  30. See the first American Flag at the Smithsonian’s American History Museum.
  31. Learn Go-Go music history.
  32. Support local artists.
  33. Create a family America 250 video. 
  34. Make a 250-photo challenge.
  35. Write letters to future generations.
  36. Create a family time capsule.
  37. Visit a new historic site each month.
  38. Take a multi-generation family photo.
  39. Watch the 2026 fireworks together.
  40. Share what America means to your family. 
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Courtney Whittington
Courtney Whittington
Courtney was born and raised in Louisiana where she met her husband (married in 2005). They have moved several times, but finally feel very settled in NW DC after moving back in 2016. She has four energetic kids: Cormac (2010), Evangeline (2013), Solomon (2016), and Antoinette (2019). She thinks motherhood is absolutely wonderful, but is constantly trying to figure out how to manage it all. She spends her days talking Star Wars, playing with legos, doing crafts, having tea parties, and chasing her toddler. Motherhood is wonderful and wild and in 2017 she banded together with other mothers to start DC Area Moms to inspire, learn, and grow together. She loves morning coffee, chocolate, chatting with people since she's an extrovert, a clean house (which is rare these days). She dislikes when her kids don't listen the first time, she abhors littering, and doesn't enjoy shopping. 

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