My family spent 4 days in Washington, DC. Here are 5 things that were totally worth it and one we'd skip next time.

The Smithsonian National Zoo was such a hit with my family that we went twice — which wasn't an issue because it was free.

The zoo has plenty to see, from the gorilla house and the elephant community center to lions basking in the sun. But it's not intimidatingly large.

When we went, temperatures were pretty high. We found respite from it with a few inside exhibits and a lot of misting cool-down stations, but the zoo got pretty hot by midday. If you're visiting in the summer, the morning is probably best.

The Smithsonian Museum of American History was filled with history and pop-culture tidbits that kept all my family members interested.

In addition to a myriad of exhibits to look at, each room had hands-on features that my kids enjoyed interacting with. Plus, admission was free, and we didn't have to make reservations.

Seeing Dorothy's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" was a highlight.

Eat at America's Table in the Museum of American History was by far my favorite museum restaurant.

Food was available à la carte, and there was a range of options, including a huge salad bar, desserts, hot entrées, and sandwiches.

Although other museums had similar à la carte setups, I was most impressed with the variety and quality of the food at the Museum of American History.

Since admission to the museum is free, you could always stop by for lunch if you're at a nearby attraction.

With a 3-year-old, I didn't think a formal tour was our speed this trip, but I still wanted to learn about the White House.

The White House Visitor Center, a few blocks away, was more our speed. It was a small, free museum that wasn't too formal — I didn't feel like my kids were disruptive or out of place.

The displays also gave a lot of information, so we felt like we experienced a bit of history despite not going into the actual house.

We found The Wharf, DC's waterfront district, to be a great spot for looking at boats and strolling in the evening.

We had dinner at Bar Taco, which had an excellent kids' menu — truly one of the best I've seen. We also had plenty of options for ice cream and dessert after dinner.

Although I loved the National Air and Space Museum and want to go back myself, I thought it it was less entertaining and interactive for my kids.

Luckily, admission was free, but we had to sign up for a timed entry. We ended up with 1 p.m., which also wasn't ideal for my kids' energy levels.

In general, I think all the free museums encouraged me to pack a bit too much into the trip. We visited at least two, sometimes three, attractions a day. It was nice to be in the AC, but we needed more downtime.

Next time, we'll stay longer (six days or more seems appropriate) and do one big thing a day at a slower pace.