If your little ones love planes, helicopters, and spaceships, The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center should definitely be at the top of your list of places to visit! This museum is very different from most other Smithsonian buildings, starting with the fact that it is not located on the mall. The Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, which means not only is it far away from the traffic and mayhem of the city, it also has it’s own large parking lot (no parking garages located blocks and blocks away from our final destination?! Definitely a bonus for me)!
The museum is large and open with thousands of aviation and space artifacts displayed in the two large hangers. There are so many different types of planes to check out, from crop dusters to military jets.
Our absolute favorite part of the museum is seeing the Space Shuttle Discovery up close!!
My only complaint about this Museum is that there is only one restaurant and it is a McDonalds. You are not permitted to bring your own food or drink in, so I always have to a. pack lunch (blerg!) and b. take my kids back to the car to eat said packed lunch. So annoying.
Parking is $15 and you are able to leave and re-enter the building as many times as you want.
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