Of all the obvious highlights of D.C.’s National Mall, perhaps one of the most obvious tourist draws is the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Once my little sister saw a sign advertising “Titano-boa”, there was very little question of whether we’d be dropping in or not.

This museum, obvious in its appeal for children, sports dinosaur and mammoths and sea monsters and IMAX.

I was surprisingly entertained as well, though, with a hall of prize-winning photography and interesting cultural exhibits on top of the taxidermy wonderland.

Though perhaps this is more a testament to the Texas educational system than the Smithsonian’s curators, my 8th grade sister’s Smithsonian visit was also her first exposure to the Theory of Evolution.

I’m told that in mid-summer, the Natural History Museum can be swamped with tour groups and field trips and all manner of screaming young nature enthusiasts.

Here’s Hoping your visit is as comparatively quiet as ours.

Like all the Smithsonian Museums in D.C., entrance is free. So, if it gets too crowded you can always duck out and return later. I’d suggest mid-November.