WASHINGTON, D.C.

When tourists visit our hometown, they usually plan to see the White House, the Capitol, and the monuments and museums on the Mall. Few seem to realize that the rest of the city is filled with hidden gems for families. We love uncovering off-the-beaten-path sights, shops, and restaurants. To get around, we hop on the Metro, the city's safe and extensive subway system (it may be what little visitors remember the most!).

EXPLORE
1. The National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum: Many tourists miss these fabulous Smithsonian museums, because they're not right on the Mall. But they're only a few blocks away, located in a single sprawling building. We love the portraits of sports, music, and entertainment greats -- everyone from Annie Oakley to Mickey Mantle. The portraits of all the U.S. presidents offer a great history lesson, and the family scavenger hunt on the third floor of the American Art Museum is just plain fun. Afterward, the kids stomp in the courtyard's irresistible "puddle pool." Free. 8th and F streets NW; 202-633-1000

2. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing: It's fun to see the cash roll off the presses, and the tour of the stately bureau building offers a fascinating education in how paper money is made, from start to finish. The kids get a kick out of the shredded dollars sold in the gift shop -- for far less than their original value! (Free tickets are required March through August. Tickets for each day's tours are distributed on a first-come basis starting at 8 a.m. and are usually all gone by 8:30 -- so folks start lining up early! See the bureau's Web site for details.) Free. 14th and C streets SW; 866-874-2330

3. The International Spy Museum: Our kids love selecting secret identities and trying to withstand interrogation by the computerized guards at this kid pleasing destination. They even get to crawl through an air duct to spy on unsuspecting civilians. There's a great gadget-filled gift shop too. $18 for adults, $15 for kids ages 5 to 11. 800 F Street NW; 202-393-7798

4. The Boathouse at Fletcher's Cove: The Potomac River flows through the Washington area as it makes its scenic way toward Chesapeake Bay. To explore its waters, we rent a canoe at Fletcher's. Sometimes we tie up at Theodore Roosevelt Island, a National Park Service site with lots of walking paths. Canoe rentals, $11 per hour. 4940 Canal Road NW; 202-244-0461

5. Glen Echo Park: The Art Deco buildings of this former amusement park were left to languish for years, but in recent decades the park has been turned into an arts, cultural, and nature center. The painstaking restorations included the brightly colored ponies of the 1921 Dentzel Carousel (the only ride that still functions). When our kids were small, we frequented the Puppet Co. Playhouse and the weekend drop-in nature activities at the Discovery Creek Children's Museum. Now we all enjoy the plays at Adventure Theatre. n Free (ticket prices to shows range from $8 to $12; Discovery Creek, $5). 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD; 301-634-2222