National Zoo & Aquarium

If you’re going to do one big day out in Yarralumla with kids, this is probably it. The zoo and aquarium combo means you’re covering a lot of ground — big cats, marine life, keeper talks — and the open grass areas give little ones room to actually run around between exhibits. Picnic tables and shade trees make it easy to pack your own lunch and stay most of the day without blowing the budget at the café. The walking paths connect everything pretty logically, so you’re not constantly backtracking with tired legs. It’s the kind of place that works for a wide age range, from toddlers losing their minds over the meerkats to older kids who’ll actually sit and listen to the animal talks.