Shopping, Nails, Teen Girl Day in DC

Question

Hi All,

Looking for suggestions for a day in DC with a 13 year old girl.

Best shopping areas?

Good nail salons?

Fun desserts, candy stores, ice cream, etc?

Any fun experiences?

Museums ok if they are experiential and kid friendly?

Kid friendly lunch places (pizza, pasta, acai bowl/smoothies)?

We are staying at the Fairmont in West End - ok to move around the city but any suggestions near the hotel are helpful too!

Thank you!

Answer

Spending a day in Washington, DC with a 13-year-old girl can be a fun mix of shopping, treats, and interactive experiences. Since you are staying at the Fairmont in West End, you are in a convenient location with easy access to both Dupont Circle and downtown areas, which are ideal for teen-friendly activities.

For shopping, DC has several areas that appeal to teenagers and offer a variety of stores, from trendy fashion to unique boutique finds:

CityCenterDC: High-end shopping with brands like Zara, H&M, and local boutiques. It’s also a pleasant walking area with outdoor spaces.
Georgetown: Cobblestone streets with shops such as Anthropologie, Sephora, and local independent stores. Great for window shopping and walking around.
Friendship Heights: Offers a mix of department stores and smaller shops, plus is less crowded than central DC areas.

For nail salons that are teen-friendly:

Paint Nail Bar: Modern, clean, and known for great manicures and pedicures. Offers fun colors and designs suitable for teens.
The Nail Bar DC: Welcoming environment, creative nail art, and good for short appointments.
Olive & June: Trendy salon with attention to detail and stylish options for younger clients.

Fun dessert spots and candy stores are abundant and perfect for a teen’s sweet tooth:

Georgetown Cupcake: Famous cupcakes with seasonal and classic flavors.
Thomas Sweet: Ice cream and handmade chocolates in Georgetown.
Chinatown Candy Co. or Sweet Lobby: Fun candy shops with a wide selection of sweets.
Ice Cream Jubilee: Creative ice cream flavors in the Shaw area.

For interactive, kid-friendly museums:

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Engaging exhibits, flight simulators, and space artifacts that appeal to all ages.
Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Hands-on exhibits like the Spark!Lab where kids can experiment and create.
International Spy Museum: Fun for teens with interactive spy missions and exhibits.

Kid-friendly lunch spots that are casual, healthy, and teen-approved:

Founding Farmers: Great for American classics including pizza and pasta, casual atmosphere.
Sweetgreen or Cava: Healthy bowls and smoothies, near central DC areas.
Jaleo or Pinstripes: Some locations offer pizza, pasta, or playful meals that appeal to younger guests.
Acai & Smoothie Bowls: Options like Juice Generation or Bluestone Lane provide fresh bowls and smoothies for a light lunch.

For fun experiences beyond food and shopping:

Walk along the National Mall with iconic monuments for photos and exploration.
Ride a Capital Bikeshare bike or scooter along scenic areas.
Explore Georgetown waterfront with paddle boats or casual strolls.
Attend a kid-friendly cooking class or chocolate-making workshop if available in the area.

Transportation is convenient via Metro, rideshare, or short cab rides, and since you are centrally located, it is easy to move around the city for a full day of shopping, treats, and interactive fun.

Shopping, Nails, Teen Girl Day in DC

More District of Columbia (DC) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions