If you put only one historic fort on your family's to-do list, make it Fort Washington. It occupies a prime piece of hilly shoreline overlooking the Potomac, with the view alone worth the price of admission. Built to provide coastal protection for the new nation's capital, the fort was in operation from 1808 to 1922. Its features illustrate the evolution of military strategies and defenses. The barracks date from 1821, while an officer's room is done up circa 1865 and some cannons are from the 1900s. Kids enjoy exploring the vast grounds and buildings, taking in the view, rolling down the spectacular hills and observing such details as the fort's historic drawbridge, the remnants of its dry moat and the dank munitions storage and prison areas (which a 6-year-old of our acquaintance proclaimed "the land of the dead").

A one-page, self-guided tour is available at the visitors center, along with the most accessible restrooms and a gift shop. Parts of the complex, including defunct gun batteries, are structurally unsafe and closed to the public. There's a small lighthouse by the river, and if your family likes to fish, this is a super spot. The Swan Creek Trail affords an excellent family hike along the river.

-- John Kelly and Craig Stoltz

Notes: Call ahead for special torchlight tours, a spooky delight.

Words to the wise: There are plenty of ways for kids to get hurt here -- steep stairways, high walls, dark passages -- so be vigilant and require attentive behavior.

Food: You can go to restaurants on Indian Head Highway, but bring a water bottle and consider a picnic on the super grounds.

Nearby: National Colonial Farm, Piscataway Park.