WHERE: Washington, D.C.

Air and space, natural history, tiny rocks, very big statues: One good thing about the abundance of museums in Washington, D.C., is that just about any topic your teen is obsessed with can be explored here. So before planning a trip, take stock of your teen's interests to minimize sighing and eye-rolling during the visit.

Ford Bell, the president of the American Association of Museums (and father of a 15-year-old), adds that teens like the authentic: "He wants to know if he is standing on the actual battlefield. He asked me 5,000 questions in the gem hall at Natural History." Washington is a gold mine for that kind of curiosity.

If your teens get "museumed out," start a quiz about movies set in Washington: Almost every exterior of iconic D.C. has made a cameo, from the Library of Congress ("National Treasure: Book of Secrets") to the steps on Prospect Street NW in Georgetown ("The Exorcist"). If you have a Saturday morning free, take the official movies tour (see www.Screentours.com).

Teens can also sign up for Bike the Sites, where the longest tour of the monuments is three hours, and the prices are about $40. Those 16 or older can rent Segways through www.Zerve.com/CapSegway for a two-hour tour at $65 or $70.

Want to slip off for a glass of wine? Sign up your teens for the Washington Photo Safari's guided field tours. They'll be escorted around to the sights while getting tips on composition, lighting and more.

MAKE A PLAN: http://DestinationDC.com has "sample itineraries." For arts and culture, check out www.CultureCapital.com. To add the restaurants and watering holes, consult www.washingtonpost.com/cityguide. There's also a three-day suggested itinerary at www.washingtonpost.com/visitorsguide.

Washington ranks high on everyone's list of walkable cities (read: pack comfortable shoes!). www.CulturalTourismDC.org is loaded with information on walking self-tours and guided tours all over town. www.DCbyFoot.com conducts a free walking tour every day at 2 and 6 p.m. from February to November.

And the "trip planner" on www.MetroOpensDoors.com will help you use the bus and subway to reach your destination.

COST: The Smithsonian Institution is free, but special features, such as the simulators at the National Air and Space Museum and Imax movies, do cost. So does the almost-new Butterfly Pavilion inside the National Museum of Natural History (Tuesdays are free). The International Spy Museum charges $18 for ages 12-64, and $25 for a special combined ticket for another exhibition and game.