Kids Discover Talks with Author Austin K. Graff About His Book 111 Places for Kids in Washington That You Must Not Miss
- July 22, 2026
- By Alice Knisley Matthias
Washington, D.C. is more than politics – it’s a vibrant, kid-friendly city where families can explore, learn, play, and make lasting memories together at every turn.
All eyes are on Washington.D.C. this year for the 250th celebration of our country. A new book by author Austin K. Graff shows kids exciting locations to see and explore in our nation’s capital to learn about the people and history of our country along with interesting places that might surprise readers like a telephone booth that tells jokes or a secret hidden slide in a library!
“My hope is that locals and tourists both will see D.C. as a city of beauty and community,” says Graff.
The inspiration for the book was Graff’s daughter Addy and their project of mastering the alphabet while spending time walking around their hometown of D.C. and making a list of where they went in their travels. Graff works for a publisher who makes guidebooks for places to visit. These books contain maps, historical facts, tips for planning a trip, recommendations for where to stay, how to get around, and suggestions for where you can get delicious food to eat!
When Graff’s publisher asked if he would write a guide book for 111 places for visitors to see in Washington, D.C. he was all set to get started!
Addy helped her father with a kid’s point of view on this book and thinks other kids will enjoy visiting with family and friends.
“D.C. has so many fun places,” says Addy who is now nine-years-old. “I want other kids to see that and have fun in the Nation’s Capital.”
What was the inspiration for “111 Places for Kids in Washington That You Must Not Miss?”
My nine-year-old daughter. During the pandemic, I taught her the alphabet by exploring all 136+ neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. “A” for Anacostia, “B” for Brookland, “C” for Carver-Langston, and so on. As we explored, I kept a list of all the kid-friendly spots around the city. In the end, the list is well over 1,000 places! When my publisher reached out to see if I’d want to write a kids version of their “111 Places” series, we already had a list to narrow down to 111 places.
Why did you choose Washington, D.C.?
It’s my daughter’s hometown and a city that I’ve called home for 20 years. Growing up overseas my entire life, I chose to settle in D.C. in large part due to the many immigrant communities here from around the world.
How did you decide on 111 places?
My book is part of a series that pulls out 111 places in most major cities across the world.
How do you choose the places to include?
All 111 are my daughter’s favorite places in the city. However, my publisher has their own format so a few categories were required. For example, they wanted me to include a funny bathroom. Luckily, one of our favorite museums, a place called Planet Word, has jokes and witty banter on their restroom walls!
How did you visit each location?
Since I’ve explored every street and alley in D.C. since I moved to the city 20 years ago, I had already visited each place. When I started bringing my daughter along, she visited every spot. That made writing the book easier since we had already been to every spot over and over again. However, we did go back to most places for interviews and to see if anything had changed since our last visit. We’d often take the Metro or ride bikes there.
What is different about writing a guide book?
Each chapter is one page so you have to be strategic with the words you pick. The challenge in writing a guide book for children is you have to draw them in by describing how all five senses are engaged by each 111 spots.
Do you have tips for how to use a guide book?
Let your child read through it first. Give them Post-In notes to stick in places where the photography or title draws them in. Then, read the tip section to see the ideal age for each place.
How do you work with a photographer to put the book together?
Since I’m a photographer myself, my publisher offered for me to be the photographer as well. However, I thought it would be fun to have a collaborator. My photographer- Cindy- and I would visit each place, usually together, to capture images. Cindy would then send me a collection from each place, and I’d pick my favorite 2-3. She’d then make the final decision on which photo of those 2-3 went into the book.
What do you want readers to take away from the book?
To be curious and see the human side of Washington, D.C. Of course a few places along the National Mall are included, but most places are in the neighborhoods of D.C. in every part of the city. My hope is that locals and tourists both would see D.C. as a city of beauty and community rather than our country’s capital.
What’s the best piece of travel advice you ever got?
Know that you’re a guest in someone’s home when you travel. Check your assumptions at the door. Ask questions. Deeply listen. Be curious.
Is there anything you want readers to focus on for the country’s 250th birthday this summer?
Many people will visit Washington, D.C. for the 250th birthday celebration. Spend time in D.C. neighborhoods, finding the deeply historic places in parks and alleys, not just in museums.
You say you are someone who is “bad at directions.” How did you become the author of a guide book?
That’s a good question! I will say the baseline is that my wife is masterful at directions. Compared to her, I’m not the best, but I am better than the average person. I don’t get lost ever and always remember my route even if I’ve done it once. I’m not the best at giving directions. To compensate for that, I chose places for the book that I’ve been to over 20 times. I also used Google Maps to help verify the best way to get there.
Austin K. Graff is a writer, content creator, and social media strategist. After leading social media and influencer marketing teams at International Justice Mission, Coca-Cola Company, and The Washington Post, Austin created the first-ever guide to all 131 DC neighborhoods, telling stories of hope throughout the community online.
