Weather: you didn’t mention what part of Pakistan you are visiting from, but in general DC is likely to be colder (and New York definitely will be!). Probably around 8 degrees (Celsius) in the evening and around 10-12 during the day. But fall weather is unpredictable! Sometimes it is much warmer and other times colder. Definitely plan for some rain. And DC has a lot of walking so bring extra shoes and socks in case your feet get wet. And definitely make sure you have jackets! Layers are good since the weather can vary a lot!

SIM card: DC, Baltimore, and New York all have good network coverage so you won’t have an issue with picking a network. But most US residents are on monthly paid plans so it can be more difficult to buy a SIM card on site when you arrive (unlike other countries where it is easy to purchase one at the airport). I would suggest buying something online before you travel, then activating when you arrive. Generally I’ve heard good things about T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Cricket, Tracphone, and Google FI. The best option will depend on how much data you think you will use - you might want to purchase a few gigs or spend more on an unlimited plan. I will say Wi-Fi is pretty widely available for free (even the Smithsonian has it!) and a lot of my friends who visit internationally don’t even bother with buying phone service because they can get by with wi-fi only. But I know it’s nice to have access to the internet, especially to look up addresses and directions!

Activities: Other posters have mentioned some great options for kids. You can also consider the Spy Museum (it has an admission fee but kids LOVE it), the Smithsonian American History Museum (free and they have great interactive kids activities), and the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (because…dinosaurs). Also check out the DC public library calendar - they do a lot of free events for kids and it is a good way to meet locals. Plus it’s something to do that doesn’t involve endless walking around the city.

If you have the opportunity to leave the city itself (are you renting a car?), consider Frying Pan Park in Fairfax - they have a farm there with lots of animals and it is a neat way to learn about some of the common farming practices on the US). It is about a 30-40 minute drive depending on where you are staying.

Some of my other personal favorite places as an adult are the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery (it focuses on crafting arts), the Smithsonian African American History Museum, and the Library of Congress (it’s a beautiful building!)

Food: You didn’t mention if you are seeking halal food, but assume you aren’t and just want to ensure you have lots of options that don’t involve alcohol or pork, there is lots to choose from. I know a lot of people have very strong opinions about food and are steering you away from chains, but there is nothing wrong with Cheesecake Factory! The decor is fun, it’s right by the White House, the food is generally pretty good, and the menu is huge. It is a very “American” experience for sure. You could also look at Founding Farmers, which has a similar menu to the restaurants you mentioned. People who are foodies will turn up their nose at this suggestions, but the food is pretty good and they have a big menu. For pizza I think the best restaurants are All-Purpose and Timber Pizza Company. For pasta, I would suggest Filomena in Georgetown (again, it is a really FUN restaurant that always has tons of decorations for the holidays - they will be decorated for Halloween in October). But there are also great restaurants that don’t focus on traditional “American” food. For example, as others mentioned, DC is well known for its Ethiopian population and has some really great Ethiopian restaurants!

Money: one more thing to mention is that the US heavily uses credit and debit cards. You can pay for almost anything using them, and very people buy things using cash. So you don’t need to worry about taking a ton of cash out of the bank unless you have a card that is going to charge you for international purchases (in which case you might want to even consider taking out cash from your bank before you leave and using it buying a prepaid US debit card to use when you arrive so you don’t have to carry around a bunch of paper money).

I could probably make about 500 other suggestions, feel free to message me if you have any more questions!