Washington, D.C. was established in 1791 by an act of the infant United States Congress. To avoid a dispute between the various states and regions about which city should be the capital of the new nation, Congress established a brand new city, outside any existing state. The District of Columbia was carved out of Virginia and Maryland, and the new city was built. Designed by architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant according to Enlightenment-era rationalist philosophy, Washington (named after the country's first president) was envisioned as a kind of Socratic wildlife refuge for America's new philosopher-kings.

Fast-forward two hundred years, and you'll see that the Founding Fathers' vision has at least partially been fulfilled. Washington, D.C. is a city of transients from across the nation who come to serve in one of the many Federal government departments here -- or even as legislators, executives, and judges themselves. It is a very young city, with a huge percentage of the population under 30. Very few residents have lived here all their lives. Most recent census figures report that about 50% of the population has changed its domicile in the past 5 years.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum, though: as a relatively liberal city in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region, Washington has also attracted one of the largest African-American populations in the US. This has caused serious tensions in the nation's capital, as the theoretical ideals of a temporary governing population conflict with the needs of a real-world city's permanent residents.

Due to its uniquely federal nature, Washington D.C. gets bombarded with advertisements not found in other cities, such as ads for military hardware, as the large defense contractors vie for brainshare among Pentagon employees.

D.C. has a hate-hate relationship with the Congress which calls it home. As D.C. doesn't belong to a state, it is required to provide all the services that would normally be provided by the state. And as it ultimately answers to Congress, it is often the brunt of congressional jokes. (Ask any resident about National Airport, and you'll understand.) To top it off, DC has no voting representation in Congress to contest the requirements placed on the city. Hence, the slogan found on many D.C. license plates, "Taxation Without Representation".

Washington D.C. is served by three major airports.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), on the west bank of the Potomac River just south of the city, is the closest and most convenient. Walkways connect the concourse level of the B and C terminals to the Washington Metro rail platform. To get downtown (10 minutes), take the Yellow Line toward Mt Vernon Square/UDC. For West End destinations, take the Blue Line toward Largo Town Center.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is located at Dulles (pronounced Dull-ess), Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown DC. To get to DC, the most convenient option is the Washington Flyer coach, which operates every half hour on the quarter-hour to and from the West Falls Church Metro (Orange Line). It takes 20-25 minutes and costs $8 one way or $14 round trip. The Metro rail service from West Falls Church to downtown DC takes another 20-25 minutes. The cheapest option is the 5A Metrobus, an express bus which makes stops at Herndon, Tyson's Corner, Rosslyn (Blue and Orange Lines) and downtown L'Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Blue, and Orange Lines). It departs hourly and takes 50-60 minutes; the fare is $3 each way. (5A timetable and map (pdf) )

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is in Maryland and is 30 miles north-east of DC and 10 miles south of downtown Baltimore. Metro operates the hourly B30 express Metrobus to the Greenbelt Metro Station (Green Line). It boards on the lower level outside the International Pier. The fare is $3 each way and it takes about 30 minutes. The Metro rail service from Greenbelt to downtown takes another 25 minutes approximately. There are also train services from BWI Rail Station. MARC operates weekdays to New Carrollton (Orange Line) for $5 each way, or Washington Union Station (Red Line) for $6. Amtrak provides access to Union Station (from $13; 30-35 minutes) and to nearby Alexandria, Virginia near the King Street Metro station on the Blue and Yellow lines (from $27). A free "Amtrak/MARC" shuttle bus runs from the airport terminal to the BWI Rail Station.

Amtrak services stop at downtown Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, on Metro's Red Line. A couple of lines also stop in Alexandria, VA, very close to King Street Metro, on the Yellow and Blue lines. If you are coming from the south, it might be easier to stop there, depending on your destination.

Washington DC is primarily served by I-95 from Baltimore, MD or Richmond, VA. I-95 South is particularly bad on Friday afternoons and any time people are likely to be going to the beach. Other interstates of note are:

• I-495 is the DC Beltway. On the East side of the city, I-495 follows I-95. Avoid during rush hour if you can. Particularly bad spots include:
  • the inner loop (clockwise) between I-66 and I-95 and also approaching the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the morning rush
  • the outer loop (counterclockwise) between I-95 Springfield and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge during the afternoon rush
• I-270 connects from I-70 in Frederick, MD to I-495 in Bethesda, MD
• I-395 connects downtown with the I-495/I-95 interchange in Northern Virginia.
• I-295 connects downtown with I-495/I-95 at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Southern Prince George's County, MD.
• I-66 starts at the eastern part of downtown and goes 75 miles west, ending near Front Royal, VA. Inside the beltway, it is HOV-2 only eastbound from 7AM to 9AM and westbound from 4PM to 6:30 PM. US-50, US-29, and the George Washington Parkway are the alternatives.

The Greyhound stop for Washington, DC is at 1005 1st St NE.

The stop is a few blocks north of Union Station where you can catch the Red Line Metrorail. (New York Avenue station recently opened, giving faster access to Metro.) Current fares are around $30 from New York (city).

Other Greyhound stations are located in Silver Spring, Maryland and Arlington (Virginia).

The city is split into four quadrants centered on the Capitol Building: NE, NW, SE and SW. City roads are laid out in a grid, with east-west streets named for letters (then alphabetically single-syllable words, double-syllable words, etc.) and north-south streets named for numbers. Since an address can theoretically apply to four different locations in Washington, street addresses properly indicate the quadrant—the White House is properly 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Northwest quadrant is the largest and home to most items of interest to visitors.

The grid has several peculiarities which are the legacy of Pierre L'Enfant's 18th century plan for the city. There is no J Street, as in the script of the time the letters I and J were similar and the planners wanted to avoid confusion. Similarly, modern addresses on I Street are usually written Eye Street to avoid confusion with the number 1. Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenues are broad thoroughfares partly because early proposals called for them to be canals.

Perhaps the greatest complications are the Avenues, named mostly after states. These cut diagonally across the grid, and many major intersections are formed into circles dedicated to historical figures.

Washington has one of the best public transportation systems in the country. The hub-and-spoke rail system is integrated with an extensive bus system, with all lines converging in downtown D.C. A car is often a hindrance in the District, particularly for tourists; public transportation is often the fastest way to get around.

Metrorail, usually referred to simply as "the Metro," is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Its five intersecting lines have stops in most major neighborhoods, with the notable exceptions of Georgetown, Adams-Morgan, and Old Town Alexandria. Since parking downtown can be scarce and expensive, many attractions recommend using the Metro, and WMATA publishes a pocket guide indicating which line and stop to take for various landmarks.

• Red Line - forms a long "U" from suburban Montgomery County, Maryland through downtown. Attractions on the Red Line include the Union Station, the MCI Center, the National Zoo, and the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
• Yellow Line - links the Washington Convention Center to Alexandria via the MCI Center and Reagan National Airport.
• Green Line - forms a "C" which swings through Prince Georges County from Greenbelt (and its BWI Airport shuttle) past the University of Maryland, the gentrifying U Street and Columbia Heights districts, the Southwest Waterfront, and historic Anacostia.
• Blue Line - an "S" that meanders from Largo Town Center near FedEx Field (home of the Washington Redskins) to RFK Stadium (home of the Washington Nationals and the D.C. United), under the Potomac to Arlington National Cemetery, and south to Reagan National Airport and Alexandria.
• Orange Line - Runs from Fairfax County suburbs (and the Washington Flyer Dulles Airport shuttles at West Falls Church) along the Wilson Boulevard entertainment corridor, through downtown, and out again past RFK Stadium to New Carrollton (with onward connections to MARC and Amtrak).

Parking is available at many suburban stations, particularly at the terminal stations. It is important to note that parking at a Metro lot requires a "SmarTrip" card, which is a special rechargeable debit card. Cash, credit cards and checks are not accepted for parking. One must purchase a SmarTrip card for $5 at a vending machine and add value to it using cash or credit cards. The SmarTrip can also be used to pay Metrorail and Metrobus fares, and to make paperless transfers from one to the other. Parking on weekends and holidays is free.

Metrorail fares are based on distance, starting from $1.35. Peak fares are in effect on weekdays from (5:10 a.m.) to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., during which the maximum fare is $3.90. At all other times, lower fares are in effect, with a maximum of $2.35. Because the fare is based on distance, each passenger must have his or her own farecard (whether paper or SmarTrip) and use it both when entering and exiting the system. If the value on the card is insufficient to exit, it can be recharged using "Exitfare" vending machines.

Visitors planning to make extensive use of Metrorail may consider a pass. A one-day pass, valid on all Metrorail trains after 9:30 a.m. weekdays or all day weekends and holidays, costs $6.50. A "short-trip" 7-day pass is $22, but restricted to $2.20 rides during peak hours. An unrestricted and unlimited 7-day pass is $32.50.

Starting January 1, 2006 Metro will more than triple its service levels! Metro has preparing for expanded service levels for four years now. Metro has ready 1,700 additional new rail cars for expanded service, with 400 additional cars on order. Metrorail will operate 24 hr service on all lines, seven days a week, 365 days/year starting on New Year's Day.

On Weekdays all Metro Rail Lines will run with the following headways(max. wait for a train at a station):

5AM-7AM: Trains every 4 minutes 7AM-9AM: Trains every 2 minutes 9AM-4PM: Trains every 4 minutes 4PM-7PM: Trains every 2 to 3 minutes 7PM-10PM: Trains every 4 minutes 10PM-2AM: Trains every 6 minutes 2AM-5AM: Trains every 8 minutes

On Weekdays Metro will operate 8 car trains on all LINES. Metro is preparing key stations by extending platforms for 10 and 12 car trains.

On Weekends and ALL HOLIDAYS

5AM-10AM: Trains every 6 minutes 10AM-11PM: Trains every 4 minutes Midnight-2AM: Trains every 7 minutes 2AM-5AM: Trains every 9 minutes

• • Starting January 1, 2006 Metro will have ready 10 to 20 eight car trains on standby at any given time to enter service when conditions are warranted. Additional Metro Trains will be dispatched at overcrowded stations.

Metrobus fares are a flat $1.25 for most routes, or $3 for express routes. Certain routes feature discounted fares. An all-day pass for Metrobus is $3 and valid until 3:00 a.m. on regular routes or for $1.25 on express routes. Metrobus accepts SmarTrip for payments and transfers, but does not accept Metrorail paper farecards or passes. To save money on your metrobus trips, you can also get transfer slips that allow you to take another bus within a two hour period.

Taxi cabs do not use meters, but charge fares based on zones traveled -- plus such surcharges as one dollar during rush hours (7 - 9:30 AM and 4 - 6:30 PM) and $1.50 for each additional passenger. This can cause a lot of confusion and tourists often think they're being ripped off -- but you can always ask about the fare in advance. Taxi Cab Zone Map: http://dctaxi.dc.gov/dctaxi/frames.asp?doc=/dctaxi/lib/dctaxi/Taxicab_Zone_Map.pdf .

Downtown Washington's roads are well-signed and organized on a relatively predictable grid, but also heavily congested with aggressive drivers. Weekday parking can be scarce and expensive. The city ruthlessly enforces parking regulations to a near-comical degree. Don't think you can ignore tickets if you're a tourist from far away; the city has hired collection agencies in the past to go after unpaid tickets and threaten the credit records of folks who ignore citations.

Many major intersections are formed into circles. The larger circles can be harrowing for inexperienced drivers—Dupont Circle links five roads running in ten directions with two traffic rings and an underground bypass.

Partly as a means to combat heavy rush hour traffic, a significant number of intersections are monitored by traffic cameras. Drivers may also wish to note that since Washington is federal land, a traffic ticket is a federal violation.

Local opposition prevented the construction of interstate highways through Washington; the two freeways that feed into the city from Virginia, I-66 and I-395, both terminate quickly. Washington and its innermost suburbs are encircled by the Capital Beltway, I-495, which gave rise to the expression "Inside the Beltway."

Washington boasts several scenic drives:

• Pennsylvania Avenue from 14th Street NW toward the Capitol
• Rock Creek Parkway, which follows Rock Creek, then the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial
• Reservoir Road from Georgetown to the Clara Barton Parkway, continuing to the Capitol Beltway
• Embassy Row, Massachusetts Avenue from Scott Circle to Wisconsin Avenue
• the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which follows the Potomac on the Virginia side
  

Capitol Hill plays a central role in the country's political life, as two of the three branches of the federal government - the legislative and the judicial - are located here. Washington D.C.'s layout centers on Capitol Hill, with the city's four quadrants starting at the Capitol Building.

• Capitol Building. (202) 225-6827. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line; Capitol South on the Blue or Orange Lines. The Capitol Building is filled with impressive paintings, statues and historical exhibits. The Capitol is open to guided tours only, M-Sa 9am-4:30pm. Tours can be joined by getting a free, first-come, first-served ticket from the Capitol Guide Service Kiosk located near First St SE, across from the United States Botanic Garden. Ticket distribution begins at 9am. Generally you will have to pick up a ticket and come back at a later time. It is quite a rigamarole getting in but at least the staff are helpful at the many steps along the way. Things may be more efficient when the new visitor center is completed in late 2006. This is one place very strict about what you can and can't take in (prohibited items). At the museums you can get away with food in your bags (despite what the signs say) but not here. If you have food it will have to be dumped. If that's a problem, nip over to a place such as the Library of Congress where you can deposit your bag and come back. http://www.aoc.gov/
• Supreme Court. First St & Maryland Ave NE. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line; Capitol South on the Blue or Orange Lines. M-F 9am-4:30pm. http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
• Library of Congress - Jefferson Building. 10 First St SE, (202) 707-8000. Metro: Capitol South on the Blue or Orange Lines. It is worth a visit just to see the very elaborate and beautiful interior decoration. There are a number of rotating exhibitions from the Library's vast collection on display at any one time, as is a Gutenberg Bible. Free admission. http://www.loc.gov/
• Folger Shakespeare Library. M-Sa 10am-4pm. Houses the world's largest Shakespeare collection and has a replica of Shakespeare's Globe theatre. http://www.folger.edu/
• Union Station. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line. Not just a train station or metro stop, the Beaux Arts architecture of the 1908 building makes it worth a look. Contains shops, restaurants and a cinema. A large monument to Christopher Columbus stands outside the building. http://www.unionstationdc.com/
• National Postal Museum. 2 Massachussetts Ave NE (just west of Union Station), (202) 357-2700. Metro: Union Station on the Red Line. Every day except 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. Exhibitions of how mail has been delivered throughout history, rare stamps, and other ways that the mail shapes culture. Free admission. http://postalmuseum.si.edu/

The National Mall is not a shopping center but rather a long grassy expanse stretching from Capitol Hill westward to the Potomac River. The Mall's central location and the many famous museums and monuments which surround it make the Mall a popular destination. If you want an "only in Washington" moment, take the Metro to the Smithsonian stop and walk out of the National Mall exit. The view is memorable.

"The Smithsonian" is not a single museum; there are 18 Smithsonian museums, many of which are located on the Mall. Museums run by the Smithsonian Institution are free of charge and their gift shops do not have the 6.5% DC tax levied on items sold.

From east to west along Constitution Avenue (the north side of the Mall)

• National Gallery of Art. M-Sa 10am-5pm, Su 11am-6pm. The east building of this museum focuses on modern art, while the west building showcases more traditional, mostly European, paintings and sculptures. The two buildings are connected by an underground walkway which has a store and a restaurant. Free admission, and unlike most art museums, flash photography is allowed. http://www.nga.gov/
• National Archives. Metro: Archives-Navy Memorial via the Green and Yellow Lines. Rotunda and exhibit hall open every day except 25 December; 10am-5:30pm (day after Labor Day through March 31), 10am-7pm (April 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend), 10am-9pm (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day). In summer you can go in the evening and avoid the long queue (everything else in town is closed then anyway). See the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other displays. Gift shop. Free admission. http://www.archives.gov/facilities/dc/archives_1.html
• National Museum of Natural History. Open every day except 25 Dec. Regular hours 10am-5:30pm, summer (May 26 to Sept 4) 10am-7:30pm. This Smithsonian museum presents a variety of displays including world cultures, meteorites and mineral samples. It traces the evolution of life from its beginnings through fossil plants, dinosaurs and mammals. Be sure to see the Hope Diamond, the largest blue diamond in the world. http://www.mnh.si.edu/
• National Museum of American History. Open every day except 25 Dec. Regular hours 10am-5:30pm, summer 10am-6:30pm. A Smithsonian museum, it covers topics ranging from technology to social and political history. http://americanhistory.si.edu/
• Washington Monument. 9am-4:45pm. The view from the 550 foot Washington Monument is great on a clear day, allowing you to see up and down the Mall, and out as far as the Shenandoah Mountains. Entrance is by timed ticket, which are distributed on a first come first served basis, and are available free from a National Park Service booth on 15th Street near the monument. It's worth stopping off early in the day (opens at 8:30am) and collecting your tickets before visiting a museum or three, and then coming back later. Better still, book your ticket online in advance at the NPS Reservation Center . If you can't get tickets or don't want to spend the time, you can get a similar panoramic view of DC with no wait at the Old Post Office Tower (see below), just a block from the Mall.
• Corcoran Museum of Art. W, F-M 10am-5pm, Th 10am-9pm. The oldest art gallery in the American capital. $6.75 individual admission, $4.75 seniors, $3 students with ID, $12 families with young children (donation on M and Th after 5pm). http://www.corcoran.org/
• National World War II Memorial. Opened in 2004. http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
• Reflecting Pool. The view from the Lincoln Memorial, with the Reflecting Pool in the foreground and the Washington Memorial just behind, is famous and not to be missed.
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial. There are three sections to this memorial, all in close proximity: a black marble wall engraved with the names of the deceased and missing of the Vietnam War; a statue of a trio of soldiers; the Vietnam Women's Memorial. http://www.nps.gov/vive/
• Lincoln Memorial. This is an impressive monument in a commanding location at the end of the Mall. http://www.nps.gov/linc/

From east to west along Independence Avenue (the south side of the Mall)

• US Botanic Garden. Conservatory open 10am-5pm. Bartholdi Park, south of the conservatory, is open dawn to dusk. http://www.usbg.gov/
• National Museum of the American Indian. The newest of the Smithsonian museums displays the cultural traditions of the Native peoples of North, Central and South America. It focuses on 20th century and present day culture much more than pre-European and colonial periods. Free admission, but visitors who don't want to wait in line can obtain a free same-day timed entry pass at the museum's east entrance, or they can purchase a pass in advance by calling 1-866-400-NMAI. http://www.nmai.si.edu/
• National Air & Space Museum. Every day except 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. The most-visited museum in the world, this impressive repository covers the history of human flight, rocketry and space flight. It contains thousands of impressive artifacts, including the Wrights' 1903 Flyer, Apollo 11's command module Columbia and the simulated bridge of an aircraft carrier. Free. http://www.nasm.si.edu/

There is also a huge companion museum to the Air & Space Museum called the
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center which is located near Dulles Airport. It houses the Enola Gay and the Enterprise space shuttle, among other planes and vehicles.
There is a frequent shuttle bus between the main Air & Space Museum and the Udvar-Hazy Center.

• Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. Museum 10am-5:30pm; Sculpture garden 7:30am-dusk. International modern and contemporary art. http://hirshhorn.si.edu/
• Smithsonian Castle. 8:30am-5:30pm. This distinctive brick-red structure was the original Smithsonian museum. The building now presents an overview of the Smithsonian system as well as occasional exhibitions. http://www.si.edu/visit/infocenter/sicastle.htm
• National Museum of African Art. Presents the diversity of African art. The Freer and Sackler Galleries can also be accessed through this museum. http://www.mnafa.si.edu/
• Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Every day except 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. These linked Smithsonian museums feature Asian art. There is also an underground passage to the National Museum of African Art. http://www.asia.si.edu/
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Metro: Smithsonian via the Blue and Orange Lines. Every day except 13 Oct and 25 Dec 10am-5:30pm. Entrance is by free timed ticket on a first come, first served basis. Films, audio testimonies and historical exhibits tell about the Holocaust. http://www.ushmm.org/
• Bureau of Engraving and Printing. 14th St and C St. Not a museum, this is where the Treasury prints money. http://www.moneyfactory.com/
• Jefferson Memorial. On the Tidal Basin. Metro: Smithsonian is the nearest station, but it's not close by. A larger than life statue of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, stands in the center of this open-air marble structure. Quotes from Jefferson's writings, including the Declaration of Independence, are reproduced on the walls. http://www.nps.gov/thje/
• FDR Memorial. http://www.nps.gov/fdrm/

Make the effort to see the monuments at night when they are all lit up. If you can catch the Capitol as the sun is setting on a clear day, the colors as the building gets lit up are wonderful.

• White House. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave - north of the Washington Monument. The residence and office of the President of the US. Tours are available only for groups of 10 or more and must be requested up to six months in advance through your member of Congress. Note that the standard tours focus on the social/residential part of the White House -- the East Wing. You don't get to see the working West Wing. The front door can be viewed from Lafayette Square on the north side and the back from the Ellipse on the south side. Political demonstrations take place at the front. Worth visiting even if you can only see the exterior, but you cannot drive any closer than two blocks away. http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours/
• Old Post Office Tower. Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th St NW. Summer (1st weekend in June through Labor Day) M-W, F 9am-7:45pm, Th 9am-6:30pm, winter (Labor Day through Memorial Day) 9am-4:45pm, Sa-Su and holidays 10am-5:45pm (all year). At 315 feet this is one of the tallest buildings in DC. Enter through the food court and take the elevators to the 270-foot observation deck for excellent views of DC. Bell-ringing practice is held on Thursday evenings from 7-8pm. Free. http://www.nps.gov/opot/
• International Spy Museum. 800 F St NW. $13/adult, $12/seniors, $11/children (5-11). http://www.spymuseum.org/
• Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. Corner of 6th & E St NW. $5/adult, $3/seniors, children, students, active duty military.
• National Building Museum. 401 F St NW. M-Sa 10am-5pm, Su 11am-5pm. Highly Recommended. Free, suggested donation $5. http://www.nbm.org/
• National Museum of Women in the Arts. 1250 New York Ave NW. $8/adult, $6/student, free/children (18 and younger). http://www.nmwa.org/

• National Zoo 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW. Metro: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams-Morgan or Cleveland Park via the Red Line. Note that the zoo entrance is about 1/2 mile from the metro. See the pandas, lions and many more at this branch of the Smithsonian. Free admission. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
• National Cathedral Metro: Woodley-Park-Zoo/Adams-Morgan or Cleveland Park via the Red Line. This impressive example of Gothic architecture is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. One of its stained glass windows has a moon rock embedded within. Keep an eye out for the gargoyles around the edge of the exterior -- see if you can spot Darth Vader. http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral
• National Geographic Society - Explorers Hall Metro: Farragut North via the Red Line. This 3-building complex, headquarters for National Geographic Magazine and National Geographic Channel, shows exhibitions on art, culture, science, photography, geography, and technology. Free admission. Open every day except Dec. 25 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Also features a National Geographic Store. See also http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
• Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 400 Michigan Avenue NE. Metro: Brookland-CUA via the Red Line. The second largest Catholic church in the United States. There are numerous chapels, as well as two gift shops and a restaurant. http://nationalshrine.com/
• Anacostia Museum 1901 Fort Place SE. Metro: Anacostia, but check website for important details. This is the Smithsonian's center for African-American history and culture. Free admission. http://anacostia.si.edu/
• Theodore Roosevelt Memorial - Theodore Roosevelt Island. This is in a nature preserve on the Potomac River. You can either park off of GW Parkway, or walk in from the Rosslyn Metro station.

• National Cherry Blossom Festival (late March/early April) http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ . Note that Washington's cherry blossoms do *not* necessarily bloom during the festival -- the bloom varies every year, depending on the winter weather. When the blossoms are out (and they don't stay out for long -- a good rain will wash them away), Washington is at its very prettiest. You will pay top dollar to visit during cherry blossom season.
• A Capitol Fourth (July 4th) A day of parades and other events, capped off by fireworks over the Potomac River and a large orchestral concert on Capitol Hill. http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival (late June and ending around July 4th) This annual festival normally has three topics: a country, a region of the USA and another subject, which varies from year to year. Previous festivals have featured the country of Oman, the ancient Silk Road and music in Latino culture. http://www.folklife.si.edu/
• Political Protests (year-round)
• Screen on the Green Mondays, July and August. Classic films, often with a political angle, are shown for free on the Mall. Watching 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' with the capital dome in the background is classic DC.

• Rock Creek Park. NW. Hiking and biking trails and coyotes. Nature Center (W-Su 9am-5pm) has exhibits, weekend guided walks and details of self-guided walks. http://www.nps.gov/rocr/

• Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Avenue NE. If you talk sign language, this is definitely the place to go. http://www.gallaudet.edu/

• Washingtoniana Division, Room #307, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW (across from Gallery Place Metro stop). Washingtoniana Division is the special collection division containing historical material related to both federal as well as "hometown" Washington, DC. Phone (202) 727-1213. For more information see: http://www.dclibrary.org/washingtoniana/index.html.

• Peabody Room, 2nd floor, Georgetown Branch Library, 3260 R Street, NW (corner of Wisconsin Avenue and R Street). Peabody Room is the special collection division containing historical material related to the history of Georgetown, established in 1751 as Georgetown, MD. Phone (202) 282-0214. For more information
  see http://www.dclibrary.org/branches/geo/peabody.html

• Smithsonian Institute, The Smithsonian Institute offers classes to members.

• Howard University http://www.howard.edu/

• Catholic University of America http://www.cua.edu/

• American University http://www.american.edu/

• Georgetown University http://www.georgetown.edu/

• George Washington University http://www.gwu.edu/

All Smithsonian museums have gift shops and they are tax-free. The largest and can be found in the National Museum of American History and the National Air and Space Museum.

The gift shop in the National Building Museum is one of the best gift shops not run by the Smithsonian Institution. (6.5% DC tax applies.)

Georgetown features numerous clothing and antique retailers as well as restaurants and bars and the upscale Georgetown Park shopping mall. Georgetown's main commercial corridors are M Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW, whose intersection may be considered its heart. No Metro stations are immediately accessible, although it is walkable from Rosslyn (Orange & Blue), Foggy Bottom/GWU (Orange & Blue) and Dupont Circle (Red). There is also a Georgetown connector shuttle from these three stations for $1 each way, or $0.35 with a rail transfer.

Washington's other main high fashion district is found in Friendship Heights, straddling the DC-Maryland border within two blocks of the Red Line station of the same name. It is home to many high-end stores (such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, Dior, and Versace) in and around the Mazza Gallerie and Chevy Chase Pavilion shopping centers, as well as a concentration of day spas.

Downtown shopping is more dispersed, but there is a cluster of stores around the Metro Center station anchored by the large Hecht's department store directly connected to the station. The Shops at International Plaza, located near the Farragut West station on the Orange and Blue Lines, is a three-level indoor mall featuring over 100 stores and restaurants. Additional shopping can be found at the Pavilion at the Old Post Office, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW near the Federal Triangle Metro station.

Elsewhere in Washington, the Shops at Union Station include a variety of retailers. Politics & Prose is a notable bookstore on Connecticut Avenue several blocks north of the Van Ness-UDC Metro Station. Kramerbooks and Lambda Rising are notable local bookstores and Dupont Circle institutions; the Dupont Circle area also includes numerous art galleries and lesbian/gay/bisexual oriented retailers.

Washington has a little bit of everything, from really good inexpensive ethnic takeout (no problem getting Ethiopian or Afghani or Jamaican food here) to high-dollar lobbyist-fueled places that will cause your credit card to burst into flames.

• Old Post Office Pavilion food court, Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th St NW. Close to the National Mall.

• Union Station Food Court - on the bottom level of Union Station, located NE of the National Mall. Metro stop: Union Station. The food is nothing special, and the setting is noisy and crowded, but the prices are often cheaper than what is available in nearby museums.

• Vace's Pizza - Arguably the best pizza in DC. Located near the Cleveland Park metro at 3515 Connecticut Avenue. There are no tables or delivery- Carry out only. A wide selection of italian meats, cheeses and olives. Whole pizza or by the slice.

• Sala Thai Dupont Circle branch at 2016 P Street NW, (202) 872-1144; Cleveland Park branch at 3507 Connecticut Avenue NW, (202) 237-2777. Thai food.

• Marrakesh, 617 New York Ave, N.W. +1 202 393 9393. Moroccan Cuisine, belly dancers, eat with you hands. I found the food to be excellent, the serving staff to be good, and the atmosphere to be wonderful. The seven course meal is the only food served. There are some minor choices for main dishes, or if you want a vegetarian meal. The website lists the current meal choices. Be sure to check out the back hallway with pictures of all the famous visitors. http://marrakesh.us/

• 'Fin 1200 19th St. NW, +1 202 530 4430. A very nice looking sea food restaurant with great food. Recommendations: the oyster sampler, grilled calamari. their maki tuna. Considering the quality this restaurant is very reasonably priced. Worth calling and asking about their happy hour as it features specials like oysters as well for very low prices.

• CityZen,1330 Maryland Avenue SW. +1 202 554 8588. Contemporary multi-course tasting menus by acclaimed chef Eric Ziebold at the city's sparkling Mandarin Oriental hotel. Expensive. http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/535000039.asp

• Olives, 1600 K Street, NW. +1 202 452 1866. Mediterranean/Italian style, steak and chop house featuring olive tapinades. Valet parking. Full bar. Noisy bistro-type atmosphere.

• Marcel's, 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. +1 202 296-1166. Self described French cuisine with flemish flair. Expensive. Quiet, elegant atmosphere. http://www.marcelsdc.com/

• Michel Richard Citronelle, 3000 M Street NW. +1 202 625 2150. World famous French-themed cuisine in Georgetown. Jacket required for dinner. Very expensive. http://www.citronelledc.com/home.html

• ESPN Zone - 555 12th St. NW, Phone: 202.783.3776, Metro Stop: Metro Center - Not a place to take a date, but a fun place that is a little expensive, but with over 200 tvs and 13 foot tall tv all tuned to sports, it is worth it. [1]
• Indebleu - 707 G Street NW, Phone: 202.333.2538. Metro Stop: Gallery Place - Stunning decor, $15 drinks, and young DC types rubbing elbows with each other make Indebleu a hot spot not to be missed. Also a full service restaurant upstairs. http://www.bleu.com/indebleu/

• Clyde's 3236 M Street NW, 202-333-9180- Casual, popular place to grab a burger and kick back a beer while watching the Georgetown throngs scurry by. www.clydes.com
• Blue Gin 1206 Wisconsin Ave NW, 202.965.5555- Once the toughest lounge to get into in DC, Blue Gin has settled into a more relaxed, yet still upscale atmosphere. Dress to impress and expect the crowd to start arriving around midnight. http://www.bluegindc.com/

• Madam's Organ Restaurant & Bar, 2461 18th St NW, [2] . Su-Th 5pm-2am, F-Sa 5pm-3am. Live music every night - mainly blues but also jazz and folky stuff. Tuesday night is acoustic Delta blues. It has an atmosphere, with its stuffed animals, appliances and nick-nacks hanging from the walls and ceiling. Cover charge usually $3.

• Pharaoh's Rock N' Blues Bar & Grill, 1817 Columbia Rd NW. Live blues at the weekend.

• Tryst, 2459 18th Street NW, [3] . Very hip café/bar that has good food as well. The atmosphere is very friendly and encourages you to just hang out for a while. Free wireless Internet access during the week.
• Chloe, 2473 18th Street NW, [4] Adams Morgan takes a stab at high end nightclubbing.

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It's worth noting that Washington is a relatively small city, acreage-wise, and it's very easy and quick to stay in the close-in suburbs and take mass transit into town. You can save meaningful cash this way; suburban hotels are often substantially cheaper and D.C.'s hotel tax is an eye-popping 14.5%. Parts of Arlington and Alexandria, Va., as well as Bethesda and Silver Spring, Md., have easy subway access into the District.

• The Swiss Inn, 1204 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20005, +1-800-955-7947. The Swiss Inn is the smallest hotel in Downtown Washington DC. This historic brownstone is within walking distance of the White House and the Smithsonian Museum. All rooms include a kitchenette and private bath. http://www.theswissinn.com/
• The Carlyle Suites, 1731 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, +1 202-234-3200 (Toll free: +1 866-468-3532, TTY: +1 202-518-5000, Fax: +1 202-387-0085, e-mail: reservations@carlylesuites.com). They call themselves "Washington's official art-deco hotel." Short walk to DuPont Cirle Red Line Metro. http://www.carlylesuites.com/
• Wyndham Downtown Washington Hotel, 1400 M. Street, +1 202-429-1700. http://washington.wyndham-hotels.com/
• Wyndham City Center Hotel, 1143 New Hampshire Avenue NW, +1 202-775-0800. In the Georgetown and Dupont Circle areas - just minutes away from the city's landmark attractions. http://washington-city-center.wyndham-hotels.com/
• Hotel George, 15 E Street NW. +1 202 347 4200. http://hotelgeorge.com/
• Hotel Helix, 1430 Rhode Island Avenue NW. +1 202 462 9001. http://hotelhelix.com/
• Hotel Madera, 1310 New Hampshire Avenue NW. +1 202 296 7600. http://hotelmadera.com/
• Hotel Rouge, 1315 Sixteenth Street, NW. +1 202 232 8000. http://rougehotel.com/
• Topaz Hotel, 1733 N Street, NW. +1 202 393 3000. http://topazhotel.com/

• Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW (at Connecticut Ave). Phone: (888) 444-OMNI (6664). Offers a resort-like hotel experience in the heart of D.C. Located in the scenic Rock Creek Park, and is near the National Zoo. It is only short distance from the Capitol Building, White House and Smithsonian. Features high-speed wireless Internet access, an outdoor heated pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and over 100,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel was built in 1930 and has hosted several Presidential Inaugural Balls.
• Hay Adams Hotel, 16th and H Street, NW. Tel +1 202 638 6000. Fax +1 202 638 2716. Reservations +1 800 853 6807. Small five star luxury hotel, with gorgeous White house and mall views. http://www.hayadams.com/
• Willard Hotel 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
• Mandarin Oriental 1330 Maryland Ave SW
• Four Seasons 2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW
• Ritz Carlton Two locations, in Georgetown and the West End. http://www.ritzcarlton.com/

Washington D.C. is covered by many law enforcement agencies. The main force is the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), which has jurisdiction in most of the city. You will also see many federal officers, usually assigned to a specific institution, among them:

• United States Park Police (patrols the Mall, Rock Creek, and other federal park lands)
• United States Capitol Police (patrols the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and surrounding areas)
• Metro Transit Police Department (patrols Metro trains and buses)
• United States Secret Service (mainly around the White House)
• Federal Protective Service (around foreign embassies)

You will also likely encounter U.S. Marshals and Military Police, and a countless number of smaller official and private security forces.

For major events and protests, the MPD has a central command center where they can monitor actions through a network of cameras. For exceptionally large events (but not protests) such as Fourth of July Fireworks, they are likely to set up security zones where they can screen attendees.

While Washington claimed the title of Murder Capital of America in the late 1980s and early 1990s, violent crime has since fallen dramatically; what remains is concentrated in the residential areas of Northeast and Southeast DC beyond the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and areas of Northwest more than two blocks north of Massachusetts Avenue east of 7th Street. Visitors should particularly avoid Anacostia and other neighborhoods on the southeast side of the Anacostia River, especially at night. Not only are there few landmarks (notably the Frederick Douglass House), but the aroma of sewage from the Blue Plains Treatment Facility is overpowering.

Don't get cute with security people at any government building, period. Don't joke with them about security and absolutely do not threaten them in any way. In the post-9/11 world, these people do not play around.

Smoking is legal in most bars and restaurants, in the latter in a separate smoking area. Smoking and food and drink of any kind are prohibited on Metro trains and buses, a rule strictly enforced with fines and occasionally even arrests.

• Pentagon. Just across the Potomac River from downtown DC. While lingering is not recommended for security reasons, you should know it is the largest office building in the world, and covers 4 zip codes. (Army, Navy, Air Force and Department of Defense.)

• Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Just across the Potomac River, adjacent to the Pentagon. Closes at dusk. This national military cemetery includes John F. Kennedy's tomb and the house of General Robert E. Lee. Visitors can watch the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If you really want to experience the cemetery, which is enormous and hilly, spring a few bucks for a Tourmobile tour. There is also a large parking garage here that is a good place to dump your car and then catch the subway or Tourmobile into D.C. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

• Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - National Air and Space Museum. 14390 Air & Space Museum Pkwy. Chantilly, VA 20151 (202) 357-2200 Located near Dulles International Airport, this museum houses many air/spacecraft, including the SR-71 "Blackbird" spy plane, the Concorde supersonic jet and the space shuttle "Enterprise". Parking is available for $12/vehicle. Additionally, a shuttle is available from the Air and Space Museum downtown. Prices range from $5 to $7 depending on number of tickets bought. http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/

• Mount Vernon, Virginia. George Washington lived in this mansion which overlooks the Potomac River. http://www.mountvernon.org/

• Great Falls Park, Virginia. Gorgeous national park with waterfalls and hiking trails, minutes from the beltway. Kayaking and rock climbing. http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/grfa/

• Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. A few miles from D.C. on the Potomac River, Old Town has some buildings dating back to the 1600s and is filled with shops and good restaurants. Some tourists use Old Town (or other parts of Alexandria) as a "home base" for D.C. trips and it's a popular weekend destination. Tour boats that go north to D.C. and south to Mount Vernon leave from Old Town. Many hotels in the area run free shuttle buses to the King Street Metro. http://www.funside.com/

• Bethesda nearby suburb with shopping, restaurants and cultural landmarks.
• Mormon Temple. Kensington. Must see the amazing annual Christmas light display. A funny bit of inside-Washington lore: Graffiti artists often paint "SURRENDER, DOROTHY" on a highway overpass near the temple, which from a distance looks like Emerald City in "The Wizard of Oz."

• Washington DC Convention and Visitors Association - information on travel planning, including dining, lodging, attractions, events, and meeting planners
• Washington DC City Pages - Tourism
• METRO
• Washington Post
• Washington City Paper
• Washington Blade - Gay and Lesbian Newspaper for Washington, DC
• DCRails.com - Metrorail map based on google maps
• barDC- Washington DC bars and clubs