Washington D.C. Guide
If power is your aphrodisiac, Washington DC will seduce you. Politics is this city's business: walk the corridors of government, hear big names dropped with nonchalance, and marvel at the riches of DC's museums, from the Apollo 11 Command Module to Pollock paintings.
Quietly snigger at presidential gaffes in the White House and politely wag your finger at congressional shenanigans in the US Capitol. Look at the history of free journalism at Newseum or immerse yourself in the classical and contemporary works of the National Gallery of Art. Don your trenchcoat and shoe phone for the International Spy Museum.
Pick up designer wear and high-street labels in chic Georgetown or for antiques and kooky clothing, head to boho Adams Morgan and U Street. The International Spy Museum store sells great espionage-related gadgets for budding James Bonds, while the National Museum of the American Indian has vivid tribal crafts.
In spring, jog under cherry blossoms in the East Potomac and West Potomac parks. Be impressed by Rock Creek's gorge and the cascading waterfall in 18th-century Meridian Hill Park. Spot wildlife in the charming Anacostia Park on the banks of the river of the same name, and let kids enjoy the outdoor sculpture at Unity Park.
Blues and jazz are the soundtrack of Washington – hear some in a U Street nightclub. Hear the crème de la crème play at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Foggy Bottom, home to theatre, musicals, jazz performances and the National Symphony Orchestra. Downtown, the National Theatre has been entertaining audiences since 1835 – watch out for prestigious ballet and opera companies performing here.
Once the butt of jokes, Washington's dining scene is now often excellent. While downtown caters to the office set, Chinatown serves up pan-Asiatic flavours. Have fun in Georgetown, a world cuisine experience in Adams Morgan or get a taste of New American cuisine in the Ward/U Street corridor, where you can expect combinations of Somali, Moroccan and Middle Eastern dishes, or a savoury jerk chicken egg roll.
Climb to the top of the Washington Monument, an obelisk-shaped tower in the middle of the Mall commemorating the nation's first and most revered president, for the best view of the city.
