Sipping Afternoon Tea at the Top of Washington National Cathedral. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons at 1:30pm, you can tour the world's sixth largest cathedral, then indulge in tea, scones, and lemon tarts served on the seventh floor of the West tower, whose arched windows overlook the city and beyond to the Sugarloaf Mountains in Maryland. It's $22 per person; reserve as far in advance as possible (tel. 202/537-8993).
Visiting the Lincoln Memorial After Dark. A must. During the day, be prepared to run interference with hordes of schoolchildren and tour groups; at night, the experience is amazing.
Taking a Monument and Memorials Walking Tour. Have a hearty breakfast, then take the Metro to Foggy Bottom, and when you exit turn right on 23rd Street NW and follow it to Constitution Avenue NW. Cross the avenue, make a left, walk past Henry Bacon Drive, and follow the signs to the Vietnam and Lincoln memorials; cross Independence Avenue and follow the cherry tree-lined Tidal Basin path to the FDR Memorial and further to the Jefferson Memorial; and finish your tour at the Washington Monument (if you're here after May 29, 2004, you'll be able to tour the new National World War II Memorial, too). This is a long but beautiful hike; afterward, head up 15th Street NW for a strength-restoring meal at one of the many excellent downtown restaurants.
Rambling Through Rock Creek Park. A paved bike/walking path extends 11 miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the Maryland border. You can hop on the trail at many spots throughout the city -- it runs past the National Zoo, behind the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Woodley Park, near Dupont Circle, and across from the Watergate/Kennedy Center complex. You can rent a bike from Big Wheel Bikes at 1034 33rd St. NW (tel. 202/337-0254) in Georgetown, and from Thompson's Boat Center (tel. 202/333-4861), located on the path across from the Kennedy Center. For a really long bike ride, trek to the Lincoln Memorial, get yourself across the busy stretch that connects the parkway to the Arlington Memorial Bridge, and cross the bridge to the trail on the other side; this path winds 19 miles to Mount Vernon.
Spending the Day in Alexandria. Just a short distance (by Metro, car, or bike) from the District is George Washington's Virginia hometown. Roam the quaint cobblestone streets, browse charming boutiques and antiques stores, visit the 18th-century houses and other historic attractions, and dine in one of Alexandria's fine restaurants.
Weighing in Judgment. If you're in town when the Supreme Court is in session (Oct-late Apr; call tel. 202/479-3211 for details), you can observe a case argued; it's thrilling to see this august institution at work.
Admiring the Library of Congress. The magnificent Italian Renaissance-style Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress -- filled with murals, mosaics, sculptures, and allegorical paintings -- is one of America's most notable architectural achievements.
Attending a Millennium Stage Performance at the Kennedy Center. Every evening at 6pm, the Kennedy Center presents a free 1-hour concert performed by local, up-and-coming, or nationally known musicians. This is a winner. Call the Kennedy Center (tel. 800/444-1324 or 202/467-4600, or check its website at www.kennedy-center.org, to see the schedule of upcoming acts.
Spending a Morning on the Mall. Take the Metro to the Smithsonian station early in the morning (about 8:30am is early enough), when the Mall is magical and tourist-free. Walk toward the Capitol Building along Jefferson Drive to the Smithsonian Information Center (the Castle) and stroll through the magnolia-lined parterres of the beautiful Enid A. Haupt Garden. Return to Jefferson Drive, walk farther east to the Hirshhorn, ducking in, on your way, for a look at the lovely Ripley Garden, before crossing the street to tour the Hirshhorn's sunken Sculpture Garden. Climb back to street level and cross the Mall to the enchanting National Gallery Sculpture Garden, at Seventh Street and Madison Drive.
Debarking at Union Station. Noted architect Daniel H. Burnham's turn-of-the-20th-century beaux arts railway station is worth a visit even if you're not trying to catch a train. Dawdle and admire its coffered 96-foot-high ceilings, grand arches, and great halls, modeled after the Baths of Diocletian and the Arch of Constantine in Rome. Then shop and eat: The station's 1988 restoration filled the trilevel hall with everything from Ann Taylor and Crabtree & Evelyn to a high-quality food court and the refined B. Smith's restaurant.
Enjoying an Artful Evening at the Phillips Collection. Thursday evenings year-round, from 5 to 8:30pm, you pay $5 to tour the mansion-museum rooms filled with Impressionist, post-Impressionist, and modern art. Your tour ends up in the paneled Music Room, where you'll enjoy jazz, blues, or other musical combinations performed by fine local musicians, topped off by an artful lecture. It's a popular mingling spot for singles (there's a cash bar and sandwich fare). Call tel. 202/387-2151 for information. See chapter 7 for complete details on the Phillips Collection.
Strolling Along Embassy Row. Head northwest on Massachusetts Avenue from Dupont Circle. It's a gorgeous walk along tree-shaded streets lined with beaux arts mansions. Built by fabulously wealthy magnates during the Gilded Age, most of these palatial precincts are occupied today by foreign embassies.
People-Watching at Dupont Circle. One of the few "living" circles, Dupont's is the all-weather hangout for mondo-bizarre biker-couriers, chess players, street musicians, and lovers. Sit on a bench and be astounded by the passing scene.
Viewing Washington from the Water. Cruise the Potomac River aboard one of several sightseeing vessels and relax from foot-weary travels. River cruises not only offer a pleasant interval for catching a second wind, they treat you to a marvelous perspective of the city.
Cutting a Deal at the Georgetown Flea Market. Pick up a latte and spend a pleasant Sunday browsing through the castoffs of wealthy Washingtonians, hand-painted furniture by local artists, and a hodgepodge of antiques and collectibles. Everybody shops here at one time or another, so you never know who you'll see or what you'll find. Wisconsin Avenue NW at S Street NW in Georgetown; open year-round, Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
Shopping at Eastern Market. Capitol Hill is home to more than government buildings; it's a community of old town houses, antiques shops, and the veritable institution, Eastern Market. Here, the locals barter and shop every Saturday and Sunday for fresh produce and baked goods, and flea-market bargains. At Seventh Street SE, between North Carolina Avenue and C Street SE.
Ordering Drinks on the Sky Terrace of the Hotel Washington. Posher bars exist, but none with this view. The experience is almost a cliché in Washington: When spring arrives, make a date to sit on this outdoor rooftop terrace, sip a gin and tonic, and gaze at the panoramic view of the White House, Treasury Building, and monuments. Open from the end of April to October for drinks and light fare, it's located at 515 15th St. NW, at Pennsylvania Ave. NW (tel. 202/347-4499).
Chilling to the Sounds of Live Jazz in the Sculpture Garden. Friday evenings in the summer at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, dip your toes in the fountain pool and chill, as live jazz groups serenade you, from 5 to 8pm. The garden's Pavilion Café sells tapas and wine and beer, by the way.
Ice Skating on the Mall. The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden pool turns into an ice-skating rink in winter. So visit the Gallery, finishing up at the Sculpture Garden, where you can rent skates and twirl around on the ice, admiring sculptures as you go. Treat yourself to hot chocolate and sandwiches at the Pavilion Café in the garden. Seventh Street and Madison Drive.
