Introduction to Washington, D.C.

    If power is your aphrodisiac, Washington, D.C. will seduce you. It's full of grand images and remarkable words, from The Capitol building and the Pentagon to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address inscribed on the Lincoln Memorial. Politics is this city's business: walk the corridors of government, hear big names dropped with nonchalance and marvel at the riches of its museums, from the Smithsonian Institute to the National Archives. Beyond politics, however, a creative, diverse community relaxes in shady parks and a bubbly, eclectic restaurant scene.
Things to Do
For first-timers, a White House tour is a must; after all, it's the home and office of the President of the United States. Gaze up at the intricate rotunda of The Capitol. Look at the history of journalism at the interactive Newseum or immerse yourself in the National Gallery of Art. For the best view of the city, climb to the top of the Washington Monument, an obelisk-shaped tower in the middle of the Mall. In spring, jog under cherry blossoms in the East Potomac and West Potomac parks.
Shopping
Go undercover with a pair of spyglasses at the International Spy Museum store or go over the top in chic Georgetown designer boutiques. You could spend a day at the boutiques and spas of Friendship Heights. Head to Adams-Morgan and U Street for eccentric collectibles, shoe boutiques, and left-of-center music stores. Come Saturday or Sunday to barter and shop with the locals at the Eastern Market.
Nightlife and Entertainment
The office crowd may dominate the bars downtown, but in nearby Dupont Circle, the clubs attract a noticeably younger and more laid-back clientele. Earth lounges and bars populate Penn Quarter, while residential Georgetown is the place for sophisticated cocktail bars. D.C. is proud of its live music scene; live rock, blues, and jazz are the soundtrack to many U Street nightclubs. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts theatre, musicals, jazz performances and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Restaurants and Dining
Washington's eclectic dining scene begins in Adams-Morgan, where the world is vying to jump onto your plate. Try a spicy Ethiopian beef dish. Get a taste of New American cuisine in the Ward/U Street corridor, with combinations of Somali, Moroccan and Middle Eastern dishes, or a savory jerk chicken egg roll. Flavors from Burma, Thailand, and Indonesia are served in Chinatown. Cross the river for juicy buffalo burgers and soul food in Georgetown's cosmopolitan eateries.