Long week-end in DC

Washington, D.C., or the District of Columbia, is the capital of the United States. It is a planned city, designed specifically to house the federal government and is not part of any state. Its history, beautiful architecture and excellent cultural centers attract millions each year.

Virtually all of Washington’s tourists flock to the National Mall—which features monuments, museums, the White House and the Capitol—but the city itself is a vibrant metropolis that often has little to do with monuments, politics or white, neoclassical buildings. In many ways D.C. remains a significant center of African-American culture. It is home to Howard University, one of the most important historically black colleges, and is the hometown of many significant African-American figures of history and culture, including Frederick Douglass and Duke Ellington. The District is also home to one of the country's most prominent lesbian/gay communities, centered around DuPont Circle.

A Treasure Hunt is a great way to see many of the famous landmarks and institutions of D.C. as well as some of its unknown treasures. Several tour companies offer this service for groups throughout the downtown mall area. Visitors can also enjoy the National Zoo, and the many large parks that offer hiking and biking.

The 14-story Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown is in the heart of the Capital just 3 blocks from the White House and within walking distance of The Mall - Smithsonian Museums - DC Convention Center - MCI Center - government and corporate offices. Deluxe accommodations, new construction, superior location combined with professional friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere await our guests. Certain to please the busy executive or leisure traveler are our array of special amenities including - complimentary high speed internet access with *secure* PrinterOn remote printing - in room hospitality center with microwave / refrigerator / coffee maker - two dual line phones with voice mail and dataports - large work desk with desk level outlets/ergonomic chair - on demand video/nintendo video games/free HBO - complimentary USA Today each weekday morning - heated indoor pool and fitness center - and 24hr complimentary business center. The hotel offers 3000 square feet of divisible meeting and banquet space. The Great American Grill restaurant serves freshly prepared breakfasts as well as dinner. The Pavilion Pantry has a selection of refrigerated - frozen - and microwaveable packaged items perfect for in-room preparation. A number of world-famous restaurants are just steps from the hotel. When guests are ready for after work relaxation or some fun during a weekend getaway - the indoor pool and fitness center are available. The hotel is minutes from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as well as the Warner - Fords - and National theaters. Shopping is nearby and guests may enjoy a visit to the ESPN Zone as well as the many museums - art galleries - and monuments in the district. The hotel offers easy access to the orange or blue lines of the *METRO* - Washington*s subway system - from the McPherson Square Station just across the street. Everything. Right where you need it.

The National Mall is a bit like Disneyland, in the sense, that there is no way to fully experience it all in just one day. Part of the original design for the federal city, the massive open space park stretches from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. It is also where you will find the museums of the Smithsonian, the Vietnam Memorial, the Reflecting Pool and the famous Washington Monument. It was intended to be a place to remember American heroes, to celebrate freedom and to be a forum to exercise freedom in the form of protests and rallies. Numerous festivals and concerts take place on the lawn throughout the year. A gravel path encircles the Mall and is a great place for a sightseeing run or walk. You just might run into a Senator. Certainly any visit to Washington DC should start here on the Mall.

The second president, John Adams, was the first to live in the White House in 1801. Originally called the "Executive Mansion," it earned the nickname "White House" after its marble exterior was whitewashed to cover burn marks from damage by the War of 1812. Student and military veteran group tours are available with advance notice. The White House occasionally closes without notice for official functions.

The legislative branches of the U.S. government, the Senate and the House of Representatives, meet in the Capitol Building. Public tours form on the east side of the Capitol and include visits to the Rotunda and other chambers. Visitors can also view the Senate and the House from the galleries when Congress is in session. Plan to have lunch at the Senate Refectory, a cafeteria where, by law, bean soup is always on the menu. Visitors can enter the U.S. Capitol Building through the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and enjoy several historical exhibits.

In this formidable Greek-style temple, the nine Supreme Court Justices make final their interpretations of the Constitution. In addition to viewing the building, you can see a film, hear a lecture or, if you are exceptionally lucky, sit in on arguments when the Court is in session. Choose a three-minute quick view or come for an all-day visit. Check the Washington Post for descriptions of current cases. Admission is free.

The dinosaur skeletons on the ground floor are sure to please the kids. But there is something at National Museum of Natural History for everyone. The famous cursed Hope Diamond is on display as well as a live coral reef, a walk-through mine and an insect zoo with thousands of live specimens. The 'Discovery Room' encourages kids to touch, smell and taste the exhibits. If your feet need some rest, sit back and enjoy a film in the museum's Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater in the National Museum of Natural History.

Visitors should come prepared for an experience likely to be disturbing and difficult to forget when visiting United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. At the start of the tour, each visitor is given an identity card of a Holocaust victim that matches the visitor's own age and gender. Ordinary reality is skewed through off-center stairways, weird angles and the shadows of other visitors on the glass walkways overhead. An elaborate audio-visual display includes interviews, films and photographs. The Hall of Remembrance provides a calm, empty space at the end of the tour where one can reflect on the experience. The museum discourages children under 11 from attending. Free timed passes are needed to visit the permanent exhibit.

Alexandria, named after the Pioneer John Alexander, is a city in Virginia across from Washington, D.C. The city was originally a colonial trading post in the late 1700s and today houses several popular historic districts such as Old Town, which is home to the oldest continuously operating marketplace in the United States.

Christ Church, Carlyle House, and Gadsby’s Tavern—where George Washington once attended important gatherings—are among the top attractions that provide a glimpse into Alexandria’s rich colonial history. Several well-preserved buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries are nestled between newer shops and restaurants along King Street, a major road in Alexandria that is home to the George Washington National Masonic Memorial. The Athenaeum and the Torpedo Factory Art Center are two of the 123 galleries spread throughout Alexandria, which also has several performing arts centers such as the Little Theater of Alexandria and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.

Long before the establishment of Washington, DC, Alexandria was a town centered in politics and commerce. The founding fathers often met here to discuss freedom and revolution. Visit Robert E. Lee's boyhood home and that of his father, General "Lighthorse" Harry Lee, a Revolutionary War hero. Nearby Christ Church is where George Washington worshipped. Stroll down King Street with its many quaint shops and restaurants or duck down one of the side streets, many of which have their original cobblestones. Alexandria is 30 minutes south of Washington. Take the George Washington Memorial Parkway.