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| Stay at The Hay-Adams hotel for spectaculat views of the White House and Washington Monument. photography courtesy of Hay-Adams hotel |
WHERE TO STAY:
The Sofitel Lafayette Square in downtown D.C. offers the same high-quality service and amenities as the Four Seasons, Ritz, or St. Regis—but for a fraction of the price. Plus, the 237-room hotel is conveniently located a block from the Metro and a short walk from the convention center (806 15th St. NW, 202-730-8800, www.sofitel.com).
Right around the corner—and directly across Lafayette Park from the White House—is the gorgeous, historic Hay-Adams hotel. Book a south-facing room on the sixth, seventh, or eighth floors for stunning views of the White House and the Washington Monument (800 16th St. NW, 202-638-6600, www.hayadams.com).
WHERE TO EAT:
Hidden inside Chinatown’s Cafe Atlantico is Minibar, a restaurant within a restaurant that’s any foodie’s dream. Six stools provide the only seating in the cubby-hole-sized space—each of the 30-something courses are tiny, too—but the avante garde, constantly changing menu and inventive presentation provide an experience that’s not only unlike any other restaurant, but different with each visit (405 8th St. NW, 202-393-0812, www.cafeatlantico.com/minibar/minibar.htm).
Hungry for something more substantial? Georgetown’s 1789 Restaurant offers a superb wine list paired with a classic meat- and fish-heavy menu. Set in a restored Federal period house, the restaurant’s half-dozen dining rooms—replete with a fireplace and antique decor—feel more like cozy dens (1226 36th St. NW, 202-965-1789, www.1789restaurant.com).
Celebrated chef Michel Richard’s Citronelle restaurant features artfully done, imaginative French dishes. But for a truly unique treat, in-the-know diners forgo the menu and request that Richard whip up whatever he likes (3000 M Street NW, 202-625-2150, www.citronelledc.com).
WHAT TO DO:
D.C.’s historic monuments and political institutions aren’t the only things to see and do. A must-visit, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is at once educational, emotional, and a powerful tribute to the millions of Holocaust victims and survivors (100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW, 202-488-0400, www.ushmm.org).
Adventurers and sightseers flock to the Great Falls National Park 15 miles north of the city to kayak, rock climb, and hike (9200 Old Dominion Dr., 703-285-2965, www.nps.gov/grfa).
Lesser-publicized tours, like that of the NPR headquarters, are perfect for radio fanatics (635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, 202-513-3232, www.npr.org).
