Sunsets on the Potomac
It really is amazing to be so close to nature in the nation’s capital. When the sun sets on the Potomac, it’s one of the most beautiful times in the city. Locals opt for Hains Point in Southwest or to Gravelly Point Park to catch the sun setting and planes taking off from National Airport. Jump on a sightseeing dinner cruise for a fun, entertaining evening that offers stellar views of the city’s skyline.

Nine o’clock on the Fourth of July
There’s no better place to celebrate the nation’s birthday than in the nation’s capital. There are lots of vantage points to view the fireworks display on the National Mall with its monuments and memorials as a spectacular backdrop. Dive right in and enjoy the concert on the Mall with the masses. For a broader view, opt for one of those dinner cruises along the Potomac. Want to do the Fourth like a local? Stake out a spot at one of DC’s many rooftop restaurants and bars. Some rooftop views include The Reef in Adams Morgan, The Beacon Bar & Grill near Dupont Circle or Tabaq Bistro on U Street or the Hay Adams Hotel directly across from the White House. Don’t fight the traffic; spend a few days in the city to take advantage of all the celebrations including the Independence Day parade, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a Capitol Fourth concert, and Tiger Wood’s National Golf Tournament.

Rhetorical sparks in the House of Representatives
When the House and Senate are in session, you can stop by your Representative or Senator's office to request a pass for the House or Senate Gallery. You can listen in on the debates and watch as the elected officials cast their votes on the top issues of the day. The US Capitol is open to the public for tours Monday through Saturday from 9 am until 4:30 pm except for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The tours are given free of charge, although tickets are required and can be obtained the same day of the tour on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket distribution begins at 9 am at First Street and Independence Avenue, but it’s best to line up early. Guided tours last approximately thirty minutes and are organized in groups of 40 people.

If you’re visiting with a larger group, we recommend that you contact your Congressional representative or Senator to make advance arrangements. Visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov to find your representative’s contact information. You can also inquire about passes to view the House and Senate in session.

Sparks of creativity at the National Gallery 
With its permanent collection of more than 100,000 works of art, two buildings and changing exhibitions, the National Gallery of Art is certainly worthy of more than just one visit. Stand outs range from a portrait of Ginevra de Benci in the West Building by Leonardo da Vinci, his only work outside of Europe to a massive Alexander Calder mobile suspended from the East Building’s ceiling. How do you take your art? At the Gallery you can stare for hours at a grand canvas, catch a film screening, take part in a lecture or take in jazz in the sculpture garden. Other great spaces to spark your creativity include the Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Phillips Collection, National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, The Kreeger Museum, National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The hot dish in Penn Quarter 
Washington, DC’s restaurant scene is hot, particularly in the Penn Quarter section of downtown. Dining here is a veritable global village. You’ll find many of the top tables in the country right here, according to Esquire magazine. Acadiana entertains with charbroiled oysters and fried green tomatoes from Louisiana, while refined Indian dishes like crispy spinach melts in your mouth at Rasika. Robert Wiedmaier’s Brasserie Beck offers frites and mussels with a multi-page beer list and Jose Andres Oyamel serves up “some of the most sophisticated Mexican food you will ever eat.”