Face-to-face with honest Abe
From the early morning hours of first light to the quiet solitude of moonlit evenings, powerful moments unfold at the Lincoln Memorial. Stand in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr., where he delivered the “I have a dream” speech or where Marion Anderson belted “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” in 1939. Enter the chamber and read aloud the words of the Gettysburg address. The Lincoln Memorial has also served as the backdrop for monumental movie scenes from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Forrest Gump to Wedding Crashers and National Treasure.

A bar stool at Off the Record Bar
From the north side of the White House, cross Lafayette Square and Pennsylvania Avenue then slip down the exterior staircase to Off the Record Bar, selected by Forbes.com as one of the “World’s Best Hotel Bars.” Grab a stool at the bar if you can, where John Boswell, 4-time winner of the Washingtonian's “Best Bartender Award,” mixes classic cocktails with politics. Dark wood, blood red walls and political caricatures add to the feeling that you’ve entered some private, exclusive club. What a power bar.

Sitting in on a Supreme Court ruling
The impressive Supreme Court building sits east of the Capitol dome. Justices hear oral arguments at 10am and 11am Monday through Wednesday for two weeks every month starting the first Monday in October through late April. There open to the public, but seating is limited so arrive early. Lines start forming starting at 8am; one line is for die-hards who wish to sit in on an entire argument; the other is for those who just want to sit in briefly. On days when court's not in session, you can hear lectures about the Supreme Court in the courtroom (and check out its lofty architecture).

The Big Chair in Anacostia
If you are a DC insider, you know about the “big chair” in Anacostia located on Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue and V Street, S.E. A landmark in the neighborhood since 1959, the 19 ½ foot chair weighed 4,600 pounds and was originally made of mahogany based on a Duncan Pfyfe designed dining room chair. At the time it was said to be the largest chair in the world. In 2006, the original chair was rebuilt out of aluminum.

Behind home plate at a Nationals game
The Nationals christened their new Nationals Park on the Capitol Riverfront near the banks of the Anacostia River March 29. The first green stadium in the country was built in less than 2 years and offers impressive views of the U.S. capitol. A Presidential seat behind home plate will set you back $325-335 per game. For that price, you’ll get cushioned seats and backs, includes gourmet buffet, in-seat food service and access to all three clubs. Looking for a more economic way to take in America’s favorite pastime? A grandstand seat will set you back $5.